A Bloody Good Sangria for your Halloween Festivities! {Blackberry Lychee Sangria with Eyeballs!}

Blackberry Lychee Sangria with Eyeballs

Boo!

I adore Halloween and this is one of my favorite Halloween Cocktails.... that said, remove the eyeballs and it's a great Sangria for any time of year :)






What You Need
 1 (750-ml) bottle red wine {I prefer a Shiraz-Cabernet Blend for a dark spiciness}
1/4 cup Blackberry Not So Simple Syrup
1/4 cup orange juice
1/4 cup Triple Sec
1 can Lychees* reserve syrup
1 dozen or so maraschino cherries
1 (750-ml) bottle sparkling water, chilled
optional:  dry ice

 What You Do

Combine everything but the sparkling water and Lychees in a large glass pitcher. Cover and chill completely, 1 to 2 hours.

Open the Lychee can and stuff each Lychee with a maraschino cherry where the pit once was, if the cherries are too large tear in half so as to not tear the lychee. Store in their juice in a covered container until ready to serve.

When ready to serve, add the sparkling water, lychee eyeballs and syrup.

If you are extra spookilicious.... add a small piece of dry ice to the pitcher [make sure it's not too full or it'll bubble over] to make it a smokey, bubbly brew!

DOUBLE BOO!

*Lychees are found in the canned fruit section of most Asian Markets, they are peeled, pitted and in a light syrup.

Jumping on the Pumpkin Bandwagon.... a/k/a my annual Pumpkin Hater Post. {Pumpkin Cheeseball Recipe}

Pumpkin Cheese ball Recipe

It's common knowledge among my blogging friends that I'm a pumpkin hater. 

Not that I dislike pumpkin. 

Au contraire, I actually love pumpkin, it's my favorite pie [my Nana used to bring one home every Friday when we lived with her special just for me!], I love pumpkin bread [my sister in law is famous for hers!] and I love pumpkin seeds [better than smoking or nail biting!]....



What I hate is that come October everyone vomits pumpkin.... it overwhelms me. Pumpkin Martinis,  Pumpkin Pie Rice Krispy Treats, even Pumpkin Dog Treats. swear to God. Click it. I'm not sure why but I stroke out a little with each new post.... and I'm sure they are fabulous [I've given you the links because I know each and every one of you will want a darn pumpkin martini.....]. I just cannot do it.  

But I do make my only little pumpkin every year.... twice. Once for Halloween and once for Thanksgiving. And I love it. It's think it's adorkable and yummy. Sometimes I'm more successful than others in my sculpting but it's always elementary school cute at a minimum.

And now I share with you.

What you need:
1 tablespoon butter
2 tablespoons minced garlic
1/4 cup diced white onion
1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, softened
1/4 cup butter, softened
2 cups shredded sharp Cheddar cheese
1/2 cup finely crushed Cheeze-its
1 bell pepper stem, stick or pumpkin stem
What you do:

Melt 2 teaspoons butter in skillet; add garlic and white onion. Cook over medium–high heat, stirring constantly, 3-5 minutes or until just starts to brown. Remove from heat.

Use mixer to combine garlic mixture with softened butter and cream cheese, and shredded cheese. Form your pumpkin. Place crushed crackers into large shallow bowl or pie pan. Roll cheese ball into crackers; press evenly to coat. Place onto serving plate.

Create stem for top of pumpkin from bell pepper slices [see right hand pumpkin in picture], a stick [bottom picture] or use a real pumpkin stem [top or left picture].

Cover; refrigerate 2 hours or overnight to blend flavors.
Serve with crackers and vegetables.

Poof.  You are Martha Stewart!

Happy Fall :)

One of Those Days Best Served with a Blackberry Sage Whiskey {or Gin} Fizz!

I'm going to keep this short & sweet, I've been chasing my tail for a month.... I cannot believe a week has gone by since I saw this drink post and I haven't shouted from the rooftops.... this drink is ME.  Heather at Girlichef channeled some serious Young Grasshopper and I.  LOVE.  IT.  I promise you Blackberry in the winning basket of this giveaway!  GO! WIN! You need this drink..... well, hell, Heather's channeling, I'm projecting.... I need this drink.

Life is Simply Not So Simple

It's been a crazy month since we launched, with Home Shows, Special Events and getting into some retail shops.  All very exciting but oh so busy.  Nevertheless, the minute I slowed down I got myself some Prosecco & Limoncello and tried this awesome cocktail creation by Jennie at The Messy Baker Blog.... ahhhh.  You need to go check it out for yourself and do it quick because you still have a chance to win!

Thinking Outside of the Box

Strawberry Yogurt Popsicles

Lemon Cream Soda

Let me just say all these great bloggers trying our product, taking their time to create mind blowing recipes and share them has been like CHRISTMAS for me!  I get so excited as I wonder what the next awesome recipe idea will be..... and Jen over at Juanitas Cocina did not disappoint!  Please check out her crazy Not So Simple yumminess at her site and while your there enter to win a gift basket from me! 

Thanks again Jen! XXOO

Homemade Soda Recipes and a Giveaway

Homemade Not So Simple Sodas

What?? You haven't won yet?

Well don't give up pop over to Katherine Martinelli for another chance to WIN!

p.s. she's got a great SodaStream recipe waiting for you :)

Strawberry Bellinis #Giveaway at That Skinny Chick Can Bake!

Strawberry Bellini

Only a few hours left to pop over to Liz's place and enter to WIN!

Have a Bellini on me while you're there :)