Drinks

Spiked Watermelon Lemonade – Happy 4th of July!!

July 1, 2016 The Culinary Chronicles1 Comment

H-A-P-P-Y F-R-I-D-A-Y!!!!!!

Especially if that Friday kicks off the Fourth of July!

My next three days are slated to be filled with BBQs, shenanigans, and fireworks — Oh my! Needless to say, I will need a vat of coffee waiting for me on my desk come Tuesday morning. And I reckon it will be 100% worth it.

But until then, let me recommend this lovely little cocktail that will be perfect for Independence Day — heck, your entire summer!

It combines two things that are quintessential to summer – watermelon and lemonade. And when a few glugs of spirits are added to the mix, you’ve got a party on your hands! It’s light, refreshing and something you can sip on all day long.

Trust me…I sure did when I made it for our last Family Dinner.

So enjoy the weekend Friends and Happy Independence Day ‘Merica!!! 💙❤️🇺🇸

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Spiked Watermelon Lemonades

Ingredients:

¾ cup fresh lemon juice
¼ cup fresh lime juice
1 cup simple syrup, more if needed
5 cups chilled water, divided
8 cups fresh watermelon, cut into large chunks
1 cup vodka
½ cup triple sec
ice
additional lemon slices and watermelon wedges to garnish

In a large container, stir together the lemon juice, lime juice, simple syrup and 4 cups of water. Refrigerate for at least one hour.

In batches if need be, place the watermelon and remaining water in a blender. Blend until smooth and pour the liquid through a sieve to strain. This should yield approximately 6 cups of juice.

Pour 6 cups of watermelon juice, vodka, and triple sec into the chilled lemonade. Taste and add additional simple syrup if needed. Serve over ice and garnish with lemon slices and watermelon wedges.

Cheers!

Drinks

Rosemary Greyhounds + 15 Super Bowl Recipes

February 6, 2016 The Culinary Chronicles3 Comments

For the past few weeks I’ve been making out like a citrus bandit!

Coworkers have been hooking me up with tons of their homegrown citrus – grapefruits, meyer lemons, tangerines, and oranges. So for tomorrow’s Super Bowl shenanigans, I will be using up a few of the lovely grapefruits to make a slight spin on one of my favorite cocktails – the Greyhound.

Before I delve into that wonderful goodness, I wanted to make sure that y’all had ample ideas for your Super Bowl spread so that you can fully enjoy game day. And the fun perk? It’s all finger foods!

Starting off is my Hot Buffalo Chicken Dip! Because you just can’t have a football party without dip – and this ones a show stopper with all the flavors of buffalo wangzzzzz.

Drools.

Love deviled eggs? How about Sriracha? Then we should be best friends….and you should whip up some of these Sriracha Deviled Eggs by the Pioneer Woman. ps. It’s a total touchdown if you add crispy bacon bits on top.

If you like Papas Rellenas….
And getting caught in the rain…..

Ok, rain is optional but you’ll swoon over these Cuban potato balls filled with savory ground beef.

Crunchy Jalapeno-Bacon wrapped Avocado Fries

No explanation needed.

Spicy Chicken Flautas – crispy goodness with a kick. You can even fry these up before your friends come over and then keep them warm in the oven.

Game day parties were meant for busting out the Slow Cookers. You can fix up the food hours and hours before kick off and it’ll keep nice and warm throughout the game.

First up, super easy and reliable BBQ Pulled Chicken Sandwiches.

And then there’s these humongous, juicy, beef sammies — Slow Cooker Pot Roast Sandwiches. Drippy goodness.

Rather have seafood sandwiches? How about some rockin’ Seafood Burgers? We’ve got crispy salmon and ahi for you to choose from. Added bonus? I share with you how to make the BEST brioche buns ever.

E-V-E-R!!

Not up for waiting hours-upon-hours for the pizza delivery dude to show up? Make your own!

How about a BBQ Chicken Pizza?

Or for our veggie lovin’ friends – a Spring Skillet Pizza Pie!

If there isn’t some kind of fried chicken at a Super Bowl party, I immediately turn around and leave.

For reals.

How about a big ol’ platter of Vietnamese Style Fried Chicken? They’re crispy, sticky, slightly sweet and savory.

Finger – lickin’ – GOOD!

Now how about some liquid goodness?

Although kickoff isn’t until 3:30pm PST, I’m sure you’ll be up and bustling around in the AM to get ready for the game. And since brekkie is the most important meal of the day, be sure to fix up a big pitcher of Bloody Marys! The more extra garnishes, the better!

JELL-O SHOTS! JELL-O SHOTS! JELL-O SHOTS!

Yes, you can still enjoy a JELL-O shot every so now and then. Just amp them up a bit by hollowing out a few limes or lemons and fill them with JELL-O before allowing them to set in the fridge.

Show Stoppin’ JELL-O Shooters.

By now, you know my deep affection for the Moscow Mule. It’s a fantastic game day cocktail and even if you don’t have the traditional copper mugs to serve them in, sturdy mason jars will be just fine.

But copper mugs are OH-SO-GLORIOUS and keep your drinks so icy cold.

Moscow Mules are so nice—I had to show you twice!

This time with Apple Moscow Mules! They’re made with apple flavored vodka, apple cider, bitters and ginger beer.

Swoon.

And finally, we’re back to where we started–with the wonderful Greyhound.

Traditionally, Greyhounds are a simple cocktail made from vodka and grapefruit juice. Easy-peasy.

I usually like to add a splash of simple syrup to offset the natural bitterness from the juice. Which is perfect for my slight spin on the Greyhound as I like to add simple syrup that is infused with fresh rosemary.

The floral rosemary compliments the flavors of the grapefruit so well that you’ve got to stop yourself from guzzling it down too quickly!

The steps below are for a single serving but it’s just as easy to make a full carafe of it and have it sitting in a chilled bucket at your Super Bowl spread or brunch table….. you get where I’m going with this.

Enjoy Folks and have a Fantastic Super Bowl!

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Rosemary Greyhounds
Serves 1

Ingredients:

½ cup sugar
½ cup water
2 sprigs fresh rosemary
ice
1½ ounces premium vodka
4 ounces fresh grapefruit juice
additional rosemary & grapefruit wedges for garnish

In a small saucepan, combine the sugar and water over medium low heat. Bring to a low boil and stir until the sugar has dissolved Stir in the rosemary sprigs and take off the heat. Allow the syrup to come to room temperature. Remove/discard the sprig and pour the syrup into a resealable container. Refrigerate for a few hours prior to use.

Fill a tumbler or other glass with ice that has been rimmed with sugar. Add the vodka, 1-2 splashes of rosemary simple syrup (depending on sweetness preference), and grapefruit juice. Stir gently and garnish with rosemary and grapefruit wedge.

Cheers!

Drinks

Apple Moscow Mules — SKOL!

October 23, 2015October 23, 2015 The Culinary Chronicles3 Comments

By now y’all may have recognized my rather intense allegiance and unwavering devotion to my sports teams. Sure….some may call it an obsession but I like to think of it as loyalty.

I love my VIKINGS and TROJANS. I bleed Purple and Gold AND Cardinal and Gold…..simultaneously!

I’m a proud, proud fan.

I talk the talk… I wear the gear….and I got all the goodies.

It’s how we do it.

For years, Duck House Sports has been fulfilling all my fanatical needs to ensure that there’s never a doubt who I root for. And I’m not talking about just your basic stuff you can pick up at your local sports store.

We’re talking about Drinkware, Kitchenware, Cookware, Candles, Electronics, and even Ottomans—all printed with the logos/seals of my beloved Vikings and Trojans!

They mean business people!!!

My latest acquisition that I am truly OBSESSED with are these freaking awesome Copper Moscow Mule Mugs that have the Vikings logo etched into them. Anyone who knows me, knows how much this gal appreciates a Moscow Mule. So when it’s served in a true copper mug with her beloved NFL team–it’s cause for celebration!

Get those parades going!

To break in my new mugs, I decided to make a few rounds of Moscow Mules….but with an Autumn twist to fit the season. And what is more Fall than apples?

Instead of plain vodka, I used a few ounces of apple flavored vodka and added some apple cider to the party. I opted for the Gala Apple flavored vodka from Stolichnaya which is a seasonal item for them. It has a light fragrance and I adore it. But one thing remains true for this mule version as with the old–you’ve got to use a ginger beer with a bite. If not, it’ll be way too sweet and that’s just is really no bueno.

If you’re wondering, I’m not being compensated by Duck House Sports for singing their praises. I just really LOVE all their stuff so if you admire a sports team the way I love my Vikes and Trojans, go check them out so you can step up your fan game.

Have a great weekend Friends and SKOL!!!!!!!

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Apple Moscow Mule
Serves 1

Ingredients:

ice
2 ounces quality apple flavored vodka
2 ounces apple cider
1/2 ounce lime juice
4 ounces ginger beer
1-2 dashes Angostura Bitters
apple slices, mint sprigs and lime slices for garnish

Fill a Mule mug (or glass of your choice) with ice. Pour the vodka, apple cider and lime juice over the ice. Slowly pour the ginger beer into the mug and stir. Add the dashes of Angostura Bitters to the top and garnish with apple slices, lime slices and mint sprigs.

Skol!

Drinks

Hair of the Dog – Bloody Marys

August 15, 2014 The Culinary Chronicles4 Comments

It’s no secret… my seester T and I are rather in L-O-V-E with a good Bloody Mary. They’re schpishy, zingy and man…do they have some serious rejuvenating powers. Hair of the dog all the way!

But there’s nothing worse than a watered down, flavorless Bloody. Vodka in an iced glass of tomato juice does not make a Bloody Mary. Hell – that’s just spiked tomato juice. Yuck!

A well crafted Bloody should be as complex and multi-layered as a beautiful dish. Savory while bright, spiced and full of umami (ugh, did I really use that word?), while still packing a strong punch.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not opposed to using a premade Bloody mix because there are some darn good ones out there. But even when I do use a premixed base, I always tweak it. Usually to give more spice and depth of flavor.

So when one of my favorite meals comes around (Sunday Brunch of course), I’m the first to offer up one of my Bloody Marys. Starting off with a good tomato juice, I add some of this and some of that until the concoction is just right. And then, the Bloody has got to chill in the fridge so that the flavors have a chance to marry.

That gives you the perfect amount of time to get the “toppings” together. And that’s where things get fun. Pickled or fresh veggies, pepperoni, crispy bacon, shrimp, cheeses, kettle chips–anything goes! And want a tip? If you’re wary about having to pick up all kinds of ingredients to garnish a cocktail–fret not! Just swing by the salad bar of your local grocery store and grab whatever tickles your fancy. I usually fill a little box with all the fixings to jazz up my cocktails for under $2-$3.

Looking for a Pan-Asian spin on the Bloody Mary? Use Sriracha instead of hot sauce….swap out Worcestershire sauce for Maggi Seasoning Sauce… crush in some hot Thai chiles….and finally, top it with a SPAM musubi. HELL YEAH!

I’ve included a guide below of how I start my Bloody Marys but like my other cocktail recipes on the site, the measurements are loose guidelines and should be adjusted to your liking.

With that Friends….TGIF! Happy Friday and have a brilliant weekend!

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Hair of the Dog – Bloody Marys
Serves 2 (very hefty servings)

Ingredients:

3 cups tomato juice
1 heaping tablespoon prepared horseradish
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
½ tablespoon Tabasco sauce (or other hot sauce of your choice)
2 tablespoons olive juice (brine)
juice of ½ small lemon (about 2 tablespoons)
zest of ½ lemon
several dashes Old Bay Seasoning
1 teaspoon celery salt (more to rim the glasses)
¼ teaspoon kosher salt (more to rim the glasses)
1/8 teaspoon fresh cracked pepper
4 ounces premium vodka

Extra goodness:
grilled prawns
thick pepperoni slices
peperoncinis
cucumber slices
pickled hot cherry peppers
lemon wedges
lime wedges
celery stalks

In a pitcher or very large cocktail shaker, combine the first 12 ingredients. Stir well and refrigerate for about an hour.

While the cocktail chills, take wooden skewers and slide the garnish onto them.

Mix together 1 part celery salt and 1 part kosher salt in a shallow plate. Wipe the rim of two glasses with a lemon wedge. Roll the edges of each glass into the salt mixture and set aside.

Once chilled, stir the Bloody Mary concoction well. Fill the glasses with ice and divide the chilled liquid amongst the two. Garnish each drink with the celery stalks and prepared skewers.

Cheers!

Drinks

Ringing in 2014 with Moscow Mules

December 31, 2013 The Culinary Chronicles8 Comments

We’re having a New Year’s Eve Cocktail Party tonight and are spending the day on some last minute preparations. Instead of a fussy sit down menu, my sister opted for an hors d’oeuvres spread. Some of our small bites will include chimichurri steak crostinis, smoked salmon, kalua pig sliders, gougères, sugarcane shrimp and papas rellenas. Hopefully a little something for everyone to enjoy while we’re counting down to 2014.

There will be of course, cocktails…..lots and lots of cocktails. My Red Wine Sangria has been steeping for 2 days now and our brother said he’s been dreaming up some Champagne Cocktails that he’ll be whipping up tonight.

I will be serving up one of my favorite’s–Moscow Mules. Moscow Mules have been around since the late 1930’s – early 40’s but thanks to hipsters, there’s been quite the resurgence of them which I love…..the drink, not the hipsters 🙂

Mules are quite easy to whip up since they only have a few ingredients–vodka, lime juice, ginger beer and a few dashes of bitters. However, I highly suggest using ginger beer and not ginger ale as ginger beer often will have more “bite” to it and is less sweet.

And with that, dear Friends, I wish you all a very, VERY HAPPY NEW YEAR filled with lots of good laughter, love, and Foodventures!

Cheers!

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Moscow Mules
Serves 1

Ingredients:

ice
2 ounces quality vodka
1/2 ounce lime juice
5 ounces ginger beer
2-3 dashes Angostura Bitters
mint sprigs and lime slices for garnish

Fill a Mule mug (or glass of your choice) with ice. Pour the vodka and lime juice over the ice. Slowly pour the ginger beer into the mug and stir with a straw. Add the dashes of Angostura Bitters to the top and garnish with lime slices and mint sprigs. Cheers!

Drinks

Day 6 of A Week of Holiday Cocktails – The Cosmopolitan

December 21, 2013 The Culinary Chronicles2 Comments

Miranda, Samantha, Charlottle and Carrie knew what they were talking.

Now at first glance, you may be saying to yourself — A Cosmopolitan? Isn’t that so 10+ years ago? And quite honestly, you may be right but these little beauties are so delish that I don’t mind if I’m a bit outdated. Just call me retro.

Cosmopolitans are a great cocktail for holiday entertaining. Not only are they tasty but they are one of those cocktails you can make in advance before your guests arrive. Once your guests are ready to have a drink, you can pour some of the pre-mixed Cosmos into a shaker filled with ice, shake for a bit and then strain into martini glasses. Or you can pre-portion them out into little glass bottles and then chill them in ice buckets. Your guests can then just grab their own little Cosmopolitan bottle and sip away. Definitely less fuss for you if you’re hosting.

The key to my version of the Cosmo is fresh grapefruit juice. It makes such a world of difference adding a slight bitter and floral edge to the drink—perfect to counterbalance the sweetness of the cranberry juice and Cointreau. Tart, slightly sweet and just such a pretty color.

Cheers!

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The Cosmopolitan
Serves 2

Ingredients:

ice
5 ounces premium vodka
1 ounce Cointreau
3 ounces cranberry juice
2 ounces fresh grapefruit juice
½ ounce fresh lime juice
orange peels for garnish

Fill a large cocktail shaker with ice. Add the vodka, Cointreau, cranberry juice, grapefruit juice and lime juice. Vigorously shake for 20 seconds and strain the cocktails between two martini glasses. Garnish with orange peels.

Drinks

Day 2 of A Week of Holiday Cocktails – The Pomegranate Lush

December 17, 2013 The Culinary Chronicles1 Comment

My seester’s in-laws have an old tree that grows the sweetest pomegranates I’ve ever tasted. The seeds are sugary sweet with just a hint of tartness. And the color is an intense deep shade of burgundy. I love to throw these gems into salads, parfaits, desserts and most recently, to flavor vodka. Infused vodkas are super easy to make and add a great flavor and kick to cocktails.

To make pomegranate infused vodka, fill a mason jar (or other clean, resealable container) about 2/3 way up with pomegranate seeds. Top off the jar with vodka and use a wooden spoon to crush up the seeds a bit to help release some of the juices. Cap the jar and refrigerate for about 2 weeks, shaking the jar every few days.

Voila! Pomegranate infused vodka at your disposal.

This boozy goodnes is perfect for holiday cocktails because of it’s gorgeous hue and it packs a devilish punch. The vodka goes down quite smooth since it’s so tasty which can be a dangerous combo.

For this little number I wanted to combine the flavored vodka with a little bubbly…it is the holidays after all. Which is why I’m calling this The Pomegranate Lush –booze on booze on booze 🙂

Cheers!

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The Pomegranate Lush
Serves 1

Ingredients:

1½ ounces pomegranate infused vodka
dash of simple syrup
juice from 1 lime wedge
chilled sparkling wine

Pour the vodka, simple syrup and lime juice into a glass or champagne flute. Slowly fill the glass with the sparkling wine and enjoy!

Drinks · Sunday Family Dinner

Japanese themed Family Dinner and Lychee Saketinis! Kampai!

April 17, 2013November 19, 2015 The Culinary Chronicles15 Comments

I know I should be more humble about this but we really knocked it out of the park for this month’s Family Dinner where we took a gastronomic trip to Japan.

Dinner was at eldest seester’s house and we literally cooked and ate for 3+ hours straight! Right when we finished one dish, we would only take intermittent pauses to nosh while we worked on the next dish. Quite fun, actually!

My seester has been talking about a fishmonger near her house for ages but we’ve never had a chance to give it try. So with a Japanese themed menu, what better opportunity? We were able to snag a bunch of beautiful product from Dry Dock Fish Co. and lemme tell you—totally rad.

So instead of just describing our menu, how about I show you what we inhaled.

Using the oysters we got from Dry Dock Fish Co., I put together these indulgent beauties. I drizzled each oyster with an Asian inspired mignonette, topped some with uni and tobiko, and fresh chives.

Swoon…..

This gorgeous sashimi platter consists of salmon, hamachi, ahi and ahi poke. We picked up the ahi poke pre-made from Dry Dock Fish Co. but added additional scallions, soy sauce and sesame oil for a bit more depth. And of course, we had some beautiful spot prawns.

Drools….

The spot prawns were so incredibly fresh. How fresh? So fresh that they were still swimming when we brought them home. And for those a bit wary of eating prawns sashimi style–don’t be! These spot prawns were incredibly sweet and had a wonderful crunch to them.

Sorry, I just had to stop myself from licking the screen.

As for the heads—waste not, want not! My sis quickly flashed fried and then lightly salted them.

Crunchy and filled with unctuous goodness…….

There were also pork and shrimp filled gyozas (that I commissioned my niece, Nini to fold) and of course, some yummy maki rolls. The rolls above were my seester’s brainchild–filled with lump crab and avocado, then topped with seared steak, black sesame seeds, and chives (that she commissioned our niece, Nina to roll).

Yea, we put the kids to work that night….

And it would be hard for me to have a Japanese meal without some satisfying spicy tuna rolls.

Nina rolled these for me too 🙂

We also wolfed down these Honey Pork Belly Lettuce Wraps adapted from a recipe from the rad Nami of Just One Cookbook. Sis par cooked the pork on the stove and then finished them off in the oven which gave them a crunchy texture that was lip-smackingly awesome from the glaze.

And the salmon collar–which we nearly forgot about! Luckily Big Sis remembered them half way through dinner and crisped them under the broiler. Crispy goodness though it stayed quite moist. Not the greatest photo but it was darn oishii!

Finally, we finished the savory portion of our meal with my Uni Pasta —because apparently, we didn’t have enough to eat.

At this point, we were feeling a little guilty (okay, just a tad) and rallied for a walk before dessert. Well, the gals + Lucasaurus went for a walk while the big boys opted out—the guys had gone for a mountain bike ride pre-dinner so we gave them a pass.

Dessert was an Icebox Green Tea Cheesecake I made with a chocolate crust. Since it was considered a “no bake” cheesecake, it was actually quite light and fluffy and was the perfect dessert to end our meal. The matcha added a slight bitterness to the filling but not at all overpowering.

Divine!

Of course it wouldn’t be a Family Dinner if we didn’t mix up a few thirst quenching cocktails. To go with our theme, I shook up these delish Lychee Saketinis that were aromatic and floral. And although they went down smooth, don’t let these little buggahs fool ya. They pack a punch!

I’ll be sharing several of the recipes we enjoyed in the next few posts but for now, I’ll let you in on how to make these wonderful Lychee Saketinis.

Until next time, Friends — Kampai!

This Month’s Family Dinner Menu

Cocktails: Lychee Saketinis
Appetizers: Sashimis (Ahi, Salmon, Hamachi, Spot Prawn), Poke, Oysters topped with Uni & Tobiko, Spicy Tuna Rolls, Pork & Shrimp Gyoza, Crispy Ebi Head, Beef-Crab-Avocado Roll
Entrees: Grilled Salmon Collar, Uni Pasta, Honey Pork Belly Lettuce Wraps, Rice
Dessert: Icebox Green Tea Cheesecake

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Lychee Saketinis
Serves 2

Ingredients:

1 20-ounce can of lychee (in light syrup)
1 teaspoon minced fresh ginger
ice
juice of ½ lime
1½ ounces vodka
5 ounces sake

Pour the can of lychee and its syrup into a blender. Add the ginger and puree until smooth. Strain the lychee puree through a fine sieve, using a rubber spatula to push down on the pulp to release the liquid. Discard the pulp and set the lychee liquid aside.

Fill a large shaker with ice. Add the lime juice, vodka, sake and 5 ounces of the lychee liquid. Shake vigorously for 15-20 seconds and strain the contents between 2 glasses. Garnish with additional lychees and lime wedges. Cheers!

DIY

DIY – Tahitian Vanilla Extract

January 11, 2013January 15, 2013 The Culinary Chronicles7 Comments

Last month I was bottling Vanilla Extract like a mad woman.

Why?

Because it’s RAD!

Not only are you able to control exactly what goes into your product but it’s simple and yields wonderful results. It’s quite cost effective, especially if you go through as much vanilla as I do. And these super cute bottles make great gifts, too!

I used Tahitian vanilla beans for my extracts but you can opt for pods from Madagascar or Mexico if you prefer. Buying them in bulk (I get mine online) will also get you the best bang for your buck.

After your extracts have been bottled, you’ll want to age them for a minimum of 2 months before use. And once your bottle runs low, just fill it up with more vodka to restart the process.

Happy DIY-ing!

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DIY Vanilla Extract
Makes (2) 4-Ounce Bottles

Ingredients:

2 4-ounce resealable bottles
4 Vanilla Bean Pods, split lengthwise
8 ounces Vodka

Wash and dry the bottles.

Place two of the split vanilla beans in each of the bottles. Fill each bottle with 4 ounces of vodka and seal tightly. Gently shake the bottles and store in a cool, dark location.

Shake the bottles every few days for 2 months. The vanilla extract is ready to use as early as 2 months, however 3+months is recommended.

Desserts/Pastries · Drinks

Show Stoppin’ Jell-O Shooters

May 5, 2012May 12, 2012 The Culinary Chronicles16 Comments

I love the month of May. Not just because it’s my birth month (hint: this gal loves chocolates, camera accessories, and flip flops….) but because it usually is the trigger for a flood of celebrations—birthdays, weddings, anniversaries….parties galore!

And if you’re anything like me, I cannot go to a party without bringing something—a bottle of wine, dessert, flowers, etc. But let me tell you, whenever I show up with these little goodies, they’re an instant HIT!

Just take citrus of your choice and slice it in half. With a sharp pairing knife, run it along the inside of the fruit but do not cut through all the way. Use your fingers to gingerly and slowly pull out all the segments so that all that remains is the rind of citrus. I will warn you that this does take some time. I also find that lemons or oranges are easier to do but limes add such a pretty color pop!

After you’ve cleaned them out, place the citrus “shells” in a baking dish so that they’re snug against each other. Follow the directions to prepare the gelatin of your choice and carefully pour it into the shells. If you’re looking to make your shooters for adults, replace 1/2 of the cold water with chilled vodka and a few tablespoons of cointreau.

Refrigerate the filled citrus shells overnight and then carefully slice into wedges with a sharp knife when you’re ready to serve.

Whether you’re bringing them to an event or serving them at your own party, guests will LOVE them! Fact 🙂

And with that friends, Happy May and have a fantastic weekend!