cranberry mule cocktail

 

when the holiday season rolls around, the cocktails are just as much fun to make as the desserts! i love creating seasonal twist on classic drinks, like this cranberry mule. inspired by the mooscow mule, this drink combines the classic vodka, ginger beer and lime with a splash of cranberry juice. the colour the cranberry juice brings is so beautiful and festive. to add a little wintery + woodsy flair i opted to garnish it with a fresh sprig of rosemary. because cranberry juice can be a little tart, there is the option here to add a splash of simple syrup to the drink. however, i prefer my cocktails to be not so sweet, so i will leave this up to your own personal taste!

p.s. the apasco cocktail glasses are available on the citizenry's online shop. it is perfect glass to serve this cranberry cocktail mule in all season long. happy weekend! let the countdown to christmas begin:)

ingredients

  • 2 ounces quality vodka
  • 2 ounces ginger beer
  • 2 ounces cranberry juice
  • 1 tablespoon simple syrup (optional)
  • 1/2 tablespoon lime juice, freshly squeezed
  • 2 tablespoons frozen cranberries
  • ice, for serving
  • lime slices, for garnish
  • rosemary sprigs, for garnish

directions

  • add the vodka, ginger beer, cranberry juice, simple syrup (optional) and lime juice in a cocktail shaker. shake well!

  • add the frozen cranberries and ice to the glass.

  • pour mixture over ice. garnish with lime slices and a sprig of rosemary!

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