Perfect Pairings for Dark Chocolate

Have you ever had a chocolate addict moment? Ever needed an excuse to take a bite of dark chocolate, perhaps during a busy afternoon at work or for a longing midnight snack?

Well, I am now giving you permission to indulge. Ghirardelli epitomizes the ultimate luxury, especially its Intense Dark bar (with 72% cacao!) that I recently tried. The dark richness provides a satisfying indulgence -- and pairing it with a glass of La Crema pinot noir and tart raspberries accentuates the Ghirardelli flavor even more.

Besides chocolate, my other standard indulgence is treating myself to a glass of cabernet. I then figured, Why not put the two together?! The luxurious La Crema brand matches the premier Ghirardelli standard.

I added the raspberries to offset chocolate's sweetness with a subtle tartness. The juicy raspberries add a fresh pop of color and tang -- plus, berries are in season and ultimately have become my kitchen staples.

On that seasonal note, I am thrilled to be attending Austin's FOOD & WINE Festival for the first time this upcoming weekend with an infamous grand tasting of hundreds of restauranteurs, chefs and products, including Ghirardelli. The wine will be pouring (maybe La Crema?), Ghirardelli will be served, and sunny 90-degree weather will collectively create a perfect atmosphere!

What would you pair with your Ghirardelli Intense Dark chocolate? Please share in the comments, or upload your own pairing on Instagram using the hashtag #IntenseDark, like I have shared on my Instagram!

This post is in partnership with Ghirardelli. Thank you for being supportive of my sponsors!

Lavender Lillet Cocktail

I'm packing up the final accessories for my extra-long weekend home in Memphis, which will involve a house packed with family, food and catch-up sessions with long-time friends. My annual trek home for Passover (this year's Seder will host 52 people!) marks the entrance of Spring in its sweet entirety....and I could not be more thrilled. How appropriate that I crafted this lavender lillet cocktail with Camille this past week as a celebration of Spring and its dainty details, such as this lavender focal point. As Camille points out in our recipe, "There’s something about lavender that’s feminine and just plain pretty, don't you think?"

Not only did this four-ingredient spritzer photograph beautifully, but its floral undertones provide an unmatched palate -- oh, and don't forget a splash of refreshing bubbly on top! Keep reading for the recipe...

Makes 1 serving

for the lavender simple syrup:
1/2 cup sugar
1 tablespoon dried lavender

for the cocktail:
2 oz. Lillet
1 oz. lemon juice
splash of bubbly
sprigs of lavender, for garnish (optional)

1. Make lavender simple syrup: in a medium saucepan, bring 1/2 cup water, 1/2 cup sugar and 1 tablespoon dried lavender to a simmer until sugar is dissolved. Turn off the heat and cool completely.

2. In a glass or flute, add Lillet, 1.5 ounces simple syrup and lemon juice. Top with a splash of bubbly and garnish with a lavender sprig.

seen on camille styles

Sunshine Smoothie

It's Friday. Thank goodness. I'm heading soon to Josephine House for a girls' lunch before I spend the afternoon in as much sunshine as my mind can handle. Trying Qui tonight for dinner...looking forward to sharing that experience with you. Until then, I've been dying to share my new favorite smoothie recipe! I crafted the drink for Camille Styles' Bottoms Up series last week with the new in-season staples in mind: mango and papaya. 

Check out the full post here, or view the recipe below ::

sunshine smoothie

1 cup fresh papaya
2 cups frozen cubed mango
Few sprigs of mint
2 cups coconut water
Juice of 1 lime
1 teaspoon honey
Pinch of sea salt

1. Cut the papaya into cubes and place in blender. Add mango, a few mint leaves, coconut water, lime juice, honey, and salt.

2. Blend until smooth. Pour into glasses and garnish with a sprig of mint.

photo by jessi afshin

Moonshine Sweet Tea (Austin)

With a blog dedicated toward "sweet touches on everyday experiences," I could not conjure up a more appropriate epitome of my personal motto than through an ice cold, lemon-rimmed glass of old-fashioned sweet tea. Moonshine sweet tea, that is.

I was ecstatic to receive a taste of Moonshine, an example of Austin's local talent with both strong family tradition and strong appreciation for this city's culture. Before tasting, I was instantly drawn to the stunning contrast between modern packaging and the elegant old-fashioned bottle shape. No need to buy or venture out for a carafe or pitcher, because the typography and bottle speak for themselves with a fresh approach to a nostalgic brew.

The tea is highly concentrated, but mixing a tablespoon or two with water induces a perfectly crisp sip. Not to mention, an alcoholic mix wouldn't be a bad idea either...I'm currently crafting in my kitchen for a Spring cocktail.

Moonshine's multifarious function can appear at events for any lifestyle...parties, picnics, cocktail hours, barbecues, or quick fixes while dining at Whole Foods (they're sold at all Texas locations...and should be in California soon!). 

In this case, I took advantage of my boyfriend's visit to Austin for Valentine's Day and planned a surprise picnic for two at a peaceful park nearby. The sunny, breezy weather matched Moonshine's disposition in easy entertaining. The sweet tea obviously took center stage and, oh, did it impress. Alex's Southern gentlemanly habits complemented the Southern spread of sweet homemade cornbread with fig preserves. Personally, I could not have asked for a better surrounding scene or sip in hand.

Get yourself this goodness in a bottle, either at a Texas Whole Foods or through an easy online order. With Spring quickly approaching, you'll need Moonshine in tow for the lovely seasonal gatherings coming our way.

What's your favorite type of scene to serve sweet tea?

*This post is in partnership with Moonshine. Thank you for being supportive of my sponsors!

Super Bowl Shandies

Super Bowl weekend has finally arrived, and it's five 'o clock somewhere! My latest original cocktail concoction is now up on Camille Styles, and it seems to be the perfect brew for the big game this Sunday.

The most unprecedented rivalry between the Broncos and Seahawks is going down this Sunday evening, so a celebration is clearly in order. And whether or not you’re a team groupie, it’s evident that after 30 seconds into the first quarter, football fans ultimately value a cold beer over game stats. A shandy provides the perfect balance between the classic American brew and a lighter, citrus sip that pleases us ladies in the room. This beer cocktail will have the whole crowd cheering before the halftime performers even take stage!

super bowl shandies

Makes 1 serving

1 12 ounce pale ale (I used Prairie at Whole Foods)

Handful of blackberries

Juice of half a lemon

Mint for garnish

1. Muddle blackberries in bottom of glass. Squeeze lemon juice over blackberries.

2. Pour beer into glass and garnish with a generous sprig of mint. 

Summer Sips

Gary's garden has done me well in the cocktail category.

Here are two summer drinks that you can enjoy at your next party, pool day or dinner. My summer orchard on the rocks and strawberry mojito are easy to make, and the fruitiness will keep that smile on your face all day.

summer orchard on the rocks

Makes 1 cocktail

5-6 small basil leaves

1 tsp. sugar

1/4 peach, peeled and sliced

Juice of 1/2 lime

1/2 ounce simple syrup*

1 ounce rum

Crushed ice

1. Place basil and sugar in a cocktail shaker. Using a muddler, crush basil leaves and mash into sugar.

2. Add peach and crush.

3. Add lime juice, simple syrup, rum and ice. Place the top onto the shaker and shake it until sides feel chilly.

4. Strain into a glass with crushed ice and garnish with a basil leave. Voila!

*To make simple syrup, boil 1 part water and dissolve 1 part sugar. I used 1/2 cup of each and saved the rest. Make sure to chill in the freezer if you're making this at the last minute!

adapted from zestuous

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strawberry mojito

Makes 1 cocktail

1.5 ounces simple syrup

3 fresh strawberries, hulled

4-5 mint sprigs

Soda water

Juice of 1/2 lime

2 ounces light rum

1. In a chilled glass, muddle simple syrup, strawberries and mint leaves together. Crush the strawberries and mint well!

2. Squeeze juice from the lime into the glass, add the rum and stir well. 

3. Fill glass with ice and top off with soda water. Garnish with mint sprigs or strawberry slices.

adapted from white on rice couple