Category Archives: Drinks

Guamosa Tropical Bubbly Cocktail

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A more recent family tradition has become one of my favorites. Every Christmas morning, we have breakfast with my parents. We are greeted at the door with champagne flutes of guamosas. Like its cousin the mimosa, the guamosa is sparkling wine with a splash of guava juice. My parents discovered this drink during a trip to Hawaii, so whenever we drink it, it’s practically like being in a tropical paradise.

This year, Matt decided to switch it up a bit and add both orange and guava juice to his bubbly. (See above that Matt’s is more orange and mine is more pink.) The name is still out on the orange-guava concoction, Matt suggests ogmosa, as in POG minus the pineapple. A pogmosa would probably be pretty tasty, too!

Guamosa

  • 3 parts dry sparkling wine
  • 1 part guava juice

Variations: add a splash of orange and/or pineapple juice.

This would be perfect for new year’s day brunch or any brunch for that matter!

 

 

 

Spiked Peppermint Mocha Recipe

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This recipe was originally from Godiva and called a Cafe Godiva (we had it at the Foodbuzz Festival), but I had to change it up so much that I am re-naming it. The original recipe called for Godiva liquor, and I just could not find it (okay so I only looked at 1 store), so I went with Cupcake Devil’s Food Vodka. Totally different, but chocolately booze nonetheless! This Spiked Peppermint Mocha recipe is more coffee-flavored than the original recipe, but packs quite a punch.

Spiked Peppermint Mocha

  • Peppermint Coffee (World Market has a tasty one, as does Godiva)
  • One shot Chocolate Vodka (or liquor)
  • One shot Milk (cream would work as well)
  • Whipped Cream
  • Chocolate Syrup
  • Crushed Peppermint Candies
  • Chocolate Shavings

Brew coffee. Pour vodka and milk into the mug. Fill to the top with coffee. Top with whipped cream, chocolate syrup, crushed peppermint and chocolate shavings. Enjoy — and try not too get too much whipped cream on your nose!

Matthew had the brilliant idea of adding the chocolate shavings to the top. He also thought his drink was a little… strong… so we stirred in extra chocolate shavings for him!

Tips for Hosting a Christmas Party

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This weekend marked our fourth Christmas party thrown at our house. It’s always a fun time to eat, drink and be merry with all of our friends. Here are some pictures from the night as well as some tips for hosting a Christmas party. Do you have anything else to add? Share your party wisdom in the comments.

  • Encourage people to dress their best. It’s not very often that people get dressed up these days, which makes it more fun when you do. It also helps sets the tone of what kind of party you’re wanting. Perhaps your friends can get a little rambunctious sometimes. I find that being nicely dressed tends to keep people on their best behavior, or close to it.
  • Be festive. Decorations are great, especially when you can find them all around the house. Some affordable options are non-breakable ornaments in a vase or on a charger plate. Tinsel is cute, too, and you can find plenty at the dollar store.

  • Prepare ahead of time. Cleaning, moving furniture, food prep — all things I wish I had done the night before or two nights before.
  • Make a cooking schedule. Figure out in advance the times and temperatures for what you’re making. Write it down and calculate backwards from just before the party starts.

Cupcakes by Jillian

  • Go for a semi-homemade menu. As much as I like to cook and bake, slaving away in the kitchen all day and night isn’t very fun. You’re worn out before the party has even started or you miss the party trying to finish cooking. I loved the Santa brownies I posted about and ended up doing those with the little brownie bites from Costco. I made some buttercream and cut some strawberries and boom — done.

  • Don’t stress. This is the first year I’ve taken more of a laid-back approach to party planning. It all got done and while we missed a couple of things, everyone had a great time. Stressing out only makes it worse for everyone.
  • Use disposable plates and cups. One year we used our regular glasses. Not only did we keep running out and having to wash them all night, we had to wash a ton of stuff the day after.
  • Be thankful. We often get too caught up in worrying about everything going on at the party. It’s a time to be fun and carefree with your favorite people all at the same place, which probably only happens once a year.

 

Mocha Hot Shot

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Be warned: there is a heaping dose of rambling introduction to go along with this recipe. I think it really adds a certain  je ne sais quoi…

Most weeks, we like to write posts ahead of time to keep ourselves sane and make sure our posts have had a second set of eyes look over them. This week hasn’t been one of those weeks for me. I waited until the last minute to get to my “sip” for our sips and sweets month of recipes. I had it all planned out, though. I was to make the hot chocolate shot I pinned a while back.

Let me paint a picture of my Wednesday night: I just got home from a long shopping trip that was mildly successful. I needed that shot ASAP. Even if it was just a Wednesday night. So I pulled together the ingredients and got to work, singing this (shots shots shots shots!).

Then I hit a snag with the ingredients. Butter, check. Ice cream, check. Chocolate, check. Where was the alcohol that I so desperately needed wanted? Scroll down the blog page — nothing. Then I scrolled up. I was reading a family food blog. (Que a DJ scratch, “Shots” song has been replaced with dead silence and me with a stank face.) This blog apparently thought it normal to put little bits of hot chocolate into shot glasses to serve to … children? I can see how an unknowing person might think little glasses are for little people, as in kids. As a child, my dad collected shot glasses and honest to goodness, I had no idea they were for alcohol. More like a Big Gulp for Barbie. But the majority of the population would agree that if you call something a shot, put it in a shot glass — it should have some alcohol in it.

Anyway, I’m using humor to mask my disappointment at my failed recipe and my failure to not adequately plan ahead. This recipe isn’t bad necessarily, but it wasn’t what I wanted to make. Next time, I’d probably just do a mix of Kahlua, vodka, cocoa powder and whipped cream.

Mocha Hot Shot
adapted from hot chocolate shot

  • 1 tablespoon butter
  • 1/2 cup java chip ice cream
  • 2 tablespoons brown sugar
  • 1 tablespoon cocoa powder
  • 1/2 cup water
  • 1/4 teaspoon instant espresso powder
  • 2 oz. vodka
  • 1/4 cup chocolate chips (optional)

On low heat, melt butter, ice cream, brown sugar, cocoa powder and instant espresso powder in a small saucepan and whisk until smooth. Add water — may need more or less depending on desired consistency — and vodka and whisk until smooth again. Melt chocolate ships in small shallow bowl and coat shot glass rim evenly. Pour mixture into the garnished shot glass. Makes 2-3 shots. Bottom’s up.

 

NewlyWife Likes #26

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Might I be lovingly blunt today? I’m not feeling a cutesy intro this week and my book is calling my name (reading “Scarlett” the sequel to “Gone With the Wind.” Very good!) So I leave with you these lovely links:

  • Free Festive Printables: If you don’t already follow Emily of Jones Design Company, you should remedy that. She is so generous in providing cute freebies, including these gift tags and this Christmas art print.
  • Potter Potions: Harry Potter fans, check out these cocktails inspired by Harry Potter characters. You better believe I’ll be sipping on one of these during my movie marathon.
  • Slave to Dry Shampoo: Please tell me I’m not the only one who has become dependent on dry shampoo. The kind I use now is friendly on the wallet, but not so much on the dark hair. Perhaps I’ll give this DIY dry shampoo a try.
  • Burlap Can Be Beautiful: Have you guys checked out Bobbi’s decorated Christmas tree? She, her husband and MIL recently completed their decor and I just love the burlap sash along with the glowing lights and bright red. I think I may have to try my hand at a tree sash one of these years.

How do you decorate for Christmas?

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