I can’t believe not one of you made a comment yesterday about my awesome tub photo.

Come on people, I cleaned up. I made sure the pumas stone, heel file, razor, shaving cream, loofah, and other junk was out of the photo. I’d had a pedicure just a couple days before, so my toes looked all pretty…

I even lit the bird candle!

And not one comment about any of it. I have to say, I’m a little disappointed.

Oh well, even so, I will still do as I promised and give you three recipes today. Three in one day! Yeah, no problem. 🙂

Karen and Bob enjoying their Blackberry- Meyer Lemon Gin & Tonics. Bob had shoulder surgery on December 26th, so my cocktails were a good substitute for any pain meds.

I’m just here to be of service.
Seriously though – Cheers to a speedy recovery, Bob!

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The second installment of Twelve Days of Christmas Gifts from the Kitchen.

On the second day of Christmas
My true love gave to me:
Cranberry Citrus Vodka
and a bottle of Tomato Dust

This crimson cranberry vodka is easy to make, just a little time-consuming because you must poke each cranberry to open it up so it will impart its goodness into the vodka. But it is time easily spent.  I used a wooden skewer and did the chore while I watched television. I was done in no time.

Make whatever quantity you want, but I can share with you that 3-pounds of fresh cranberries, 2 lemons, 2 limes, 3 tablespoons sugar, and a 1.75-liter bottle of vodka will make three 1-liter bottles of Cranberry Citrus Vodka.

You need to put this together at least 2 weeks before you plan to use it or give it away. When giving as a gift, it would be ever so thoughtful to include a Crantini recipe card with your gift. The recipe for the Crantini is at the end of the post.

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Isn’t this centerpiece, featuring a kiwifruit, so very pretty? I found the image on Pinterest, it comes from Style Me Pretty and Anna Costa Photographers. Consider it my gift to all you wonderful moms out there, especially my Mother-in-Law, Patricia Hopkins! We love you!  xoxoxo

Happy Mother’s Day.

This year marks my first Mother’s Day not having at least one of my kids home with me.

I was actually expecting to feel all sad and sorry for myself, but that would be ridiculous! I have managed to raise two of the most amazing people on Earth.

I adore them and I know that they love me. So what’s to fret about?

If you have your kids with you today, be sure to appreciate that fact, and if you don’t – it’s OK – sit back, relax, enjoy a kiwi mojito, and know that you are blessed. xoxo

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After our luxurious and relaxing day at the Willow Spring Spa at the Scottsdale Princess Resort on Friday, the very first thing I wanted to do when I got back home was to make a huge pitcher of spa water. You know what I’m talking about – the glorious fruit and herb-infused waters they always have available to you at a luxury spa.

My absolute favorite flavor is one that I call “Summer’s Splendor”.  To make it –  find as huge a pitcher or dispenser as will fit in your refrigerator. Throw in several handfuls of fresh basil leaves, peel and then thinly slice one English cucumber and add it to the basil. Then take 1 or 2 lemons, wash really well, thinly slice, and add to the mix. Fill the picture with cold water and refrigerate.

I like to make this just before I go to bed and then enjoy it for the next day or two. Be sure to give it a good 12 to 18 hours to macerate and let the flavors blend.

Below you’ll find another 12 flavor blends to give you a nice baker’s dozen.

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I was in Florida last week visiting our friends, Kathy and Chris Froggatt. We went out a couple nights and had the most fabulous fish at two of their favorite restaurants. Plus we cooked at home with lobster one night.  More on that in the days to come; what I want to share with you today is a delicious pomegranate martini recipe that Chris made for us… and happily, more than once.

Thank you Chris and Kathy, you are perfect hosts and I had a wonderful time, in spite of the humidity. 🙂  xoxo

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I had planned on posting one of the several peach dishes I made over the weekend, but instead, I must share this totally fab and oh-so-refreshing grape cooler. Remember these lovely grapes my dad brought me from the garden of a friend of his? Well, I put them to their highest and best possible use… a cocktail, of course!

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I’m gearing up for a demonstration cooking class in the garden next weekend.  In that garden spirit, I made myself a delicious breakfast gazpacho drink this morning, what a way to get the day started!

I hope you’ll come out to see me at Berridge Nurseries (4647 E. Camelback in Phoenix) next Saturday, April 16th, at noon.

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On Friday, I was buzzing around and feeling very accomplished and happy with myself, getting all sorts of errands and housecleaning done.  And suddenly it hit me – I’m so stinking hot! Even though I had my A/C on (ugh!) and it was set to 75 degrees, which is ridiculous, I know! It was 96 degrees outside and that’s what it felt like inside the house to me.  What to do? I’d been drinking water all day, in fact, I was counting and I’d already drank five 16-ounces glasses.  I needed something more.  I don’t drink soda or coffee (iced or otherwise) and I was already up to my eyeballs in iced tea, which I drank like a horse the day before, as the temps were rising. Finally, it dawned on me, that I’d make myself an agua fresca.  Agua frescas are popular fruit beverages in Central America and the Caribbean. Depending on the natural sweetness of the fruit, sugar or simple syrup may be added as a sweetener.  I wasn’t looking for anything sweet, just something more refreshing and satisfying than water. Trust me, this hit the spot, I plan on making agua frescas with ripe summer fruits all summer long.

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I was treated to a fabulous lunch at T. Cooks at the Royal Palms yesterday by my two “cooking cohorts” Barb Fenzl and Kim Howard. Kim told us about a delicious martini she’d had over the weekend at Modern Steak, called Retail Therapy.  It sounded so good and I knew I’d want to re-create here, but hadn’t thought I’d be doing it so soon.

I brought home an unwanted souvenir from my recent travels – a furious head cold! I’ve been downing the Sudefed and Nyquil like candy, but last night didn’t think I could stand even one more dose. So instead, I opted for my own remedy, which I shall rename Head Cold Therapy! It worked like a charm – I slept like a baby. This may not be the perfect remedy for everyone, but it is one great martini!

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“Hi, I’m back!”  That is what I feel like saying because I haven’t put up a new post in 12 days! “What?”, you say, “That doesn’t make sense, I just read your post from yesterday.” (you DID read it, didn’t you?!?!) Well, as previously stated, there is a wonderful thing in the blogging world called “scheduling a post”, so all the posts of the past 12 days were done weeks ago, so I really do feel as if I’m finally “back at it!”

Dave and I had a glorious trip to Wisconsin to stay at the gorgeous log cabin (really a big lavish house!) on a lake, in the “North Woods” where life is slow and relaxing. I was able to snap an even better picture of a bald eagle this year than I was able to snap last year… here it is!

The cabin belongs to our BFF’s, Jeff and Jen, and their three boys. Jen is a fabulous cook and one of the best parts of the trip is cooking with her and eating on the deck (overlooking the lake, of course) with our husbands. After each meal, the guys ask, “Why do we ever bother to go out to eat when the food here is so much better than anything we pay for?”  Good question!

Next year, I vote, we just stay in! A favorite all week long (for us adults) was this drink that I learned to make when Dave, Marissa, Connor, and I were in Turk & Caicos in May. And since we came home to 110-degree heat, I may be making another batch later today! As promised yesterday, you’ll find pictures of my fridge from classes at the bottom of the post.

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