Tag Archives | wedding wellness

Signature Cocktail #15: Boozy Mini Shakes

By Lauren on June 7, 2013 in All Posts, Signature Cocktails

We’ve never met a boozy milkshake that we didn’t like, but this coffee-flavored concoction is on its own level of deliciousness. Carlene Thomas, our wedding wellness expert, shares the recipe for this fun and flavorful summertime treat.

I just love when you can combine two amazing things—in this case, cocktail hour and desserts! Boozy milkshakes are fun and cute but not overdone in the way that cupcakes are. Plus, there are so many ways to personalize this cocktail for your event, from the straws to the flavors and garnishes. Mini versions are a smart, chic way to keep milkshakes at the optimum temperature, and they’re sure to make guests smile!

Ingredients:

Makes 4 normal servings or 8 mini shakes

• 1 tray of ice cubes

• 1/2 cup of 0% Greek yogurt

• 1 shot of Kahlua

• 1 shot of Baileys

• Fresh cherry for garnish

• Whipping cream

Directions:

Add ice cubes, yogurt, Kahlua, and Baileys to a blender and pulse until there are no large chunks of ice remaining. In a chilled bowl, whip cream for topping. Pour the “milkshake” into glasses, then top with a dollop of cream and a fresh cherry.

Photos and recipe by Carlene Thomas for Limn & Lovely

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Signature Cocktail #7: Guava Rum Punch

By Lauren on February 8, 2013 in All Posts, Signature Cocktails

Escape the doldrums of winter—momentarily, at least—with this tropically inspired cocktail. Your taste buds will be doing a hula dance. Here’s Carlene Thomas, our wedding wellness expert, with the short and sweet recipe for this bright, fruity libation.

Deep into the winter months, we all start feeling a bit blue and weary of the cold weather. It’s about the time when many of us begin craving a tropical vacation. Since scent is one of the strongest ties we have to memories of said warm wanderings, the choice of an aromatic fruit is one step in the right direction. Both guava and lime (and let’s be honest, rum as well) smell like somewhere sunny and lush. Luckily, guava is so naturally flavorful and sweet that no added sugar is needed, and this three-ingredient drink is simplicity at its finest.

Ingredients:

1.5 ounces of spiced rum
1.5 tablespoons of fresh lime juice
4 ounces of guava nectar
Fresh guava and lime for garnish

Directions:

Chill a glass in the freezer. Cube the fresh guava and slice a round of lime to place on a swizzle stick. In the chilled glass, pour rum, fresh lime juice, and guava nectar. Stir.

Note: Guava nectar is very easy to find in international markets or in the Latin American section of most groceries.

Photos and recipe by Carlene Thomas

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Signature Cocktail #6: Black Pepper Kumquat Margarita

By Lauren on January 23, 2013 in All Posts, Catering and Food, Signature Cocktails

It’s margarita time! Today, our wedding wellness expert, Carlene Thomas of Healthfully Ever After, whipped up a sophisticated wintry margarita that entices with the pleasantly pungent flavor of kumquats, winter’s unheralded citrus gems, and a sprinkling of smoky black pepper. With sweet, tart, spicy, and citrusy notes in equal parts, this wonderfully complex and layered drink is an ideal signature cocktail choice for the chic and modern bride. Here’s Carlene with all the details.

Winter is the peak season for citrus. While you could buy oranges, it’s time to enjoy a petite and little-known fruit: the kumquat. Kumquats, including the skin, are 100 percent edible. They are tart like lemons but release an addictive sweetness as you chew. Put a spin on a traditional margarita with this little-used ingredient and a spicy dash of pepper on the rim of the glass. A black pepper kumquat margarita is the perfect signature drink for the bride with razor-sharp wit and a thoughtful heart.

Ingredients (makes 2):

1 tablespoon kosher salt
1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
8 kumquats
3 ounces tequila
3 cups crushed ice
1/2 cup sugar (to make simple syrup)
2 ounces of Cointreau
1 ounce of lime juice

Directions:

Moisten the rims of margarita or cocktail glasses with lime juice. Sprinkle salt and black pepper into a small bowl and dip the glass rims.

To make sweetened kumquats: Wash and puncture kumquats with a fork. Place in a small saucepan and cover with water. Bring the kumquats to a boil, and drain the water. Repeat the process twice. Once you have boiled and drained the kumquats twice, add more water and an equal amount of sugar. Allow the sugar to dissolve over heat with the kumquats. Set aside.

In a blender, finely crush the ice. Add to glasses with the salt and pepper rims. Add syrup and a few kumquats to the glass. In a cocktail shaker, add tequila, lime, and Cointreau. Shake and pour over the kumquat ice.

Photos and recipe by Carlene Thomas

Comments { 2 }

Signature Cocktail #1: Fennel Orange Sparkler

By Lauren on November 20, 2012 in All Posts, Catering and Food, Signature Cocktails

As craft cocktail aficionados, we heartily believe that every bride deserves to have a splendid signature cocktail served at her wedding. On that note, we’re thrilled to introduce a new bimonthly cocktail series contributed by the lovely Carlene Thomas. A registered dietitian and the media and public relations chair of the Virginia Dietetic Association, Carlene specializes in wedding wellness and helping brides to live healthfully ever after—no dreadful dieting required. You can find her on her daily blog, Carlene’s Figments, which serves up lifestyle inspiration and the freshest tips on how to lead a healthful life. Carlene believes that food and drink should be nutritious, delicious, and packed with flavor, and this ethos will be reflected in her original cocktail creations. Without further ado, here she is to share her first concoction, a bright and bubbly wintertime pick-me-up with seasonal fennel and orange juice.

A cocktail that plays on winter flavors, such as citrus and licorice-like fennel, and has a dash of pure bubbles is the perfect brunch reception drink. While many cocktails rely on sticky-sweet liquors and cocktail juices to achieve flavor, we prefer a clean, bright, and simple beverage. One of the best ways to accomplish a clean cocktail is by creating infused alcohols or simple syrups. A drink light on calories but filled with flavor? We’ll drink to that!

Ingredients:

1 ounce of fennel simple syrup
2 ounces of orange juice
2 ounces of vodka
Seltzer to fill glass
Garnishes: Fennel stalks and orange peel

To create a flavored simple syrup:

Slice desired flavoring agent (roughly 1/2 cup fennel) and add to a small saucepan. Add equal parts water and sugar to the saucepan and bring to a simmer for several minutes until the liquid becomes thick. Strain the fennel from the syrup. This method can be used for nearly any flavor!

To mix cocktail:

In a tumbler, add chilled vodka, fennel syrup, and cold orange juice. Stir to combine. Add chilled seltzer to the glass to fill. Stir lightly to keep the drink carbonated.