{in the glass} claire's candy cane cocoa

Did you think I was gone?????? Nope not so fast. I have had to give myself a break from blogging to take care of the home base - so to speak. All is good ... I mean when you have your daughter whipping up some candy cane cocoa as a little treat - life is good!

Sometimes it is just the little things that make the holidays come alive. Like cranking up the music after dinner and everyone having to show their moves. The kids are so embarrassed when I try to do the "stanky leg" I just don't know why. Really I keep telling them that I have the moves ... that they should be impressed, take note, cherish that their mother still has the moves.

Its a hard sell!

Although the temps have been mild I long for a winter wonderland. Where the cold on your fingers and toes remind me of how crisp and clean nature is. And the warmth of the indoors just feels like home!

and the smiles that come with sledding - can't be replaced!

and when you are done .. you are done!

And you are ready for a little cocoa ... Ooops almost forgot the recipe!

claire's candy cane cocoa by claire

4 cups milk - whole is best

4 candy canes crushed

heat milk and candy canes until the candy is dissolved

pour heated candy cane milk into cups.

Mix in your favorite hot cocoa mix (or make some real stuff)

Add a drop of vanilla.

top with whipped cream and crushed candy canes.

enjoy with your family & friends!

{in the glass} blackberry prosecco float

a perfect summer treat...

First you have to start with fresh blackberries (ok I suppose you could use frozen - I am sure that would work fine - however you would miss out on the part where you literally have to slap your hand to keep from popping anymore fresh blackberries in your mouth). Ooooh and the color ... I want a blackberry dress or boots ... beautiful!

Next you need to make some wonderful blackberry syrup. Now the applications here are endless. You will use this in the float and for so much more. Syrup for pancakes, in a yummy cocktail, drizzled over ice cream or yogurt, into a sauce for meat over some goat cheese ... endless I tell you ... endless.

blackberry syrup by ann west

4 pints of fresh blackberries

3/4 cup sugar

1/4 cup water or a little less

tiny squeeze of lemon

heat and reduce for about 20 minutes and watch how those beautiful colors turn. So exciting. Strain your syrup, pressing all of the solids and getting every last bit of the wonderful syrup into your bowl. (i love a wire double mesh strainer here). Let your syrup cool.

again the color....

black berry prosecco float by ann west

2 scoops your favorite vanilla ice cream

layer this with black berry syrup

add some fresh blackberries that have a squeeze of lemon on them (tossed with thyme would be extra fancy)

fill the glass with some crisp prosecco

garnish with a mint leaf and lemon zest

delicious and a fun summer treat for adults!

Here are couple more fun drink ideas for blackberries this summer! enjoy.

blackberry fizz by ann west

in a clear 8oz glass add

4 tbls blackberry syrup

ice

fill with soda water (you could add some lemonade too, this would make it more of a punch!)

blackberry italian cream soda by ann west

2 - 3 tbls blackberry syrup

ice

club soda

1/4 or so of half and half

yum! I hope you enjoy one or all three!

{in the glass} peach sangria

It's peach time at chez moi! Texas peaches are some of the best their is - anywhere! We are just at the beginning of this wonderful sweet season here in Texas. So I hope you look forward to some yummy peachy recipes. With a quick trip to the farmers market I am a bushel of peaches rich! Now what to make?

Let's have a drink and think about it!

Peaches pair so well with wine. This sangria is refreshing but not too sweet. The addition of lime cuts the sweetness and adds a brightness to this drink. This is great to sip on these hot summer days!

Peach Sangria by ann west

1 bottle of white wine (a sauvignon blanc is a good choice with peachy tones)

1/2 cup congnac

3 peaches

1/4 cup sugar

1 lime

sprig of mint

Peel and muddle one peach with 1/4 cup sugar into a nice syrup. Peel and slice the remaining peaches. Slice your limes paper thin and place both peaches and limes in a picture. Pour your wine and congnac and stir. Let sit for an hour. Serve over ice with a splash of club soda and garnish with a peach and a spring of mint.

To make this kid friendly omit the wine and cognac and add the peachy syrup to limeade! Have fun!

{secret indulgence} - cocoa & hot buttered toast

I grew up in Oklahoma. Not really cold weather country but it has its months where the wind blows and the skies are gray. On the one or two times it actually did snow, we were completely unprepared in the clothing department. We would wear socks for mittens, doubled sweats over jeans and pile layers and layers of shirts and sweaters on for warmth. We would spend hours on hours ... scraping the snow into snowmen, making snow ice cream, erecting snow forts and throwing snowballs at cars... and running!!! It was a blast! We would arrive home half frostbitten, wet and near tears we had played so hard. Mom always made it better. As we stripped down to our underwear she would wrap us in warm towels and make us cocoa and hot buttered toast. I still love that combination today. Warm, filling just plain old good. Those were fun, fun days!

cocoa by ann west

1/4 cup droste cocoa from holland (search this one out it is worth it - actually our local store have started to carry it too! if not use your fav.)

1/3 cup sugar

1/4 cup water

Mix into a paste while heating

add:

3 1/2 - 4 cups milk

1 tsp vanilla

pinch of salt

pinch of nutmeg

serve with marshmallows and hot buttered toast. smiles!

{in the glass} pink grapefruit martini

This (pink thoughts thursday post for breast cancer awareness in the month of October) is for one of my very best friends and her beautiful mother who is a breast cancer survivor. My wonderful friend, her fabulous mother, her incredible twin sister and her wonderful older sister are celebrating a special birthday this weekend. These are some of the greatest women I know and they are all in one family. What a great job "mom" did - really. These women are strong, fun and so real - they are amazing! I can't say enough except I am so proud and so fortunate to know them. Happy Birthday and have a wonderful time together. I lift my glass to you all!

pink grapefruit martini by ann west

2 oz good vodka

splash of cointreau

1-2 oz of fresh pink grapefruit juice

1 tsp of honey or to taste

pour all ingredients in a shaker and shake it. rim glass with honey and super fine sugar if you like. garnish with a thin slice of lime. pour into a glass and have fun!

{in the glass} mimosa's

photo by ann west

Mimosa by ann west

dry champagne

fresh squeezed orange juice

1 tsp grand marnier (optional)

my favorite amounts are 2/3 champagne, 1/3 orange juice and a teaspoon of grand marnier - if you like. cheers!

{in the glass} ginger prosecco cocktail

Is it the bubbles? Not quite champagne but so fun to drink. I do like Prosecco. In fact I love to have a glass when I cook a meal on the weekends with the soundtrack for the Big Night playing in the back ... (especially track 1 Stornelli Amorisi- Claudio Villa - check it out. it will inspire). I came across this drink recipe and I made it for my book club. We so enjoyed it - hope you do too.

ginger prosecco cocktail by ann west

You will need a bottle of Prosecco - I prefer a little dry not too sweet and some ginger simple syrup - boil equal parts of water to sugar and add fresh ginger sliced. Once the sugar is dissolved cool your syrup. Pour about a tsp of the syrup in a wine glass, top with Prosecco and garnish with a twist of lime or a piece of candied ginger (or both).

enjoy!

ps If you haven't seen Big Night it is a great foodie watch.