(All photos taken by me)
Pictured Above: Green Curry in Chiang Mai, Spicy Thai Salad in Koh Tao, Cashew Stir Fry in Chiang Mai, More Green Curry from Chiang Mai, Thai Spring Rolls in Chiang Mai (not pictured: the ones I ate in Bangkok) Sea Food Glass Noodle Salad in Koh Tao, Green Curry (Its my fav, obv!!) Sushi to go in Bangkok, Veggies with Brown Rice and Peanut Sauce in Koh Tao, Pumpkin Wrap in Koh Tao, Seafood Green Curry in Bangkok, Cereal with Banana in Bangkok!
Independence Day is next week and this would be the perfect drink for the celebration! It is loaded with yummy berries and boozy liquors to make sure your 4th of July is one to remember. That is, if you don’t drink enough to forget. You’re following me, right? 🙂 Sangria is and probably always will be one of my favorite cocktails of sorts. Not only is it always made with two of my favorite things, fruit and wine, it really leaves room for your inner concoctress to come out (thats a word right, concoctress?)! I could not find a decent recipe for White Wine Sangria that mixed berries and ginger ale, which were my two requirements, so I did what I always do, got creative! Oh yeah, and this also has no added sugar. Bonus!
Benefits of Sangria 😉
What you need:
2 Bottles of White Wine (750 ml)
1 cup raspberries
1 cup strawberries – trimmed and cut in half
1 cup blueberries
2 cups homemade ginger ale
1 cup xylitol
2 oz white rum – I used Bacardi
2 oz Blueberry vodka- I used Stoli
Method:
If you are going to make homemade ginger ale then follow the recipe up until ready to assemble the soda. You will want to wait to make it so the carbonation hasn’t fallen flat. Then put wine, berries, xylitol and liquor in a pitcher or beverage dispenser and put in the refrigerator overnight (3-5 hours will work too). These both can be prepared one day ahead. Just prior to serving assemble the ginger ale with a new bottle/can of seltzer or soda water and add to the sangria. You can add ice to the pitcher or to the individual glasses. Watch fireworks and give kisses to the ones you love! Happy 4th of July!!
(Fruit- photos by me, no filter. Runway shots SS13.)
The level of excitement that coats over me like a paint brush when I see food this bright and colorful is ridiculous. A similar reaction to a kid in a candy store might be a good analogy. Squeals, squirms and wiggles of joy. I mean SERIOUSLY, look at those blood oranges. Have you ever seen anything so beautiful? Why would we ever want to genetically modify anything when something so lovely is created organically? Natures Candy! I gathered these lovely ingredients at the farmers market and made a juice that I enjoyed with my bestie! This is a level of orange even Lindsey Lohan couldn’t replicate! #justsayin
Benefits of Rays of Sunshine Juice
What you need: (any quantity is fine, no right or wrong here)
5 carrots, peeled
1/5 Tbsl ginger, peeled and sliced
4 nectarines, sliced and pit removed
2 tomatos, sliced
5 blood oranges
Method:
Gather ingredients and toss into a juicer! Feel free to use a citrus juicer for the oranges or slice in half and toss the whole fruit in the juicer! Feel the radiant sun absorbed into your body through this lovely juice!
xoxo,
SSP
Say hello to my first attempt at vegan ice cream (it also happens to be gluten free)! Lychee is one of those fruits that sort of make me stop in my tracks and say “Oh, Mother Nature.” They look like jelly fish with their skins off, are loaded with nutrients and have such a unique flavor. Lychee is native to Southern China, Taiwan, Bangladesh and South East Asia! Its cultivation in China dates back to 2000BC – thats old. I am headed to Thailand at the end of the month so I thought I would create an inspired recipe. I don’t mean to gloat but this might the most yummy concoction ever to have come out of my kitchen (totally not bragging)! This is insanely easy to make; if your new to the kitchen, give it a shot! I decided to add watermelon and mint to the recipe to add a differnt dimension to the flavor! NOM-ing as we speak!
Benefits of Lychee
What you need:
Ice Cream:
lychee, diced watermelon, almond milk, chia seeds, mint leaves
Garnish-
mint leaves
watermelon shell
Suga Snap Pea 