It’s Friday! We made it! I think you deserve a beverage, yes? Yes. Just so happens I have a delicious [and strong!] one up my sleeve.
Tomorrow, Al Capone turns 116 [that old fart!] and Templeton Rye wanted to celebrate it the right way. They kindly sent me a bottle of their delicious spirit and a recipe for disaster a tasty drink. I decided to brew one up of my own, too so you get a 2-for-1 special today!
When prohibition outlawed the manufacture and sale of alcoholic beverages in 1920, many enterprising residents of tiny Templeton, Iowa, population 350, came together to create an American classic known as Templeton Rye Whiskey, or “The Good Stuff” to those in the know.
Over the course of its storied history, Templeton Rye became Al Capone’s whiskey of choice, quickly finding its way to the center of his bootlegging empire. Speakeasies in Chicago, New York and as far west as San Francisco poured Templeton Rye as the “Best Whiskey in the House”. Later legends suggest that a few bottles even found their way inside the walls of Alcatraz to the cell of prisoner AZ-85.
Available legally for the first time, the infamous rye whiskey returns. Aged in charred new oak barrels and based on the Prohibition Era Kerkhoff recipe, Templeton Rye provides a smooth finish and a clean getaway.
First up, I’m sharing The Capone; this is the drink created by Templeton Rye for Al’s [we’re on a first name basis over here] big birthday bash!
The Capone
Ingredients – 3 oz. Templeton Rye Whiskey
– 1 oz. Grand Marnier
– Splash of Champagne
– Dash of bitters
In case that’s not enough to get your weekend off to a great start, my Citrus Capone SMASH will knock you off your feet. In a good way!
Citrus Capone
Makes 1 serving
Ingredients
– 2 oz. Templeton Rye
– 1 oz. fresh orange juice
– 1/4 oz. maple syrup
– A few dashes of bitters
– about 2 oz. sparkling water [enough to fill the glass]
Directions
Mix all of your ingredients together, except the sparkling water. Add 1 large or a few small ice cubes, then fill the rest off the glass with sparkling water. Clink with your neighbor and enjoy!
Like I said, just the right way to kick off the weekend 😉
Happy Friday, friends! I hope everyone is able to enjoy a nice 4-day weekend!
We kicked off our Christmas day with our second annual dim sum brunch at Lai Hong Lounge. We figure there’s a reason Jews eat Chinese food on Christmas, but we wanted to one-up it with dim sum and it’s just so darn good! We kept a bunch of faves from last year, too.
BBQ baked pork buns.. these are my fave!
Dry braised green beans are SO good.
Garlic pea shoots.
Pan-fried mixed mushroom bun.
The prettiest Christmas duck I ever did see.
Duck bun all wrapped up!
No trip into Chinatown is complete without a stop at Rogue and a walk by the water.
The Bruery – Seven Swans a Swimming Quad
Such a clear, beautiful [and windy] day!
I’ve been powering through some sort of cold or something this week so I’ve spent a lot of time on the sofa the past couple days. I’ve also done my best to make sure I’m getting my greens and proper fuel to get better fast. I decided to whip up this smoothie on a whim and it was awesome! Chocolate Cherry Protein Green Smoothie Ingredients
– 1/2 bottle Cherry Charge Mamma Chia Energy drink
– 1 bottle Chocolate Light Core Power
– 1 scoop Skoop A Game
– 1/2 english cucumber
– 1-2 handfuls spinach
– 4-6 ice cubesBlend it all up and enjoy! It would also be awesome with some frozen cherries in there too.. next time!
We watched The Interview on Wednesday night. I’m not really sure what all of the craziness was about but I’d say if you’re in the mood for a silly, chuckle here and there kind of Seth Rogan movie, go for it. Pretty much what you can expect from him. On the flip side, Gone Girl. Watched that last night; you need to watch it, too. Best movie I’ve seen in a while.
If you are in the bay area, or know anyone in the bay area, looking for a personal trainer, I’m running a special in January. First 1-hour session is $50, normally $80, and if you purchase a package of 10 sessions, you get 10% off. If you’re not in the bay area but still want to train with me, check out my 4-week personalized training package!
First things first, happy happy birthday to my big brother, Brian! Even though he’s not a blog reader, I had to post the awesome sweat suit picture 😉
Disclaimer: I received samples of Manitoba Harvest HempPro 70 Protein Powder as a Sweat Pink Ambassador. All thoughts and opinions of the product are my own.
I’m always on the lookout for different protein powders to try. Whey was always the big thing but recently there have been so many different options to choose from, especially with new plant-based protein powders coming on the market. I’d never tried hemp protein before, but always have hemp hearts in the pantry to sprinkle on salads, add to nut butters, etc. They’re a great source of protein and omegas.
When I was asked to review Manitoba Harvest’s new HempPro 70 protein powders, I started reading into it a bit to see what makes it so different from other plant-based powders. As stated on their website, they suggest HempPro 70 if:
You’re an athlete looking for a pre or post workout protein shake.
You’re experiencing bloating and/or an unsettled stomach from other protein powders.
You’re used to a whey protein and curious to try a plant-based protein powder, such as hemp.
You want nutrition on the go! HempPro 70 is the only water soluble hemp protein powder on the market. This means you can literally throw it in a shaker cup with some water and take it with you on the road.
You’re looking to add extra protein to your diet. HempPro 70 has 20 grams of protein per 30 gram serving – our highest protein powder option.
Sounds like a good deal to me!
One of the key selling points that they make is that it is the world’s first water soluble hemp protein powder. Obviously I had to put that to the test first and I’m pleased to report that it is, in fact, true! Nobody likes trying to choke down a gritty, clumpy protein shake post-workout and when you don’t have time to throw it into a blender to make a big smoothie, it’s important to be able to count on something to not only refuel your system, but taste good too.
That said, when you do have time to throw everything into a blender, might I suggest this chocolate peanut butter smoothie bowl? I think you should take those extra few minutes..
Directions
Blend all ingredients except 1 tsp cocoa syrup and peanut butter until smooth. Feel free to adjust the amount of ice or milk to make thinner or thicker. When the combo is fully blended, pour into a bowl and drizzle with the remaining tsp of cocoa syrup and the tbsp of peanut butter. Slurp it up!
I could have this smoothie bowl everyday.. I mean, what’s better than chocolate and peanut butter?! Just try to keep your spoon out of the rest of the jar of peanut butter afterward. Whoops! 😉
Luckily for you, Manitoba Harvest, in partnership with Fit Approach, is offering everyone 20% off using the code sweatpinkpro70 at checkout. Time to stock up!
Food for Thought
Have you ever tried hemp hearts or hemp protein powder?
Guys, I’m pretty excited. This is my very first Recipe Redux and I think it’s a perfect fit for me.
From plain Jane vanilla extract to fancy-pants elderflower liqueur, we like to keep a little liquor in the kitchen. Show us how you like to cook, bake or mix-it-up with spirits, extracts and other alcohols. A splash of vodka makes summer sauces shine – and liqueurs brighten desserts: What’s your healthy recipe with spirit?
Ok, that made me sound a little too excited about alcohol. But for real, Nathan and I have been getting more into cocktails lately and this was the perfect excuse to experiment. So I give you the tasty outcome:
Cucumber Basil Sparkler
Serves 2
Ingredients
– 2 tbsp fresh chopped basil
– 1 tsp raw sugar
– 4 oz cucumber vodka
– 1 oz St. Germain Elderflower Liqueur
– ~11 oz sparkling water
– Ice
Directions
Using a mortar and pestle, crush the basil with the raw sugar. In a large glass or a cocktail shaker, add the crushed basil and sugar to the cucumber vodka and St. Germain. Mix and pour evenly into 2 glasses. Add your ice and top off with sparkling water.
Put your feet up and enjoy!
And in case you missed my other dabblings in spirit-filled recipes, check em out!
I haven’t been the only one around here recently that has been feeling the ramifications of our outings. A couple weeks ago, Nathan asked if I would make him a breakfast shake. Obviously I wanted to make sure it was something that would fill him up but since he’s not a protein powder fan, I wanted to make some adjustments to the typical recipes I find. I also wanted to sneak as many extra healthy ingredients in there as I could 😉
It just so happens, a few weeks ago my friends over at Kiss Me Organics asked if I wanted to review their Organic Matcha Green Tea Powder. One of my most favorite smoothies I’ve had was a matcha smoothie from a restaurant in Baltimore, so of course I jumped at the opportunity to make my own.
If you’re not familiar with matcha, you should know that it has some wonderful health benefits:
Increased energy and focus
Increased metabolism
High in antioxidants
Improved skin health
Nathan had no idea how healthy I was trying to make him! This smoothie is the perfect combination of healthy fats, carbs, and protein. And he liked it! 😉
Green Monster Protein Shake [No Protein Powder]
Serves 1
Ingredients – Large handful of spinach
– 1/2 frozen banana
– 1/2 cup Greek yogurt [I use 2% Fage] – 3-5 medium strawberries
– 1/3 cup pineapple
– 1 tbsp hemp seed
– 1 tsp Kiss Me Organics matcha powder
– 1/4 medium avocado
– 1 cup almond milk [I use Unsweetened Vanilla Almond Breeze]
– 3-5 ice cubes
Directions Add all ingredients to your blender and whiz away!
I sometimes adjust the amount of fruit, specifically the pineapple and strawberries, depending on their sweetness. I’ve also used kale instead of spinach before, just a bit less since it can be bitter. It’s a great, refreshing way to start the day.
Food for Thought
Have you ever tried matcha powder before?
Are you a fan of protein powder in your shakes?
*This post is sponsored by Kiss Me Organics but, as always, all thoughts and opinions are my own.
Thank goodness for more wonderful blogger friends to keep me going throughout this week. I’m currently en route to California [I’m only partially freaking out right now..] and am so happy to share this guest post from another one of my favorite bloggers, Lindsay. I’m slightly obsessed with her blog full of recipes, fitness tips, and Corny Cotter love. I mean really, check out this Carrot Ginger PB Bread.. looks amazing! Between that and the kombucha brewing recipe below, I can’t wait to get into a real kitchen again!
Bio:
Howdy from Texas! I’m Lindsay Cotter from cottercrunch.com. I have passion for triathlon and supporting her husband, James Cotter, in his professional triathlon career. My blog subtitle pretty much sums up what I write about → life as a pro triathlete’s wife, nutrition manager & fitness consultant, kombucha lover, and wannabe wino who has a joyous passion for GLUTEN FREE cooking! I should also add in there “Sherpa wife.”
The ABC’s of Kombucha Brewing
Anyway, I am excited to write a guest post about Kombucha for Brittany today. You know what that means, right? I’ve finally been termed a “booch mamma!” That, my friends, is name I will do my best to hold high! 🙂
So let’s get back to real purpose of this post, KOMBUCHA! Kombucha has been a HUGE life saver in my life and for so many reasons, and needless to say, I am passionate about it! So I thought I’d share some of the ABC’s of Kombucha and how to brew it. Stick with me here, k?
What is it? – fermented tea, an ancient elixir consumed for thousands of years by civilizations all over the planet.
What are its benefits? – Kombucha Kamp has a great article on the benefits of Kombucha. Here are just a few that I have noticed in my own consumption.
*Probiotics – healthy bacteria
*Alkalinize the body – balances internal pH
*Detoxify the liver – happy liver = happy mood
*Increase metabolism – rev your internal engine
*Improve digestion – keep your system moving
*Alleviate constipation
*Boost energy – helps with chronic fatigue
*Relieve headaches & migraines
*Reduce kidney stones
*High in antioxidants – destroy free-radicals that cause cancer
*High in polyphenols
*Heal excema – can be applied topically to soften the skin
*Lower glucose levels – prevents spiking from eating
How? – It is recommended that you should start drinking 4-8oz of Kombucha on an empty stomach 2x a day followed by plenty of water to clear out all the toxins. Once your body has adjusted to it (over an extended period of time), you can increase your intake.
Okay, now that you have an overwhelming amount of information. Let me tell you a little bit of how I use it and why.
You see, for years I had been struggling with a lot of digestive issues from a parasite and a gluten intolerance. I turned to kombucha for gut healing (along with other natural supplements). I had been drinking it on occasion before, but this time I decided to use it for more of healing reasons.
It was also about that time that I decided to start making my own batches. I spoke with Hannah over at KombuchaKamp.com a lot and she guided me through the process. After a few weeks, I had my ownscoby and was ready to brew!
Here’s my BREWING tutorial. I have gathered this from lots of other websites and tweaked it to make my own flavoring. I’ll type out the instructions below as well. Let me know if you brew!
You can easily buy a starter kit online or even buy a scoby from craigslist. Just make sure they are not moldy or damaged when you buy them. Once you have a mother scoby, you are ready to brew.
KOMBUCHA – Here’s How:
Wash all utensils with hot sudsy water and rinse well.
Boil three quarts of purified water.
Add 1 cup white sugar to water when a rolling boil is reached. Boil water and sugar for five minutes.
Turn off heat and add 4-5 tea bags of black and/or green tea. (Must have caffeine in tea which the scoby feeds on).
Steep about 30 minutes and remove tea leaves or bags and let tea cool (it doesn’t hurt to steep the tea longer). Cooling is about 3 to 5 hours from time you turn stove off.
Pour cooled tea into gallon size glass container.
Add your Kombucha culture placing it so that the smooth shiny surface lies up. Add fermented Kombucha Tea from a previous batch.
Place a cloth over the top of the jar and secure with a rubber band. This keeps dust, mold, spores and vinegar flies out of the fermenting tea.
Allow to sit undisturbed in a well-ventilated and darkened place away from direct sunlight (temp. 65-90 degrees F.) for 6 – 15 days. I keep mine in a closet.
To make sure the tea is ready to harvest; pour off a couple of ounces for a taste test. I usually test it by sticking a plastic straw in and sipping a little bit.
Taste Test: A taste test on a batch of Kombucha Tea may taste like this: 4-6 Days – Too sweet, not all sugar converted. 7-9 Days – Tastes like sparkling apple cider. 10+ Days – Vinegar taste becoming prominent.
When the tea is brewed to your taste, pour the tea into glass bottles and cap then place in the refrigerator. This can now be second fermented with fresh juices, or pieces of crushed fruit, or crystallized ginger. Store bought juices are pasteurized and may effect healing quality of finished kombucha product, so I’d stick with 100% fresh juice. Sometimes I use sparkling water too.
Make sure to leave enough starter tea from your last batch (about 1/2 cup) to make another batch of tea. Repeat directions and add this to your starter and culture to start the process again. **Note: the cultures my float on the surface or sometimes it sinks to the bottom. Either way is fine.
To this day I still think of it as my healing tonic. I drink 16-20 ounces a day. Yes, this seems like a lot but my body is used to and can handle a higher dosage.
My Newbie Tips:
It definitely takes an acquired taste, so be open minded.
If you would rather buy Kombucha to try out first, look for fruity flavors. These have added natural juices to them, like GT’s cranberry, passionberry, or strawberry. It will help you get used to the taste. Even though I’ve ALWAYS loved the taste. I am weird like that though. 🙂
Drink 4 ounces at a time to begin. Maybe just try a little mid morning or afternoon. Sometime during the day where you usually need a little boost.
Give it time! Drink slowly and allow its natural detox benefits to nourish your body. Try it for a week before knockin’ it!
And finally, BE GENTLE! Kombucha needs care. It is carbonated do not shake the bottle and open slowly. I’ve had some dangerous explosions, and as much as I like Kombucha, my clothes do not.
Alright, I’m off to go finish my last bottle. Better brew again tomorrow! Feel free to email me with any questions. And thank you, Brittany for letting me blab away about scobys and smelly tea.
Recently I’ve seen a lot of people talking about juicing. It’s definitely something that has intrigued me for some time, but the price tag on the juicers was not so exciting. Mom to the rescue! Luckily for me, my mom happened to have a juicer that she hasn’t been using so I was happy to take it off her hands. And now with this new, fun appliance, I had to figure out where to start.
Last weekend, Nathan and I went to our local farmers’ market and I got myself a fresh juice. And I watched very closely to what was being put into it. Ingredients noted and I was off! I put my own little twist on the juice and absolutely love it! [Though it did take a few adjustments here and there..]
Pink Lady Beet Juice
Makes three 1¼ cup servings
Ingredients
– 4 small beets & greens
– 2 large apples [I use fuji]
– 1 16oz package carrots
– 4-5″ english cucumber
– 1-2″ ginger root [Depends on how spicy you want it!]
Directions
Cut your fruits and vegetables as needed for your juicer and go! Feel free to adjust any ingredients to your taste.
Let’s be honest, I celebrate peanut butter everyday. Personally, I think everyone should. Peanut butter is delicious and nutritious and should be a balance part of every diet; and by balanced, I mean feel free to replace meals with jars of peanut butter. [I wish I could!]
I want you to celebrate National Peanut Butter Lover’s Day the right way, so I’ve compiled a list of sweet and savory peanut butter recipes. Enjoy!
Sweet
Hail Merry Peanut Butter Coconut Banana Bites
Healthy Banana Peanut Butter Cups*
Peanut Butter Cup Protein Shake*
Peanut Butter Wonderful Powerballs
Sweet Potato Dippers
Savory
Buddha’s Feast with Spicy Thai Peanut Sauce*
Peanut Chili Baked Tofu*
Tilapia Stir-Fry with Chili Peanut Sauce*
And of course, don’t forget to top any of your favorite oatmeals or sweet scrambles with peanut butter. It’s just wrong not to! 😉
*These recipes were made using peanut flour, but you can substitute regular peanut butter.
Food for Thought
What is your number one go-to peanut butter? Do you prefer other nut or seed butters over peanut butter?
Holy slacker, it’s been a while since we’ve chatted! It’s been a crazy week and a half that unfortunately included a back injury. I subsequently dubbed last week the week of eating everything in site, which makes this week the week of getting back on track. I must be crazy thinking now is a good time to plan on getting back on track with Thanksgiving being Thursday, but hey, no time like the present, right?!
And speaking of Thanksgiving, as the resident “beer snobs” of the family, Nathan and I are always asked for beer pairings. We’ve been doing our Thanksgiving beer pairing research and I’m happy to share with you our top 5 finds! But first.. the eats.
[Breakfast]
Back to basics. My Tone It Up pumpkin protein pancake with banana slices and peanut fluff [2 tbsp peanut flour*, 1 packet stevia, & water to reach desired consistency]
[Lunch]
Kale salad with spaghetti squash, lots of veggies, and Powercakes Tahini Nooch sauce. This has been my favorite go-to dressing as of late. It’s packed with tons of protein and flavor.. think garlicky kale from Whole Foods. YUM!
[Dinner]
Roasted salmon with honey almond spaghetti squash. Simple but full of flavor!
[Snacks]
Grapefruit. (Not pictured)
Green Protein Piña Colada.. a Greeña Colada, if you will 😉
Quick recipe! Protein GreeñaColada
– 1 Premier Protein vanilla shake
– 1/2 frozen banana
– 1/4 cup pineapple chunks
– 2 tbsp unsweetened shredded coconut
– 1 cup spinach
– 2-4 ice cubes
Throw everything in your blender and froth up! This baby packs a 32g protein punch! Perfect for your workout days.
Apple and peanut fluff*.
*Peanut flour can be found on iHerb.com. Use code ZAF482 to receive $5 off of your first order.
Thanksgiving Brews
When pairing beverages with food, most people immediately consider wine. Beer is often an afterthought, but not in our house! I’ve been researching the top beers to pair with a traditional Thanksgiving dinner and I think I’ve found the list that’ll make even your pickiest beer-drinker happy!
This is an easy-drinking, copper-colored beer that isn’t overpowering. It will compliment everything on your table from sweet potatoes to a hearty sausage stuffing, with its notes of caramel and smooth, subtle hops. At 5.8% ABV, this will be an all-around crowd-pleaser.
Can’t find Ayinger? Look for Paulaner or Sam Adams!
If you’re looking for a beer with a little more punch to stand up to your stuffing, SNPA is the way to go. A touch of citrus flavor and a slightly bitter, but balanced, taste provides a crisp, clean finish.
Can’t find Sierra Nevada? Look for Flying Dog or Lagunitas!
A beer that’s always found in our house, Kellerweis will satisfy any drinker’s taste. This fresh, crisp beer is a great way to start the evening paired with a creamy goat cheese or brie (which should definitely be on any list of appetizers!) It’s also the perfect way to end the night; with its subtle notes of banana and clove, you have the perfect companion to spiced desserts like pumpkin pie.
Can’t find Sierra Nevada? Look for Paulaner or Victory!
You can’t go wrong with a Belgian-style beer; especially if you’re talking Ommegang Abbey Dubbel. Another beer that can stand up to the lighter dishes as well as heavier, this well-balanced beer with notes of fruits and molasses will pack a punch at 8.2% ABV.
Can’t find Ommegang? Look for New Belgium or Chimay!
For those guests looking to go to the dark side, this chocolate stout is the way to go! It’s a silky, smooth beer with notes of chocolate and espresso. It is a perfect compliment to dessert, but can also stand up to the heavier dishes.
Can’t find Rogue? Look for Evolution or Sam Adams!
Food for Thought
What is your favorite part of Thanksgiving? Do you prefer beer or wine paired with your dinner? What is your favorite beer?
I’ve been a bad blogger this past week. BUT! I definitely have something wonderful to make up for it!
As you may know, one of my favorite afternoon snacks lately has been my Peanut Butter Cup Protein Shake. It’s chocolatey and peanut buttery and creamy and, most importantly, delicious!
(YUM!)
So how can I talk so much about this wonderful shake without giving you the opportunity to get one of the key ingredients to make it for yourself?
This company is incredible. They have the best customer service I’ve ever seen before and they have an incredibly delicious product! There are 4 flavors available: Chocolate, Cappuccino, French Vanilla, and Spiced Chai. They’re all wonderful, but my favorites are definitely the Chocolate and Cappuccino.
The ever-gracious team over at CalNaturale is giving 4 of you lucky dogs the chance to win a case of your flavor of choice! Want to enter? Of course you do!
How to Enter
You have up to 4 chances to enter! Be sure to leave separate comments for each entry. Entries will be accepted through Thursday, June 28th, 11:59pm. Winners will be chosen Friday, June 29th.
1. Leave a comment telling me which flavor you want to try and how you would enjoy your delicious CalNaturale Svelte protein drink.(Mandatory)
2. Follow @CalNaturale on twitter and leave a comment telling me. (Optional)
3. Follow me (@beermeamartini) on twitter and leave a comment telling me. (Optional)
4. Tweet “I’m entering to win a case of @CalNaturale Svelte from @beermeamartini on #BarrAndTable! http://wp.me/p2mo7x-4b” and leave a comment with a link to your tweet. (Optional)
Barr & Table 