Beverages

Cool Blackberry Basil Smoothie

July 7, 2017 by mollygilbert520 1 Comment

Summer is feeling HOT here in Seattle, and as a result we’ve been on a smoothie kick in our house lately. Give us all the frozen fruit! (And all the pancakes, too, because it’s actually more like a smoothie-and-pancake-kick, if I’m honest, because #balance (and also #toddler), and it’s kind of my favorite thing.)

Aside from being a generally healthy and cooling treat, I’m loving the smoothie life because have you ever watched a one-year-old with very minimal hair growth slurp smoothie from his tiny cup and then look at you and go “mmm” very matter-of-factly? Hot weather or not, I will keep make smoothies as long as I get to watch this happen.

I love all manner of frozen fruit for smoothies (we’re generally big on peaches, strawberries, blueberries and cherries over here), but when The Oregon Raspberry and Blackberry Commission challenged me to come up with a blackberry smoothie recipe with an unexpected flavor twist, I jumped at the chance. And given the lovely fresh herbs available this time of year, my mind went immediately to basil. I kept it simple, letting the berries and basil shine through, and the result is one of the most refreshing cupfuls of frozen goodness you’ll find — sweet, tart, and very slightly herbaceous, not to mention the most gorgeously gorgeous shade of purple. (Does it exist in lipstick and nail polish form? Beauty experts, please say yes.)

Something in me suspects that, frozen in little cups or molds, this smoothie would transition pretty perfectly into popsicles, too. Popsicles and pancakes for breakfast? Works for me.

Oh, hey! While you’re blending your own smoothie, head on over to Instagram, where the ORBC and I are doing a fun little giveaway — all you have to do to enter is follow our accounts and tell us what you’d do with your own shipment of beautiful Oregon blackberries!

The Oregon Raspberry and Blackberry Commission provided reimbursement for the ingredients in this post. All opinions are my own.…

Gin & Ginger Fizzy Lifter

November 14, 2016 by mollygilbert520 19 Comments

So, let’s not sugarcoat it — last week was rough.

I won’t dive too deeply into my feelings on the election here, one because this is a food blog and you’re probably not here for my political commentary, and two because I’m not even sure I have the right words to describe the depth of my heartbreak and fear, but I’ll just say that, in light of our impending political landscape, I’m vowing to be better. Going forward, I’m going to be more informed, more active, more protective of the causes that matter to me, louder, bolder… better. This is my country and, no matter who our president-elect is, I’m going to have a say.

Can we toast to that?

This sharp and bubbly little cocktail is my contribution to the DRY virtual Holiday Pairing Party, which is happening all week. Have you heard of DRY Sparkling? They are a Seattle-based company putting out fun and refreshing sodas that are class AF. Think real cane sugar, cute glass bottles, and flavors like lavender, cucumber, juniper and lemongrass.

And now there are two new, limited-edition bottles on the shelf for the holidays – cranberry and ginger! With that in mind, a few of us bloggers are celebrating with fizzy seasonal drinks and tasty holiday food pairings, so if you’re looking for a parade of fun cocktails (and some festive nibbles, too), check out my friend Amber’s blog this Thursday for the full roundup.

I’m partial to DRY’s ginger flavor (so sharp! so refreshing!), and when I saw the fun new bottle, I wanted to dive right in. It pairs so nicely with gin and a generous splash of citrus – the Fizzy Lifter, as I’m calling it (having just finished reading Roald Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory to Calder, and also holding fast to the concept of rising above, just now) is at once light and fresh and bold and biting. It’s the perfect drink to get you through Thanksgiving meal prep and/or America’s political imbroglio.

Let’s be bold, shall we? Gin & Ginger Fizzy Lifters for everyone. Cheers!

And while we’re at it, let’s give some stuff away! Check below the recipe to find out how you can win a DRY Sparkling prize pack of your own!

Gin & Ginger Fizzy Lifter…

Ginger Peach Whiskey Smash

August 19, 2015 by mollygilbert520 33 Comments

Hey, all! Today I’m celebrating #DRINKTHESUMMER (a low-key, high-vibe, boozy internet bash created by Sherrie and Renee ) with these sweet, smokey, spicy whiskey smashes!

They’re everything that’s great about summer (which I’m trying my best to pretend isn’t almost almost over), in drink form. Juicy fresh peaches and a smack of lemon? Check. Ginger bubbles? Check. Whiskey? Check CHECK.

Let’s ignore the fact that it’s almost September (gah!) and get into this end-of-summer drink the drinks situation. Everyone’s doing it! In fact, if ginger peach whiskey smashes aren’t your thing (but like, come on… they are), you can find a whole slew of other summertime libations (both alcoholic and non) created by a great group of bloggers below!

Join the fun. #drinkthesummer!

…

Ben’s Berry Smoothie

May 8, 2013 by mollygilbert520 5 Comments

The best part of having a sister who’s getting married in September is that she will invite you to join her cake tasting committee. To “help.” (You’re so helpful!)

Also that she has found her match and will embark upon a new and happy phase of life with him by her side – that part, yes, is a pretty good part of the general your-sister-is-engaged situation. But getting invited to the wedding cake tasting is, you know, right up there.

So maybe you spent the whole weekend eating cake? And dark ganache and smooth fruit curds and various flavors of buttercream? (Thanks, A Cupcake Wonderland.) So what?

This morning, like pretty much most other mornings since you bucked up and bought a blender, you will be awoken to the sound of loud things crashing around inside that machine. On the one hand, you’ll be annoyed — in a bleary-eyed, frizzy-haired and too-tired-to-actually-get-annoyed sort of way. You’re pretty sure you were just sleeping, quite soundly, a minute ago.

On the other hand, breakfast in bed! It’s a trade-off, really.

A fruit-and-yogurt-packed smoothie rights all wrongs. It erases all traces of errant cake crumbs and swipes of buttercream. It makes you feel okay about that extra spoonful of salted peanut ganache.

Is that sort of logic foolproof? Will it hold a bunch of water? I mean, probably not. Do I still want to jump on the breakfast smoothie bandwagon? You bet your frozen berries I do.

…

Read More

Lavender Blackberry Syrup

May 17, 2012 by mollygilbert520 4 Comments

Everyone! My parents are coming! To San Francisco! They’re on their way here right now.

!!!

I’m a little bit excited. I haven’t seen them in over two months, you see, which for us is a pretty longish time. Mom and Dad! Winging out from Philadelphia!

I’ve been too excited (frantic? I’ve spent all of my free time cleaning like a mad lady – Ben loves this about me, I swear) to cook or bake much, but I did throw this lavender blackberry syrup together, and I’m excited (can you tell I’m excited?) to serve it with ice and soda water when my parents arrive. And gin? Definitely gin. Or mixed into some lemonade. Or with hot water to make tea. Over vanilla ice cream? Poured on hot pancakes? A sweet and pinkish-purply glaze for thick slices of pound cake?

You see where I’m going here. Lavender blackberry syrup: to infinity and beyond (to impress my visiting parents). Get excited!

…

Read More

Bourbon Whiskey Pomegranate Sparkler

February 3, 2012 by mollygilbert520 5 Comments

Thought you might like a cocktail. A sparkler. Don’t you like that word? Sparkler.

It’s bubbly and pinkish and Valentiney! Cute. But don’t be fooled — it’s also full of bourbon. It will punch you in the face if you’re not careful.

I don’t mix up cocktails on the regs (hi, wine), so this took some experimenting, but the combination of smokey bourbon, sweet, tart pomegranate and bright lime is a good one. Give it a try! Make it for your Valentine! Punch someone in the face with it! The possibilities are endless.

…

Read More

Summer 2011

September 6, 2011 by mollygilbert520 7 Comments

A recap:

Zach and Jeannie got married in June.

There were sour cherries in July, and other pretty things, too.

There were coffee and crumpets in Seattle.

And the requisite fried clams in Montauk.

Then Aaron and Julie got hitched, in August.

So did my parents, thirty years ago.

Cute. Nice mustache, Dad.

It’s September now, so, there you have it. My 2011 summer. One for the books, I think. Family and sunshine, and plenty of good things to eat. Lucky.

Peach Bellinis

May 24, 2011 by mollygilbert520 1 Comment

So. Things are happening, you guys.

First, my littlest sister graduated from college. College, people. There she is, cute little Wisconsin badger ball of sass, in her cap and gown. If you see her, shout out some congratulations and then give her a teaching job.* And maybe a light punch in the arm, from me.

Secondly, I made carrot cake.I used this recipe, and I ate two pieces. I’d highly recommend doing the same, if you’re into carrot cake and need something to help alleviate the feeling of extreme oldness in light of your little sister’s college graduation.

Thirdly, fourthly and fifthly, I took a road trip, found inspiration in the form of some new friends in Minneapolis, and, oh yeah, am planning a redesign of this here nook of the internets.

See? Things. Happening.

…

Hot Chocolate

March 7, 2010 by mollygilbert520 4 Comments

(Please listen to this while reading this post).

This week at school, we learned about chocolate. Cacao. Chocolat. We learned pretty much all there is to know about it – how it’s made, where it’s from, the difference between brands of milk, dark and white chocolate, and how to work with each. We tempered and we tasted, and I must say, it was a delicious week.

We made chocolate cake topped with chocolate leaves!

We made little chocolate squares filled with crispy hazelnut feulletine.

We made truffles,

And chocolate boxes to put them in.

But, there’s always room for more chocolate. So I wrote a chocolate poem (it’s not made of chocolate, though, so don’t try to eat it):

Chocolate

Choco-late, choco-late,
Cho-co-late.
Choco-late, choco-late,
It is great!
Especially
When I get to eat it.

Hot Chocolate (Hotta Chocolatta):
Adapted from Ina Garten

“Hotta, hotta, chocolatta – flip a dip a whip-a-cream in the middle of a hotta, hotta, chocolatta – pick her up and drink her down!”

Ingredients:

4 1/2 cups whole milk
4 ounces bittersweet chocolate, chopped
4 ounces milk chocolate, chopped
1 tablespoon sugar
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 teaspoon instant espresso or coffee powder
cinnamon and marshmallows, for garnish

Directions:

Heat the milk in a saucepan on medium heat to just below the simmering point. Remove the pan from the heat and add both chocolates. When the chocolates are melted, add the sugar, vanilla extract, and espresso and whisk vigorously. Reheat gently and serve immediately. Serve with a splash of cinnamon and a handful of marshmallows!

Yield: 4-5 servings

Gramma Lynn’s Birthday Cocktail

March 13, 2009 by mollygilbert520 3 Comments

I’ve heard that “birthdays are nature’s way of telling us to eat more cake.” I happen to like this idea. However, on this particular day, March 13th, Gramma Lynn’s birthday, I think a more appropriate phrase is: birthdays are nature’s way of telling us to drink more vodka.

I mean that in the absolut best way possible. (…Sorry, couldn’t resist.)

In all honesty, my Gramma Lynn is the coolest, toughest, classiest broad I know. I’ve known her for about 24.5 years now, and I just think she’s the best. When I was a kid, she used to let me play with her tubes of pink lipstick and eat all the Haagen-Dazs I wanted. She grows her own tomatoes and zucchini, and she can tell you the name of pretty much any flower that grows. She and I share a love for fresh Montauk marlin dip, old movies, PopPop, and Hugh Jackman. She reads the New York Times every day and sometimes sends me interesting articles along with notes in the loopiest, slantiest, prettiest handwriting. She’s effortlessly beautiful, like one of those 1940’s bombshells, and her signature 5pm drink is just plain admirable: vodka on the rocks with a twist, and a separate glass of ice.

I may be biased, but Grams, I think you’re dynamite. And today is your birthday! So do it up, girl – you deserve it. I love you!

See? I wasn’t kidding. Gorgeous. (“Goh-juss.”)

Vodka on the Rocks with a Twist (and a Separate Glass of Ice)

Warning: this drink is not for the faint of heart. It helps if your ancestors came from Russia. Enjoy this bold libation while you listen to Frank Sinatra and watch the Montauk sunset.

Ingredients:

Ketel One Vodka (make sure to call it “wudka”)
Splash of club soda
One thick orange wedge
Lots of ice

Directions:

Fill a rocks glass until it’s brimming with ice. Squeeze the orange wedge over the ice, and drop the wedge into the glass. Fill the glass 3/4 of the way with vodka. Add a quick splash of club soda. Drink slowly, replenishing the ice as necessary.

Disclaimer: I know that this technically isn’t vodka with a twist, since it uses a full orange wedge instead of just the peel. It’s just the Gramma way. Tomato Tomahto.

Serves 1.