I really love sangria. I love it so much that sometimes my girlfriends and I are referred to as The Sangria Sisters — and I’m not mad at it! I also like to eat (and drink) as seasonally as possible, so I created this holiday sangria recipe inspired by seasonal flavours, Gatsby glam, and New Years Eve bubbly. Traditional sangria gets a luxurious makeover in my Sparkling Pomegranate Cranberry Sangria — I’m swapping wine for bubbles, and infusing the recipe with flavours of pomegranate, cranberry, orange, and ginger, plus a healthy splash of Grand Marnier to send it over the top. Enjoy this sangria at your holiday parties, or to ring in the New Year, because as the great F. Scott Fitzgerald said, “Too much of anything is bad, but too much Champagne is just right.” Cheers!
Wine & Cocktails
I love red wine. I also love caesars. It was really only a matter of time before I tried them together in a cocktail — and it is so, so delicious! In fact, I don’t think I can ever go back — I’ve ruined traditional caesars for myself. The idea of the red wine caesar initially came to me on a beautiful summer day (a caesar Sunday, in fact!) at my family’s acreage. After a couple of caesars I thought, “Hey! I bet a splash of red wine would be really good in here!”. Well, it turns out that it wasn’t just the vodka talking! The addition of red wine adds a certain je ne sais quoi to the traditional caesar — it intensifies and enriches the flavours much like adding wine to a red pasta sauce or gravy would. And I didn’t stop there — my recipe also calls for a splash of olive juice (I’m dirty martini fan, as well!). If you’re looking for a sophisticated twist on the classic Canadian caesar, this cocktail is for you!
Tonight’s post is a something a little bit different — I’m sharing my Sober September experience. September has always signified a fresh start for me, so I decided to completely cut out alcohol last month to help me refresh, reenergize and focus on setting goals for the rest of 2015. While I totally love wine and could never give it up permanently, I took September as an opportunity to reevaluate my relationship with alcohol and be ultra productive! If you’re curious about what I accomplished, or are thinking about trying a sober month yourself (Sober October has a nice ring to it!), check it out.
KELSEY’S TUSCAN KITCHEN WEDDING SHOWER
My good friend Kelsey got married on Kootenay Lake at the end of August, so a couple of weeks before the wedding, the bridal party threw Kelsey a wedding shower inspired by a beautiful Tuscan soirée! Kelsey is half Italian, has traveled to Italy, and really loves good food and wine (let’s be honest — we all really love good food and wine)! Today I’m sharing her shower details; complete with decor inspiration (and lots of sunflowers!), an authentic Italian menu, my White Citrus Sangria recipe, a cute kitchen-themed shower game, and a fun guest favour DIY.
GREEN JALAPEÑO MARGARITAS
My friend Elise served these delicious margaritas at our last girl dinner, and we all agreed they were the best homemade margaritas we’d ever tasted! I’ve dabbled in making cocktails with freshly pressed juice, but it usually goes a little something like “Hey, I bet this juice would taste good with vodka in it!”. I’m picky when it comes to tequila-based cocktails, but these margaritas are citrusy, savory and a bit spicy — it tastes like you’re drinking the most delicious green juice, and I couldn’t even taste the tequila! Plus, I like that this recipe is full of good ingredients (even some vegetables!). If you’re looking for a refreshing summer cocktail with a twist, you’ll love Elise’s Green Jalapeño Margaritas. Cheers, amigos!
Sangria has been my summer beverage of choice for as long as I can remember, so over the years my friends and I have perfected the recipe! Our White Citrus Sangria is a crisp and refreshing white wine-based drink that’s perfect for summer parties, backyard barbeques, or even camping. This sangria is really easy to drink (maybe a little too easy!) and people who don’t drink wine usually like it, too. It’s a crowd-pleasing recipe that’s fun to make with friends, so next time you’re entertaining, try it out — it always gets the party started!
I’m excited to share the first of many DESIGN themed posts here on JustineCelina centered around the home and DIY — today I’m showcasing our Wine Nook! This is one of those spaces that took awhile to come together — our living room is a long, rectangular shape, and there was always this open space on the far wall, next to the patio door. Come take a look at how I finished this space and share some design inspiration, along with a few DIY tips!