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Orangecello + Bon’s Sidecar

Forgive me, I am about to go off about Downton Abbey again so hang with me if this bores you because either way, there is a drink recipe at the end.

We all know I am obsessed with Downton Abbey, like the rest of the world, it seems. I find inspiration from that time period everywhere and this time I found it in my cocktail. A month before Christmas, I threw some vodka in a few jars of oranges. It was supposed to be a Christmas present for my sister but I clearly didn’t make it in time if I thought a miracle would turn it to liqueur in time. So, I kinda forgot about it until I was suddenly craving a “Sidecar”. This lovely drink was brought about in France during/after WWI because of the 2 available liquors, Cointreau and Cognac. It apparently floated over to the U.S. during a not so convenient time, Prohibition. Today it is ever so popular because of the increasingly fascinating speakeasy establishments of today which I am kinda obsessed with right now. Obviously, purchasing alcohol is not illegal anymore and we are not threatened with imprisonment, but it’s still super-fun to be in a place that is secret or exclusive in some way, don’t you think?

I enjoy a good handcrafted cocktail, especially on the weekends when I have a chance to wind down from teaching school, managing a household, and just the running around that comes with the average week. The cleaning and the cooking always stay but that’s just the way it is. We have to eat and I prefer to have it clean around here anyway. All that to say, it’s nice to have something to relax you for the weekend or during the weekend.

For the Sidecar:

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For the classic sidecar cocktail, there are supposed to be equal parts orange liqueur, cognac, and lemon juice. I made it three different ways and picked my favorite. Equal parts left too much sour lemon flavor for my taste. Cognac is often swapped for Brandy or even Bourbon. Even though I love Bourbon, I actually prefer Brandy or Cognac in mine because I think it balances better with the lemon.

In the end, I chose this combo:

Bon’s Sidecar:

1 part orange liqueur (as made below or Cointreau)

1 part Cognac

1/2 part lemon juice

Shake on ice and pour over ice.

(note: If you are planning on making this as a gift, start it about 12 weeks before you want to give it away)

Orangecello:

orange vodka-

4 c. vodka

4 oranges, cleaned and the sweeter the better

Simply slice all of the oranges and put them in a lidded jar with 4 c. of vodka. Place it in a cool place for at least 2 weeks (mine was a month). Then strain the pieces out and store for another few weeks. Now it’s ready to be sweetened…

orangecello/orange liqueur-

1 Part water

1 part sugar

4 parts orange flavored vodka

Dissolve the sugar in the water over medium heat. Cool. Now, add the simple syrup (sugar+water) to the orange vodka until it tastes the way you want it too (I use all of it:)). Put the resulting liquid in a jar and leave in a dark place for at least 6 weeks. You can find jars like mine for gifting at The Container Store.

Be sure to share with a friend…it’s always better that way.

Has anyone made it before?

What’s your favorite drink to mix it in?

Earl Grey and Grapefruit zest cookies

Earl Grey Cookies with Grapefruit Zest

(adapted from Martha Stewart)

2 T. earl grey tea, from tea bags (ground)

2 c. flour

1 c. butter (2 sticks), room temperature

1/2 c. confectioner’s sugar

1 T. grapefruit zest

Combine the tea and flour in a bowl. In your mixer bowl or another bowl, mix the butter, sugar, and grapefruit zest on medium until pale and fluffy. Turn the speed to low and add flour slowly until just combined. Separate the dough and roll each in a separate piece of parchment paper to form a log. You want the log to be about 1 1/2 in. thick. Twist the ends and freeze for at least an hour or until you are ready to use them. Once ready, pre-heat the oven to 350 degrees, cut the logs into 1/4 in slices, and bake about 12-15 minutes. Cool, eat, and share!

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Old and New

I was SOOO blessed to be able to tag along with my husband on a business to San Francisco.

Oh, man.

It was so nice to get away. Time with my husband is so important to me…more important than time with my kiddos. Should be that way, right? It’s so necessary to not just maintain a relationship through the stuff that makes up life, but to GROW it. We are deliberate about “dating” each other constantly and I think God has REALLY blessed us because of it. I love being near that guy and I hope that never goes away.

God knew we needed this time together. He always knows stuff like that. That’s why He’s awesome.

I love this picture because of the contrast of old and new. The buildings in the front are some of the “Painted Ladies” of San Francisco, adjacent to Alamo square. They were built starting in 1849 and yes, they were totally the houses in the opening song of “Full House”. East Coast people, that’s old for here in the “New Frontier” of the west coast. if you stand at the bottom of the hill, you see just the ladies…lovely ladies. As you walk up the hill, you start to see the city appear behind them.

It’s breathtaking.

I immediately thought about how cool it was that these original homes were standing over the newer buildings in the background. The people who built the original houses there would be flabbergasted at the magnitude of this city now. God sure has given man amazing gifts to build.

temples

pyramids

castles

cathedrals

log cabins

painted ladies

skyscrapers

Seriously. Amazing.

Linking up with Heather:

Found

One of my very favorite things to see in creation are plants growing from little tiny seeds. I love the way the little seedlings grow and stretch their little “arms” toward the sky, as if they have just awakened from the best nap EVER.

Jesus uses the example of a mustard seed here in Mark 4:30…

And he said, “With what can we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable shall we use for it? It is like a grain of mustard seed, which, when sown on the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on earth, yet when it is sown it grows up and becomes larger than all the garden plants and puts out large branches, so that the birds of the air can make nests in its shade.”

I LOVE that something so small can eventually be used for a much greater purpose.

How awesome is that?

My garden is such an incredible place to spend time in because it’s a reminder to me that God uses me the same way as the seeds I am planting (eating the fabulously fresh produce doesn’t hurt, though).

It reminds me: He has great plans for you, Bon.

Plans that are even bigger than you can see right now.

We always say we want to know what’s going to happen, but if He told us now, His plan would probably blow our minds or we would just not believe it.

When you feel like you are ONLY alive to work, eat, and sleep, remember His promises.

When I first heard that there was going to be a place like Beautifully Rooted, I was sooo excited. The people who have reached out to me with their words every day for the last few years have now joined with other awesome people I am getting to know, in one space. I have followed Heather for so long her blog even had a different name and she had only a few followers. She’s come so far in inspiring us all! Now Heather and Rachel have brought this glorious new space for Jesus followers to gather.

Check it out:

Linking with Heather’s “Found” photo challenge.

A great way to capture God in our everyday life:

Pattern Review: a dress for the Mama, too

Make a dress for a night out? Yes! I finally did!

I love to make little girl’s dresses. It’s very satisfying work. It helps that my sweet girl seems to appreciate it immensely, but I would still do it anyway. I have cut out soooo many patterns for dresses for myself, but I have a hard time making up my mind since it’s such a larger scale that a little girl’s dress (1 yard vs. 3 yards). I’ve made clothes for myself…a few skirts here and there and a few lame shirts. I’ve worn them around the house but I’m such a perfectionist, I was always afraid of the dreaded, “Did you make that yourself?” question. The question swirls around in my head and comes out more like, “Did you attempt to patch some fabric together and wrap it around your body in order to form a piece of clothing?” I’m sure people mean well, but I would prefer my clothes to NOT look homemade.

Is that so very wrong?

So, I found this sweet and super-easy way of making a dress from the always lovely and always inspiring Anna Maria. I saw it like a year and a half ago and knew it was going to be perfect and it only took me that long to actually make it. At least I finally did, right? You can find the sewing instructions on her blog here and be sure to poke around a bit because there is a lot for a creative sponge to soak up.

The pattern was easy to so because it was made from 4 panels of fabric which are the same size. Craziness! It has such a pretty drape considering that. The waist is sewn with elastic thread which is covered by my belt in these pictures. I HIGHLY recommend this pattern. You will not be disappointed.

I found this fabric from Hart’s fabric ( my favorite fabric website). I knew I loved it right away and I didn’t care if anyone else did. I love that feeling. This fabric was waiting for this dress pattern. I know that now.