Young Grasshopper's Top 5 in 2012!

Remember me?  I am alive. Things just got so crazy over the last couple months I had to make some tough prioritizing choices and alas blogging took the hit {which even David said was a bad thing as blogging really made me a happier person}.  I'm hoping the New Year will afford me more blogging time as the holidays end, the company departs and "normalcy" resumes. 

Reflecting on 2012 it was a rough one in Chez Webb.... I lost my Mom in January, My Great Aunt {107 years old!} in September and my Father-in-Law in October.  It was a lot of sadness not only for me but all I love.  My kids lost 2 grandparents.... my Dad, a wife, my husband, a Dad and my most awesome Mother-in-Law lost the love of her life.  The sadness was potentially all consuming.

It can be hard to notice the positives when there's a lot of sad but noteworthy in 2012 is that the kids continue to shine in every aspect of their youth, David & I were lucky enough to have the opportunity of the Kress Building fall into our laps, we are all healthy and have the best support system in our extended family and friends.  And yes, we have each other.

Good & Bad I'm so very excited to kick this year out the door and ring in a glorious new year.... HELLO 2013!  I'm starting if off by running from Miami to Key West with my BFF and our 9 Ragnar teammates and then relaxing with MaryAnn & David for a couple days in glorious Key West.  I vow to truly relax and I'm hoping I will return renewed and ready to kick some ass in 2013!

To end on a blogging note and since I've been so MIA
I thought I would close out the year with a
 Featured 5 celebrating my Top 5 posts of 2012....
I always love those radio count downs.... 
You won't be surprised to find they are all cocktails....

Cheers to you all.....
 

#5 the Classic Whisky Sour

 
 



#4.... The St~Germain Cocktail....



 



#3 was a guest post by the
fabulous Messy Baker!
who served up a
Grilled Peach Bourbon
Old Fashioned!



#2 The Dark & Stormy 



& drum roll please.......


#1 My Champagne Mojito

 Happy New Year Everyone!

Hope to see a lot more of you in 2013 ;)

Dark & Stormy Death Punch....

 

Dark & Stormy Death Punch

I made this for my Halloween soiree last year and EVERYONE loved it, both men & women.  It's a loose rendition of the Dark & Stormy but much more affordable when providing for a gaggle of 'weeners.

WHAT YOU NEED:
1/2 cup sugar
1 cup fresh lime juice
750 ml bottle dark or spiced rum
2 liter bottles ginger ale




Dark & Stormy Death Punch

WHAT YOU DO:
In a pitcher, stir the sugar into the lime juice until dissolved; add the rum and refrigerate until chilled, about 1 hour.

In your vat, pour in the lime-rum mixture; add the ginger ale, stir gently and serve in ice-filled glasses.

If you want to get really ghoulish.... get a can of Lychees, I had to go to a Chinese grocery for them last year, and stuff the lychees with maraschino cherries and freeze them... great eye ball ice cubes!

Happy Halloween!!!

NOTE:  the top picture is with Captain Morgan, very tasty but not nearly as creepy as the Myers Rum version I did last year in the vat..... I will be using Myer's for Halloween!


 

Happy National Rum Day {What a Long Strange Trip It's Been}

There's naught, no doubt, so much the spirit calms as rum and true religion. Lord Byron

If you had offered me Rum two years ago, I would've declined.... I really was never a Rum drinker.  That was before my first Dragonberry Mojito, which is kind of where this whole PDA {Public Display of Alcoholism} began.... well, my Rum journey has definitely been an evolution and I thought I would share that trip with you for NATIONAL RUM DAY {I was pretty shocked to see what a long strange trip it's been}!



My first Rum Love
The Dragonberry Mojito



My First Creation
The Blue Mojito

Taking it South
The Keylime Mojito

It goes with coffee too
The Jamaican Latte

Give a man a fish;
you have fed him for today.
Teach a man to fish;
and you have fed him for a lifetime”
—Author unknown
I've had a similar Mojito experience....
The Elderflower Mojito

I am now creating the alcohol
The LIMONCELLO MOJITO

This was a crowning moment for sure
THE CHAMPAGNE MOJITO

Just when I thought I had peaked...
Mint Sugared Glass
Lemon-Lime Mojito

Changing it up....
The Dark & Stormy

Classic Rum.... Do you like
PINA COLADAS?

Am I off the Mojitos and on to Classics?
THE RASPBERRY DAIQUIRI



Nahhhh, I heart my Mojitos
this is where I leave this year's celebration....
THE MILLIONAIRE {ZACAPA} MOJITO

SEE YOU NEXT YEAR...

SAME TIME SAME PLACE! XXOO



Dark & Stormy.... started as my mood, evolved into my drink and now it's the weather I will sleep peacefully to

Dark & Stormy Cocktail

 Only two very long days in this week so far but OMG, they were rough.  I was feelin' a bit grrrrrrr and when I stopped at World Market on my way home {love that place} I saw Ginger Beer and thought immediately.... DARK. AND. STORMY.


I've seen a lot of recipes over the years with far fancier rums but I tend to have Myer's Dark on hand and so my quick Tuesday, long days, short week Dark & Stormy is this....

WHAT YOU NEED:

3 oz. Myers Dark Rum

8 oz of Ginger Beer

1 oz. fresh lime juice {squeeze a half of a lime}

LOTS of ice

WHAT YOU DO:
Pack your favorite glass with ice.... a pilsner would work, or large wine glass, I have some tall wide glasses from C&B that I love for my ice packed drinks.  


Squeeze you lime over the ice, 
fill with Ginger Beer and top with Rum.  
Stir well, sip and see the storminess evaporate.


Bring it on Wednesday, oh yeah it's a holiday ;)