2 Gingers | Irish Whiskey Cocktails

Posted on March 17, 2014 by Aprons & Stilettos

Last Friday I swung by my local wine & spirits shop, Bottle Barn, to find inspiration for my next cocktail. Since today is St. Patrick’s Day, I knew I wanted to mix something together using Irish Whiskey. Now I’ve had Jameson and Bushmills whiskey before but when I noticed 2 Gingers (obviously marketed to woman) I couldn’t help but give it a try for today’s post. As I was getting ready to leave a friendly woman, with a hot pink wig on, greeted me and asked me if I had my Irish Whiskey for St. Patrick’s Day…I said yes then noticed she was a rep for 2 Gingers and I showed her the whiskey in my basket. We laughed, she gave me some free swag then I was on my home to mix up some tasty libations.

Friday brought 80 degree weather to Northern California so it was the perfect day to mix up some cocktails. Since it was such a nice day, I wanted to create a drink that showcased the great structure whiskey brings to cocktails but with a light and refreshing twist. The Whiskey Ginger is a great cocktail for even the non-whiskey drinker!

Whiskey Ginger

2 ounces 2 Gingers Irish Whiskey
1/2 orange, juiced
1/2 lime, juiced
2 – 3 dashes orange bitters
Fill with Ginger Ale or Ginger Beer
Garnish with lime wheel

Combine whiskey, orange juice and lime juice in a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Shake and strain into a rocks glass filled with ice. Add bitters and fill with ginger ale or ginger beer. Garnish with a lime wheel.

The next cocktail is more complex with a slightly sweet finish and incorporates both Irish whiskey and brandy.

Irish Jack Rose

1 ounce 2 Gingers Irish Whiskey
1/2 ounce Korbel Brandy
1/2 lime, juiced
1/2 ounce pomegranate syrup
Garnish with lime wedge

Combine all ingredients in cocktail shaker filled with ice. Shake and strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with a lime wedge.

Happy St. Patrick’s Day! Share with us your favorite St. Patty’s cocktails in the comments below or on twitter at @ApronsStilettos

~Cheers, Crystal

Crispy Salmon, Fennel Slaw & White Wine

Posted on March 12, 2014 by Aprons & Stilettos

Spring is almost here which propelled me to think about the warm weather ahead, white wines and springtime dishes. As I was scrolling through my usual Instagram feed I came across Food & Wine Magazine’s white wine pairing recipe of the day and I knew exactly what I was going to draw inspiration from for tonight dinner. After work, I swung by Molsberry Market to pick up the essentials – Salmon Fillet, Fennel, Red Onion, Lemons and Dill. The weather today was absolutely perfect so when I got home I opened all of the windows, threw on the Bob Marley Pandora station, poured a glass of Sauvignon Blanc and began cookin’.

This recipe is extremely easy and only requires the below seven ingredients.

Two 6-ounce salmon fillets with skin
Kosher salt
1 1/2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice (1/2 lemon)
1/8 – 1/4 cup thinly sliced red onion
1/2 fennel bulb, cored and thinly sliced crosswise
1 tablespoon dill, chopped
Olive oil

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Combine the fennel, onions, dill, lemon juice and a tablespoon of olive oil in a bowl. Season with salt and set aside. In an oven proof skillet (I used my cast iron) heat 1 teaspoon of olive oil over medium / medium – high. Everyone’s stove is different so just make sure to watch the fish. Season the salmon with salt and place the fillet skin down in the skillet. Cook until the skin is crispy – about four minutes. Transfer the salmon to the oven and bake until cooked through, about 3-4 minutes. Transfer to a plate and serve with fennel slaw. Serve with a light-bodied white such as a Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Gris or Albariño. Some suggestions:

Sauvignon Blanc: Creekview Vineyards Sauvignon Blanc | $24
Sauvignon Blanc: Kenwood Vineyards Reserve Sauvignon Blanc | $15
Pinot Gris: Balletto Vineyards Russian River Pinot Gris | $18
Albariño: Eric Ross Albariño | $25

What are some of your favorite spring time wines? Share with us at @ApronsStilettos

Cheers ~ Crystal

Foodie Pen Pal | February Reveal Day

Posted on February 28, 2014 by Aprons & Stilettos

Hey everyone! Today is Foodie Pen Pal reveal day and I’m excited to share the treats I receive from Crystal…yes, we have the same name. Not familiar with “Foodie Pen Pals”? Check it out below! So Crystal is a full-time student from Maryland studying nutrition and is looking forward to becoming a Registered Dietitian. She has a gluten allergy, so I had to be very specific regarding the items I picked out for her. Here’s just a quick overview of the items I picked out for her, then I’ll share the fabulous treats she sent to me:

Crystal expressed to me that she loved popcorn, so I decided to share with her this local product – COMET CORN. I haven’t had this flavor before so I asked her tell me what she thought of the Bloody Mary flavor. SHE LOVED IT!

Since she mentioned she liked to cook with coconut oil, I thought a nifty coconut oil spray would come in handy. I use my olive oil spray all the time to quickly grease my pans or add flavor to my food. I suggested she try spraying it on almonds before toasting or over popcorn instead of butter!
She loves butters so I picked up some Sunflower Seed butter to try with apples or blend it in a smoothie.
Sprouted Mung Beans: These tiny fresh-tasting beans have a rich creamy texture & nutty-sweet taste.
Earnest Chewy Granola Bars: Perfect on-the-go snack.

My Foodie Pen Pal Package

Crystal’s package of health conscious goodies couldn’t have come at a better time. After indulging the past week for my 30th birthday, I was committed to eating healthier and this pen pal package promotes exactly that!

Crystal loves raw food so she sent me this amazing 100% Organic Carrot Cake Super Cookies! Who knew?! They are SO good – seriously! Go pick up a bag and try it for yourself. There is coconut in these, where coconut in food is either a HIT or MISS, but the coconut flavors in these are a HIT. I’m eating these as I type and I seriously can’t stop. Gluten Free * Wheat Free * Nut Free*

Photo Credit: Go Raw

Ok, the next item in my pen pal package is a party in your mouth! SomerSaults Salty Pepper nuggets! Not only do these baked sunflower seeds & toasted grains twirls your taste buds but they are nut free, high in protein, vegan and a healthier alternative to potato chips. Absolutely addictive.

Photo Credit: Somersault Snack Co

Let’s meet my new B.F.F (Breakfast Friend Forever!) For someone who is rushing out the door at 6:30am for work, Crystal’s third item is perfect for my morning routine. Cocomamma Quinoa Cereal: All Natural & Gluten-Free Banana Cinnamon breakfast pouch. Packed with flavor, this cereal has REAL bananas, cinnamon, Madagascar vanilla, pure maple syrup and fair trade, organic quinoa. (See my older post on fair trade products….) Whoa! This is fantastic! I added some freshly cut bananas to the cereal.
Photo Credit: Cocomamma Quinoa Cereal
The perfect snack! This chocolate peanut butter CHIA BAR is just 100 calories and really curves your appetite. I enjoyed this snack mid-afternoon on Tuesday as I was getting a little hungry and it did just the trick.

Photo Credit: Health Warrior

I absolutely love Justin’s nut butters! Crystal included their honey peanut butter which she suggests on apples, toast and even waffles (hmmm will have to try it on waffles!) I decided to enjoy this treat with a granny smith apple as a mid-afternoon snack to help me through another busy day at work. I really enjoyed the slight sweetness from the honey!

Photo Credit: Justin’s

Now for those of you who are new to this and interested in joining, here is what Foodie Penpals is all about:

On the 5th of every month, you will receive your penpal pairing via email. It will be your responsibility to contact your penpal and get their mailing address and any other information you might need like allergies or dietary restrictions.
You will have until the 15th of the month to put your box of goodies in the mail. On the last day of the month, you will post about the goodies you received from your penpal!
The boxes are to be filled with fun foodie things, local food items or even homemade treats! The spending limit is $15. The box must also include something written. This can be anything from a note explaining what’s in the box, to a fun recipe…use your imagination!

Click here to learn more…

Cheers to another great day! ~Crystal @CrysPeterson