Champagne | 20something cupcakes

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{strawberries + champagne} cupcakes.

February 24, 2012 — 85 Comments

The ever-so-classic combination of strawberries and champagne – signed, sealed, and delivered – in cupcake form.

This calls for a celebration.

You bring over the bottle of champagne – make that ~~two~~ three, we’ll need one for baking and ~~one~~ two for drinking – and I’ll whip us up a batch of these bad boys.

The Academy Awards are on this Sunday – does that work for you? Perfect.

You guys know I live for the Academy Awards, right? (Okay, fine…so I don’t live for the actual awards show. I much prefer the red carpet. And what I mean by that is watching Fashion Police the next day. Is it just me, or is Joan Rivers getting lewder – read: funnier – as she, um, ages?)

Nevermind the fact that I normally haven’t seen 90% of the nominated films. This year, I’m really shutting it down – I haven’t seen even one of the movies up for best picture. Although – I do plan on changing that this weekend. Friday night, Daniel and I have a date with either The Artist at this funky little old-school theater, or The Help via On Demand. Which one will it be? Well, let’s see: One requires me to leave my house, which probably means I’d have to put on some sort of clothing that doesn’t resemble pajamas. And then I’d have to brush my hair…make-up? No way. Not happening. I’ll take my comfy couch, spa robe, and vino, please.

I guess that settles that.

In Sweets + Treats champagne, cupcakes, special occasions, strawberries, vanilla buttercream

champagne {margarita} brunch.

December 28, 2011 — 3 Comments

As a person who adores both margaritas and champagne, you can imagine my excitement when I discovered the brilliant idea to combine them.

This is beyond brilliant. This is the stuff people should win awards for coming up with… Is anyone surprised it was Rick Bayless’ creation? Didn’t think so.

Champagne is a perfect match for my beloved margarita, because it adds just the right amount of sweetness – and the bubbles provide a great balance against the 1:1:1 ratio of tequila, Cointreau, and lime juice. Plus, we now have an excuse to drink tequila at breakfast.

And my, oh my – champagne margaritas open the door for endless Mexican brunch menu opportunities, don’t they?

In Cocktails, Complete Menus, Weekend Brunch champagne, margaritas, mexican recipes, mimosa, new year's recipes, tequila

pomegranate-champagne punch.

December 26, 2011 — 8 Comments

This is just about the prettiest punch you can make this holiday season.

Don’t you think?

It makes use of everything wintry and wonderful and worth celebrating: pomegranate (both the juice and the arils), mint leaves for a pop of festive color, Meyer lemons – which are seasonal and just.the.best, and champagne – a celebration in itself. Plus, it’s served in a punch bowl. Guys, this is pretty much a guaranteed good time.

In Cocktails celebrate, champagne, christmas recipes, lemons, mint, new year's recipes, pomegranate, punch, rum

{best brunch ever} mimosa bar.

September 13, 2011 — 9 Comments

Add it to the bucket list: Host brunch with mimosa bar.

Unless you’re not into hosting, in which case you might change it to: Get invited to brunch with mimosa bar. It shouldn’t be that hard. I mean – you do know me, right?

The first ladies-only {more affectionately known as bitches} brunch I hosted became infamous because of the mimosa bar. It’s a brilliant concept, really. Everyone brings a bottle of champagne, and you provide the mixers. You can keep it as simple as buying a variety of juices at the grocery store, or you can be mental like me and make it all from scratch, like I did this second time around. The choice is yours, and I promise – no matter which way you go, everyone will be impressed. And happy.

I’m going to call this the holy-trifecta of champagne mixers: Orange-Pineapple Juice, Fresh Peach Nectar, and Strawberry Lemonade. I used three 1-quart capacity glass carafes that I was *so* excited to snag from work. Let me tell you – it’s a beautiful thing to now have access to every kitchen utensil or serving piece you can imagine!

In Cocktails, Weekend Brunch champagne, fresh-squeezed juice, lemonade, mimosa, peaches, strawberries, summer recipes

annual summer brunch menu.

September 8, 2011 — 3 Comments

Two years ago, I hosted a brunch. It was right around the time that I started seriously getting into cooking, and it was probably the first time I entertained for a group of more than 4. I remember making Paula’s French Toast Casserole and Ina’s Smoked Salmon Spread. I also did a beautiful tomato and mozzarella salad, an egg white frittata with mushrooms and spinach, and chocolate-covered strawberries for dessert. But what made my brunch so infamous was the mimosa bar. I got all sorts of mixers, like peach nectar, orange juice, and pink lemonade – and each guest brought a bottle of champagne. Seven hours later… We were still going, to say the least.

{2nd annual summer brunch crew}

I think that brunch impacted me in a big way – I learned that not only did I love entertaining, I *loved* the process of putting together a great menu. I’m proud to say that my cooking has come a long way, and I’ve really come into my own in terms of what I like and what I’m about in the kitchen. And what I’m about is creating a truly special experience for my friends and loved ones – and even though the food must be nothing-short-of-fabulous, I like for everything else about the day or evening to be super-relaxed.

The following year, I let life get in the way as it has a habit of doing and I missed my opportunity to host a second annual brunch. This year, the end of August rolled around and I was determined not to let that happen again. And so, I hosted my second annual brunch a year late…

In Complete Menus, Weekend Brunch champagne, entertaining, girly time, hostess with the mostess, summer recipes

lemon rosé bellini.

March 10, 2011 — 4 Comments

Is it spring yet?

Winter has, at the very least, ended in South Florida – that is, if it ever existed it all. We’re all basking in this gorgeous weather, holding onto these moments while we can, because soon enough the humidity will be back – and with a vengeance.

This cocktail is, in my opinion, the greatest celebration of everything spring you could conjure up. Rosé champagne, to start, epitomizes spring for me, and the citrus vodka adds the perfect refreshing kick. It’s the lemon sorbet, however, that makes this drink. Depending on how many you’re serving, I’d be sure to pick up an extra pint or two; four of us went though one like it was nothing.

I love to use frozen raspberries for the garnish, as they also help to keep the drink cool – though you can certainly use fresh if you have them on hand. I also like frozen for those of you up north who may not have access to much else.

No matter where you are, or what the weather, this cocktail is sure to put some spring into that step.

{And imagine how fabulous these would be for a bridal or baby shower}

Cheers!

Lemon Rosé Bellini

Adapted from 101 Champagne Cocktails via Epicurious

1 generous spoonful lemon sorbet
1/2 – 1 ounce citrus vodka
4 ounces rosé champagne
2 to 3 raspberries, fresh or frozen, for garnish

Add sorbet to champagne flute. Pour vodka over sorbet, and add champagne. Garnish with floating raspberries.

In Cocktails celebrate, champagne, raspberries, sorbet, vodka

a glamorous {oscar-worthy} pizza party.

March 1, 2011 — 2 Comments

I don’t know about you, but I’m dying to see The King’s Speech.

It happens to me every year: I get excited for the Oscars, but never because of the movies. I’m lucky if I’ve seen one or two of the top contenders – this year, I think Inception was about as far as I got (Daniel and I are infamous for never making it to the movie theater when planned).

We all know the real fun lies in the fashion, and the excuse to make a night out of watching it.

And making a night of it, for me, means putting together a fabulous menu of food and drinks. This year’s Oscar viewing party was casual and impromptu – on Saturday, we invited a favorite couple over for a night of Academy Awards and Knicks vs. Heat (yes, this game was a big one in the world of Daniel – and no, it didn’t get much air-time). For the menu, I came up with this mix of comfort/movie-watching food, each with its own glamorous twist. It’s perfect for the Oscars, but I think it would also be a great way to spice up your next Netflix night.

A Pizza Party for the Stars

Lemon Rosé Bellinis

Truffled Popcorn

Three-Cheese Pizza with Assorted Toppings

Vanilla Sparkle Cupcakes

And because we can’t ignore the red carpet, I must give a shout-out to my front-runners of the night: Nicole Richie, Gwyneth Paltrow, Reese Witherspoon, and Jennifer Lawrence. I also loved Scarlett Johansson, Halle Berry, Cate Blanchett, Michelle Williams, and Rhea Durham.

Did you do anything fun to celebrate Oscar night? Who was on your best-dressed list?

xxSAS

In Complete Menus all that glitters, champagne, oscars, pizza, Theme Lover

the french 75, and {for now} au revoir.

February 28, 2011 — Leave a comment

It’s hard to believe that today is the last day of February, and thus February of France must come to a close.

Somehow, I’ve become even more obsessed with French food and cooking. And though I got through a considerable amount of the recipes I wanted to try, there are still more.

{There will always be more, I suppose. Julia Child’s cookbook alone would be enough to keep me busy for years}

To wrap up this fabulous month, I thought I’d share this delicious new cocktail recipe with you.

It’s no secret that I’m addicted to any beverage made with champagne, but combining it with gin was a first for me. I’m not sure why I don’t drink gin more in general – it’s so refreshing, and a nice change from vodka once in a while. Everyone loved this drink, and couldn’t get enough of it. Paired with bubbly, lemon, and a touch of simple syrup, the end result is so crisp and delicious – and the gin gives it quite a kick! In fact, the cocktail received its name for this very reason, said to have the kick of a French 75mm artillery piece. Love that.

A Votre Santé!

{To your health! = the French version of “Cheers!”}

French 75

Adapted from Eben Freeman of Tailor Restaurant in NYC, via Epicurious

1 1/4 cups gin
1/2 cup lemon juice
1/3 cup simple syrup
2 cups champagne

Using zester or paring knife, slice peel from lemon in thin strips. Reserve lemon for another use.

In a small pitcher, combine gin, lemon juice, and simple syrup. Pour into Champagne flutes and top with champagne or sparkling wine.

Garnish drinks with lemon peels and serve.

Serves 6-8.

In Cocktails champagne, february in france, french recipes

the french martini, and a birthday.

February 17, 2011 — 3 Comments

One year ago today…

Can you guess what happened?

If you’re as smart as I think you are, you’re right – 20something cupcakes was born!

I never could have imagined how much happiness this tiny blog would bring to my life. I am so appreciative of all of you who read this blog, whether it’s everyday or simply when you have a spare moment. When I receive messages from you telling me that I inspired you to make something delicious or try something new – and that you actually loved it! – I cannot even express to you how much that means to me.

That’s what this is all about for me. Inspiring others, and in turn inspiring myself.

I’ve grown as a cook, and I’m now attempting to grow as a photographer – which is a daunting project, to say the least. I welcome the challenge. My passion for food, writing, and where they intersect grows each day more and more. You may already know my dream is to one day host my own private cooking classes, but I’ve also recently discovered that I want to go to culinary school. The idea of writing a cookbook one day makes my heart race with excitement. I’ve finally come to that seemingly elusive place where I know what I want to do with my life. I’m not sure how I’ll get there just yet, but I sure am glad I know where I’m going.

So, let’s celebrate.

And while some people make cakes for this sort of thing, I thought a cocktail would be more appropriate. You know by now it’s my favorite way to celebrate – it is where we started, after all – and I can’t think of a more fitting cocktail than the French martini. This is probably my favorite martini (other than an extra-dirty, but that’s a totally different category); the Chambord adds just enough color to turn it the most beautiful shade of pink, and the flavors of pineapple and raspberry are incredible together. It’s girlie, yet sophisticated – and strong enough without being overpowering, the way some martinis are. Adding champagne at the end is optional, and while it may not be traditional, I think it makes the drink.

We can’t celebrate without champagne, can we?

Thank you for being a part of this journey. I truly couldn’t do it without you. Cheers, dolls – to a life worth living!

French Martini

1 1/2 ounces vodka
1 ounce pineapple juice
1/2 ounce Chambord (raspberry liqueur)
Ice
Champagne

Add vodka, pineapple juice, and Chambord to a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Shake vigorously and strain into a chilled martini glass. Top with champagne.

Makes one serving.

In Cocktails celebrate, champagne, february in france, french recipes, martinis, vodka

flowers for your bubbly.

December 30, 2010 — 1 Comment

Because when it comes to champagne, strawberries get too much play.

And, you know…they’re not really in season right now anyway.

I have something even better for your New Year’s Eve soirée: an adorable little jar of edible flowers. An instant dose of glamour only to improve upon the most glamorous drink ever to exist. I call it sheer brilliance. And the best part? No more wasting precious moments mixing drinks or shaking the cocktail shaker. Just drop into your glasses before pouring, and enjoy.

I think they’re great for any special occasion: a brunch, a dinner party, or perhaps simply an excuse to break open a bottle of bubbly on a Tuesday night.

The flowers are actually edible, and though I didn’t eat one myself, I like the idea that whatever I’m putting inside my drink is totally non-toxic. Though the flowers are flavored with raspberry and rhubarb, I didn’t find that they imparted any of this into the champagne itself. They’re also fairly easy to find; you should be able to get them at your nearest Whole Foods or Williams-Sonoma.

Whether you’re hosting your own party tomorrow night, or heading to another, these darling little flowers are sure to jazz up your midnight champagne toast.

Cheers, dolls! Here’s to a Happy and Healthy New Year for all!

{image via Daily Candy}

In Cocktails celebrate, champagne, hostess with the mostess, special touches