Thursday, November 23, 2017

Drink Your Way through Thanksgiving Day

For our friends that prefer to celebrate Thanksgiving with a good cocktail or two, we're here to give you the best beverages to sip on...all day long! From breakfast to dessert, cleanse your palate between bites with these festive libations. Sip, sip, hooray! Time to enjoy Thanksgiving Day!

Apple Cider Mimosas

Get ready for the perfect fall cocktail / Thanksgiving cocktail recipe...Apple Cider Mimosas!

Add apple cider and freshly cut apples to your favorite champagne for the perfect Thanksgiving morning treat!

Cranberry Ginger Fizz

Crisp and flawless. Recipe here.

Ginger helps with digestion which you'll definitely need when devouring a Thanksgiving Day meal!

Ingredients
3/4 cup sugar
3/4 cup water
1 cup fresh cranberries
1 lemon, cut into wedges
1/2 orange, cut into slices
1 1/2 cups dry gin - Bombay Sapphire, Beefeater or Tangueray suggested
1 cup chilled Ginger Ale (or Ginger Beer for a more pronounced ginger flavor)
4 mint sprigs

Instructions
  • Bring sugar and water to a boil in a medium saucepan, stir until sugar is dissolved. Remove from heat; pour off all but one cup of syrup, reserving any extra for another use.
  • Heat the syrup to a boil and then reduce heat to medium. Add the cranberries and simmer for 2-3 minutes until they just begin to burst. Remove from heat and let cool in syrup.
  • Place 2 Tablespoons drained cranberries and 6 Tablespoons cranberry syrup in a large pitcher; add the lemon wedges and orange slices.
  • Using a muddler or wooden spoon, vigorously mash the fruit.
  • Stir in gin and let steep for at least 5 minutes.
  • Strain into a medium pitcher.
  • Fill 4 glasses with crushed ice and 1/4 cup ginger ale.
  • Fill a cocktail shaker with ice and then pour half the cranberry mixture into the shaker and shake vigorously for 10 seconds, strain liquid into two glasses. Repeat.
  • Mound additional ice on top of each glass and garnish with 3 candied cranberries and a mint sprig.
Persimmon and Pomegranate Sangria

NOW it's a celebration. Recipe here.

This is the perfect recipe if you prefer to make a big batch beverage!

Ingredients
3 fuyu persimmons
1 pomegranate
1 bottle Pinot grigio, off-dry
1 ½ cups white grape juice
1 cup spiced rum
¼ cup sugar
2 cups ice

Get the instructions here!

The Frozen Turkey

ICE CREAM AND BOURBON. This is the winner. Recipe here.

This delicious drinkable dessert will totally fill you up if the regular turkey hasn't done so already!

Ingredients
1 pint container Häagen-Dazs butter pecan ice cream
1 oz Wild Turkey 101
1 oz Amaretto
caramel sauce
1 cup dark brown sugar
1/2 cup cream
pinch of salt
4 Tbsp unsalted butter

Instructions
  • Make the caramel sauce by mixing the sugar, cream, butter and salt in a saucepan and heating to a simmer. Cook for 5 minutes, then pour into a jar and let cool. If the sauce thickens too much after cooling, microwave it for a few seconds.
  • For the cocktail, blend the ice cream, the Wild Turkey and the Amaretto in a blender until smooth. Serve in fancy glasses garnished with a drizzle of the sauce.
  • If you'd like to make this ahead, put the whole blender back in the freezer after blending and then give it a quick re-blend right before serving.
Drink your way through Thanksgiving Day and devour the details of the best beverages to celebrate. Cheers!

Wednesday, November 22, 2017

Wedding Wednesdays: What to Wear to a Winter Wedding

The colder weather is upon us! Winter weddings are in full effect. Wondering what you should wear to the next chilly celebration? We got you covered! Check out this style advice for both male and female wedding guests.

The most important thing to remember when shopping for wedding attire is that you want to look stylish and respectful. You don't want to distract from the bride and groom or draw attention for the wrong reasons.

For women, a winter wedding is the perfect excuse to wear your most fun and festive dress. When shopping for winter wedding outfits, keep an eye out for head-to-toe sequins or luxe, jewel-toned fabrics like emerald green, ruby and royal blue. These colors work on almost every skin tone and you'll definitely find an excuse to re-wear them during the holiday season (office parties, New Year's Eve, etc.). You'll also want to keep fabrics in mind. Wedding guest dresses made of heavy fabrics, like tweed or velvet, will keep you warm during a chilly evening celebration. Pair a shorter dress with opaque black tights and closed-toe pumps. Avoid wearing boots (even if they're heeled), as they can appear too casual. But in case of a freak snowstorm, it's definitely okay to wear your boots to the ceremony and change into your heels once you're inside!

Men should follow similar guidelines and shop for a dark-colored wool suit to keep warm and stylish. Also try dressing in layers: Throw a zip-up sweater over your shirt and tie and under your jacket for extra insulation and warmth. But the most important thing men need to remember is to manscape. beards and mustaches are okay, as long as you clean up stray hairs!

Here are some examples provided by TheKnot.com:

Women's winter weddingc guest attire

1. This mini is totally winter appropriate with its long sleeves and heavier fabric. Plus, we love the lace-up style. Balmain Lace-up knitted mini dress, $2,935, Net-a-Porter.com

2. Floor length gowns are a perfect match for a winter wedding, as is this this royal blue hue. Marbella Long dress in silk chiffon, $298, JCcrew.com

3. A body-hugging burgundy dress with long sleeves is the perfect combination of sexy and festive for a winter wedding. Donna Mizani Knot front midi dress, $60, RevolveClothing.com

4. A two-tones jacquard dress with a dropped wait is a sophisticated and classy choice for any winter wedding. Alice and Olivia Liv chevron jacquard dress, $198, SaksFifthAvenue.com

5. The beauty of the black jumpsuit is it's really suitable for any season. This one is no exception, and is great for a winter celebration. Hallogen Tie neck jumpsuit, $98, Nordstrom.com

Men's winter wedding guest attire

1. A classic trim-fit wool suit is the ideal choice for any type of wedding. Dress it up with a slim tie or dress it down with a simple button down. Z Zegna Trim fit wool suit, $1,395, Nordstrom.com

2. It's a winter wedding, so why not go all out in a velvet suit jacket? Richard James Slim-fit satin-trimmed tuxedo jacket, $975, mrporter.com

3. This dark grey blazer is best for a more casual winter wedding, and the ultra soft wool will definitely keep you warm. Boglioli Grey K-Jacket, $995, mrporter.com

4. This silky-smooth trim-fit navy jacket with black lapels is the perfect option for a man with stylish but sensible tastes. Ted Baker 'Josh' trim fit tuxedo, $1,095, Nordstrom.com

5. No closet is complete without a slim-fit gray suit. Mix and match it with your black suit for limitless wardrobe options. ASOS Skinny suit, $283, asos.com

Be prepared for your next winter wedding invite and devour the details of the right attire for this chilly celebration!

Tuesday, November 21, 2017

Friendsgiving Favorites

Gather your gal pals and best men for some Friendsgiving festivities. It's time to share with them what you're most thankful for: friends, family and food! Add these three tasty recipes to your dinner and celebrate this food coma of a holiday the best way. Cheers!

Pumpkin Ravioli with Brown Butter Sauce

Thanksgiving recipe: Pumpkin ravioli with brown butter sauce and pecans: how to make ravioli from scratch, step-by-step photo tutorial | JuliasAlbum.com | pumpkin pasta recipes, holiday recipes

The perfect pasta dish to serve at your Friendsgiving plate-passing party! A family-sized helping of these will not go to waste! Get the detailed recipe here.

Garlic, Lemon and Parmesan Roasted Brussels Sprouts


These crunchy Brussels sprouts have a clean flavor profile, and they’re the perfect complement to all of those other indulgent sides. Get in your daily serving of greens with this recipe!

Purple Sweet Potato Pie


A true showstopper! This purple sweet potato pie is stunning (and delicious). Your guests will be asking for this recipe!

What a way to celebrate! Devour the details of your Friendsgiving dinner menu by adding these three tasty recipes and show your friends and family just how thankful you are