Watermelon Mimosa Recipe

I have a fellow foodie friend at work, who I absolutely adore "talking shop" with and sharing recipe ideas.  We tell each other about different restaurants, cocktails and recipes we try, as well as share tips on cooking, baking, etc.  It really is so much fun having someone in the office who shares the same interest and I can learn from while taking that much needed mental break from staring at my computer for hours on end!

Last week during one of our chats, she mentioned this most delicious mimosa she had enjoyed at this fabulous farm to table restaurant in Baltimore, Woodberry Kitchen.  Totally intrigued by the idea of making a watermelon mimosa, I decided to give it try over the weekend.  Let me just say, it is an absolutely delicious cocktail idea! Naturally I felt compelled to share it with you all today.  I know I have posted quite a few cocktail recipes lately and I promise that I will ease up on my cocktail posts for a while, but this mimosa recipe just had to be shared.   Worthy of any brunch or summer picnic, watermelon mimosas are beyond fab!

Ingredients

• 1 Seedless Sugar Watermelon (i.e. a small watermelon)
• 1 Bottle Sparkling Wine, Prosecco or Champagne (*I suggest using Chandon)
• 1 Large Lime (cut into wedges)
• 1-2 Key Limes (for garnish)
• Fresh Mint Leaves

Instructions

1. Cut up a seedless watermelon into 1 inch cubes (*Be sure to remove any remaining seeds from watermelon meat)
2. Place watermelon in a blender or food processor and blend until smooth
3. Fit a large sieve over a wide-mouthed bowl or pitcher (*I tried using a smaller sieve that fit straight on top of the pitcher and it took forever to strain, so I highly recommend straining the watermelon contents in a large sieve over a large bowl for efficiency)
4. Pour blended watermelon contents into the sieve and allow liquid to drip through strainer for at least 20 minutes
5. Add the juice of a fresh lime wedge and about a teaspoon of freshly muddled/chopped mint leaves
6. Then fill the flute 1/3-1/2 with the watermelon juice
7. Fill the remainder of the glass with either a prosecco, sparkling wine or champagne
8. Garnish with a slice of fresh key lime and serve

The Perfect Mimosa Recipe to Serve at Your Next Spring Brunch

This past weekend I traveled up to New Jersey with my husband and Dolly to spend Easter with my in-laws.  We had a wonderful weekend together shopping, going out to dinner and just spending quality time together.  The highlight of the weekend would definitely have to have been the delicious brunch my mother-in-law made for us on Easter Sunday.  The menu included - a Garden Veggie Gruyere Fritatta, Bacon, Assorted pastries and the most delicious mimosas (pictured above).  

I have received a bunch of inquiries from followers wanting to know how to make these  fabulous mimosas, so today I am sharing the recipe for making this delicious cocktail.  I love this recipe because it is a unique take on the traditional mimosa and is a perfect cocktail for serving/enjoying during the spring and summer months.  Below I have included a list of the ingredients, a link to the actual recipe (courtesy of Giada De Laurentiis) and a few ideas for how to style/serve this beverage.  

Ingredients

• Prosecco
• Sparkling Water (Chilled)
• Lemons
• Agave or Honey
• Fresh Strawberries
• Fresh Basil 

Instructions

• See here, for details on how to make Giada's Strawberry, Lemon and Basil Mimosa 

Suggestions for Outfitting this Cocktail

• Paper Source's Paper Flower Picks
• Mackenzie-Childs Blooming Champagne Flutes
• Simon Pearce Addison Pitcher
• Spring-themed Cocktail Napkins (here and here)

Lemon Yogurt Cake with Raspberry Creme Fraiche Frosting

We are heading to my in-laws this weekend to celebrate Easter and I have been asked to bring a cake to serve at brunch on Sunday.  While going through recipes I stumbled across an old favorite of mine that I instantly thought would be perfect to bring this weekend.  This cake is actually a marriage of two recipes - Ina Garten's Lemon Yogurt Loaf and Giada De Laurentiis' Raspberry and Orange Cake.  Lemon combined with any type of berry always makes for a fabulous flavor profile, so combining Ina's Cake Recipe with Giada's Frosting Recipe was an instant winner!!!   The bright flavors and colors of this cake make it the perfect addition to any Spring menu.  Whether you are serving this cake for brunch or dessert, it is a definite crowd-pleaser and sings Spring time!

Cake Ingredients

• Double the recipe (minus glaze) for Ina Garten's Lemon Yogurt Cake

Frosting Ingredients

• Giada de Laurentiis' Frosting Recipe from Todd's Orange and Raspberry Cake

Decorations

• 1/2 pint of Fresh Raspberries
• Ina Garten's Lemon Glaze from her Lemon Yogurt Cake Recipe

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees
2. Grease a tube/angel food cake pan and set aside
3. Make the cake batter according to the recipe
4. Pour batter into the greased cake pan and bake for 1 hr and 5 minutes, positioning the cake on the lower third tier of the oven (until a cake tester comes out clean).  **Note- During the last 15 minutes of baking, cover the top of the cake loosely with a piece of aluminum foil to prevent the cake from burning
5. During the last 5 minutes of baking, combine 2/3c Granulated Sugar and 2/3c Fresh Lemon Juice in a small sauce pan and heat until it begins to boil and sugar is completely dissolved
6. When the cake comes out of the oven, pour the lemon syrup over the cake and allow it to soak for at least 3 minutes before removing the cake from the pan
7. Meanwhile, make Giada's frosting recipe adding an extra tablespoon or two of milk to ever so slightly thin out the frosting
8. When the cake is cooled, pour the frosting over the cake and allow it to set
9. Once the frosting is dry, garnish the base of the cake with fresh raspberries and drizzle Ina Garten's Lemon Glaze on top of the cake

Host a Healthy Breakfast: Greek Yogurt Parfait Bar

As you all know (see here), my mom came to visit this past weekend for her special Mother's Day gift.  She arrived Thursday night and was welcomed with an intimate dinner party.  Friday morning we got up and went to Marjorie Merriweather Post's Hillwood Estate.  We toured the grounds, had lunch at the cafe, then went to visit Arlington National Cemetery (my great grandparents are buried there) and finally, ended the day with a cocktail party at home.  Saturday morning I signed us up for a Pure Barre class.  It was a fabulous workout, but HOLY MOLY!  I didn't know much about Pure Barre prior to the class and had just assumed that the class would consist of a few aerobic ballet moves and maybe some stretching.  Boy was I wrong!  I kid you not, 5 minutes into the class my mom and I were both "puddles" (of sweat!).  It was an excellent 55 minute workout and I am now totally hooked on Pure Barre.  

After the Pure Barre class, my mom and I went back to my house for breakfast.  On the menu- Almond Milk Lattes using my Nespresso and Aeroccino Milk Frother,  Morning Crunch Muffins and a DIY Greek Yogurt Parfait Bar.  The menu was delicious, healthy and the perfect way to refuel post Pure Barre.  Below is a list of what I used to create this delicious spread:

Ingredients

• Fage Greek Yogurt 0%
• Light Agave Nectar
• Organic Honey
• Roasted Flax Seeds
• Toasted Unsweetened Coconut Flakes
• Fresh Blueberries
• Fresh Raspberries
• Fresh Pomegranate Seeds
• Organic Wheat Germ
• Granola
• Ground Cinnamon

Serving Pieces

• Williams Sonoma Open Kitchen White Snack Bowls
• Crate and Barrel Lulie Stemless Martini Glasses
• Crate and Barrel Shell Sugar Tongs
• World Market Bamboo Cocktail Spoons
• Pillivuyt Basketweave Salad Plates
• Linen Cocktail Napkins

This past Saturday morning was the perfect way to start my day.  I felt healthy and invigorated thanks to the Pure Barre Class and delicious DIY Greek Yogurt Parfait breakfast.  I am currently loving this pairing so much that I have invited different groups of friends over the next couple of Saturday mornings to join me for a Pure Barre Class and then head on over to my house for a healthy post-workout breakfast.  This is a great way to entertain because it not only shakes up the standard entertaining routine of either hosting a cocktail or dinner party, but it also includes a fun (and heart healthy!) activity.  Suffice it to say, my friends and I are certainly looking forward to the next couple of Saturday mornings!

Smoked Salmon Platter

Today's post is relatively short, however I loved this idea so of course I felt the need to share my latest entertaining creation with you all.  Assembling a smoked salmon platter is easy to do and can be used when entertaining almost any time of day.  With the hot summer months just kicking off, this deliciously chilled platter couldn't be more perfect to serve.  Below I have listed the ingredients used to create this spread as well as resources for all of the suggested entertaining accessories.  There is always so much to do when prepping for a party or even a small gathering, why not serve something that only requires assembly and allows your guests to customize their dish according to their own palette preferences. 

Ingredients

• Smoked Salmon
• Lemon
• Red Onion
• Hard Boiled Egg
• Fresh Dill
• Fresh Chives
• Capers
• Caper Berries
• Creme Fraiche 
• 34 Degrees Natural Crisps
• Toast Points

Entertaining Accessories

• Serving Platter
• Small Sugar Tongs
• Spreaders
• Small Bowl
• Appetizer/Salad Plates
• Caspari Cocktail Napkins
• Cocktail Forks

Smoked Salmon happens to be one of my dad's favorite foods, so I surprised my dad with this platter on Father's Day.  He was thrilled! I especially loved the fact that even though I was outside of my element (my own home with all of my entertaining essentials), a spread like this one was easy to put together. Using standard serving pieces and fresh/high quality ingredients, a smoked salmon platter is a great entertaining staple to add to your repertoire.