THIRSTY THURSDAY & a Fabulous bottle of Meyer Lemon Soda {Meyer 25 Cocktail}

T.G.I.T.T.

Another week has whipped by but I did take a moment to  pick some basil, do a little muddling and come up with an absolutely fabulous drink for Thirsty Thursday :)

I think it's a great end of summer treat: it's refreshing, it's crisp, it's Yummy.  I found this awesome Meyer Lemon soda at World Market, I'm sure you could find something similar at Trader Joe's or Whole Foods.  

I mixed mine with Zacapa Rum because I've grown very accustomed to that oakey, dark amber rum taste but I'm sure this would be absolutely fabulous with Captain Morgan or Bacardi.



What you need:
1 & 1/2 ounces Amber Rum
1 thick slice lemon
seven or eight torn fresh basil leaves
3 ounces Meyer Lemon soda
3 ounces club soda
lots of ice.

What you do:

• Put your lemon slice and your torn basil leaves in the bottom of your favorite class: muddle well.
• Pack glass with ice then fill halfway with your lemon soda and halfway with club soda.
• Top with your favorite Rum.

Stir well & enjoy.

NOTE: I used club soda in addition to the Meyer lemon because I like a crisp/less sweet cocktail.  In many ways this is sort of a modified Mojito in that I substituted the lemon soda for the simple syrup... if you like a sweeter drink you could skip the club soda.

p.s. excuse my crappy iPhone photography!!!

 

HAPPY WORLD GIN DAY! GINSANITY CHAPTER IX: Quick Ruthie get the flag.... it's Happy Hour! {Basil French 75}

Basil French 75

OK, so much to my chagrin I had no mint today for my Happy Hour.... have I told you when I was growing up my folks actually had a flag they hung every summer evening that said Happy Hour?  LOL, I kid you not.  I would kill for that flag.


Anyhow, back to my mint conundrum...


So, I called my friend/neighbor Barbie.... NOPE
I accosted PopPop... is he growing it yet?  NOPE


DAMN.
Plan B.
Basil....
So, fistful of basil, lemons and some champagne I Google for an assist and who woulda thought it.... 
MARTHA came through.


BASIL FRENCH 75 
{only very slightly modified}
thanks & credits to Martha Stewart

WHAT YOU NEED:

5 basil leaves

2 slices lemon in quarters

1 ounce simple syrup

2 ounces gin

1/2 ounce lemon juice

Ice

4 ounces Champagne {brut}

WHAT YOU DO:

Muddle basil leaves with 1 lemon slice and simple syrup in a shaker. Add gin, lemon juice, and a little ice. Shake well and strain into glass. pack with ice and top with Champagne.

Your are Welcome. You SURVIVED the day & I was waiting with an awesome idea.

FEATURED 5!

Oh My Word.... Friday?

Already?

Well, other than illness 

zipping through Chez Webb 

I had a GREAT week.

Productive!

Got enough done early in week 

to not mind end of week getting bogged down.

And yes, I made time to keep my finger on the PULSE....

Cause that's how I roll!

It's no surprise that after all my drinkin' last weekend that I'd kick off my top 5 with a COCKTAIL!  Thanks Anita at the Hungry Couple for giving me another reason to celebrate Strawberry season with her Strawberry & Basil Martini.... YUM!

Mojito?  Did someone say Mojito?  

Besides me that is..... yes sireee someone did.  

Lauren over at the Part Time House Wife was grillin' up some Mojito Mahi Mahi.  

Yeah, she said it.  I heard it.  and here it is!

Did you see this? Well, I'm glad I didn't miss it! Jenn over at Home Skillet was busy being an artist as far as I'm concerned with this vibrant fruit salad!

Honey Pork Stir-fry from Pass the Sushi

I saw this post from Pass the Sushi for her Honey Pork Stir-fry & immediately made my own version.... you REALLY need to try this, the sauce was To. Die. For.

I saw this pop into my inbox and was like.... 

SHUT. UP. Joanne! Are you SPYING ON ME?  All I do is talk about my sweet chili sauce and you pop in with this bit of yumminess?  OMGoodness.... and the peppers are ripe in "our" garden.... Thank you Fifteen Spatulas for this recipe for Hot Pepper Jelly!

& My one for good luck? 

It just arrived..... and it's simplicity is perfection!

  Thanks to Kelly at Eat Yourself Skinny for her Lemon Water with Fresh Mint...... ahhhhhh

****ALL PHOTO CREDITS TO THE POST REFERENCED,

HUGE Thank you to all for letting me repost****

As usual I have a couple housekeeping matters :)

I'm over on Wilde In The Kitchen participating in her bake sale to raise money for Relay for Life!  Someone needs to bid on my Trail Mix Cookies.... they are SO VERY YUM <3

BIDDING ENDS TONIGHT!

and of course don't forget May's GIVEAWAY is under way.... a Sea Salt collection 

& POSSIBLY a grilling rub collection too! 

WOOT WOOT!

Ginsanity Chapter V??? I've lost count {Strawberry Basil Chill}

Don't worry, I'm not just baking muffins over here.... I'm very aware it's Saturday night.  In fact I'm stepping away and enjoying my new creation once I shoot this off.... This is an awesome drink, the basil gives it an earthy feel and it's crisp and really fresh.  LOVE IT.  I did plan ahead A BIT.... before I cooked dinner and made my muffins I muddled my basil, strawberries and simple syrup and let them "steep" for an hour or two... nice but not required.