They don’t call it lazy summers for nothing. With kids out of school and the days hot and BBQs galore, blogging every other day has been a little tough. Lazy, lazy, lazy. You feelin’ me? I feel lazy but definitely don’t like to show it. Ok, so I may be late to some shindigs, but I like it to look like it’s because I was working so hard in the kitchen bringing something yummy to the party. Half of which is true. It’s something yummy and I made it in the kitchen, but working hard does not need to be in the equation to make it good.
My spinach artichoke dip is so easy, quick and comes all together in one pot! Yes, ONE pot! I call it vanishing because as soon as it hits the table, it gets eaten up quite quickly. I made this for Annielaurie’s party last week. She is a dear friend who lived in LA and moved to Colorado and was back visiting, 4 kids in tow and one in the belly! Strongest, coolest woman I know. Anyways, I put down my Arty dip and went inside to help my daughter change into her swimsuit. I came out and the bowl was empty! Not kidding! Literally gone and licked clean! You will be popular if you bring this dip and you may be invited to every BBQ because of it…not for your company – just for your dip. Hope you guys enjoy this one and know that it is definitely not so nice (on your waistline) …it’s a naughty one – full fat but hey, gluten free! hehehe…
Vanishing Spinach Arty Dip
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As you can see from above, I love my Trader Joe's! Buy a few bags of frozen spinach and frozen artichokes and you can make this dip anytime. See notes below to see my favorite plant-based mayo.
As you can see from above, I love my Trader Joe's! Buy a few bags of frozen spinach and frozen artichokes and you can make this dip anytime. See notes below to see my favorite plant-based mayo.
Empty bag of frozen artichokes and bag of frozen spinach into boiling water.
Once water gets back up to boiling point, let it cook for 5 more minutes.
Remove from stove and use lid to drain all the water out.
Add mayo, parmesan, cream cheese and salt (optional pepper flakes). Stir with wooden spoon with a little pressure to break apart the artichokes. Taste and add more salt if needed.
Pour into your favorite dip bowl or a bread bowl. (I made my artichoke bowl with the guidance of my talented ceramist friend Gabrielle)
Serve with tortilla chips, bread pieces or your favorite dipper!
Recipe Notes
This is my all time favorite mayonnaise! It's plant-based, GMO free, eggless sustainable mayonnaise and it's also delicious. I feel better giving my family this mayonnaise and it tastes just like real homemade mayo. I like to share the staples with you because we are always searching for the healthiest and tastiest versions of food if you can't make it at home.
I have a kind, sweet friend, Sandra, who decided to start a new life in Spain! Ole! We had a get together to say good-bye and wish her the best in her new adventure. We are hoping she will find a nice… who am I kidding…a hot, young, sexy latin man to get her fire going! To celebrate, I decided to make summery, refreshing, sweet sangria for the new, sweet life ahead of her. We will miss you Sandra!
Sparkling Cucu Berry Rose Sangria
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You can use a white wine if you don't have rose handy. Rose is so pretty though and adds such a nice touch to any summery day.
Get a large pitcher and fill the pitcher up with ice.
Add strawberries, cucumbers and lemons
Pour rose, lemonade soda, vodka, triple sec and simple syrup* into the pitcher. Stir well with long wooden spoon. I made 2 pitcher so I could use the whole bottle of wine since 1/2 goes in each pitcher.
Fill wine glasses with fresh ice, pour your pink sangria and garnish with a round lemon slice.
Recipe Notes
*simple syrup is boiled down sugar water (1 part sugar, 2 parts water) and boil down until the liquid coats the back of your spoon.
I have so much fun coming up with new drink recipes. Is it tapping into my creativity or is it the literal buzz I get during the process? Hmm, it’s both, but mostly the latter! I had friends coming over for a BBQ and was trying to come up something different and nostalgic for them to try. Something that reminded them of childhood in a grown-up kind of way. I grabbed a handful of grapes, a bottle of vodka and went to work.
My original idea was having it on the rocks. I finished the drink and it tasted like a naughty grape soda. It was very good, but darn it, it’s summertime and it’s hot! I dumped my sample glass in the blender to turn it into a slushy! Ahhh…that took it to a 80s childhood level! This sparked 10 year old Ping walking into her Auntie Jane’s convenience store and pulling the lever to fill her extra large cup up with grape Slush Puppie, sucking it down so fast that a brain freeze was inevitable. Yes, I just wrote in 3rd person! Yes, I taste tested a lot today!
Hence, the creation of my Grown-up Grape Slush Puppie! Of course, this version is free of corn syrup, dye and artificial flavors and replaced with fruit and vodka! It’s just the perfectly sweet nostalgic adult concoction.
Fresh Grown-up Grape Slush Puppie
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On the rocks or blended, this grape cocktail will satisfy your sweet tooth.
In the past, the thought of gin brought back memories of that typical story of a 21 run where you drink way too many cheap gin and tonics that went down oh-so easy but came back up in a violent, stick-my-head-out-the-wind-like-a-drunk-dog in your boyfriend’s car kind of way. Remember that? No? Was it just me? I remember just the smell of gin would make me gag! Well, we’re not in the 90’s anymore! I’ve discovered a new gin! Hendricks gin! Traditional gin is infused with juniper berries whereas Hendricks also adds Bulgarian rose and cucumber in theirs. The flavor is distinctive and a far cry from your mama’s gin..wait, that’s me…
In the last few years, the Moscow Mule has made a big comeback and the lemon, ginger beer and mint in a mule recipe are perfect accompaniments to this gin. So, I’ve created a mule of my own with gin rather than the traditional vodka and added cucumber to bring out the essence of this spirit.
BTW, Hendrick’s gin did not sponsor or pay me for my rave reviews, however if anyone from there reads this, I’d gladly accept cases of it!!
Mama's Mule
Print Recipe
Have fun and serve them in traditional copper mugs if you have them!
Cut 1/2 the lime into 4 wedges. Put wedges of lime, mint and cucumber in a shaker glass
Use a small wooden spoon or a muddler and smash the lime, mint and cucumber until the juice of the lime is squeezed out and the mint and cucumber are broken.
Fill 3/4 of the shaker with ice and add gin.
Shake it like a polaroid picture! Like you mean it and incorporate the gin, ice and mint mixture together well. This is how you make it delicious!
Fill 2 low ball glasses with fresh ice.
Strain drink evenly into both glasses.
Pour ginger beer to the top of each glass. Garnish with cucumber slices and mint to make it look pretty.
For me, I like to keep it simple and garnish it with just a sprig of mint. Keep the extra cucumbers to make more Mama's Mule!
My husband and I are into a whiskey kick these days and I love making drinks with seasonal items. We went strawberry picking with the kids this spring when the strawberries are so perfect, they taste like candy! So I came up with this refreshing fresh strawberry and basil concoction to celebrate springtime!
Bourbon or rye you ask? Bourbon is made over half with corn and tends to be sweeter and have hints of vanilla. Rye is made over half with rye and tends to be dryer and have a spice to it. I prefer bourbon myself but these days, the popularity of rye whiskey has risen and is the hipster choice.
Put strawberries and basil in a shaker tin. Crush them together with a muddler or a wooden spoon. Fill the shaker with ice and pour the rest of the ingredients in. Cap the shaker and shake hard like you're in a heavy metal mariachi band. Take two rocks (low-wide) glasses and pour them evenly into them or you can fill the glasses with fresh ice and strain the liquid into the glasses. You can rim the glass with sugar or keep it plain and either garnish them with a sprig of basil or a whole strawberry.
Recipe Notes
*You can make simple syrup at home by boiling down 1 cup of sugar to 2 cups of water until the mixture coats the back of a spoon. Let it cool and pour it into a reusable glass bottle/jar.
Bourbon or rye you ask? Bourbon is made over half with corn and tends to be sweeter and have hints of vanilla. Rye is made over half with rye and tends to be dryer and have a spice to it. I prefer bourbon myself but these days, the popularity of rye whiskey has risen and is the hipster choice.
