Herb Infused Cocktail ~ Rosemary Smoke

 

With cold weather ahead for our Texas winter and this week being especially chilly, with even a bit of snow in the forecast, we have whipped up a tasty smoky drink for our herb infused cocktail of the month.  What makes the smoky flavor come out in this drink, is actually burning a little bit of rosemary into the glass you plan to serve your drink in.  I'm sure the flavor and strength of the smoke will be different based on how green your rosemary is.  Just use caution and be careful not to light your house on fire when preparing this drink.  Use a surface that is non-flammable and maybe some rosemary that is a little on the green side.  

Since ours was fresh cut, our rosemary proved to be a little difficult to light and gather smoke, but we managed to make it happen.  While you are preparing the drink, start off by capturing the smoke in the glass.  Light your rosemary and place on a non-flammable surface and top with serving glass.  This will hold in the smoke while you prepare your drink.  

Now I like a little tarter in my drink, so I used more lemon juice, so based on your flavor preference feel free to increase or decrease to fit your needs.  Our recipe is a starting point for your enjoyment.  We also used Jack Daniels as our whiskey today, but you could use a rye based, which will make for a different flavor in your drink.  

Rosemary Smoke

1 ounce Whiskey

3/4 ounce lemon juice

1/2 ounce rosemary simple syrup

splash of bubbly drink

Burn a little rosemary and cover with your serving glass.  In a shaker cup combine your whiskey, lemon juice and simple syrup.  Shake until the outside starts to condensate.  Flip your smoky cup oven and add in some ice.  Pour your drink over the ice and give it a little splash of a bubbly drink.  Garnish with a sprig of rosemary.

The bubbly drink you select can be your own as well.  Sweeter maybe go with a ginger beer.  A little drier club soda or tonic water.  We use some sparkling water, mostly because we always have that on hand. Now personally I do not enjoy the smoky smell of the drink when sipping, but the flavors together make for a delish drink of choice.

As a reminder we make our simple syrup from scratch.  This time be sure to add in a few springs of rosemary while cooking. One to one on the water to sugar and you have a great flavored syrup for your drink.

Mix and match to find your favorite way to serve this simple drink.  Enjoy with friends around the fire pit this winter and let us know how you like it.  As always enjoy your drink responsibly and have a designated driver.  Cheers!

Around Town ~ All Mixed Up

 

Change can be a catalyst to recovery and can lead you into a direction that has been traveled before. Our friends at All Mixed Up recently made a move back to Quitman to open up, a fresh retail space. Their new space is located at 108 East Goode Street in Quitman. Located right downtown just off the square, with easy walking distance to the rest of downtown Quitman. Their hours are Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday hours the same, possibly closing a little earlier, based on business.  You can always find out new information and get product updates on Facebook.

 

If you have ordered flowers from them before you can still do so. Their flower shop is still full service, with cute grab and go options in the shop. Lead time on flowers for a specific variety is 24 to 48 hours, but with designer choice flower arrangements have no lead time. You can still pick up your orders in Yantis, and they still have the same delivery area. You just have more options of items to purchase within a larger retail spot.

 

Mel has been arranging flowers for over twenty-five years, as well as plant and garden shop experience for over thirty years. She truly enjoys helping others in their time of need by adding comfort during a tragedy. Her goal is to make it easier for those who are experiencing hard times or tragedy.  Valentine’s Day is also a favorite.  It’s a day that is a lot of work but a lot of fun as well.

 

The new store front offers a variety of products. Graphic tees featuring musical groups, home decor, fresh flower arrangements, teas, candles and more. You can order company gift baskets for employees, good for holidays or celebrating birthdays. By far the favorite product she offers is Anna Candle. Homemade custom candles created in remembrance of her daughter.

 

When you come in your items can be gift wrapped for any occasion. Right now, Christmas is the most popular, but birthdays, valentines, and just because are always an option. Custom gift wrapping of your purchases adds that touch of class we all look forward to from a beautifully designed and curated boutique shop.

 

The next time you head down to Quitman, be sure to stop in at All Mixed Up. Do not forget you can also find them in Canton on First Monday’s.

Herb Infused Cocktail ~ Cranberry Rosemary Sparkle

 

               What a whirlwind this year has been.  We are just a few weeks away from the end of 2024 and the start of a New Year.  Before that happens, we have one more Cocktail of the Month to bring to you.  This month’s cocktail will be featured at multiple events, including our very first Santa at the Oaks event on December 15^th.  Bring your kids along to see the big guy and pass along their Christmas wishes.  Until then we have a great holiday drink to liven up your holiday party.

 

               I wanted to make sure we had a bit of bubbles and cranberry in our drink this year.  So there are multiple ways to make this tasty drink come to life for your holiday party.  We are mixing ours with a brut Champagne, but you can make it sweeter with a Prosecco sweet white wine.  And even make it into a mocktail, by using sparkling water.  That way everyone can enjoy this holiday drink at your festivities.

 

Cranberry Rosemary Sparkle

 

1 ounces Cranberry Juice

1 ounce Champagne

Dash of lime juice

Cranberry and rosemary to garnish

 

Drop in your cranberries into the bottom of your glass.  Squeeze in half a lime on top.  Add in Cranberry juice and Champagne.  Garnish with a sprig of rosemary and enjoy!

 

               I love this drink for its versatility for a group.  You can make it sweeter by changing the bubble option or even by making candied cranberries for the bottom of your glass.  The sugar coating the cranberries will bring out their sweetness and help your drink add a flare of the holiday spirit.  The bubbles add just the right level of excitement and effervescence to your drink.  We used frozen cranberries to help keep the drink cold, longer for maximum enjoyment.  Make this one your own for your next holiday event.  Your guests will be sure to love and enjoy the bubbles and flavors. 

 

               We hope you enjoy this holiday twist, and as always drink responsibly and have a designated driver.  Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays, Cheers!

Around Town ~ Landers Creek

 

               I was excited to see that Landers Creek has moved to a new location and has recently made an owner change.  They are now located at 218 B Main Street in Sulphur Springs, with the new owner Kinely Friddle in partnership with her fiancé Jake Armstrong.  Both are born and raised in Sulphur Springs and finished High School here and have extended their roots to owning a downtown business. 

 

               Lander’s Creek opened at their new location on October 12, and has regular business hours Tuesday – Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p. m.  With the holiday season right around the corner, look for extended hours on Friday and Saturday with them staying open until 7 p. m. and adding on Sunday from 1 p. m. to 4 p. m.  They are rebuilding their website right now, so be sure to follow them on social media at Landers Creek Outfitters on Facebook. 

 

               Kinely is excited to continue to offer men’s clothing for the boys and men in Sulphur Springs.  She has a cute line of little boy options for those younger men in your life and of course, hunting gear and casual men’s clothing.  Kinely continues to offer a wide selection of accessories for men such as great cups, hats, and TurtleBoxes. 

 

               As a relation to the original owners who started out Landers Creek, Kinely is happy to continue the tradition in town as a men’s clothing store owner.  Soon they will have their permit to sell guns and ammunition, as well has hunting licenses.  Landers Creek will soon be your one stop shop for hunting needs.  The waders are hung, and the décor sets the tone for everyone to stop in and grab the perfect gift for the men in your life. 

 

               They even offer locally made candles that have scents designed for men.  What a great way to tick off your holiday season list of gift giving, than to help the home smell wonderful, with a locally made product.  Be on the lookout for Black Friday Specials the day after Thanksgiving and other holiday sales. 

 

               It was great to visit with Kinely and learn more about her drive for keeping Landers Creek alive and going in Sulphur Springs.  They are once again carrying the Sulphur Springs coffee line, named after many of the streets located downtown.  Stop in and say hello and help support this young entrepreneur in her endeavors to clothe and supply the men in town with quality clothing and hunting gear. 

Herb Infused Cocktail ~ Rosemary Apple Cider Margarita

 

    I was recently asked to make a cocktail for a special event at Craver's Community Garden in Sulphur Springs.  Their annual Empty Bowls fundraiser will be held on Thursday, November 7 and since they are serving Pozole I decided a fall twist on the classic margarita was in order.  Empty Bowls is held to bring awareness of food insecurities in our area and to raise funds for a local food bank that serves members in our community.  From 5:30 - 8 p. m. at 420 W. Park Street in Sulphur Springs, you can stop by to enjoy our cocktail, some delicious soup and see for yourself a wonderful community space in action.  

    Empty Bowls closes out the year at Craver's for the season before they reopen in the Spring to help serve the community by growing produce for the food bank and hosting community events for children and adults alike.  The goal is to raise enough money to purchase the food bank a fridge to hold fresh produce during the growing season.  You can grab yourself a bowl for $20, and go home with a beautifully decorated bowl made by the Sulphur Springs High School art department, or you can bring in a bag of shelf stable food to donate to the food pantry and enjoy a bowl of soup as well.  

    Let's get to the good stuff.  I'm sure you have already guessed by now that instead of doing a lime based mix we are going to use Apple Cider as the base for our margarita.  The quantity I'm listing for is for two or three drinks depending on you glass size. 

Rosemary Apple Cider Margarita

3/4 cup apple cider

1/2 cup Tequila

1/4 cup Grand Marnier

1/2 cup lime juice

brown sugar to rim the glass

sprig of rosemary

Mix the apple cider, tequila, Grand Marnier, and lime juice together in a pitcher.  Rub a lime wedge around the glass and dip into the brown sugar.  Fill the cup with ice and top with the mixed drink.  Garnish with Rosemary.  You can also choose to garnish with apple slice or a cinnamon stick.  

    Make this drink your own.  If you like it a little more tangy keep it the way it is.  If you prefer to have a sweeter Margarita then add a teaspoon or two of agave nectar.  I like to use an apple cider that looks like it had been homemade. Therefore, you have to shake it or stir often because the spices settle to the bottom.  Believe it or not the apple flavor is not overwhelming, and it's a great fall twist to a classic drink.  

    Stop by on November 7 at Craver's Community Garden to try it out or book a stay at The Oaks to test the drink for yourself on our back deck.  Remember to drink responsibly and always have a designated driver.  Cheers!

In the Garden ~ Iris Dividing

 

We have been at the Oaks Bed and Breakfast for just over seven years and our garden has evolved over that time as well. One of the first items we planted were irises. Which happens to be my favorite flower, so you can see why they ended up on the short list for planting.

 

In that time, we have added irises all over the yard. We keep trying different locations to see which ones do the best and where. We have multiple varieties of blooms that come up each year and every new bloom is just as beautiful as the last one. Now it’s time to split our plants and move or combine them with others. It might be a little late in the year to split but I feel like they should still thrive after replanting. Since the end of our summer is still so hot and the ground is still pretty warm, I think any splitting done now should still create new plants wherever planted.

 

Iris should be split every three to five years for optimal growth. Some of ours are on year six and some are at around four. I would say it’s time. I used a pitchfork to stir up my rhizomes for ease of splitting. You just have to be careful not to pierce or split them too early. It’s best to split with your hand instead of a tool.

 

Once your clump of rhizomes is out, it’s time to separate into individual plants. I also trimmed the leaves at this time to help with replanting. I plan to share or replant my unearthed rhizomes with others and will probably keep the ones that other experts say to toss in the compost, such as those without any leave growth. Why not try them all to see what does the best. Be sure to check for rot once removed from the ground. You do not want to introduce harm to other plants or other irises when replanting.

 

When you are ready to replant your bounty, is a great time to amend the soil for optimal growth. Keep in mind that your replanting might not produce flowers the first year.  Have no fear, they should grow beautiful blooms in subsequent years. Be sure to plant in sunny spots, where they can get about six hours of sun. Irises have proved to be drought tolerant and work great in our area. Plant about 12-14 inches apart so they have room to spread out, or closer if that is the look you are going for. With blooms should begin to show in early to Mid-April and lasting until the first part of May.

 

While the blooms do not last long they do create lovely burst of color throughout your garden earlier in the year. I love it when they stack their blooms on a single stem they are just beautiful. If you are looking to add to your irises and have some to share be sure to let us know. We would love to add new colors and varieties to our garden. We have plenty to share.

Travel ~ Maine Fall Colors

 

Fall is one of my favorite seasons and I was so happy to have the chance to visit Maine, to see some fall colors and of course our daughter.  Not one to waste an opportunity, we visited Arcadia National Park to check out some of the beautiful fall foliage around Maine.  We were not the only people to have this great idea.  Once parking was secured, we were able to take a nice walk around the lake and check out some of the beautiful fall colors. 

 

               There were people walking, riding bikes and even horseback riding throughout the park.  With a seven-day pass, you could definitely take advantage of seeing the color from many different vantage points.  Since we only had one day to visit the park, we took advantage of the easy hike around the largest lake on the peninsula to see the colors and take in the fresh air.

 

               Arcadia is close to Bar Harbor which many people use it as their city to stay while making a visit to the area.  With dining, shopping and sights to see, visitors are not short on things to do when visiting the area.  Fall was in full swing when we were in Maine, so it was the perfect time to see the colors and check out different things to do and new places eat.

 

               Besides the joy of seeing some beautiful colors, we had the chance to catch up with our oldest and watch two of her college soccer games live and in person.  What a difference being in person makes when following the team.  We now have a better idea of who is on the field and how they play, so that way when we yell at the TV, we know we have the right name.  Which is important since they can totally hear what we are saying.  Truly it was great to see her play in person and nice to meet the new players.

 

               Of course, we cannot forget that she is trying to recruit her brother to join her in Maine, so he had a chance to tour the school and attend some classes to see if his journey will be towards the East Coast as well.  Time will tell what he decides to do, but now he has a frame of reference for what she talks about when he is considering his decision.  I still do not know where he will end up.  However, I do have a feeling that the weather will also lead a little into his decision. 

 

               We all enjoyed our time together in Maine, and I know the rest of our kids cannot wait for their turn to go East and see their sister play soccer or just have the chance to visit, where she goes to school.  If you happen to be taking a journey to the East Coast and find yourself close to Castine, feel free to catch up with Isabelle, she would love to help show you around and have some visitors. 

 

               Plan your trip well, since some of the smaller more intimate places to stay, close for the season during winter.  Be sure to check your dates and plan your trip to see the fall colors, or experience a cooler summer along the Maine coast.