chamomile Archives - Arsenic Lace

The Summer solstice marks the official start of Summer. With it brings the longest day and shortest night of the year. You might need sangria for the longest day of the year, correct? In light of Summer solstice, I made Sparkling Chamomile Sangria with Santa Margherita Prosecco Superiore D.O.C.G. just for the occasion. After all, I do wait all year for the first day of Summer — every year. A delicious bubbly wine together with chamomile tea, elderflower liqueur, lemon, and strawberry seems like the perfect combination to ring in the first day of Summer.

Today also marks my 2nd blogiversary. I can not believe it! We’re going to need more prosecco!

Sparkling Chamomile Sangria, serves 4-6

1 bottle Santa Margherita Prosecco Superiore D.O.C.G

2 cups chamomile tea

3/4 cup lemon juice

1/2 cup gin

1/2 cup sugar

1/4 cup elderflower liqueur

lemon wheels

strawberries

First, bring 2 cups of water to a boil in a saucepan. Add 2 chamomile tea bags and let steep 5 minutes. Remove bags and discard. While tea is still hot add your 1/2 cup of sugar and stir until fully dissolved.

Next, cut up the fruit and then add it to your pitcher or large serving vessel. Pour tea, lemon juice, gin, and elderflower liqueur into the vessel and let sit in the refrigerator for at least 3-4 hours. The longer you let the fruit steep the better!

Just before serving your Sparkling Chamomile Sangria, add ice and finally top with a bottle of Santa Margherita Prosecco Superiore D.O.C.G. In this recipe, I only used 1 bottle of prosecco, but if you want to make a boozier sangria I suggest using 2 bottles instead.

I love adding an iced tea element to cocktails in the Summer. Especially in sangria and punches! Tea adds a lot of fruity, floral, and herbal elements that can compliment wine and spirits nicely. In this case, the chamomile adds floral notes that are a perfect match to the aromatic, fresh, fruity, and sweet floral aspects ofSanta Margherita Prosecco Superiore D.O.C.G. Santa Margherita grows luscious, aromatic Glera grapes in the gentle hills of Valdobbiadene, a town synonymous with the finest Prosecco Superiore, and DOCG status – the highest and most distinctive classification possible.

Please sip and enjoy this delicious Sparkling Chamomile Sangria. I’ve been waiting a long time to say this — happy first official day of Summer everyone!

I hope everyone had a good week. I can’t believe we’re approaching the last week of August. I really don’t know where the time is going. Someone stop the clock please! Not a whole lot happened this week except the usual tons of work thing that I always seem to be struggling with. There is light at the end of the tunnel though.

I'm going to Paris and Cognac in September with Pierre Ferrand to tour the distillery and spend some time in France. I'm so thankful for the opportunity to travel with them. France and especially Paris has always been on the top of my list of places to go to but somehow I've made it 30 years without getting the chance to travel there. I'm staying behind for a few days after the trip so I booked my hotel this week. After searching for a few hours I found this really awesome hotel, The Henriette, that was very afforable and just look how adorable it is. I know what you're thinking…how did you find a Palm Springs looking hotel in the Paris? Let's just say the universe found it for me. This trip has seemed so far for months and now it's just around the corner. What am I going to pack? Did I just find the hotel that every blogger is going to stay at now when they go to Paris? Can you spot a photo of my favorite hotel in Palm Springs framed above one of those beds? Click the photos to see the slideshow.

Meet the Finalists went up on SAVEUR this week. Check it out here and read about their favorite drink blogs of 2017 and learn more about each blog/blogger that has been nominated in the SAVEUR Blog Awards. You have until 9/6 to vote for Arsenic Lace for Best Drinks Blog, so keep voting! EVERY DAY!

Did you see my Chamomile Elderflower Tom Collins on A Beautiful Mess? It’s a delicious and refreshing variation on the classic Tom Collins with elderflower liqueur and chamomile flower infused honey syrup. This drink was so good and I had a blast making it and shooting it. I’m really happy with how the photos turned out.

I have a fun post and giveaway that goes live tomorrow on the blog. Keep your eyes peeled for that email in your inbox in the morning. You have to be following me on Instagram to enter, so if you’re not already, what are you waiting for? 😉

I need a new camera bag because I want to travel with my camera, especially for this France trip. A Beautiful Mess did a collaboration with Kelly Moore and ever since they launched them I’ve been dying to buy one. It seems like there’s enough space for my camera body, a few lenses, but most importantly my laptop. I want to be able to blog while I’m on that trip so having a bag that can accomodate all of my needs is really important. I like this one because it can be a shoulder bag or backpack which is super useful. My current camera bag is a little small and when I put all of my stuff in it, it’s very heavy and hurts my shoulders. This bag is obviously ridiculously good looking as well. My biggest problem? Should I get pink or gold? Obviously my mind goes directly to pink but keep in mind everything I own is pink, including jackets and my hair. What do you guys think?

If you have ever been to Paris and have any recommendations on places I should go and see, please tell me in the comments section below. Museums? Favorite restaurants? Cocktail bars? Colorful walls? I want to know about it. Enjoy your Sunday. I’m hoping to get a little time to relax myself. Cheers. xo