This crisp October day is a wonderful time to pack a picnic. I packed my picnic basket with everything I needed to make the perfect martini including one of my favorite vodkas – Ketel One! Lovely smooth vodka that is an excellent value – made from carefully selected European wheat. Fresh aromas with notes of…
End of the Summer Rosé Wines
Hampton Water Rosé Blend: 60% Grenache, 15% Cinsault, 15% Mourvedre, 10% Syrah Rich and crisp, bursts of red fruit, white peaches and just a touch of white chocolate, with a long-lasting finish, intensified by aging in French oak barrels. Good choice for pairing with grilled salmon or a light creamy seafood pasta dish. Hampton Water…
Blueberry Lavender Cosmopolitan
Broken Shed Vodka is crafted from a blend of two of New Zealand’s purist waters with natural protein whey that is distilled three times. It’s free from gluten, free from GMO’s, free from additives and added sugars. Here’s the story about how Broken Shed Vodka was created, by The Vodka Guy – https://vodka-guy.com/broken-shed-vodka-review/ Two were…
RÅVO Vodka ~ Blue Glacier Lemon Drop Martini
At the end of a hot, sweltering summer day there is nothing better than a cool, refreshing vodka cocktail. I was recently introduced to RÅVO vodka. The name is derived from the Swedish words for raw (rå) and Vodka. It is made from pure, all natural winter wheat. It is distilled five times for incredible…
Tomato Water Martini
Makes 4 – 6 cocktails. Tomato Water Martini Tomato Water: 18 ounces large grape tomatoes (reserve 6 tomatoes for garnish) 4 large fresh basil leaves 40 black pepper corns 1/2 teaspoon salt Place tomatoes in a blender. Blend until the tomatoes have a watery consistency. Place 3 layers of cheese cloth over a container and…
National Rosé Day – Celebrate June 13, 2020
Fossil Point Rosé. Named for the rugged headland with sweeping views of the Central California coastline, Fossil Point pays tribute to the bond between sea and vine. One of my new favorite rosé wines. Pretty pink-peach color in the glass. 97% Grenache, 3% Syrah. Strawberry and passionfruit with a touch of citrus flavors. Available locally at…
Get Your Grill On for Father’s Day
This post was originally published on the Behind the Page Blog, The Roanoker Magazine, June, 2020: theroanoker.com Father’s Day evokes many fond memories. Dad trying to relax on his lawn chair in the backyard with us kids bouncing all around him. Giving him what we thought was the perfect gift – a tie that was…
Cherry Lemonade Vodka Slushie
One of my all-time favorite beach cocktails! Makes 12 cocktails. Requires freezing the slushie overnight, so make the day ahead. Cherry Syrup: Makes 2/3 cup 20 fresh cherries, pitted and cut in half 1/2 cup sugar 1/2 cup water Place cherries, sugar and water in a saucepan. Heat over medium heat and stir until sugar…
Mionetto IL Prosecco ~ Mango Bellini
I love bubbly cocktails and Prosecco adds the best bit of fizz to our favorite libations. I’ve been enjoying Mionetto Prosecco and recently discovered their IL Prosecco DOC. Perfect for concocting cocktails because it is crisp, dry and bubbly but doesn’t break the bank in the $10-$12 range. Available on-line or locally – Mr. Bill’s…
It Was The Best Of Times ~ Derby Day
For the past eleven years we had the “Best Derby Day Gala Ever” right here in the Star City of the South, Roanoke Virginia. Sadly, the Covid-19 caused the cancellation of the 2020 Derby Day Gala at Rockledge, but we still have lots of very happy memories. I had the honor of serving on our Derby…
