Arsenic Lace

champagne cocktails

Bitter Blood Orange French 75

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Bitter Blood Orange French 75

Can 2018 get the hell out of town already? Sending this year off with something bitter and sparkling because it only seemed appropriate. I took a popular classic champagne cocktail, the French 75 (gin, lemon, simple, champagne), and changed it up a bit by adding fresh blood orange juice and Campari. My bitter blood orange riff on the French 75 is the perfect cocktail to send 2018 packing.

The original French 75 was created by Harry Macelhone at Harry’s New York Bar in Paris in 1915. The cocktail was said to have such a kick that it felt like being shelled with the powerful French 75mm Howitzer field gun. The cocktail was popularized in America at The Stork Club in NYC and with its publication in the Savoy Cocktail book in 1930. It also makes an appearance in one of my favorite Humphrey Bogart movies, Casablanca.

Bitter Blood Orange French 75

Bitter Blood Orange French 75, makes 1 serving

1 oz. gin

1/4 oz. campari

1/2 oz. blood orange juice

1/2 oz. simple syrup

Champagne or Prosecco

Bitter Blood Orange French 75

Bitter Blood Orange French 75

First add all ingredients (except champagne) to a cocktail shaker, fill completely with ice and then shake vigorously. Strain into a coupe glass and top with champagne. Garnish with a slice of blood orange.

Bitter Blood Orange French 75

Bitter Blood Orange French 75

Bitter Blood Orange French 75

The changes that I made to this classic cocktail were so simple yet made such a huge impact on the flavor. Blood oranges have deep red flesh and the flavor is much more intense than a normal orange. This fruit is sweet, bitter, and has a slight hint of raspberry flavor. They pair perfectly with Campari, which is also crimson red and has a bittersweet taste with distinct notes of cherry, cascarilla, clove, rhubarb, cinnamon, and orange peel. As a result of the color of both of these ingredients, and their delicious flavors we are left with a delicious and stunningly hued cocktail.

Bitter Blood Orange French 75

While many great and positive things happened in my life during 2018, unfortunately, it has come to a bittersweet ending. It only felt right to make a bubbly and bittersweet cocktail to coincide with that. I’m looking forward to the future, continuing to grow my business, and making some big life changes in 2019. But most of all I am most excited for a fresh start and a chance to be happy again. I’m raising my glass and wishing you all a very Happy New Year! xo

 

Carrot and Orange Mimosa

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Hey everyone! Happy Easter! Hope you’re all enjoying your holiday at home with your loved ones. This is my favorite time of year, probably because it’s finally acceptable to wear pastels, not that it stops me at any other time of the year. Finally, I don’t stick out like a sore thumb though! I’ve whipped up quite a delicious (and EASY) cocktail for your Easter festivities. My Carrot Orange Mimosa is literally three ingredients and is sure to impress your holiday guests. Although perfect for Easter, where brunch meals are the norm, this drink is acceptable to serve throughout the Spring season OR any other time of the year that you want to add a little special something to your regular classic mimosa. Get creative with in-season fruit and vegetables. You don’t have to stop with orange juice!


Carrot and Orange Mimosa

1 oz. Orange Juice

1 oz. Carrot Juice

Top with Sparkling

Add your juices to a flute glass and fill with sparkling wine. Garnish with a carrot top.

Guys…carrot juice is so delicious. Why has it taken me this long to realize it? I have a confession to make and it’s that I don’t have a slow juicer. I’ve always wanted one but have never had the extra space for kitchen gadgets. Now that I’ve moved and have a kitchen to accomodate more appliances, it is defintely on the top of my list of things to buy.

With that said, I knew I needed fresh carrot juice to really make this recipe work. I went to my local organic food store that also sells fresh juice and brought some home. Super helpful and a great idea for those that also don’t have access to making fresh vegetable juice at home.

Along with these mimosas I also have a number of other things on the menu for today. For breakfast I’m making bunny pancakes, stay tuned for super cute photos! For dinner I’m making a chilled asparagus soup and Ethan is making an apricot and mustard glazed ham with root vegetables. Dessert which I am most excited for, is a strawberry rhubarb tart!

Banana Pancakes from Good Housekeeping Banana Pancakes from Good Housekeeping Chilled Asparagus Bisque from Good Housekeeping Chilled Asparagus Bisque from Good Housekeeping Apricot-Mustard Ham with herb roasted root vegetables from Good Housekeeping. Apricot-Mustard Ham with herb roasted root vegetables from Good Housekeeping. Rhubarb-Strawberry Tart from Martha Stewart. Rhubarb-Strawberry Tart from Martha Stewart.

Have fun cooking, baking, and drink making tomorrow. I’d love to hear what you’re making for Easter. If you decide to make these mimosas let me know how it turns out!

Giveaway with Shaker and Spoon

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Hello Everyone! Excited to announce that I’ve teamed up with Shaker and Spoon for a little giveaway. If you’re not familiar with them they do a monthly subscription cocktail club. All you have to do is pick up the bottle and they take care of the rest! That just sounds too easy, doesn’t it? It defintely takes the hassle out of making drinks at home. No running to the super market, fussing over making syrups, running around for those impossible to find bitters. I know we’ve all done it…I defintely have.

Fear no more, because with Shaker and Spoon you can confidently make drinks for your date, friends, or just for yourself, and the cocktails will always be perfect and stress free.

I recieved February’s After Party Box which included ingredients for three champagne inspired cocktails, because after the holidays everyone has bubbly laying around, am I right? Guilty! I made the Time After Thyme by my friend Pamela Wiznitzer.

This cocktail combines the herbaceous fusion of cucumber, celery, and thyme with the fresh citrus of grapefruit and the effervescence of sparking wine. The Time After Thyme was devine and completely refreshing and very easy to make. All I had to do was build my ingredient in the glass, add ice, stir, and top with champagne. I may have had two (or three). I can’t wait to try the others and I can’t wait for you to get your hands on one of these boxes!

All you have to do to enter is go to my Instagram, comment on the photo that I’ve tagged Shaker and Spoon in, tag three friends you want to share cocktails with and make sure you’re following me (@arseniclace) and Shaker and Spoon (@shakerandspoon). Winner will be chosen at random and the contest will go for 48 hours. Good luck everyone, and hurry up and enter!

Everything but the booze!

Cheers and Good Luck!