Clocks spring forward and April arrives

 

This week has seen me woken every morning by the birds who seem to be in great voice, it makes me smile as  this is the time of year that I like most. The clocks  have moved on an hour and the nights are so much lighter. Everything looks brighter.

 Cocktails have been flowing here at La Maison.

To see us through to  the end of March we had 

Marseille Mule.

Pastis

Lime juice

Ginger beer ( or dry ginger ale if you prefer)

This is a take on the Moscow Mule with vodka being replaced with Pastis ( a great favourite of mine)

And 

G & E

which was gin and elderflower tonic ( found in Tesco).

I used frozen grapes to cool down the drink, this is something that I do a lot, it doesn't  water down your drink!

And now its April!  What cocktails lie ahead this month????

Well only time will tell.

Huge thanks to Tracey for the gift of a wonderful cocktail set ( some of it is seen in the picture). 

Another week , another cocktail

 

Well we have gone through  a week that saw snow fall, and then temperatures of 12c to be closely followed by one morning of -2, followed by  a morning of 5c. No wonder we are all suffering with colds. Hopefully we can get to some regularity with weather, and how very English to discuss weather when really I should be talking about cocktail hour.

So the cocktail of the hour ( and week) was

Russian Spring Punch

1 measure of creme de cassis

2 measures of lemon juice

4 ttsp sugar syrup

4 measures of vodka

champagne to top up

I put the cassis, lemon, sugar and vodka in a shaker with ice and strained into a glass, then topped up with  champagne.

this has been one of my favourite cocktails this year.

I am just to say say managing to keep up with a cocktail  every week, but need to up my game on  nibbles and photography

And now another week begins, we are edging towards the end of March ( how did that happen??).

Spring is on the way.

Have a great week.

Clearing out ( not china or glasses though)

 

I know that we are well into Lent, but this year as well as giving up sweeties and rubbish food, I also set up a bag which every day I add one item to . An Item that I no longer want or need. This way, just after Easter I will be donating 40 items to a local charity shop.

Its amazing what I have found to get rid of and it also is amazing what I have found and put up for sale.

I actually feel that I am making space.

Yes, yes, yes I know that I still pick up things in the charity shop, but I am more selective now.

My collection of china, linen  and my glasses are the things that I cannot whittle down at all and so for the time being I am keeping them. They are the the 'pretty' things which I love and use everyday. I always think its lovely to set the table.

I now feel that the 40 day clear out for Lent will become a habit, as for the selling, well it is going towards funding my further adventures abroad. so its all a win/win.

Heres to less clutter and more travelling.

Marching into Spring

Well we are now nearly in the middle of March and two cocktails into the month too. The North East of Blighty was hit by snow at the end of last week, which is typical as the crocus and daffodils  were giving such a beautiful show.

The first cocktail of the month wasn't really a cocktail but a lovely glass of white rioja which I love vey much, its ( obviously) lighter to drink than its red brother, but is equally as enjoyable.

Some are lemony with a slight herby touch and some lemony with a hint of melon, or in my case  chilled to perfection and ready to drink. 

 The second cocktail hour of the month started off as a grim day with about 4in of snow and a rotten drive to work, however I was home and and sipping on a 'Champagne Bowler' before I knew it.

Spring is on the way, its just sort of taking a slightly awkward turn back to winter. The mornings and the evenings are getting lighter and that is always a lovely sight.

And with that I am off to finish my working day and head home.

Spring is (nearly ) here.

Last cocktail hour of February

 

Ahhh the best laid plans of mice and men.

I had Friday nights cocktail all planned and set to be made when I got home from work.

One thing that I hadn't taken into account was how long it took to clear up a broken bottle of Amaretto from the kitchen floor. Yes, just as I was about to open it, ( it was brand new), it slipped out of my hands and smashed on the floor.

My steam mop was brought into play and pulling out the washing machine and dishwasher had not been how I had hoped to spend Friday evening, but they were pulled out twice whilst trying to steam up the sticky mess.

So that cocktail was put on hold until I have purchased another bottle of  Amaretto.

I then had to hastily cobble together another cocktail, so opted for a Moscow Mule,

This is a drink that I really enjoy so not an altogether bad substitution.

The ingredients are

Vodka

Freshly squeezed lime juice

Ginger beer

Freshly squeezed ginger

I put the vodka, lime juice and squeezed ginger ( done through a garlic press) into a shaker with ice, quick shake and strain into a glass.

Top up with ginger beer ( or American dry ginger ale if you prefer).

In my case drink this in between steam mopping the kitchen floor.

Have a great week

Cocktail hour is back

 Cocktail hour has resumed since the new year which is something to look forward to at the end of the working week.

So far this year we have been sampling Vodkatinis, Sugar Plum gin sparkle and French Pink lady to name but 3.

Its good to get back into the mindset of preparing a cocktail at the start of the weekend.

Since the new year, I've also  had a trip to Amsterdam, a bout of covid and am still trying to get myself right after that.

There is lots more to look forward to in the first half of 2023.

Over the coming months I will try to post the recipe for the weekly cocktail ( lets see if I can  maintain this discipline).

I am also brushing up on Arabic ( I have a fairly good knowledge of this and mixed with a bit of French can get by in most old Protectorate countries without having to utter a word of English), for up coming adventures.

And with that  I am off to do other things and will be back next week

Its Christmas

 

How quickly does Christmas come around again, this year I have managed to find some Christmas china ( very late to this party as only started at the beginning of December), it will be used by  me on Christmas day, I imagine by next Christmas I will be able ot seat 50 people for a 3 course meal!

I picked up some lovely Christmas linen napkins, which are just perfect and will be ready to go on the table later.

Its been a funny old year, new jobs,  holidays , illness and putting myself first for a change.

And I think that is the way that my life will be form now on ( not any more new jobs!).

Cockktails have been a little scare on the ground due to ill health and giving up drinking for a while, however they will be reinstaed in th new year.