Kitchen Gadget Vegan
  • Blog
  • Recipes by Gadget
  • My Pantry
  • Nutrition Research and Reading
  • About

Monday Mixology: Lemon Balmer

4/11/2016

0 Comments

 
On Mondays, I do my grocery shopping for the week and I like to write up a Monday Mixology post.  Honestly, who doesn't need a drink on Monday?  
I usually mix something up in the afternoon and then write up the recipe while I drink it.  I would imagine if I look through the archives, the stiffest drinks likely include posts with the wittiest writing (or most typos).  This one is not a strong drink, though, so I'm enjoying my drink at noon without a worry.
Picture
This morning, I found this cute little lemon balm plant sneaking up out of the ground in my garden.  I planted the seeds this summer, and the plants grew and then didn't do great and died.  It's right next to my mint, which hasn't faded, even through winter, so I thought maybe this just isn't a good spot for lemon balm and I forgot about it.  But it's back, and I'm so pleased.  Lemon balm has a citrus-y flavor, like the name implies, but is also very herbaceous, almost like a citronella.  It grew wild all along the river at my grandfather's, and I associate the smell and flavor with calm, summer, and joy.  I love lemon balm essential oil, and use it especially when my anxiety is going a little haywire.  Why not mix it with booze, right?

When we moved to Texas a few years ago, I was introduced to the "Arnold Palmer" at a fancy movie theater and pub we used to go to.  If I didn't want booze (?!?!?!), I'd get soda sometimes, but I don't really like soda.  So one day, my husband suggested I get an "Arnold Palmer."  It sounded like an alcoholic drink, and said I wasn't feeling it, but he explained that it's just equal parts iced tea and lemonade.  I loved it.  In the south, everywhere you go has iced tea (usually already sweetened) and they all know what an Arnold Palmer is, so that became my non-alcoholic drink of choice.  Once I discovered Deep Eddy Sweet Tea Vodka, an alcoholic version became my favorite.  For a really strong drink, you can mix sweet tea vodka and lemon vodka and just pass out.

Anyway, I was thinking about my Monday Mixology and my lemon balm and saw my Lemon Balm tea out on the counter, and the Lemon Balmer was born.
Picture
Start with a STRONG tea.  I used two bags of lemon balm tea (herbal infusion, I know) in one cup hot water and let it steep a half hour or so, until the tea is mostly room temp.  

Pour your cooled strong lemon balm tea over about 1 cup ice and add 2 cups apple cider.  I chose a nice tart Crispin apple cider brewed with maple syrup, and it was very nice.  Via Barnivore, all Crispin's ciders are vegan unless they specify on the label that they use honey (they are very clearly labeled and I appreciate the transparency).  I topped with a few lemon balm leaves because I had them, but that's purely optional.

How do you fit that much in one cup?  Obviously you need these gorgeous green glass mason jars like I have.

Cheers!
0 Comments

Monday Mixology: Gingeroo with Mint

3/28/2016

0 Comments

 
Picture
Today isn't so much mixology as fancy serving, but it's still the perfect afternoon cocktail. Gingeroo was something I discovered when we moved to Louisiana and is probably not available elsewhere, so for the purpose of giving all my readers the option to try this, you could use a quality ginger ale, like Reeds,and a shot or two of rum. If you can get Gingeroo, though, try it!

Gingeroo is made with ginger juice, Louisiana cane sugar, and New Orleans Crystal rum. It's fizzy and boozy and is perfect poured over ice with some fresh mint!

its also fun to use this in place of ginger ale in a Moscow Mule with an extra kick!
Picture
0 Comments

Monday Mixology: Fizzy Bloody Mary LaCroixcktail

3/21/2016

0 Comments

 
Full disclosure, I'm half way through drinking this while I write, and I'm still not even sure I like it.  I think I do, though.  It's weird.

About a week ago I saw a recipe for fermented tomatoes on Facebook, and someone had commented, "Oh, those are great for making Bloody Marys, but they are fizzy." 

Fizzy Bloody Mary.  Fizzy Bloody Mary.  It's just been hanging out in my semi-consciousness taunting me.  It seemed like a good idea for a LaCroixcktail  (not sponsored).  So I tried it.  And I *think* I like it.  

*sip*

​Fizzy Bloody Mary... Still a bit weird to get past.
Picture
1 Tbsp tomato paste*
1 medium size tomato, chopped
1 Tbsp soy sauce (or Braggs Liquid Aminos)
Juice of 1 lemon
splash of Pepperocini or green olive juice (optional)
several dashes hot sauce (just shake it til you make it)
several dashes celery salt

Blend all these things until they are thick and liquid.

Pour over some ice (in a salted glass if that's your bag).

Add 2 oz vodka and top off glass with lime or lemon La Croix Sparkling water 


*When I open a can/jar of tomato paste, I put all my extra in a plastic bag and squeeze it into little portions by pressing the bag together in between each glob.  Then I freeze it.  That way I have about a Tbsp of tomato paste easily available when needed.  Otherwise the jar goes bad in the fridge after I've used the Tbsp that whatever recipe calls for.
0 Comments
    I wrote a children's book, How Our Vegan Family Celebrates, to help vegans and vegan allies know how to include vegans in their celebrations and give affirmation to vegan kids who may feel alone.  The book goes through holidays throughout the year and has a section at the back with parent tips!
    ​Order your copy here today!
    Follow me on Facebook and Instagram for even more tips, tricks, and fun!
    See what I'm pinning on Pinterest!
    Check out my YouTube Channel!

      Join mailing list!

    Subscribe to Newsletter
    Picture

    Author

    I love cooking and playing in the kitchen with my toys, so let me share that joy with you and your family to bring the FUN back into the kitchen!

    I am: a mom, a wife, a hippy, and a gardening enthusiast.

    I am not: a professional photographer, a nutritionist/doctor, skinny, or an electrician.

    All links to Amazon are affiliate links and help support my blog.

    Categories

    All
    Air Fryer
    Almond Meal
    Apple Sauce
    Aquafaba
    Avocado
    Avocado Mousse
    Baby Food
    Banana
    Banana Bread
    Beans
    Blender
    Bloody Mary
    Breakfast
    Broccoli
    Brown Rice
    Carrot Dogs
    Cashew Cheese
    Cashews
    Champion Juicer
    Chips
    Chocolate
    Chocolate Mousse
    Cider
    Cocktail
    Coconut Cream
    Coconut Milk
    Container Gardening
    Cookbook Review
    Cookie Scoop
    Cream Whipper
    Crinkle Cutter
    Crock Pot
    Cucumber
    Cultured Cashew Cheese
    Daiya
    Dandies
    Deviled Potatoes
    DIY
    Easter
    Easter Basket
    Easy Breakfast
    Eggplant
    Everything Bagel
    Falafel
    Fermentation
    Finding Vegan Restaurants
    Food Processor
    Fries
    Frozen Yogurt
    Garden
    Garden Gadget
    Garden Tower Project
    George Foreman Grill
    Gingeroo
    Gluten Free
    Gluten-free
    Gluten Free Vegan Pancakes
    Green Apple White Wine Sangria
    Green Beans
    Greens
    Griddle Pan
    Healthy School Lunch
    Herb Garden
    High Speed Blender
    Hummus
    Ice Cream Cake
    Ice Cream Maker
    Immersion Blender
    Inspiralizer
    Instant Pot
    Jackfruit
    Jackfruit Jerky
    Kale
    Kid-approved
    King Cake
    Kitchenaid Mixer
    La Croix
    La Croixcktail
    Lemon
    Lemon Balm
    Lemon Balmer
    Low-oil
    Lunch
    Mac And Cheese
    Magic Shell
    Maple Syrup
    Mardi Gras
    Mediterranean
    Monday Mixology
    Mother's Day
    Mushrooms
    Nicecream
    Nice Cream
    Oats
    Okra
    Organic Gardening
    Pancakes
    Pasta
    Peanut-free Lunch
    Pecans
    Pesto
    Planetbox
    Plant-based
    Popsicle Mold
    Potato Carrot Cheese
    Pressure Cooker
    Quick Meals
    Rainbow
    Rainbow Sherbet
    Ratatouille
    Rice Cooker
    Risotto
    Roasted
    Salad
    Salad Spinner
    Sangria
    Seasonal
    Slow Cooker
    Smoothies
    Soup
    Spiralizer
    Squeeze Station
    Stawberries
    St. Patrick's Day
    Strawberries
    Sushi
    Sweetened Condensed Coconut Milk
    Sweet Potatoes
    Taco Tuesday
    Takeout Takeout
    TBT
    Tea
    Throwback Thursday
    Tofu
    Tofu Scramble
    Tofutti Cream Cheese
    Tomatoes
    Tortilla Press
    Use Your Food Scraps
    Valentines
    Vegan
    Vegan Bacon
    Vegan Brunch
    Vegan Candy
    Vegan Caramel
    Vegan Cheese
    Vegan Chocolates
    Vegan Corned Beef
    Vegan Cream Cheese
    Vegan Easter
    Vegan Ice Cream
    Vegan Indian Food
    Vegan Jerky
    Vegan Kids
    Vegan King Cake
    Vegan Lunch
    Vegan Lunchbox
    Vegan Mac And Cheese
    Vegan Mardi Gras
    Vegan Mayonnaise
    Vegan Mother's Day
    Vegan Omelette
    Vegan Pancakes
    Vegan Pesto
    Vegan Tuna Noodle Casserole
    Vegan Valentines
    Vegan Whipped Cream
    Vegan Yogurt
    Veggie Noodles
    Vitamix
    Whipped Coconut Cream
    White Chocolate
    Yogurt
    Yogurt Pancakes
    Zaatar
    Zucchini

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.
  • Blog
  • Recipes by Gadget
  • My Pantry
  • Nutrition Research and Reading
  • About