Drinks

You Wouldn't Believe My Irish Cream Soda Misadventures Alright, here’s the deal: I’m a notorious fiddler—if there’s a way to tinker with a classic recipe until it ends up everywhere except in the glass, you can bet I’ve found it! I first tried making homemade real fruit Irish cream soda after an utterly disastrous attempt …

When Did I Start Putting Pickles in My Margaritas? Okay, so you know those moments where you're just about ready to whip up the usual margaritas and then your brain sort of veers sideways and says, "But wait, I have a cold jar of pickles right here..."? My first Pickle Margarita kind of happened like …

Okay, so you know those recipes that you try out once for a party and then everyone keeps asking for them again and again? This Vanilla Cranberry Crush Mocktail is 100% one of those. I stumbled across a version in a battered old food magazine (from, like, 2008?) when I was desperate for something festive …

That Time I Made Sherbet Punch for the Whole Block Okay, story time: The very first time I made sherbet punch was for my neighbor's summer potluck (the one where Sue brought her infamous potato salad—don't get me started). I wasn't sure if anyone even liked punch anymore, but I was in a hurry and, …

Let Me Tell You Why I Love This Cranberry Chai Mocktail Alright, so this might sound odd but I stumbled onto this cranberry chai mocktail during a particularly dreary November, just before the holidays hit full tilt. I wanted something festive but honestly—you ever get just one more mulled whatever, and think, no more cloves …

Holiday Gatherings & Punch: My Slight Obsession with Festive Drinks Alright, so every year my family practically arm-wrestles over who brings what to our big winter get-together, but somehow the punch bowl gig keeps landing in my lap (I’ve stopped questioning fate). I once tried to get creative with a green punch (yikes—don’t ask!), but …

Let’s Just Dive In — My Fruit Punch Saga You know that feeling when summer sneaks up way too soon and you realize you’re hosting a backyard hangout—yep, panic mode. One year I totally forgot to buy drinks, so I ended up improvising a fruit punch with whatever I could scavenge from my fridge and …

If you’ve ever stumbled into my kitchen during December, there’s a pretty good chance you’d find me wrestling with a mountain of citrus peels and singing along (a bit off-key, sorry not sorry) to vintage Christmas tunes. Somewhere in the middle of that chaos, the best holiday mocktail always comes together, almost like magic. This …

Let Me Tell You About This Cozy Fall Mocktail Okay, picture this: leaves crunching outside, chilly nose pressed (not actually, but almost) to the frosty window, and your hands are wrapped around a steaming mug of something not tea for once. That's this Warm Cinnamon Orange Delight Mocktail. I first whipped it up on a …

So, You Want to Make Eggnog Without Booze? Alright, let me be totally honest—when I first tried making non-alcoholic homemade eggnog, it was mostly because my little niece begged me. She's six, so... eggnog with rum is not going to fly. (Honestly, I like it better this way now. Don’t tell my uncle Dave.) The …

So, Let Me Tell You About This Cozy Gin and Tonic If you’d told my January self that one of my best winter pick-me-ups would be a gin and tonic, I’d have laughed (or at least raised a skeptical eyebrow). But honestly, there's just something about this "Winter Wonderland Gin and Tonic" that feels like …

Okay, so gather round because I'm about to share the story of how I started serving Blue Hawaiian Margaritas at all my family BBQs. A couple summers ago, my neighbor brought over the *bluest* cocktail you ever did see. It looked, honestly, a bit like Gatorade had gone on holiday, but one sip and... well, …

So the first time I tried making an Iced Golden Milk Latte, I managed to use turmeric that stained my favorite mug (and a good chunk of the countertop; lesson learned). But honestly, since then, this drink has become my not-so-secret weapon during hot afternoons when I just want something more exciting than plain iced …

Let Me Tell You, This Whipped Biscoff Latte Is Something Else So the first time I made a Whipped Biscoff Latte with Cinnamon, I’d just come home from getting absolutely drenched in one of those sideways-rain storms (the kind where the umbrella’s totally useless). Anyway, all I wanted was something comforting and sweet. I’d seen …

Let Me Tell You About My All-Time Favorite Iced Tea You know that feeling when the sun bakes your porch and even the cat can't be bothered? That's usually when I start brewing up this fresh iced tea with lemon and mint. Honestly, my first attempt was a comedy of errors (I forgot the sugar, …

Hey there, thirsty friend—Let’s Talk Smoothies! Alright, so you know those mornings where you open the fridge and think—what on earth am I going to put together that’s actually tasty and won’t make me late for work (again)? That’s me about three times a week. Which is, honestly, how this Strawberry Mango Smoothie with Greek …

Let Me Tell You About This Sangria (and That One Time...) You know how sometimes you just want to make something that looks fancy but is actually dead simple? That’s this sangria. The first time I made it, I was hosting my cousin’s birthday and honestly, I didn’t even own a proper pitcher (I used …

So This Strawberry Dirty Sprite Thing: Where It All Started Okay, confession time: I first tried making a Strawberry Dirty Sprite with Lemon-Lime Soda Twist when I was stuck at home on a rainy Saturday and craving something fizzy but, you know, a little more exciting than the usual. My cousin had raved about this …

Let’s Make Italian Sodas (With Vanilla Cream!) Alright, so, you know those days where you’re just craving something fancy but your wallet is firmly against it? That’s totally the story of how I started making homemade Italian sodas. The first time, I was trying to impress my little niece at a family BBQ—she’s got a …

Let's Get Cozy: Why I Love Making Crock Pot Hot Chocolate Okay, picture this: it's a Saturday in December, the kind where the sky is just sort of gray, and the only thing that could possibly make you want to get out from under your blanket is the promise of something chocolatey (and preferably made …

Let Me Tell You About These Popsicles Okay, so picture this: it’s the middle of July, the dog’s panting on the cool kitchen tiles, and my kids are sticking their heads in the freezer hoping for something, anything, remotely refreshing. That’s how these Strawberry Lemonade Popsicles were born! I remember the first batch—half-sloshed lemonade all …

Let Me Tell You About the Time I Discovered Frozen Negronis... So, picture this: It's one of those muggy July afternoons where even my plants look like they've given up, and I'm sweltering by the fan, wishing for something cold and sassy—like a popsicle that's grown up and moved to the city. That's when I …

Alright, picture this: it's July, the AC is working overtime (or not working at all, like mine last summer), and all you want is something cold. But not just any popsicle—no, you want something that brings a little zing. That's when I started making these Aperol Spritz Pops. They're like the classic Italian aperitif, but …

So, About This Pina Colada Sangria—Here’s the Real Story Alright, so let me set the scene: it’s a muggy July afternoon, my family is halfway through what we call “the world’s loudest barbecue,” and my cousin asks, again, if I brought “the fancy tropical wine thing.” That’s code for this Pina Colada Sangria—my not-so-secret weapon …

Hey, Want a Quick Story Before We Blend? Alright, so picture this: it’s about 6:30 am, and my brain is still basically oatmeal. I’m standing in my kitchen, clutching my giant mug of coffee, and staring at the blender thinking, "If I put just enough peanut butter in here, maybe I’ll trick myself into thinking …

Alright friend, settle in—because I'm about to share my favorite way to get through a sweltering summer afternoon (besides hiding in the fridge, which... only works until someone asks for dinner). So, SUMMER PINEAPPLE ICED TEA: this drink takes me straight back to those muggy July cookouts at my aunt's place. We’d run around all …

Okay, Let’s Talk Iced Lattes (And That One Time I Spilled the Whole Thing) You know how some days you need a little pick-me-up, but it’s just way too hot to even think about hot coffee? That’s basically how I fell in love with iced lattes. I still remember the first time I tried making …

The Story of My Caramel Iced Coffee Obsession You ever crave something icy cold, a bit sweet, and—let's be honest—just fancy enough to make you feel like you've got your life together? That's me every Saturday morning, especially when the weather's sticky and my brain refuses to kickstart. Honestly, I started making this refreshing iced …

Let Me Tell You About This Pineapple Strawberry Mimosa (It’s a Story!) Okay, so, the first time I ever made a Pineapple Strawberry Mimosa, it was for one of those family brunches that start chaotically (kids playing with the dog, spouse nowhere to be found) and then everyone wanders into the kitchen demanding something fun …

Hey You, Ready for a Raspberry Mango Daiquiri Adventure? If you’ve ever wondered what summer tastes like, I’m pretty sure it’s this drink. Raspberry Mango Daiquiris have saved more than one of my backyard BBQs (and once, a particularly dull Tuesday night). I first made these kind of by accident – I meant to make …

So, Let Me Tell You About This Strawberry Mojito Okay, story time: Last summer, on one of those sticky hot afternoons when the ceiling fan is trying its best but just, you know, not cutting it, I decided to make a batch of strawberry mojitos for the first time. I didn’t have enough ice (classic …

Let Me Tell You About This Virgin Strawberry Pina Colada! Okay, real talk: Some drinks just scream summer a bit louder than the rest, and this Refreshing Virgin Strawberry Pina Colada Recipe pretty much yells it from the rooftops. I first whipped this up on a muggy July afternoon when my cousin dropped by unannounced …

Let's Talk Creamy Pink Lemonade (My Summer Secret!) Okay, I have to tell you—Creamy Pink Lemonade is one of those recipes I stumbled onto by accident while trying to impress my cousin during one of those sweltering July weekends. We’d just come back from the farmer’s market with way too many lemons and, honestly, I …

Let Me Tell You Why I Love This Frozen Hibiscus Lemonade You know how summer just sneaks up on you and suddenly everything's melting except your energy to cook? Well, that's about the time I start making Frozen Hibiscus Lemonade like it's my job. One time, I tried making this while my niece was running …

Let's Talk: Why Whipped Pink Lemonade is My Summer Jam So, picture this: it's a scorcher outside, the dog’s sunbathing in a weird spot, and I've just realized (again) I forgot to buy actual lemons. Classic. Anyway, that's how I stumbled onto this Whipped Pink Lemonade recipe a couple summers ago; honestly, it started as …