Simple Homemade Margarita {Food}

I am super excited to be sharing today's post with you all because it has taken me quite awhile to create the perfect, simple homemade margarita! I have been researching and combining recipes for awhile now, but I am pretty confident that I finally got it! This recipe is easy enough to make for a fun summer weeknight barbecuing in the backyard, but it is also special enough to be shared at a more formal dinner party. It is perfect paired with fresh guacamole and close friends nearby. Have an awesome day everyone! 

:: Ingredients :: 

3 ounces tequila 

2 ounces fresh lime juice (you can also use lime juice concentrate if that's all you have on hand)

1 ounce simple syrup 

2 splashes orange cointreau 

1 fresh lime (cut in thick slices)

2 tablespoons kosher salt

2 tablespoons sugar 

Makes 2 cocktails

:: Recipe :: 

It is all about the ice when you are crafting cocktails, so make sure you have enough ice cubes in your shaker. Then add in tequila, fresh lime juice, simple syrup, and cointreau. Shake until mixed and cooled. 

Using one of your lime slices, outline the rim of your glasses with lime juice.  One a plate, mix kosher salt and sugar. Turn the cups upside down and dip in the salt/sugar mixture. The rim will now be shimmering with a salty sweet taste. Place ice cubes in glass. 

Pour the margarita mixture from the shaker into the glasses and enjoy! 

With Love,

A

Rosemary Maple Bourbon Sour {Food}

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One of our dear friends introduced this cocktail to us last summer when we were basking in the glorious sun up at the cabin (man do I miss those days). It is from Shake (our new favorite), as was a previous cocktail recipe posted a couple weeks ago. In my opinion it is the perfect drink any season of the year and is easy to make for friends that are coming over, or for a celebratory Thursday evening as you are anticipating the weekend. This recipe was even more delicious with P's homemade maple syrup, but unfortunately we are all out for this year :) Hope you all are having a wonderful Thursday! 

:: Ingredients :: 

3 shots bourbon

1 & 1/2 shots fresh lemon juice

3/4 shot dark amber maple syrup

1 large sprig of rosemary (plus 2 small sprigs for garnish)

Makes two drinks

:: Recipe :: 

Crush the large spring of rosemary in your hand and add it to the shaker.

Add the bourbon, lemon juice, maple syrup, and ice to above the level of the liquid and shake vigorously for 15 seconds.

Strain the mixture into rocks glasses containing large cubes of ice and garnish with remaining rosemary sprigs. 

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:: Shop the Post ::

Shake: A New Perspective on Cocktails (one of my favorites) // The Mason Shaker // W&P Jigger

With Love,
A

The 'Nog Cocktail {Food}

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Happy New Year everyone! We hope that you had a wonderful evening with friends and family. As a new year begins, L and I can't help but look back and be filled with thanks for the creative outlet that A&L gives us. Thanks for supporting us, and make sure to look back for some new and exciting things from A&L coming this year (a new site design being one of them). 

This cocktail from Shake is a new favorite for P and I. We love homemade egg nog, and this cocktail takes it to the next level. It is extremely easy and so yummy - it would be the perfect addition to a relaxing New Year's Day. 

:: Ingredients :: 

1 shot bourbon

1 shot dark rum

2 scoops high quality vanilla ice cream

1/2 teaspoon of ground cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon of ground nutmeg (plus a pinch to garnish) - use freshly grated if available 

:: Recipe :: 

Add the bourbon, rum, ice cream, cinnamon, and nutmeg to your cocktail shaker.

Shake vigorously for 10 seconds (or until all clumps of ice cream are gone).

Strain the mixture into chilled coupes and garnish with remaining nutmeg.

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:: Shop the Post ::

Shake: A New Perspective on Cocktails (one of my favorites) // The Mason Shaker // W&P Jigger

With Love,
A

Pomegranate & Rosemary White Sangria {Food}

P and I hosted our second annual friends Christmas this last Saturday! We enjoyed fellowship, laughter, and the beauty of the season with our dear friends. This pomegranate and rosemary white sangria is as beautiful as it is delicious, and is the perfect addition to any holiday party. Make sure to have extra pomegranates on hand, and place one rosemary stalk in each glass (I used my favorite bedazzled clothespins to keep them in place). Merry Christmas everyone, and happy entertaining. 

With Love,

A

Photos by Preston Anderson 

The Empress 1908 {Food}

Ever since trying "The Empress 1908" at the Empress Hotel in Victoria B and I have been talking about recreating this impressive cocktail. The drink is made up of tea infused vodka making it a light, clean, and refreshing cocktail.Our helpful waiter gave us a few tips on the steeping process but we followed this recipe to ensure we had all the ingredients just right. 

I was so excited to share this drink with my sister and her husband who are visiting this week. Because the tea is steeped the night before and there are so few ingredients it was easy to whip up on a moments notice. 

:: Ingredients ::

1 1/2 ounce(s) Empress Tea-infused vodka

3/4 ounce(s) fresh lemon juice

3/4 ounce(s) Simple Syrup

3/4 ounce(s) egg white (1/2 of one egg white)

:: Directions ::

1.  To make infused vodka, steep a 750-milliliter bottle of vodka with 4 tea bags of Earl Grey, for four hours. Discard tea.

2. Combine all ingredients and shake vigorously with ice. Strain into martini glass with a half sugar rim.

Thanks for reading, 

L

Photo's by Brendan & Laura Lorentz