Basil Salt:

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 cup kosher salt
• 2/3 cup fresh basil (cleaned and dry)

PREPARATION:
Step 1:
Pulse the salt and basil together in a blender or a food processor.

Step 2:
Spread it evenly onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper

Step 3:
Bake at 220 degrees F  for 25 minutes or until completely dry

​Step 4:
Pulse again in the food processor to break up any chunks, or break up with the back of a wooden spoon. Store in an airtight container.

​I like to use small mason jars and share it with friends!

It is Pink Azalea Season! Pink Azaleas are the signature drink of the Masters. And while I have never been fortunate enough to get tickets to go, it doesn’t mean that I can’t appreciate it from afar. And with the warm temperatures having arrived in the South you can tell it’s right around the corner - “Amen Corner” that is.
Augusta National supposedly released the official recipe last year, but I still find a number of different versions for it online. Some call for pineapple juice, some call for gin, and some call for lemon juice. This one is from an article in Golf.com in 2024 that claims to be the official one, and based on how easy it was to make I’d say that this is most likely correct since you know they are making them en masse in Augusta. And it is perfectly refreshing. Enjoy, and Fore!​

The Pink Azalea:

INGREDIENTS:

• Ice
• 1.25 ounces of vodka
• 5 ounces of Lemonade
• 0.5 ounces of grenadine
• Cherry and lemon wheels, for garnish

PREPARATION:
Step 1:  Add some ice and all ingredients to a shaker to mix well.
​
Step 2:  Pour over ice, garnish and enjoy!

I love London, and I love tea. I drink a lot of it.  I usually drink it straight up – no sugar, no cream or milk. But I feel like the universe kept putting the London Fog latte tea drink in my path, so I had to try it. And shocker – I already had everything I needed to make it at home.

I thoroughly enjoyed this as an alternative to my regular tea, and on a snowy morning here in Atlanta it felt like a hug. You may see the London Fog with different names on a menu, such as an Earl Grey Latte, a Tea Latte, or a London Fog Latte.  It is a regular item on the Starbucks menu, but my suggestion would be to reduce their default number of 4 vanilla syrup pumps to just one pump.  And you can also order it iced, which I’ve discovered is also a really refreshing alternative to iced tea,
 ​

A London Fog Tea

INGREDIENTS:

• 2 cups of hot water
• 2 Earl Grey tea bags
• ¾ Cup of Milk (note: you can use any type of milk, but cow milk or oat milk will make the best foam)
• ½ tsp vanilla extract
• 2 Tbsp honey (I always use local honey)

 
PREPARATION:
1.  Boil the water in a tea kettle. Place the tea bags in a teapot or other container - like a Pyrex measuring cup - and pour the boiling water over the tea bags. Let it steep for 5 minutes.

2.  Remove the tea bags and pour into two mugs.

3.  Add the milk, vanilla, and honey to a milk frother, or mix it in a small cup and use a hand-held frother. Froth until it is velvety.

4.  Divide the milk mixture between the two mugs by pouring it over the tea and serve.

Optional:  While the tea is steeping, add some food grade dried lavender to enhance the lavender essence of the Earl Grey tea. Strain it out when pouring the tea into the mugs. 

The Lemon Drops I made at Christmas were a tremendous hit with everyone, so I was excited to find a recipe for a Lemon Drop just for Valentine's Day.  This drink recipe is not complicated, and by adding pink sugar to the rim you can rally dress it up a bit. Enjoy, and Happy Valentine's Day!

Every woman who lived vicariously through, and loved,  "Sex & the City"  loves to order a Cosmo. SO why not create a special cosmo just for Valentine's Day? And this one includes raspberries as a departure from all of the strawberry focused Valentine's cocktails. This cocktail is made for Girl's Night, Mahjong, or a "Sex & the City" binge watch.

Galentine's Cosmo

INGREDIENTS:

• 14 raspberries (10 for muddling and 4 for garnish) 
• 2 oz vodka
• 3/4 oz orange liqueur
• juice from 1/2 lime
• 1/4 oz simple syrup
• 2 oz white cranberry juice

PREPARATION:

1. Add all of the ingredients to a cocktail shaker.
2. Add ice, and shake well until chilled.
3. Strain into a chilled martini glass
4. Garnish with four raspberries on a skewer.

​

I love all the pretty in pink drinks that circulate around Valentine's Day. And I always like a French 75, so I knew this one would be a favorite. This one is as easy as can be. And although the pink edible glitter is optional, it's really not.  This cocktail really needs to sparkle.

Galentine's French 75

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 oz gin
• 1/2 oz fresh lemon juice
• 1/2 strawberry syrup (either store bought or homemade*)
• sparkling wine
• pink edible glitter (optional)
• Strawberry cut into a heart shape for garnish

PREPARATION:

1. Add gin, lemon juice, syrup, and glitter to a cocktail shaker

2. Add ice, and shake well until chilled.

3. Strain into a flute or coupe glass.

* Homemade Strawberry Syrup:
INGREDIENTS:

• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1/2 strawberries - halved
• 1/2 cup water

PREPARATION:

1. Add all three ingredients to a small saucepan over medium heat.
2. Stir occasionally until the sugar dissolves.
3. Once the berries are soft, mash them gently to release the juice.
4. Reduce the heat to low, and simmer for 5-10 minutes.
5. Remove from the het and allow to cool completely before straining.
6. Store in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 3 weeks.