ThumbnailValentine’s Day Food Gifts

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cocktails

Make Your Own Rhubarb Cordial

by Maggie Battista
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I finally got my hands onto some good stuff a few weeks ago. It was tall and red and green and full of subtle musty tartness that pleases me to no end. I searched high and low for this good stuff, patiently waiting for the good local version to hit the fruit stands. I live

Farnum Hill Cider

by Maggie Battista
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This weekend, we made a grand lunch for dear friends. This lunch involved some scrumptious recipes like slow-roasted pulled pork sandwiches and a spicy vinegar-based barbecue sauce (thanks to my hubby), sweet potato gratin (thanks to a great recipe at food52.com) and a luscious caramel pudding (thanks to Deb at Smitten Kitchen). It was quite

Pomegranate Packs-a-Punch

by Maggie Battista
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This is a bit of a traditional holiday punch with an actual punch. I like to taste the actual liquor in my punch, don’t you? And the bright color is just divine, making it a worthy and special holiday or perhaps superbowl party option. The base recipe was shared by a dear friend, and I

Homemade Baileys

by Maggie Battista
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  I realize homemade Baileys may be too rich or silly for some of you, but my friends live for a small nip at the holiday season. As guests left my home last year, I sent them packing with hugs and little glass bottles filled with well-chilled homemade Baileys, tied with brown ribbon. (This year,

Homemade Cordials

by Maggie Battista
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One of my favorite treats to shower upon friends and family (besides my holiday giftbox, of course) is a teeny bottle of my homemade cordials. I’m no cordial expert and, in fact, I’m not quite sure that I’m using the term correctly for these concoctions I scheme up. But I do feel quite cordial after

Cucumber and Lime Spritzer

by Maggie Battista
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As far as I’m concerned, one of the keys to eating less is drinking less. I’ve been eating less, a lot less, which means I’ve been drinking less. Alas, as far as I’m concerned, one of the keys to enjoying Summer is drinking – not boozy, unnecessary drinking, but the kind of drinking that involves

Organic Limoncello

by Maggie Battista
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Today was one of those days where I totally deserved this entire bottle of Limoncello. I was in the garden most of the day, a big chunk of time spent in that very bed in the above photo. It was over-run, weedy and totally misshapen from clunky Spring growth. On hands and knees, I dug

Giada’s Side Car Martini

by Maggie Battista

The other night, we had a virtual cocktail party. It was the perfect sort of party, one attended by only two couples. On a whim, we called a couple of our best friends in the entire world and, wow, they weren’t busy working or traveling or catering or being Ohioans. Dan and Cass were in

Bourbon Peach Punch

by Jessica Merrill

I was at a wedding not that long ago when the groom came up to me and said, “I thought of you while I was at the wine store – and I bought an extra case.” Now I’ve never been known to drink an entire case of wine in one night (that I can recall),

Watermelon Margarita

by Maggie Battista

Forget orange, lime or even pomegranate juices. I’ve been head-over-heels for watermelon juice since the season started and found a glorious way to integrate it into my weekend cocktail hour. You could buy a large melon, scoop out its meat and mash the juice from it. I opt for the easy path. My local farmer’s

Recipe for the Ultimate Cosmopolitan

by Maggie Battista

My husband and I have been married for less than three years, but he learned what makes me tick very quickly. Do I need fancy presents and posh tropical vacations to make me happy? Hardly – though I hear they don’t hurt! All I really need is a new kitchen (done) and a great cocktail.

Drinks by the Pool, Porn Stars at the Dinner Table

by Maggie Battista

There’s a great spot in London where life is always a beach. The Haymarket Hotel has a fancy bar right by the gigantic pool. We had drinks in a side room, but marveled at the vastness of the pool room, the luscious sofas, the beautiful colors and twinkling lights. After drinks, we headed next door

The Normarita

by Maggie Battista

This past weekend was my Mom’s 70th birthday party. It was quite the extravaganza. First, it was a total surprise. Family visited from as far as Philadelphia, some with significant others in tow, and all stayed at my home, squished into three bedrooms, somehow. We were all tightly packed but happy to be so; it

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