It is the time of year when you are either looking back over the last year, or looking ahead to the new year!

I am doing a little bit of both.  This last year has brought me a lot of happiness!  I got engaged, got married, and started this blog.  I feel like my life really is on track for the personal goals I have set for myself.

I try not to set resolutions, but I do have goals for this next year.

Fitness:  I want to prioritize my workouts.  I have problems fitting it in because I work 12 hour days.  I don't have the motivation to work out before I go into work, and when I get home from work, I am exhausted!  I try to use my weekends to "catch up" on my workouts, but I need to get on a more regular schedule.

Food:  I think I eat pretty healthy, but I would like to lose a few pounds.  I want to cook with more vegetables, and try to curb my overeating.  I still have been having some stomach problems, so I am going to continue eating gluten free and grain free, and cut out as much sugar as I can.  I have started cook with sucanat instead of sugar, and we'll see how that goes.  I am always for changing up the way I eat!

Financial:  It is always a goal of mine to save more money.  I like the way we live – we don't have a lot, but I love our house and the area we live in.  We have a yard that Sammy can run around in, and space enough for me to have a pretty good sized garden.  I have a reliable vehicle, and enough food to eat.  We are blessed, indeed.

Photography:  I have been trying to focus more on my photography and the pictures I put on the blog.  I think I am getting better every week, but I want to take my passion for food and photography to the next level, and see how I can grow.

If you made it this far, congratulations!

I love a good cocktail!  It seems I drink more during the holidays, after all it is the most wonderful time of the year!  Here are 3 cocktails that I have been enjoying recently.

Cocktail #1:  End of the Year Cocktail

Makes 1 drink

Print this recipe!

1 ounce vanilla vodka

1 ounce amaretto flavored liquor

1/2 oz butterscotch schnapps

4 oz ginger ale

Combine the vodka, amaretto and butterscotch schnapps in a shaker jar, and mix well.  Pour into your glass, and add 4 ounces of ginger ale.  Add ice if you would like.

m_IMG_5947-1

I can't even explain the taste of this – totally delicious!

Cocktail #2:  Spicy Bloody Mary

m_IMG_6190-4

Makes 6 – 16oz drinks

Adapted from here

Print this recipe!

Tomato Sauce:

3 cups tomato juice

1 lime, juiced

1 lemon, juiced

1 tbsp prepared horseradish

2 tbsp finely grated fresh ginger

1 clove garlic, minced

1 tbsp worcestershire sauce

1/2 tsp salt

1/4 tsp fresh ground black pepper

Spicy Vodka:

2 cups vodka

3 dried chili peppers

Prepare the tomato sauce at least 6 hours before serving:  Combine the tomato juice, lime juice, lemon juice, horseradish, ginger, garlic, worcestershire, salt and pepper.  Mix well.  This will keep for up to 3 days.

Make the pepper vodka:  Combine the vodka with the chili peppers.  Let this sit for 24 hours.  Strain, and discard peppers.

To serve – fill a 16 ounce glass with ice.  Add 1/3 cup of the vodka mixture, and fill the rest of the glass with the tomato mixture.  Garnish with a celery stick, carrot stick, and a wedge of lemon.

Enjoy!

This is spicy -- if you would like it less spicy, use less horseradish (or leave it out), or consider not infusing the vodka with the dried peppers.

m_IMG_6192-5

Cocktail #3:  Raspberry Champagne Cocktail

Print this recipe!

Makes 2 – 6oz cocktails

1 cup raspberry juice

6 oz champagne

4 raspberries

First – make raspberry ice cubes.  In a small or regular ice cube tray, drop 2 raspberries in 2 ice cube holes.  Fill with raspberry juice.  Freeze until solid.

When you are ready to make the cocktail, place one "ice cube" in each champagne flute.  Fill with 3 ounces of raspberry juice, and top with 3 ounces of champagne.

m_IMG_6113-1

Cheers!

I could not find any straight raspberry juice, so I got some apple-raspberry juice and used that.  It tasted great!

m_IMG_6126-2

Happy New Year!