Happy Friday: Plum Fizz

Posted by kait / March 15, 2013

Happy Friday, friends! After a tricky week of weather here in Calgary (and likely elsewhere in the world) I felt we all deserved a tasty drink to get the weekend started off right. I came up with this sweet little cocktail recipe featuring my new favourite drink obsession: Umeshu, Japanese plum wine. It is absolutely delicious, sweet and maybe slightly addictive. Regardless, I think you will enjoy the Plum Fizz!

What you need:

Umeshu Plum Wine (similar here)
DRY Juniper Berry Soda
Sliced Plums
Ice Cubes

Pull it together:

Drop an ice cube in each glass. Spear a slice of plum with a toothpick it and rest on the edge of the glass.

Fill the glass halfway with the Umeshu. Or fill it more if you want it boozy.

Here comes the fizz part! Top with the Juniper Berry Soda. Yum….

Reposition your speared plum and drop in a pretty straw. Now, slowly raise the glass to your lips and take a healthy sip. It should taste like a fizzy liquified version of the candies, Sweet Tarts. Sweet and tart with a whole lot of fizz!

Your weekend can now begin. Hope you have a great one and please let me know if you have any great cocktail ideas that I could try out!

Plum Fizz made especially for yuppielove. All photos by Kait Kucy.

Lavender Glass from Anthropologie.

Candy Cane Vodka Float with Village Ice Cream

Posted by kait / January 1, 2013

candycanefloat1

I know the question you are all wondering as you sit at home with various remnants from your holidays scattered throughout your kitchen – what am I supposed to do with all of this candy cane ice cream now that Christmas is over?! No matter where you picked up your Candy Cane Ice Cream (ours came from the beloved Village Ice Cream!) you can make it even more delightful as you transition from full on holiday-mode back to your regular scheduled cocktail sipping programming.

what ya gotta put down:

Village Ice Cream Candy Cane Ice Cream

Vodka (we used Smirnoff)

Peppermint Schnapps

Crushed Candy Cane Sprinkles

Club Soda

mix it up:

Start off by pouring a shot of vodka into your class. Swirl it up a bit with half a shot of the peppermint schnapps. Fill your glass halfway with soda. Here comes the absolutely delicious part! Scoop up your Candy Cane Ice Cream into perfect round scoops and drop into your glass. Top up with more soda until the ice cream floats to the edge of the glass. Sprinkle with crushed candy cane and drop a candy cane striped straw in. Slurp up and enjoy this seasonally delightful treat well into the New Year. Though it depends on how long you can make your ice cream last!

It was an absolute pleasure to hang out at Village Ice Cream with Billy again and create this yummy ice cream float! It’s a beautiful space to grab a handmade waffle cone and your favourite flavour. Plus, Billy and his team are always coming up with tasty new flavours so check in often.

cup-of-ice-cream

full-view

looking hot at 175

Posted by kait / September 6, 2012

Yesterday, a giant box arrived for me unexpectedly and upon opening a pink heart helium balloon popped out! Officially announcing to me that it is Holt Renfrew’s 175 Birthday! Attached to the pretty balloon was six limited edition Diet Coke bottles made especially for the luxury Canadian retailer’s celebration. It is amazing to think about that company 175 years ago – how much our world has changed and how much fashion has changed. Happy Birthday Holt Renfrew – you are looking hot at 175. Cheers. *clinks Coke bottle*

thirsty // pimm’s strawberry lemonade snow cone

Posted by kait / August 9, 2012

I am super spoiled. My lovely brother Tom and his girlfriend Morgan gifted me a Snow Cone machine for my birthday this past week. How the heck they knew I wanted one so badly – I’ll never know but I am so excited to have one…..again. Yes, I had a snow cone machine before. When I was a kid (not sure the exact age) I saved up all of my money and bought a snow cone machine from Walgreens or another store of such calibre. It is only looking back now that I realize that only a true foodie would spend their hard earned allowance on a snow cone machine or a kitchen appliance of any kind. Most kids would have bought a doll or some Lego or colouring books. Anyways, it was quite possibly the best snow cone machine ever. It had Snoopy on it. You can see a .

Anyways, I am so happy to have one again because we all know that I love icy cold treats but sometimes a girl has GOT to give up that ice cream and fro yo for something a little bit more snow-like for the sake of calories. I love the taste of Pimm’s with strawberries so I thought a lemonade + mint spin on a snow cone would do the trick for these hot hot days we are having.

what you’ll be putting down:

snow cone machine
chopped strawberries
pimm’s
fresh min
lemon juice

throw it together: first of all make the snow. Make more than you might need because it might melt before your cocktail is even ready! Mix your chopped strawberries with your snow in a bowl. In another smaller bowl, mix Pimm’s with lemon juice. Use your own discretion – the boozier it is the better, right? Fill up your snow cone cup with snow and strawberries. Garnish with some fresh mint (this is going to add SO much flavour to the drink. Yum!). Slowly pour Pimm’s and lemon mixture over snow. Top with a little extra snow and serve up with a tiny spoon.

I’ve always been a cherry or blue raspberry girl when it comes to snowcones. I can’t wait until I get my hands on some of those super sugary concoctions but until then this fresh and delicious take on the classic cone’d dessert will do the trick. What’s a hot day without a snow cone?

thirsty // coconut + rhubarb + gin in a jar {camp edition}

Posted by kait / July 19, 2012

This has got be my new favourite cocktail. Forget the Pina Colada – this frothy coconut milk drink is a true dream. It is almost a milkshake, almost a float, almost a bona fide cocktail. The delicious fresh rhubarb does it give it a bitter edge so if you like super sweet drinks this is definitely not for you. It is also perfect for camping. Freeze up in your mason jars until you are ready to hit the road. Once they have defrosted, top up with some ginger ale and a straw and you are ready for slurping!

what you’ll be putting down:

1/2 cup Lite Coconut Milk
3/4 cup frozen cubed rhubarb
1 tbsp of Lingonberry Syrup (IKEA!)
1 jigger of gin
Ginger Ale

tip! add fresh grated ginger into the mix too if you like a little bit of zing!

mix it up, honey:

Throw all your ingredients except the ginger ale into a blender. Blend until totally smooth. The rhubarb can be a little string at times but just keep pulsing until it is in tiny little bits. Yum. Pour into mason jars and store in the freezer until ready to drink. Or serve up immediately and cool off.

Rhubarb is a pretty weird thing to serve up in a cocktail. What is your must-have weird ingredient?

thirsty // blueberry peach sangria

Posted by kait / July 12, 2012

Need to cool down during this beautiful heat wave? Grab some fresh fruit and a bottle of red wine and mix yourself some sangria! This is a blended version of the classic summertime drink and you can make each glass one a time to ensure maximum deliciousness.

what you need:

a blender
red wine (i used Red Bicyclette’s Pinot Noir)
frozen blueberries
sliced fresh peaches (leave the skins on if you like pulpy goodness)
1 oz of gin
honey

pull it together:

In your blend, pour in as much wine as you can fit into your chosen glass. Could be a lot, could be a little. I ain’t here to judge – its summer! Next toss in the frozen blueberries (these will make your sangria smoothie nice and cold) and 3/4 of the sliced peaches. Douse the mixture with one ounce of gin and a spoonful of honey to sweeten it u p a bit. Blend until smooth and frothy. Serve up in your glass and garnish with the remaining peach slices.

What do you put in your sangria? I am thinking a citrus sangria with white wine or a light prosecco might be my next experiment!

thirsty // village ice cream rum + coke floats

Posted by kait / July 5, 2012

This Canada Day I had the pleasure of hanging out at Village Ice Cream, Calgary’s only small batch house-made ice cream shop. My pal Billy is the owner and to celebrate the birthday of our nation we thought something alcoholic stacked with ice cream would do the trick. Spiced Rum + Coke Floats to be exact!

what you are gonna need:

Coke! Glass bottled works best.
Rum! I picked up a bottle of The Kraken Spiced Rum and it is absolutely delicious. Also, check out the fantastic packaging design.
Toasted Coconut Ice Cream from Village Ice Cream (non-locals will have to find a replacement)
Straws
Glass Jars

pull it together:

Floats are pretty simple. First pour your preferred amount of rum. For our large jars about an inch seemed to do the trick. Next carefully pour in the coke – make sure it doesn’t over flow and be sure to leave room for ice cream. The ice cream mixed with the carbonation creates foam. Depending on your float style either drop a couple scoops of ice cream straight into the float or using an ice cream dip the scoops slowly into the drink.

Drop your straw in + sip!

Ah…now wasn’t that refreshing? A fun adult spin on a childhood favourite, most certainly.

Enjoy!

There are endless things you could put ice cream on or in. How do you serve up your scoops?

thirsty // the whiskey blue

Posted by kait / June 21, 2012

Oh gosh, this quite possibly could be the most delicious thing you will drink all summer. The WHISKEY BLUE is a delight! I recently picked up some Spicebox Whiskey – a small batch company out of Montreal, Quebec – based solely on their beautiful logo and packaging. I have to say before now I have never been a whiskey drinker but with this fruity concoction I am kinda sold on the whole idea.

get it together:

2 shots of Spicebox Spiced Whiskey
1.5 cups Pomegranate Juice
0.25 cup Blueberry Syrup (I made mine by cooking blueberries with a dash of honey + water over low heat)
Scoop of Pomegranate Seeds
Lots of Ice
A Blender

blend it:

Mix all ingredients in blender to create the ultimate slush cup for adults. Pour into glasses of your choice and sprinkle some pomegranate seeds for a little somethin’ extra. Slurp away your summer afternoon.

I’ve made slush cocktails on the go before with a Strawberry Slurpee and Sir Perry’s Pear Cider. Totally delicious. What is your favourite slushy drink?

thirsty // lazy day park punch

Posted by kait / June 14, 2012

I love summer. Summer + parks. Summer + parks + friends. Summer + parks + friends + drinks. The other day the weather was just so perfect – it was like the sun was calling me to the park to meet my friend for an afternoon catch-up. Not one to leave the house empty handed, I packed up a picnic blanket and concocted something I’d like to call Lazy Day Park Punch. There can definitely be many variations on the Lazy Day Park Punch but in this case it had a synonym of Lavender Champagne Gin Punch – on ice.

What you need:

crushed ice
one thermos (like mine here)
2 cups of champagne or prosecco
1 bottle of DRY Lavender Soda
3 shots of gin (yes, we live dangerously)

What to do:

Starting with the ice, mix all ingredients into thermos. No need to stir or shake – your walk to the park will do that for you. Serve up in cups once at the park.

Cheers + enjoy!

Hey, what do you drink in the park? Are you a wino? A brown-paper-bagger? A Baileys-in-the-coffee type?

thirsty // pimms + grapefruit

Posted by kait / June 7, 2012

years ago i was out with some girlfriends at a new lounge downtown and somehow started sipping a delicious cocktail that involved Pimms and grapefruit. ever since that day, when i am pondering making cocktails for a party i reminisce about the soft summery taste of that longlost cocktail. i decided to give up on waiting for someone else to make it for again and just pick up some Pimms and make my own concoction.

pull it together:

1 1/2 shot of Pimms No. 1
a dash of squeezed grapefruit (with some pulp if you like your cocktails thick)
1/2 cup of grapefruit juice
1/4 cup club soda
sliced cucumber
wedges of grapefruit or orange
crushed ice

prepare two glasses with crushed ice and squeezed grapefruit + pulp. fill your glass/jar/shaker with crushed ice. pour 3 shots of Pimms No. 1 in – toss in a little extra if you are celebrating. add grapefruit juice and stir. strain mixture over your two glasses and top with club soda. serve up with some sliced cucumber and a wedge of orange.

make a toast and take a sip. i’m looking forward to sharing more of my favourite cocktail bar recipes every thursday! next week, i will share a spicy version of a classic manhattan.

any parties on the horizon? are you making your signature cocktail?