Bourbon | 20something cupcakes

{mini} BBQ shrimp + blue cheese grits.

May 30, 2012 — 6 Comments

These blue cheese grits have been a long time comin’. In fact, it was these grits that inspired the rest of my Southern menu and dinner party.

BBQ Shrimp + Blue Cheese Grits Appetizer

This is how a menu comes to life, more often than not: I become obsessed with one idea, and then it builds from there. I believe I actually first dreamed these up to rest alongside a chicken-fried steak. But alas – I realized Thomas Keller’s fried chicken would make an equally perfect pair, and more importantly – a perfect video!

{Be on the lookout for that tomorrow – Dan captured me doing a happy dance for the chicken … which I decided to include, because it’s something I do embarrassingly often in the kitchen. Keeping it real, that’s for sure!}

I was surprised to learn that most of my guests had never had blue cheese grits. And then I thought, “Have I ever had blue cheese grits before?”

In Starters BBQ, blue cheese, bourbon, grits, lemon, rosemary, shrimp, southern recipes

peach-infused bourbon iced tea.

May 29, 2012 — 8 Comments

If the South had an official cocktail, this would so be it.

Peach-Infused Bourbon Iced Tea

Sweet tea + peaches + bourbon. It’s kind of ridiculous.

You may recall reading that this recipe was inspired by a cocktail I enjoyed during my recent trip to Louisville. It was actually made with bourbon, peach schnapps, and iced tea. I was a little scared ordering something made with schnapps – fearing it would be too sweet or that it might coming bearing that artificial taste schnapps tends to have. But, alas – it did not! It was so refreshing and delicious. And it tasted just like peach tea.

I figured, why not do away with that fake flavoring and instead get some fresh peach-action going on in there?

In Cocktails bourbon, iced tea, peaches, summer recipes

I suppose there’s more to Louisville than just bourbon.

21c Museum Hotel, Louisville

{from left: debi, paula, moi, irvin, brian, maggy}

To start, there’s the ridiculously rad 21c Museum Hotel, where all of the lovely photos in this post were taken (see the rest here). What a concept! It’s a hotel with a contemporary art museum built right in. Great bar, fabulous cocktails (I had a lavender-infused gin concoction that I fell in love with) and, yes – lots of funky art. The fashion-geek inside of me lusted over the dining room, its walls lined with the most fantastic images of luxury-branded car interiors.

Also, there just so happens to be … soy sauce! I bet you’re surprised to hear that. Not just any old soy sauce, mind you, but the only micro-brewed soy sauce in America. Soy sauce that’s made by hand, in a big warehouse … in – here’s the part that really gets my heart racing – Woodford Reserve bourbon barrels.

I mean, seriously … how cool is that?

21c Museum Hotel, Louisville

And what’s even cooler is that GE Monogram made it all happen. I truly feel honored and blessed to have been invited along with such a talented (and awesome!) group of food bloggers. All expenses paid, GE Monogram planned this trip so that we could visit their “Experience Center” – and discover all of these other fun things Louisville has to offer.

Important things. Such as, “bourbon ice.” Yes, bourbon ice is a real thing. GE Monogram makes an ice dispenser that produces it, so they would know. It’s that super-clean and clear ice that comes in perfect little cubes … the kind you can drop into your glass of high-roller bourbon and not taint it with any crusty, funky-smelling situation that might be lingering in your freezer. (The non-Bourbon ice I rock at home is the precise reason why I typically go ice-less when I’m drinking water.)

Really, it has nothing to do with bourbon, but when you’re in Louisville … bourbon is EVERYTHING.

vanilla milkshake bar.

July 2, 2011 — 2 Comments

Looking for a totally easy dessert to serve at your next dinner party that’s guaranteed to put a smile on everyone’s face?

Look no further. This milkshake bar is the answer.

It takes about two minutes to whip up a batch of super-creamy and luxurious vanilla milkshakes. Offer a few liquors to your guests to top them off – I’ve included ideas below, but feel free to offer one or two of those or whatever you prefer – and I guarantee everyone will be happy.

When I served these milkshakes, everyone was stuffed. I mean, almost to the point of discomfort. Have you ever served your guests so much food that they didn’t have room for dessert? I thought that may have been the case that evening. I thought after cupcakes, there was no way they’d have room for milkshakes. I offered anyway, of course. And can you guess what the answer was?

Hell, yes.

Maybe my friends are gluttonous. Maybe a vanilla milkshake bar with assorted spikers is just too good to pass up. You be the judge.

Vanilla Milkshake Bar

For the Milkshakes:

4 cups good vanilla ice cream {I like either Haagen-Dazs or Ben & Jerry’s}
1/2 cup whole milk
1/4 cup heavy cream
2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Assorted Spikers:

Grand Marnier
Jim Beam, or other Bourbon whiskey
Kahlua
Bailey’s Irish Cream

In a blender, combine all milkshake ingredients until smooth. I think milkshakes need to be thick – but feel free to add more milk if you prefer them thinner. Serve immediately, in tall glasses – and leave some room at the top for spiking.

Offer guests the option to add a pour of liquor to their milkshakes. Enjoy.

In Fabulously Simple, Sweets + Treats bourbon, grand marnier, hostess with the mostess, ice cream, milkshakes, vanilla