sparkling rosé & spring birthdays

I've been a terrible, horrible, no good blogger lately. 

Please forgive me.

I do have fun spring food photos to post, a couple delish recipes to share and some simple entertaining techniques to offer. 

Cheers to spring!

Looking for a quick healthy dinner? 

Saute organic chicken sausage (this one has apple and smoked gouda), with sliced cremini mushrooms, sliced okra, fresh minced rosemary, minced garlic and edamame-- a funky delicious hodgepodge. 

 

Lovely flutes of pre-dinner rosé on the patio.

YUM Veggie Burger with sliced avocado and Tomato Basil Soup from Austin's Galaxy Cafe.

Funky Chinese take-out containers for a picnic-inspired photo shoot. Coming soon in the summer issue of Fort Worth Foodie!

Blackberry Mojitos with Serrano Simple Syrup 

from my Cinco de Mayo cooking class at Market Street

yields approximately 4 cocktails

2 cups water

1 cup sugar

2 serrano peppers, cut in half

2 cups blackberries

2 cups fresh mint

Juice and zest of 2 limes

1 bottle prosecco

Begin by making serrano simple syrup: simmer water, sugar and serrano halves in a small saucepan over medium high heat until thickened and reduced by half, approximately 10 minutes. Cool.

Meanwhile, muddle together mint and lime juice/zest in a large mortar and pestle. Set mixture aside in a small bowl. Next, muddle together blueberries and simple syrup. Split blackberry mixture between four glasses then top with divided mint mixture. Stir and add ice to glasses. Top glasses with prosecco.

A pre-birthday cupcake surprise for me! 

Vanilla with Cream Cheese Frosting.

My go-to guacamole recipe for a fiesta: Orange Peel Guacamole

This stuff is addictive and doesn't last long.

yields approximately 2 cups.

pulp of three ripe avocados

1 jalapeno, ribbed, seeded and minced

1/2 cup fresh cilantro, chopped

juice of two limes

1 tablespoon orange zest

juice of ½ orange

1 clove minced garlic

1/4 cup minced red onion

1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil

1 teaspoon kosher salt

Mash all ingredients together until chunky. Garnish with cilantro leaves, thin-sliced orange peel and a sprinkling of coarse salt.

My latest Pinterest screen-shot:

champagne, cocktails, bright patterns and Daniel Craig :)

To-die-for chocolate meringue pie from The Black Rooster Bakery

Gorgeous antique treasures: crystal wine stoppers. 

Too big for some of my bottles but too beautiful not to display.

 

Dad's charred corn on the cob. Perfect to stir in to summer salads.

Lazy Sunday Charcuterie Board: Salami, Manchego, Dark Cherries, Brie, Rainier Cherries, Crackers and Marcona Almonds-- perfect with a glass of rosé of course.

A much appreciated article in the June issue of 

Inside Fort Worth magazine (page 8).

Mini Espresso Chocolate Puddings with a Strawberry Orange Compote for a Linguine and Dirty Martinis engagement party.

What a delicious spring this has been! 

Bring on summer...