Arsenic Lace

Archives for July 2017

Sunday Kind of Love

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Happy Sunday! Hope you all had a good week. I had sort of a stressful week, but I took it easy yesterday and enjoyed a much needed day off. I also unplugged and stayed off the internet. It was easier than you think, I promise!

  • Not sure how many of you have dogs, but I have a special pup that you are probably familiar with from me posting photos of him here, on IG, or in my stories. He’s a Chinese Crested named David Bowie and he is my whole heart. To make a long story short we tried to eliminate the crate this past week in hopes of having a cage-free pup and it went as bad as one can imagine. It included puke on the pink couch and many days of me trying to get the stain out of the cushion. A few anxiety attacks later, lots of blotting and stain remover and the couch is back to new. Phew!

  • It was National Tequila Day on Monday so I hope you got to enjoy one of the drinks I posted! 

  • I got a chrome manicure finally. My nail salon just got the powders in and I was super excited to try it out. Aren’t they pretty? It reminds me of rose gold.

  • I found this AWESOME wall hanging at Home Goods. I couldn’t believe it! I needed something to brighten up the staircase. I’m thinking of sprucing up the hallway/staircase this fall. Maybe some wallpaper, a landing area to hang coats, a bench for shoes/purses, a mirror, and I really want to paint the stairs. They get dirty pretty easily and I’d like to paint them in a higher gloss so that they’re easier to clean. Can’t decide if I want to paint the whole staircase, do ombre, the tops of each stair or wallpaper each step. Also painting a “runner” could look really cool. I started a Pinterest board that you can check out here. I’m really digging the idea of doing teal. It’s bright enough to be colorful but dark enough to hide dirt. What are your thoughts?

  • I think I decided on a kitchen table. After measuring and being very realistic with myself (I think I’m growing up) I think it’s best to go with the Modern Expandable Table from West Elm. The table is only 30″ deep and expands from 39″ to 55″ which isn’t obtrusive into the surrounding areas. I really wanted a round table but I think going with a rectangle is a better choice for the shape of the room. I can always have a round table in my breakfast nook in the next house. One day I will have a proper dining room! This gives me the ability to have a small table for everyday use and a long table for when I have company.

I’m thinking about starting another column about bartending technique (shaking, stirring, building rounds, batching, ice, dilution). The more I share about how it’s done behind the bar and what I’ve learned over the years, the more informed you will be while you’re making drinks at home. Thoughts or anything you’d like me to include?

Lots of recipes coming soon and some home projects this week. I will have lots to post next Sunday! Are you doing anything fun today? I’m heading to Sussex County again for my Mom’s birthday. I think we might thrift on the way. One can only hope! Cheers everyone. xo

 

6 Cocktails to Celebrate National Tequila Day

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Happy National Tequila Day! I decided to celebrate with rounding up my favorite tequila cocktails on the blog and sharing some facts about the spirit itself. I’m sure you know that tequila is a spirit made from agave. Just like french wine or spirits, it can only be made in a specific region; the Mexican state of Jalisco and surrounding areas. That area is perfect for growing the agave plant because the soil is mostly volcanic. The agave plant has sharp thorns, long thick leaves, and takes between 8-12 years to reach maturity before it can be harvested. After the plant is harvested, it is peeled, roasted, crushed, and the juice is fermented and distilled. Tequila is usually made from 100% agave and distilled twice.

There are four main tequila categories:

  • Blanco – also called silver, plata or platinum, is aged for less than two months and is clear.
  • Reposado – aged between two and 12 months and is golden-colored.
  • Añejo – aged between one and three years and is a whisky-like brown.
  • Extra-añejo – a new category introduced by the Tequila Regulatory Council in 2006, is aged more than three years. Tequila is typically aged in used bourbon casks.

And

  • Mezcal – this is the cousin of tequila, which is also made from agave in a different region of Mexico. Tequila is made in the Jalisco region and only from blue Weber agave, while mezcal is made in Oaxaca. Legally it can be made anywhere though and can be made from different types of agave. The other difference is that the agave is slow roasted in pits with hot rocks which gives mezcal its signature smokiness.

Fun Fact: Contrary to popular belief agave is not a cactus. It is in the asparagales botanical family which makes it a relative to the Yucca Plant or the Joshua Tree. Okay, now I’m done being a crazy plant lady.

You can drink tequila many ways. As a shot, served neat or on the rocks, or in cocktails (MY favorite). Here are some of my favorite recipes that I have created to help you celebrate National Tequila Day.

Prickly Pear Margarita – Blanco Tequila, fresh juice of lime and grapefruit, cinnamon, fresh prickly pear, and pink himalayan salt.

The Country Village – Reposado Tequila, fig infused sweet vermouth, Licor 43, and chocolate bitters.

Frozen Watermelon Margarita– Blanco Tequila, fresh lime juice, agave, fresh watermelon, and smoked sea salt.

Sunny Side Up Fizz– Reposado Tequila, coffee liqueur, cinnamon, whole egg, soda, and cayenne pepper.

Avocado Margarita – Blanco Tequila, fresh lime juice, agave, fresh avocado, hot sauce, and salt & chili pepper.

Mezcal Paloma – Mezcal, fresh juices of lime and grapefruit, agave, soda, and sea salt.

I hope you find some time today to enjoy your favorite tequila cocktail. What’s your go-to tequila drink to make at home? If you decide to make one of the cocktails above, don’t forget to chime in on the comments and let me know how it turns out.

Cheers and Happy National Tequila Day! xo

Sunday Kind of Love

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Photo shot by Kyle Smith Born | ARSENIC-LACE.COM

Photo shot by Kyle Smith Born | ARSENIC-LACE.COM

It’s my favorite day again and I hope you all had a good week. I’m spending the day with my Mom in Sussex County, NJ. It’s really nice to get out of the city, breathe the fresh air and maybe do a little thrifting. I still haven’t decided on a kitchen table so before I purchase something new, I’m going to try my luck at thrift stores and on Craigslist for a few more weeks. I have some time before the holidays arrive when I will be inviting more company over. It’s way too hot in here right now to have people over anyway.

Speaking of how warm it is, I am newly addicted to smoothie bowls. I went out and bought my weight in fresh fruit and froze it to have a weeks worth of ice cold, smoothie goodness. Here are a few I made this week. I was thinking, should I post the recipes? Is non-boozy frozen breakfast treats something my readers are interested in? We all need breakfast, right?

  • This is the Matcha Green Smoothie Bowl I made with matcha, kale, bananas, pineapple, almond butter, and coconut milk. Topped with almonds, coconut, raspberries, and chia seeds.

  • This is the Blackberry Banana Smoothie Bowl with maca, banana, blueberries, blackberries, almond butter, chia seeds, and almond milk. Topped with kiwi, buckwheat, bee pollen, and coconut.

  • I think I’m only consuming cold, frozen things until the summer is over. Which brings me to these Dark & Stormy Popsicles I photographed yesterday for a post going up on A Beautiful Mess. Stay tuned for the recipe to those!

  • I really want this print from Kailo Chic because all signs DO point to cocktails. At least in my life they do. Don’t you love it?

  • All signs point to this Coconut Guava Daiquiri that I made a few weeks back. Wednesday was National Daiquiri Day and that’s reason enough to celebrate for me.

  • Also in this household we celebrate Sangria Saturdays. I’d like to start linking to posts I contribute to on other sites more frequently, that way you can follow my recipes no matter where they are. Sometimes I fall behind on updating my own site because I’m creating content for others. Don’t fret because there are plenty of drinks to go around! This is my Sparkling Hibiscus Sangria on A Beautiful Mess.

Cheers everyone! I hope you have a wonderful Sunday. Heads up: It’s National Tequila Day tomorrow! 😉

xo Natalie

Cucumber Lemongrass Gin and Tonics

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I’ve been really wanting to do a gin and tonic recipe ever since I came back from Spain and for some reason, I just haven’t gotten around to it. A Spanish-style gin and tonic are usually made with a premium gin and the best quality tonic water, combined with your choice of bitters and various herbs, vegetables and fruits. I had some lemongrass syrup leftover from my national piña colada day post and I thought this would be the perfect time to make one. Gin and tonics are supposed to be crisp, dry, herbal and refreshing which makes them thirst quenchingly perfect for the very hot weather in Spain and the current summer temperature we’re experiencing here in NYC (or wherever you might be). The lemongrass syrup is super easy to make (you can find the recipe here) and when combined with gin, cucumber, Meyer lemon juice, and bitter lemon fever tree tonic water creates an effortless drink that is fragrant and full of flavor.


Cucumber Lemongrass Gin and Tonic

2 oz. Botanist Gin

3/4 oz. Meyer Lemon Juice

3/4 oz. Lemongrass Syrup

4 Cucumber Slices

Bitter Lemon Fever Tree Tonic Water

Cucumber ribbon and lemon wheel for garnish

Add cucumber, lemon juice, and syrup to a tin and lightly muddle. Add gin and then fill with ice and give a quick shake.

Strain into desired glassware, top with tonic water and garnish with cucumber ribbon and lemon wheel.

The Botanist is a highly distinctive, complex, floral gin which mixes perfectly with the fragrance of the lemon grass syrup, and citrusy herbal freshness of the tonic water. The sweet Meyer lemon juice evens out the slight bitterness from the quinine in the tonic as well. This drink was clean, bright, wonderfully balanced and very easy to put together. They’re also very easy to drink, so be careful! After witnessing how serious they take their ‘gintonics’ in Spain, I have a new found love and appreciation for this cocktail. Do you ever experiment with different types of gin and tonics at home? Is there a favorite tonic you like to make them with? Special herbs, fruit, or bitters you like to include? I’d love to hear about it in the comments below.

I’m finally editing the hundreds of photos I took on my trip to Madrid, Jerez, Cadiz, and Seville, Spain. So stay tuned for that blog post very soon. I have so much to say about brandy, sherry, and the wonderful trip I took to the Cardenal Mendoza distillery and winery.

Cheers everyone and happy weekend!

 

Kitchen Table Dilemma

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Four months in and I feel like I should be done decorating but I’m not. The living room took up so much of my time when we first moved in, but since that’s all finished I’ve been concentrating my efforts on the bedroom. The bedroom is pretty much finished besides a few pieces. I want a full-length mirror (something like this or this), some more decorative objects for the mantel, and I had my heart set on wallpapering one wall, but I think I’m going to hold off on that for right now. I also moved from a tiny apartment to a much larger duplex so I had to acquire some larger pieces (like my couch) which added up fast.

Now that I’m recouping from all my purchases for the living room and my new bedroom furniture, I’m on the market for a larger kitchen table. My old kitchen was tiny and I couldn’t really afford anything larger than a two seat bistro table. We moved in our West Elm Tripod Table just to hold us over until we could upgrade. I’ve been looking for weeks but I can’t come to a final decision. I thought I would turn to you guys for some advice. Also, how cute are Bowie and I? He’s the love of my life.

Here he is eating my popsicle. I mean pupsicle.

This kitchen is definitely larger than our last one. My old one was shaped like a long rectangle and this one is still eat-in but is shaped more like a larger square. The counters are on one wall, and on the opposite is a fireplace/mantel and my mid-century china cabinet. I really wanted a marble top table to give me another surface for photographing drinks on, but also because I love the look. I was pretty much set with this one from West Elm, but of course, it’s no longer available. I emailed them to see if it was coming back in stock but they assured me that it wasn’t. It’s unfortunate because it was a really nice match to the wood of my china cabinet plus the wood counter tops and gave me the top surface that I desired.

Photo from Homepolish Photo from Homepolish

This got me to rethink my original choice of wanting a round table. Maybe a square or a rectangular table would fit in this space more? I could have one side on the wall between the windows and have it come out into the room parallel with the counters. If I had company over, I could easily pull it out into the center of the room to make more space for an extra seat.

Then I thought, what about an expandable table? I have only found two that I really like, both from West Elm. This one seems like the best of both worlds. It’s round and seats up to four and expands to seat six. It’s from the West Elm x Fishs Eddy collaboration and has a white laminate top. So I can have a round or long table, but not marble which is what I think I really want.

This one is the Modern Expandable Table also from West Elm. I love the angled wood legs and pecan finish but I’m on the fence about the white lacquer top. The tripod table I have is white lacquer too and the scratches it gets from normal use drives me insane. I polish it all the time so I don’t see the scratches because I have OCD about it. I like the look and functionality of this table but I’m not 100% positive about purchasing another lacquered table. They look cool and sleek until they get a little worn in and then they just look dull and messy.

I really love this round marble table on Wayfair. It has the white marble top that I’ve been dreaming about and the polished gold legs make it look super luxurious. It says it fits up to six comfortably but I’m not sure. The thing with buying a table like this is Friendsgiving or any other holiday might be limited to four or a tight six guest list. I also really like the ghost chairs that the table is paired with in this photo. They are on my list as a chair option because I love how they take up no space visually, but we will get to that later! It all depends on what table I decide to go with.

This is the rectangular version of the last table above also from Wayfair. White marble top and polished gold legs. It would be in the center of the room going long ways parallel between the counter wall and mantel wall. I’m dreaming about the tablescape possibilities already!

This is another one from West Elm and a complete show stopper! I love this one so much. It’s called the Silhouette Pedestal Dining Table. White marble, very dramatic gold base, and seats up to four. I might have to cut my guest list down permanently.

Or should I just stick to the good old classic Saarinen Tulip table? High gloss white and marble are both options. Decisions, decisions.

I’d love for you to chime in and tell me what your favorites are. I really need help narrowing it down. You can check out my board over on Pinterest as well to see what other goodies I find!

Cheers to Monday! Hopefully, I find a table for my happy hour cocktails to land on. 😉

xo – Natalie

Sunday Kind of Love

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I decided that besides my weekly cocktail posts, I’d like to start a weekly column where I share what I’ve been up to. I’ve always loved reading my favorite bloggers Sunday posts, like Elsie Larsons’ 10 Things I Love Sunday or Joy Wilsons’ Let it be Sunday. It also gives me a chance to just write my thoughts down and hopefully get to know some of my readers a little bit more. You are all of course the reason why I do this in the first place!

Sunday is my favorite day, I’m not sure why, maybe because it’s like my Saturday (Ethan hates when I say that). My schedule has always been a little off because I’m a bartender, which means keeping unconventional hours and having opposite days off than the rest of the world. Sunday is the only thing I have in common with the ‘normal’ world. It is also the only day I have off with Ethan so we usually spend it together. Sometimes we go out, or we stay home and cook, watch scary movies, and go out for walks with Bowie. It’s definitely our family day!

  • Today Ethan is making pork tacos with kiwi salsa. YUM! I had a bunch of watermelon left over from a post this week so I froze it and I’m making this watermelon gazpacho recipe. I’m also taking the extra jalapenos from that recipe and kiwi from the salsa and making kiwi jalapeno margaritas. It wouldn’t be Sunday without a cocktail! Be on the lookout on Instagram for pics.

  • I have finally made some progress in the bedroom. I got my Claudia Chloe print in the mail earlier this week. I spotted some of her photography prints in a shop in Asbury Park, NJ two years ago and have basically been IG stalking her ever since. I’m glad I finally had a space in my new home for one of her photos.

  • I found these vintage nightstands on Craigslist and loved the color so much I almost re-thought my whole bedroom design. In the end I thought I should stick to my design plan and I repainted them Caribbean Cool by Benjamin Moore in a super high gloss finish. When they were finished I was really happy I stuck with my original choice because this color palette is totally more “me” and I absolutely adore them. I saw similiar vintage nightstands on Chairish for $1,980. This look plus the paint came in at under $200 for the pair. I say this was a DIY win!

  • I took an old frame, spray painted it, and ordered cork foam board off Amazon and made myself a bulletin board for my office. Super happy with how it came out. I can’t wait to get some of my prints framed to hang next to it. That cactus print on my bulletin board is printable art from Sugar & Cloth.

Okay I think that’s it for my first Sunday Kind of Love! Till next week. Happy Sunday!

xo Natalie

Frozen Watermelon Margarita

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The temperature keeps rising and I find myself only wanting to make frozen drinks around here. Central AC is something I dream of one day having but for right now the bedroom is the only room that’s tolerable. So if I’m in the kitchen the drinks have got to be COLD! Plus, frozen drinks are super easy to make. You put all your ingredients in a pitcher and then let the blender do the work for you. No shaking or stirring, which also means less sweating. The result at the end? Mountains of icy-cold slushy goodness. Is your mouth watering? I’ve made a pretty simple variation on a tommy’s margarita (tequila, lime, and agave) and added fresh watermelon for a fruity and more refreshing summer version.


Frozen Watermelon Margarita

2 oz. Blanco Tequila (I used Omeca Altos)

1 oz. Lime Juice

3/4 oz. Agave Nectar

4-5 pieces of fresh watermelon

mint for garnish

Add all your ingredients to your blender pitcher, add ice (about a cup), and blend on smoothie setting. I love margaritas with salt, so don’t forget to salt the rims of your glasses and be generous! Garnish with a sprig of mint for fragrance and for pretties!

Check out my watermelon manicure! Check out my watermelon manicure!

Boom – it’s that easy! Now you can relax and enjoy the frosty, fruity goodness of this cocktail. It’s so good you can eat it with a spoon like sorbet and forget about the straw. Margaritas are such a versatile and simple cocktail you can basically make it with whatever fruit and herbs your heart desires. Depending on what you make it with it can be seasonally appropriate anytime of year. They also go perfectly in the company of tacos, a match made in heaven. I think next to my Avocado Margarita that I did for A Beautiful Mess, this watermelon version is up there on my list of favorites. It cooled me off and is the perfect summer time drink. Hope you’re all enjoying your summer. What have you been drinking at home? 🙂

Lemongrass Pina Colada with Bai

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If you’ve been following my blog over the past year, you know my favorite cocktail is a piña colada. That’s why I’m excited to announce that I’ve teamed up with Bai for National Piña Colada Day to bring you something delicious with their Molokai Coconut flavor. It turns out Bai is just as crazy about coconut as me!

What’s the great part about using their Cocofusion flavors in your drinks? They are super low in calories and sugar (only 5 calories & 1 gram of sugar per serving) and are filled with antioxidant goodness. We’re basically using this to add coconut flavor but taking out the guilt, which is A-OK with me! Any objections? I’ve paired this wonderful fruit juice with homemade lemongrass syrup, pineapple, and rum to bring you a fun and interesting variation on the much loved classic, the piña colada.


Lemongrass Pina Colada

1 1/2 oz. white rum

1 1/2 oz. Bai Molokai Coconut (any of their other cocofusions will work too)

3/4 oz. pineapple juice

3/4 oz. lemongrass syrup

For the lemongrass syrup, first remove the leaves on your lemongrass until you’re left with the white core (about 5 stalks). Chop it up and add it to a pot with 1 cup of sugar and 1 cup of water.

Bring to a slight bubble and then turn the heat down and let it simmer for about 10-15 minutes. Let cool on stove for a few hours and then strain out lemongrass.

Now to make the cocktail! Add all your ingredients to your blender pitcher, add ice, and blend on smoothie setting. It’s that easy! Pour into your serving vessel and garnish with a pineapple wedge, pineapple leaves, and a piece of cooked lemongrass.

I love how all the flavors compliment each other perfectly. The replacement of coconut cream for the Bai Molokai Coconut, makes the drink less creamy but doesn’t sacrifice flavor. The lemongrass is sweet and fragrant and blends together with the coconut to make a very crisp and refreshing drink. We couldn’t celebrate National Piña Colada Day without a giveaway, so head over to my Instagram for a chance to win 2 cases of Bai. All you have to do in order to be entered to win is make sure you’re following me @arseniclace, @drinkbai, and tag a friend in the comments you want to share a piña colada with! I will reach out to the winner on Instagram on 7/15. Cheers, good luck and thank you for reading this sponsored post here on Arsenic Lace.

Cherry Whiskey Sour

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Watching the produce change at my local farmers market is probably my favorite part of every season. I was super excited to see a variety of cherries available this past week and really wanted to make a pie. Instead, I’ve brought you cherry pie in a glass with this fun and easy twist on the classic whiskey sour. I’m not sure what’s better, the pie or the drink? I’d still like to get around to making a pie and maybe some homemade brandied cherries too before summer ends.  The depth and color the cherries bring to this classic cocktail is wonderful, and it wouldn’t be a traditional sour without egg whites, so let’s get cracking!


Cherry Whiskey Sour

2 oz. bourbon

3/4 oz. lemon juice

3/4 oz. simple syrup (1:1)

1 egg white

5 cherries

Peychaud’s bitters for garnish

In the larger side of your tin, crack your egg and separate, only using the egg white and discarding the yoke. In the small side of your tin add the lemon juice, simple syrup, cherries, and muddle. Add the bourbon and dry shake your cocktail to aerate and incorporate all ingredients. Add ice and shake again. Strain into a coupe and dash your Peychaud’s bitters on top. I drag a straw through my dashes to create a little design.

I love the way this cocktail came out. It’s super lush from the cherries and creamy from the egg white. It’s a really nice cocktail to serve after dinner, and like most egg cocktails, also a great brunch drink. But let’s be real – it’s any ANYTIME drink! I hope you can whip a few of these up over the long weekend. If you do, enjoy them and let me know how they turn out.

Is there a certain egg white cocktail you love to make at home? I’d love to hear about it in the comments below. Cheers everyone!