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.
I can't even explain the taste of this – totally delicious!
Cocktail #2: Spicy Bloody Mary
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.
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.
Cheers!
I could not find any straight raspberry juice, so I got some apple-raspberry juice and used that. It tasted great!
Happy New Year!
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