Tea Forte, well-known for its delicious assortment of tea flavors, is now branching out into the world of mixology. They offer several different infusion flavors that quickly turn a regular cocktail into something fresh and creative. Simply pour alcohol over the infuser, wait for it to steep, and get ready for a delicious beverage.
Their Mixology Set, with two infusion chambers, eight infusers, and a recipe booklet would make a great holiday gift.
Here’s a playful twist on flavoring champagne. While I love a good Kir Royale, these flavored lollipops allow you to stir in different flavors of choice. Using corn syrup and flavored extracts you can make lollipops in traditional circles or a fun shape like a heart or star.
Note that you’ll need to make sure that the lollipop stick is proportional to your glass. Here they use a stemless flute paired perfectly with a long stick. Other glasses might require different length sticks.
Martha Stewart's liqueur lollipops
When I opened the door to take the dog for a walk today, a wall of blazing heat hit me and I realized… summertime is upon us!
Keep your guests cool this summer with refreshing drinks like lemonade and iced tea. I love this display from Shannon and Darren’s wedding — particularly because they offered mint green tea instead of regular which added a little pizazz.
Here are some fun recipes — some “full test,” others not — to serve this summer:
Stay cool out there!
These ice shot glasses from The Spoon Sisters would be so fun to use at a party. Greet guests with a shot of a fun, festive drink; serve gazpacho shooters as an hors d’oeuvre; or fill the “glass” with cold milk to serve with cookies at the end of the night. The possibilities are endless!
Now let’s raise our [ice] glasses!
ice shot glasses from Spoon Sisters
It’s getting downright chilly outside. On cold days like this nothing is more heavenly than cozying up to a fire with some cocoa in hand. These three cocoa recipes from around the Web are a great excuse to strike a match.
Ferrero Flip by Sweet Paul; photo by Hector Sanchez via Sweet Paul
Mexican Hot Cocoa via Epicurious; photo by Sang An via Epicurious
Giada De Laurentiis' Hot Chocolate Bar via Food Network
These adorable wrapped beverages, featured on Donna Hay, would be perfect for a baby shower! They would be so easy to create — and to customize. Choose fabric and pins that coordinate with the gender of the baby and the theme. Izze sparkling beverages would be a perfect bottle to wrap. Too cute!
Bottle wrappers, featured on Donna Hay
Izze sodas
I am a big fan of Arnold Palmer… the drink, that is. (Though the golfer is pretty great, too!) Half iced-tea, half lemonade, the Arnold Palmer is refreshingly sweet — particularly during a heat wave like the one we’ve been having here in DC.
This month’s Bon Appetit features a fun “spiked” version of the drink, created by Damon Boelte, bar manager at Prime Meats in Brooklyn. The drink combines gin, jasmine tea, limoncello, lemon juice, and grapefruit juice. Delish!
The "Leland Palmer"; photo by Nigel Cox
Ingredients
1/2 cup honey
1/2 cup hot water
3 cups freshly brewed jasmine tea, cooled
3/4 cup gin
3/4 cup limoncello*
3/4 cup fresh lemon juice
1/2 cup fresh grapefruit juice
1 cup chilled club soda
Ice cubes
6 lemon slices (for garnish)
Preparation
Stir honey and 1/2 cup hot water in small bowl until honey dissolves. Cool completely. Combine honey water, jasmine tea, gin, limoncello, lemon juice, and grapefruit juice in large pitcher. Add club soda and stir to blend. Fill six 1-pint mason jars or 6 tall glasses with ice cubes. Divide tea mixture among jars; top each with lemon slice.
* Limoncello, a lemon-flavored liqueur, can be found at many supermarkets, at Trader Joe’s markets, and at liquor stores.
Football fans everywhere, are you ready for the 2010 NFL Draft? Starting tonight and through the weekend we’ll watch, wait, and pray as our favorite teams make their picks. (Patriots, don’t do me wrong!)
So as you are watch the painstakingly long and often nail-biting process, you may want to invite your friends over to enjoy another kind of “draft”… of the “hops” persuasion.
Instead of bottles and cans at your Draft Day party, why not try a beverage dispenser (or, using a term I haven’t heard since college, a kegerator)?!
The Krups Beertender at $99.00 is a nice, entry level, accessible model. It’s small enough to fit on your countertop and can be easily stored away when you aren’t using it. One downside is that you can only use it with Heineken 5L DraughtKegs. But if you like Heineken, you can’t go wrong. It’s an easy way for guests to serve themselves and it is likely to be a good conversation piece!
Krups Beertender
If this model is too “pedestrian” for you, you can always go for the cadillac of kegerators: Viking’s 24″ Built-in Beverage Dispenser. It can accommodate a half barrel of whatever beer you can order.
Viking's Built-in Beverage Dispenser
After you’ve setup your beverage dispenser, you’ll want to set out some glassware for your guests. Chilled mugs are always appreciated. I particularly love these pint glasses from Sur La Table.
Pallino Ottimista/Pessimista Beer Glasses from Sur La Table
Baccarat and beer seem like an unlikely pairing to me … but, nonetheless, these Baccarat Oenology Pilsner-style beer mugs are beautiful.
Baccarat Oenology Beer Mug, available through Geary's
Finally, I remember traveling in Belgium years ago and being amazed at how each brand and type of beer was served in its own special glass designed specifically by the brewery to ensure optimal flavor. While not quite to that extent, this collection of glasses follows that line of thinking. The set includes a glass each for pilsners, wheats, ales, and stouts.
Mikasa "Brewmaster's Collection" Varietal Glasses, Set of 4, available at Macy's
With all of our “Draught Day” equipment, I think we are ready to watch Round One and hope for the best for our teams…
Go Patriots! (Skins fans, no taunts or jibes, please!)
When I work a wedding, one of the things I always bring with me in my emergency kit is a pack of drinking straws. The straws are helpful in making sure the bride and bridesmaids don’t smudge or wear off their lipstick after they’ve had their makeup done.
I recently came across these fantastic reusable straws. While they may not work for my kit, I couldn’t help but think how helpful they would be at home — especially for families with children. Cool looking AND eco-friendly — sipping has never been so fashionable!
stainless steel straws from Always Brilliant
Festive Family set of straws, from Strawesome
beautiful bend straw from Glass Dharma
pink glass straw from Strawesome
I am not sure I can wait until St Patrick’s Day to try this spiked shake. It looks so refreshing and decadent!
Shamrock Shake via Food2
Ingredients
1 cup whole milk
1 pint mint chocolate chip ice cream
1 teaspoon pure mint extract
3 tablespoons dark rum
Directions
1) Put milk, ice cream, mint extract and rum into a blender. Mix until smooth.
2) Pour into chilled glasses and garnish with a sprig of mint.
3) Optional: Drop the rum and you’ve almost got a Shamrock Shake
recipe from Food2
The Rex & Regina Blog shares both trendy and traditional ways to extend gracious hospitality through weddings, other social occasions, and at-home entertaining. Learn more about Rex & Regina.