Jalapeño-Watermelon Margaritas

Watermelon Jalapeño Margaritas

This twist on a classic cocktail is sweet, spicy and PERFECT for summer!  Get creative and try adding any smoked salt to the rim for a smoky layer that will pair perfectly with the sweet & spicy elements in the cocktail.

This recipe works best if you have a juicer to juice the watermelon and jalapeños. If you don’t have a juicer – don’t worry! See our variation below.

Watermelon Jalapeño Margaritas
2 ounces tequila (blanco)
2 ounces watermelon, juiced
½ ounce freshly squeezed lime juice 
½ ounce jalapeño juice
½ ounce triple sec
Coarse salt or smoked salt for rim

Preparation:
Juice your watermelon, jalapeño and lime in a juicer and set aside. Make sure you wash your hands thoroughly after juicing the jalapeño. Rim your glass with coarse or smoked salt. The easiest way to do this is to lightly wet the rim with a lime wedge and place the rim on a plate filled with salt. Next, place all ingredients in a cocktail shaker with a handful of ice. Shake vigorously and strain into a cocktail glass full of ice. Garnish with fresh watermelon slice.

Variation (If you don’t have a juicer…)
Muddle 1/2 – 1 jalapeño (depending on how spicy you like your drink) in the cocktail shaker. Chop the watermelon into small cubes and puree in a blender or food processor until smooth. Strain the juice into a cocktail shaker along with the remaining ingredients. Shake, strain and garnish!

Watermelon Jalapeño Margaritas

Watermelon Jalapeño Margaritas

Enjoy.  ~Crystal

FabFavFinds for May

Foodie Pen Pals

Try something new this month! For everyone who loves trying new stuff this is such a great club to be a part of! Crystal found a fun concept which pairs you up with someone in a different state and every month you send your foodie pal a box of treats ($15 value) from your city – in return you also receive a surprise package. Get familiar with foods and snacks you have never heard of or might have never tried if it wasn’t for this. This service is free and easy. All details can be found on The Lean Green Bean blog.

Foodie Pen Pals

(Crystals package to her penpal)

Oliva Serie V 

A few weeks ago we had a chance to sit down with the VP of Marketing & Sales at JMG International and get some insight and try some great cigars. Not being the most avid cigar smoker my fav had to be the Oliva Serie V. Rated 94 Points by Cigar Aficionado – This attractive, oily cigar is full of dynamic nut, wood and sweet cedar flavors that frame a substantial leather core. The finish is long and rich. Toasty and complex. So pour yourself a nice glass of wine and enjoy a taste of Oliva Serie V

olivavmad

For all our cigar aficionados follow @SarahJMG for the latest cigar news and updates

Great Find For You or a Gift

I  have found something that everyone needs. A little bag from Pinch Provisions that will fit in your glove compartment or maybe even your purse. A reusable bag filled with over a dozen essentials that I promise you will use.With variations for him, her, moms to be and almost every occasion. This kit will be your new go-to for either yourself or give the gift that everyone will love!

PinchProvisionsElements

The Shopaholic In Me

Timeless Boutique

Every time I go back to visit LA I always swing by one of my my  favorite stores from when I lived there. TIMELESS BOUTIQUE! Now I can shop without getting on a plane. I have found some of my favorite pieces in this store. The quality is great and there are a variety of designers you can’t find anywhere else. Price-point  is very reasonable and they offer shipping specials.

Fav New Color for May

OPI Atomic Orange…Never been a fan of orange but this color is perfect with tan skin out and about enjoying the sunshine

 Nail Polish OPI

I hope you’ll enjoy these fab finds and if you try any of them out, please let me know what you think! ~Rochelle

Bitchen’ Chocolate-Grenache Truffles

Truffles and Wine

It’s almost Valentine’s Day and tonight I made some bitchen’ Chocolate-Grenache truffles for a Valentine’s Day pajama party I’m attending tomorrow. The requirements? Jammies, vino and some sort of chocolate goodness to share. I had a few glasses left of the 2009 Bitch Aragon Grenache from Spain that I opened last night to pair with my pizza and decided to use it up in this easy-to-make and oh so decadent recipe.

Chocolate Wine Truffles

Chocolate-Grenache Truffles

  • 10 ounces semi sweet (60%-70% cocoa)* chocolate (chopped small)
  • ¾ cup unsalted butter
  • 1 cup grenache wine (you can substitute any strong red wine. I’ve make Cabernet and Zin truffles before… experiment and have fun!)
  • 6 tablespoon heavy cream
  • 1 ¼ cup confectioners sugar (sifted)

Chocolate Truffles

In a small saucepan heat the wine on medium-high and reduce until you have about 4 tablespoons. Once reduced, melt chocolate on low with the butter and wine reduction using a double boiler. Don’t have a double boiler? No problem. Heat some water in a pot and place a heat resistant bowl over it. This will allow the chocolate to melt without it burning. Stir the mixture until smooth and then remove from heat and mix in cream and powdered sugar. Pour mixture into a glass baking dish. Cover and chill over night.
Truffles Banner

Once chilled, use a scoop to portion the truffles and roll to desired ball size. Roll in following mixture to coat.

Sift Together

  • 1/3 cup confectioners sugar
  • 2 tablespoon cocoa powder
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Makes 24 truffles *Use the best quality chocolate you can find. Chocolate chips will not work well for this recipe.

Thanks to our winery chef, Robin Lehnhoff-McCray,  who shared with me a similar recipe many years ago!

Like this recipe? Check out our Chocolate Cranberry Zinfandel Brownies recipe.


Wine Pairing

Bitch Aragon Grenache 2009

Bitch Aragon Grenache 2009 (Spain)

This is a wine about pleasure. Subversive pleasure. Dark cherry and raspberry aromas are underpinned with spicy, peppery notes with hints of anise. Aragon Grenache displays extraordinary natural acid balance, even at elevated ripeness levels

Winemakers will tell you that Grenache is a bitch to grow. And, it’s a bitch to make. It’s a wine that can easily be vapid, but potentially as profound as wine gets. Bitch Grenache Aragon 2009 from a selection of un-oaked Grenache wines from various sub-regions of Aragon and Navarra, around the Southern regions of the Ebro river valley. The wine sees no oak. The objective of the wine is to provide pure, explosive, unadulterated, hedonistic, uncompromising, juicy Grenache.

Retail: $12.99