Herb Infused Cocktail ~ Old Fashioned

 

    March is right around the corner and we are celebrating the month with a classic Whiskey drink, the Old Fashioned.  Since we are making this for the Oaks Bed and Breakfast, our drink would not be complete without an herb resting on the side, and what better herb than rosemary to bring out the flavor of the whiskey. Once again we used one of our favorite whiskeys, from Teeling Irish Whiskey.

    The Old Fashioned is thought to originate around the early  1800's and were further adapted in later years.  The "“old-fashioned cocktails” referred to a general style before becoming synonymous with a particular drink," according to the website www.provi.com.  You can read their full article about the history on the link.  Basically consumers were not familiar with the term cock-tail, and soon found that ordering these mixed drinks proved to be a new way to consume some of their favorite whiskeys and bourbons.

    The Old Fashioned was born and still lives on today as a classical way to enjoy these libations. 

The Old Fashioned 

2 ounces Whiskey

1 bar spoon cherry syrup

1 bar spoon simple syrup

2-3 dashes of bitters

Orange peel

Bourbon Cherry

Rosemary sprig

Mix together your drink in a tumbler filled with a large ice cube or in a mixing cup.    You can mix in the glass you plan to serve your drink in or mix in a separate cup then pour over your ice.  Add all liquid ingredients together.  Garnish with orange peel, rosemary and cherry.  Enjoy!

    This drink is simplistic in the ingredients that it uses, while having a fantastic mix of complex tastes.  The perfect way to finish your night by the fire or watching the sunset.  As always please drink responsibly and have a designated drive. Cheers!

In the Garden ~ GMO Tomatoes, Yes or No?

 

The Purple Tomato has deep purple flesh. Traditional breeders have grown tomatoes with purple skin before but not with this tone in the flesh.

Raven Villar/Boise State Public Radio

    How do you feel about genetically modified organisms, or more commonly referred to GMO plants and seeds?  While listening to NPR, National Public Radio, the other day on the way to afternoon school pick up, I heard a story about a new type of tomato that has been modified with snapdragon DNA.  This new purple tomato is the first GMO plant that will be made available to home gardeners. Previously any seeds created as a GMO were only available to commercial growers, so this new tomato variety could be the start of something new for home gardens.

    The purple tomato was developed with snapdragon genes in order to enhance the color and create a plant with "Anthocyanins have been shown to have anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory effects. They're antioxidants, which can help neutralize unstable molecules in the body that can damage healthy cells and are linked with aging and disease."  These new tomatoes have the same amount of anthocyanins as a blueberry or eggplant according to the scientist who developed them.

    It still begs the question on whether or not you would grow or eat this new hybrid of tomato. Do the health benefits out weigh the science behind this new nightshade?  Or will this development go by the way of corn and soybeans in the United States and be thought of as damaging to our land and resources?  Could all these GMO foods be the reason there is a rise in food allergies in the population?  How about an increase in other diseases or cancer?  In the past GMO foods have also been thought to have been seen as having a loss of nutrition.  The new purple tomato is claiming the opposite is true by having more antioxidants than its cousins. 

amblerfarm.org

    These new tomatoes are claiming that their genes have an increase of healthy cells made for human consumption.  One of my favorite tomatoes that we grow are called Cherokee Purple, and they have a nice deep purple colors as well, but not as dark as the modified ones. Those seeds can be found as an heirloom tomato seed, thought to have first originated from the Cherokee Indians in 1890. 

    The question still stands, would you grow new GMO purple tomatoes if given the chance?  Or will you stick with the old stand by of the seeds that you know and love from those that you saved or buy new?  Let us know what will be growing in your garden this Spring and Summer.

Travel ~ Creekhaven Inn and Spa Wimberley, Texas

 

    

The Oaks Bed and Breakfast, keeps me pretty busy and in town most of the time.  Recently I had the chance to take a short business trip down to Wimberley, Texas and it was so lovely.  I wish that I had a little more time to explore the area, to go wine or whiskey tasting.  What I did see and explore was worth the drive, even for meetings. 

               It never does cease to amaze me at how diverse the landscape is in Texas.  From the Piney Woods, to the desert, Texas almost has every landscape a person could desire.  It might take a few hours to do so, but the change from East Texas’ tall trees and grass that blends to mesquite and shrub brush, helps to distinguish Texas from other states.  Once I made it to Wimberly, I stayed with my group at Creekhaven Inn and Spa.  Their property is just beautiful! 

               It sits back from a flowing creek and has two buildings for guests to select from while planning their stay.  Do not forget to book your spa appointment while visiting.  They offer a range of spa packages for you to take advantage of during your stay.  They offer yoga on Saturday’s and have plenty of mats and blocks for guests to use if you did not happen to bring your own. 

               The rooms are well appointed for guest stays, with everything you might need for your visit.  A gas fireplace, in room coffee or tea service, a fridge for leftovers or cold drinks and lovely local bath products.  Each room is an experience in and of itself, so make your selection and relax in comfort for the duration of your stay. 

               On our second day after meetings, we made our way to downtown Wimberley to explore, shop and dine.  Their downtown is made up of cute little buildings that have a myriad of shopping options for everyone.  Women’s clothing, kitchenware, candy store, a store with handmade arts and crafts made by seniors in the community and so much more.  There are a few different places to enjoy your meals, besides breakfast at Creekhaven.  We ordered in from Wimberley Café, enjoyed Tex-Mex for lunch and had woodfired pizza to share.  There were more options to try than that, but time was short.  My favorite was the woodfired pizza.  I’m a big fan of mushrooms on pizza and they had a perfectly paired mushroom, burrata cheese, and arugula pizza that was amazing. 

               I did get a chance to walk along the creek close to the property and explore a little bit of nature.  Play at your own risk. It was a lovely space to commune and grab some images of the creek.  Be mindful of the weather and water levels, especially during the rainy season.  If the weather and water had been a bit warmer, I might have tested the water just a bit more.  But it was a little cool for my taste, so I stayed out and explored the bank.  In the morning deer could be seen all around the property and must be why they express the need to keep the gates closed by the Inn.  Take some time to explore Wimberley and be sure to book your stay at Creekhaven Inn and Spa, the longest running bed and breakfast in Wimberley.  I’m sure you will return relaxed and rejuvenated.

Herb Infused Cocktail ~ Gin Sage Paloma

 

    What a month it has been, and I felt like it might never end.  Why does January always seem to take so long to come to its conclusion?  At long last we have made it and now it's time for another new herb infused cocktail from the Oaks Bed and Breakfast, by the Tipsy Oak Lounge. 

    We did a twist on a classic Tequila drink and made it with Gin instead and let me tell you it does not disappoint.  The sweet and sour of the grapefruit mix well with the Gin in this paloma to make a smooth and refreshing drink. 

    The one thing I think I will do differently from my video is make my simple syrup a sage infused simple syrup.  Sage has a great smokey flavor and with just muddling I did not feel that alone brought it out enough.  However, adding it to the syrup would do wonders, along with a little more grapefruit juice.  A one-to-one ratio on the grapefruit to Gin I think would be best.  This is going to look like a little more juice or less Gin.  

Gin Sage Paloma

1.5 ounces Gin

1.5 ounces Grapefruit juice

1/2 ounce sage simple syrup

Splash of Club Soda or Sparkling Water

In a shaker cup muddle some sage at the bottom.  Fill with ice.  Add in all liquid except Soda or Sparkling Water.  Give it a good shake.  Pour into a salt rimmed glass, top it off with Club Soda or Sparkling Water, and garnish with grapefruit slice and sage. 

    This is a great drink to have on any day of the week and can of course be made into a mocktail by excluding the gin and adding more Sparkling Water.  Be sure to stop by the Tipsy Oak Lounge to enjoy your herb infused cocktail.  As always please drink responsibly and have a designated driver.