Lush Lady

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Designer Helene Saucedo teamed up with fellow Southern girl and author Sarah Addison Allen to create some beautiful postcards for the January launch of LOST LAKE!

You can check out her interview here!

Find more of Helene’s work at www.helenesaucedo.com! If you’re a cocktail or food photography fan please visit Helene’s Tumblr at lushlady.tumblr.com.

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An interview with the woman and designer behind Lush Lady.

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Tequila Mockingbird, Cocktails With A Literary Twist, is the perfect gift for yourself, your mom, your alcoholic boss...or anyone who likes books, book clubs, cocktails, cookbooks, puns, illustrations, nicely set type or just plain pretty objects. 

[lushlady]

dadadada da da da - TEQUILA! 

Patrón has the most amazing Customer Service center ever. I won't bore you with details, but look at this amazing gift set! I know what I'll be drinking this summer... or I will after I go through the Drink Maker Book!

Side note: They have a great contest going on where you could win the Best Weekend Ever by giving your best tips on summer spots in your hood. Sharing is caring!

[lushlady]

Usually when your neighbors go on vacation, you water their plants, and take in their mail, and in return you receive a shiny new mass produced souvenir from the airport that they've grabbed in a frenzy before departing. A magnet of an alligator that says "Stay Cool!", a snow globe with a palm tree, or if you're lucky, a not-too-obnoxious coffee mug. Not if you're me! The Lush Lady and Lush Husband just received a beautiful goody bag containing all the makings of a Caipirinha, the national drink of Brazil, including Cachaça (Brazilian rum), organic sugar and limes. Thank you Melody and Greg for being such amazing neighbors!

Caipirinha + 1/2 lime, quartered  + 2 tsp sugar + 2 oz Cachaça  Directions:  Muddle limes and sugar in an old-fashioned glass. Fill with crushed ice and add Cachaça.

[lushlady]

From Winnie the Pooh, to The Cure, to cocktails - a good mom is supportive, no matter what you're into. Thanks for the birthday bottles, Mom!

[lushlady]

There’s a Twin Peaks themed bar in Atlanta! The Bookhouse Pub, named after the evil fighting secret society on the series, the Bookhouse Boys, is a spot-on recreation of David Lynch’s moody Twin Peaks. With its 1970’s dark tavern atmosphere intermingled with Dr. Jacoby’s tiki island flair, it feels as you’re walking onto the set as you enter the door, leaving the Poncey Highlands of Atlanta behind. If I wouldn’t have been in the midst of rewatching the show on Netflix, I might not have put it together… at least not until I saw the menu with cocktails like the Laura Palmer, Audrey Horne, and Log Lady. I worked my way through most of the cocktail list, discovering the highlights were the Wow Bob Wow, a spicy jalapeno margarita, and the Log Lady, an herbal infused vodka you can have with cran or grapefruit (go with grapefruit). The beer snobs (and I say that with love!) accompanying me were satisfied as well. The only thing that was missing from the experience was the theme song playing on loop.

[lushlady]

Happy birthday to me! What better way to celebrate than with tiny alcoholic jello cupcakes? I found this recipe (and many more I'd like to try) for Birthday Cake Jello Shots on the blog Erica's Sweet Tooth. Cake vodka, cream soda, cran and heavy cream gelled together into an adorable cupcake shape and topped with whipped cream and sprinkles - they're any girls dream! (Note: The boys in my life were pretty fond of them too).

Birthday Cake Jello Shots (from the blog Erica's Sweet Tooth) Recipe adapted from Jelly Shot Test Kitchen

+ 2/3 cup cream soda

+ 2/3 cup cranberry juice cocktail

+ 1 tbsp heavy cream

+ 2 envelopes plain gelatin*

+ 2/3 cup cake-flavored vodka

+ Few drops food coloring, if desired

+ Whipped cream - fresh or store-bought

+ Sprinkles for garnish

- Lightly spray the mold with non-stick spray and wipe excess off with a paper towel. Don't overdo it or the residue will affect the taste of the jello.

- Pour the soda, juice, and cream into a medium saucepan and sprinkle the gelatin on top. Allow the gelatin to soak for 2-3 minutes, then begin to heat on low, stirring constantly until gelatin is fully dissolved (about 5 minutes).

- Remove saucepan from heat and add vodka and food coloring.

- Pour into molds and chill for several hours, or until set.

- Remove from mold, top with whipped cream, and enjoy responsibly!

*The original recipe suggests 2-3 envelopes, depending on how long your jello shots will be left out (more gelatin for more time). I opted for 3 because we were traveling an hour to get to the party, but I found them to be a little too firm , so I suggest you stick with 2 and plan accordingly for the best results!

Recipe yields 30 small jello shots using this mold

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A little Lush Lady fun...

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Octane Coffee in Grant Park serves up better cocktails than most bars.

Peruvian Pine cocktail : Grapefruit bitters, Pisco, Zirbenz Pine, Cocchi Americano

[lushlady]

It's-a-spicy-Friday! 

Here's a little back story on this drink. A Caipirinha is Brazil's national cocktail made with a liquor from fermented sugarcane juice called cachaça, lime and sugar. In the States we use vodka and call it a Caipiroska. I'm lucky I can escape to Brazil just down the street at Ziba's Wine Bar.

Pepper Pear Caipiroska : vodka, habanero pepper, soda, limes

[lushlady]

There's a beluga in my beer! I hope everyone had a fun, safe and boozy Fourth. I know I did. I went to Red, White and Brew at the Georgia Aquarium, thanks to thebeerbelly and Beer Connoisseur magazine. I sampled beers, cider and craft beer ice cream, all amongst the company of whale sharks, manta rays and, my favorite, the beluga whales. It all ended up with the perfect view of the downtown Atlanta fireworks from the Aquarium's rooftop. I can't wait to do it again next year!

[lushlady]

Me and the hubs went to one of my favorite restaurant/bars, the Iberian Pig (Atlanta). Noticing the cocktail menu didn't offer ups any tequila libations, we asked the bartender if he had any off-menu ideas. He whipped out a little black notebook and mixed up this beauty borrowed from the Tabard Inn in Washington, DC. The moral of the story? Sit at the bar!

Tabard cocktail : Milagro Reposado Tequila, Lustau Amontillado Sherry, Drambuie, Orange Boat, Fresh Thyme

[lushlady]

I visited the Terrapin Brewery in Athens, GA this weekend and had a blast. Beer can't be sold legally at a brewery, so they sell you a glass for $10 with tickets that you use for pours. It's a dang good deal! I tried Side Project, Hopsecutioner, Golden Ale, Monk's Revenge, and ended with the Easy Rider. I'd say the favorite amongst my peeps was the Monk's Revenge - at 9.8% ABV it is a combination of a Belgian Style Tripel and a new age American Double IPA. Holy Turtle, it hit the spot.

[lushlady]

Strawberries + Mezcal + Jar + 2 weeks = Strawberry Infused Mezcal

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Cherry season is May through August - which is now! Go get ya some! And when you're thinking of all the wonderful things you can do with them, don't forget you can get them drunk. Spiced brandied cherries will dress up any cocktail or dessert and are sweet to give as a gift. And they're unbelievably easy to make. Pitting them is the hardest part but there are many tricks out there.

Here is the recipe I used from local foods.about.com: 

1 1/2 lb. cherries

3/4 cup sugar

3/4 cup water

2 Tbsp. lemon juice

4 cardamom pods

2 whole cloves

2 whole allspice

1 cinnamon stick

1 cup brandy

1-quart jar with lid

Directions:

Pit the cherries and set them aside.

In a medium saucepan bring sugar water, lemon juice, and spices to a boil. Reduce heat to maintain a simmer and cook until the mixture is slightly reduced and thickened, about 10 minutes.

Turn off the heat. Stir in the brandy and the pitted cherries.

Use a slotted spoon to transfer the cherries to a 1-quart jar. Pour enough of the cooking liquid over the cherries to cover them completely. Twist on lid.

Process in boiling water for 10 minutes, let cool, and store in a cool, dark place (such as a cupboard) for at least 6 weeks before using. Once opened, keep chilled. Alternatively, you can forgo the hot-water processing and store in the refrigerator.

[lushlady]

JCT Kitchen in Atlanta, GA, is synonymous with the best-fried-chicken-you'll-ever-eat-in-your-life. Not surprisingly, they serve kick ass cocktails. I'll be honest, sometimes this blog gets hard because all the bars seem to serve the same stuff. I'm a little tired of cocktails with ginger beer, a few drops of "name any herb" bitters, or muddled whatever's on hand. JCT's list of cocktails makes me remember why I started this blog - a search for unique libations to share with anyone else who has a passion for cocktails. Now after saying all that, you might be surprised that I selected the only cocktail on the menu that had BEER in it. Not only beer, MILLER HIGH LIFE! Why? Because I don't see that anywhere else! And you know what? It rocked my world! I like to think of it as a perfectly balanced gourmet beer margarita sweetened with thyme goodness.

Double Cross : No. 209 Gin, Miller High Life, Thyme Syrup, Lemon

[lushlady]

It's about time I jumped on the Boozy Pops bandwagon. I was first inspired to go for it when I saw the People's Pops: 55 Recipes from Brooklyn's Coolest Pop Shop recipe book (which I don't own, feel free to send me a copy!). Since the book wasn't available yet I searched the internets and discovered a plethora of recipes, but the one that always got the best reviews was the Bittersweet Chocolate Bourbon Pop. And ya'll know I love me some Bulleit Bourbon. The ingredients and directions are simple, but the pop is a rich chocolatey sin, with just a tease of bourbon flavor to savor.

Here's the recipe from Finecooking.com: + 1/2 cup granulated sugar  + 3-1/2 oz. bittersweet chocolate (70% to 72%), chopped  + 2 Tbs. Dutch-processed cocoa powder  + 1/8 tsp. table salt  + 2 Tbs. good-quality bourbon

Directions: Put the sugar, chocolate, cocoa powder, salt, and 2 cups water in a large saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium heat, whisking constantly. Transfer to a 4-cup glass measure (or any container with a spout for easy pouring). Let cool at room temperature for 30 minutes. Stir in the bourbon and divide the mixture among eight 3-oz. pop molds or wax-lined paper cups. Freeze until just set, about 3 hours. Insert craft sticks and freeze until completely set, about 4 hours more. When ready to serve, unmold or peel off the paper cups.

Side note : The mold I purchased was the Norpro Ice Pop Maker, which I have absolutely no complaints about. But I do recommend reading the user reviews for tips on how to use it the most efficiently.