pomegranate citrus old fashioned

 

let the holiday cocktails commence! this is my favourite time of year for so many reasons i couldn't possibly name them all, but winter cocktails are high up on the list. from holiday parties, to winter gatherings, to a big festive meal i love creating unique holiday inspired drinks. pomegranate & citrus is the perfect combination of winter flavours, plus this old fashioned is quite refreshing. i stuck to a classic whiskey base (but if you like gin as much as i do, try substituting it for that!) & used zevia's new line of cocktail mixers. they are designed specifically for alcoholic drinks & feature a lemon lime flavour, with a hint of bitters. so perfect for an old fashioned. like all of zevia's drinks, it contains no sugar or artificial sweeteners. the cans are sized smaller then a regular can of soda too so nothing goes to waste!

ingredients

  • 2 ounces whiskey, chilled
  • 1 ounce zevia's dry lemon lime mixer
  • 2 ounces 100% pomegranate juice
  • 1-2 dashes bitters
  • 1 tablespoon pomegranate seeds
  • 1 orange or lemon, to garnish
  • 1 sprig fresh rosemary, to garnish

directions

  • in a cocktail shaker add the whiskey, lemon lime mix, pomegranate juice, bitters & pomegranate seeds. shake well.
  • pour over ice. garnish with a slice of orange & a sprig of fresh rosemary.

winter night cheeseboard

 

i am in full holiday mode now! the stockings are up, the christmas music is playing & next week we are going to the local tree farm to cut down a fresh tree for modest house. perfect for the winter season, this Castello cheeseboard is honestly my favourite cheeseboard that i have made so far. it is so naturally gorgeous with the different cheeses, meats, fruits & chestnuts. my family loves roasting chestnuts around the holidays so i wanted to create a cheeseboard that reflects a perfect winter night by the fire incorporating the roasted chestnuts.

i stuck to strong cheeses including Castello's Tickler Extra Mature Cheddar, Aged Havarti & Smoked Gorgonzola... yes, Smoked Gorgonzola. i love blue cheese & anything with a smokey flavour so i was pretty excited to see Castello's Smoked Gorgonzola is easily available. it goes perfectly with the crisp weather, figs & little pears. it took us about 5 seconds after photographing to devour almost everything on the board.

i hope you enjoy this winter night cheeseboard all season long! for more inspiration check out last holiday's sweet & simple + bold & blue cheeseboards featuring Castello cheese.

P.S. want to make this cheeseboard for your next holiday party? enter here for a chance to win $20 in Castello cheese & a gorgeous wood cheeseboard of your own!

ingredients

  • 150 grams Castello Smoked Gorgonzola
  • 150 grams Castello Tickler Extra Mature Cheddar
  • 150 grams Castello Aged Havarti
  • 100 grams prosciutto, sliced very thin
  • 100 grams sopressata, sliced thin
  • 12 rosemary garlic crackers
  • 12 whole grain crackers
  • 3-4 seckel pears, sliced in half
  • 3-4 fresh figs, sliced in half
  • 1 bunch fresh black grapes
  • 12 chestnuts, scored & roasted

directions

  • place the Smoked Gorgonzola, Tickler Extra Mature Cheddar & Aged Havarti onto the desired cheeseboard.
  • surround cheese with prosciutto, sopressata & crackers.
  • fill remaining spaces with pears, figs & grapes.
  • top with roasted chestnuts (i like to serve a few extra on the side, my family loves freshly roasted chestnuts!).

this post was created in partnership with Castello cheese! thank you for supporting the brands that help me doing what i love. xo

chardonnay honey glazed ham

 

when it comes to holiday meals i actually prefer ham over turkey. justin does too as he surprisngly doesn't like the taste of turkey at all. my mom serves three meats every christmas to please guests: prime rib, turkey & ham. maybe it is the italian in her who loves to make way too much food, but that is a lot of meat. i gravitate towards her sweet honey spiral ham, it is like eating candied meat! i am always caught sneaking back in the fridge for whatever scraps are left over before bed. last year i made a maple dijon glazed ham & this year i will be making this honey chardonnay glazed ham. i used cambria wine's benchbreak chardonnay in the glaze to add an unexpected kick of flavour. it is one of the best white wines for both drinking & cooking with. it lends so much flavour with fruit and oak spice aromas. seriously add this to your holiday meal menu this year & you won't be needing that turkey!

ingredients

  • 8 lbs cooked ham butt end
  • 1/4 cup unsalted butter
  • 1/4 cup low sodium chicken stock
  • 1/2 cup cambria wine's benchbreak chardonnay
  • 1/4 cup light brown sugar
  • 1/4 cup raw honey
  • 1 tablespoons dijon mustard
  • 1 tablespoon fresh thyme, finely choped
  • 1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 1 garlic clove minced
  • 2 shallots minced
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • 3-4 cups chicken stock

directions

  • place ham skin side up in a large roasting pan. using a sharp knife, score ham in a criss cross pattern. Set aside while you prepare the glaze.
  • in a saucepan over medium heat melt the butter & garlic. add the shallots, salt & pepper. cook until the shallots begin to turn translucent, about 2-3 minutes.
  • whisk in the chicken stock, chardonnay, brown sugar, honey, dijon, thyme and nutmeg. heat until the sugar has fully dissolved.
  • pour the remaining chicken stock in the base of the roasting pan.
  • carefully spoon 1/3 of the glaze over the ham skin.
  • roast the ham at 325 degrees for two hours, basting every 25 minutes. alternate between basting with the glaze & the chicken stock.
  • thinly slice and serve with a side of pan drippings.