Copper for Christmas and a refreshing cocktail

Who else out there is in love with the Moscow Mule? 

The refreshing cocktail that comes in the classic Copper Mug. But is that Mug safe? 

It’s very important that your copper mug is lined with nickel. That’s because copper is a heavy metal that reacts with acidic fluids such as cocktail ingredients. If you use a copper mug that is not lined with nickel, the acidic fluids in your drink will cause a chemical reaction which may cause you to ingest too much copper, leading to an unhealthy and potentially dangerous concentration of copper in your body.

Unfortunately, many stores are full of UNSAFE Copper Mugs because many manufacturers that sell copper mugs without any nickel lining fail to warn their buyers about the potential health consequences. In order to avoid negative health effects for you and your friends and family, please make sure to only use copper mugs that are plated with nickel on the inside.

You can get these SAFE Copper Mugs at moscowmuled.com. They are of exceptional quality, they are real copper mugs vs. copper plated. Plus they make your cocktails fun and festive. I have even been known to drink a smoothie out of mine, cuz why not!?!?

Here is a fun refreshing cocktail I like to serve in these glasses as well.

Cucumber Mint Basil Twist

1 shot cucumber mint vodka

1 slice cucumber

1 tsp fresh basil sliced 

2 shots white cranberry juice

2 shots sparkling water

Shake together vodka, cucumber, basil, and cranberry juice. 

Pour over ice and top with sparkling water. Stir and serve. 

Gluten-Free Made Easy Launch Party

Hi everyone! 

I hope to see you tomorrow at my Gluten-Free Made Easy Launch Party! 

What can you expect? 

FREE YOGA Classes

LOADS OF FREE FOOD !!! 

Free smoothie samples, desserts and healthy, vegetarian, gluten free food !!

LIVE BAND - Mango Jennings & Foat.

Book signing by Christi Silbaugh  'Gluten Free made Easy cookbook!!

Free Champagne

See you all there!!!!

Moscow Mule

I recently got to review The new book THE ARCHITECTURE OF THE COCKTAIL. What a treat! This book reveals the answers to all your burning cocktail queries and more. Focusing on the precise measurements to help you craft the perfect cocktail as well as the recommended garnish and embellishments, you'll no longer have to guess what the perfect cocktail should taste like.

Illustrated with whimsical “blueprints” of each cocktail, the book features 75 different cocktails and recipes for both modern cocktails and classic favorites.

Not sure which stemware is appropriate? Consult the mini guide on identifying the correct glass in the back of the book. Mix, shake, strain, or stir? An easy legend right up front provides symbols for each and more. Exact measurements and notes on precise procedure will help everybody from the novice bartender to the seasoned mixologist.

Living in San Diego in the historic Gaslamp district, I decided to make my districts drink. Down here every restaurant features Moscow Mules. It is considered the gaslamp's signature drink. They serve it in copper cups. I didn't have copper cups, so I went with a tall tumbler like the book suggested. 

I followed the blueprint and was very pleased with how the drink turned out. I only made one change and that was to add candied ginger as the garnish instead of lime. My history with limes is not so great, so my husband was very pleased with the added ginger. The drink was perfect thanks to THE ARCHITECTURE OF THE COCKTAIL. 

Moscow Mule

from THE ARCHITECTURE OF THE COCKTAIL. 

2 oz Vodka

4 oz ginger beer (ginger soda)

Ice

Lime wedge, or candied ginger

Fill a tall tumber with ice. Pour in 2 fluid ounces of vodka , coating the ice. Add in 4 fluid ounces of ginger beer (ginger beer contains no alcohol and ginger soda works the same). Stir briefly with a spoon. Garnish with a lime wedge or candied ginger. 

Pumpkin Spice Martini

T.G.I.F! Time for an adult drink. Let's get in the holiday spirit! Nothing says Halloween and Thanksgiving more than Pumpkin. So if you are getting sick of me cooking with Pumpkin... you are going to have to humor me a bit longer. This is not low calorie, but it is sure going to make you feel cozy and in the holiday spirit.

Pumpkin Spice Martini

1 part Pumpkin Spice Concentrate

1 part Captain Morgan

1 part Vodka

1 part whipped cream vodka

Ice

2 tsp. sugar

1 tsp. cinnamon

nutmeg

Mix together the sugar and cinnamon. Dip the the rim of the martini glass in a bit of vodka, then place the glass rim into the cinnamon and sugar mixture until the rim is coated.

In a cocktail shaker filled with ice, combine the liquor and pumpkin spice concentrate 

Shake vigorously for 15 to 20 seconds. Strain into the rimmed glass,

sprinkle with cinnamon or nutmeg and garnish with a cinnamon stick.

If you like my recipes, please support my work and get my cookbook! Featuring 150 recipes, 100 of which are not on the blog. That's right! 100 new recipes! Gluten-Free Made Easy is the perfect guide to your new lifestyle! Learn dozens of tips and tricks for avoiding gluten and over 150 tasty, simple recipes. Going against the grain has never been easier!

"Gluten-Free Made Easy" is available for sale at Barnes and Noble, Books and Things, Cedar Fort, Amazon and many other great bookstores.

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Pumpkin Hot Toddy

 
A hot toddy is a mixed drink, usually including alcohol, that is served hot. Hot toddies are traditionally drunk before going to bed, or in wet or cold weather. Since it is an extremely rare occasion that we ever have cold wet weather. I am going for the "serve before bed" theory. 

This is really easy to make if you have the pumpkin spice concentrate made up and ready. I just whipped this puppy together in no time at all. 

Pumpkin Hot Toddy

2 TBSP pumpkin spice concentrate

2 oz Captain Morgan (you can double if you like a stiff drink)

3/4 cup hot milk.(I used flax milk to add a little nutrition but any milk is fine)

Whipped Cream (homemade recipe below)

Cinnamon

Whipped Cream recipe:

1 cup heavy whipping cream

1 tsp vanilla

1/4 cup sugar

Add all together and whisk until thick (usually about 3 minutes full speed on the kitchenaid)

Gather ingredients

Put 2 TBSP pumpkin spice puree into coffee cup

Add 3/4 cup hot milk and a shot of Captain morgan. Top with whipped cream and sprinkle with cinnamon.

I added these really really good gluten free biscotti by ENERG. I picked Cranberry biscotti because the flavor combination reminds me of Thanksgiving.

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Strawberry Smash

Mom has had a hard week. Having a friend pass away, my son moving to another state, and some health issues, makes for the need for a break. Enter Strawberry smash. Just enough citrus, fruit, and rum to make me close my eyes and feel like I am on vacation. Just what Mom needs right now. TGIF! 

Strawberry Smash

1 ounce fresh squeezed lemon juice

3 Strawberries

1 cup ice

1 ounce simple syrup (recipe below)

Simple Syrup:

1 cup water

1 cup sugar

Boil 1 cup water, add sugar and stir until dissolved. Store in a jar in the refrigerator.

Hull your strawberries, by taking out the core and the stem. A straw works best for this. 

Add Strawberries, Simple Syrup, Lemon juice to a blender. Blend until fully blended. Pour into your shaker and fill shaker with ice. Shake until frost forms on your shaker. Pour into glass and add desired amount of ice. Garnish with a strawberry.

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