Herb Infused Cocktail ~ Spicy Grapefruit Margarita

 

Over here at The Oaks bed and breakfast, we love a good margarita, and often the spicier the better.  This month we are bringing to your bar, a Spicy Grapefruit Margarita that is paired with a jalapeno and lemon basil. 

 

               We kicked up the spice a bit by zesting the jalapeno to create more kick with this summer special, and the garnish with the lemon basil just adds a little kick of citrus to an already delicious drink.  Another key component to this drink is to use only fresh squeezed juice.  Juice that grapefruit and lime directly into your shaker cup, when mixing this delightful drink. 

 

               Of course, you can dial up your sweetness and spice by adding more honey or jalapeno or less.  Make this drink your own and enjoy it with friends.  You can even make it a mocktail by removing the tequila and orange liquor.  I would splash in some nonalcoholic  orange bitters to grab that flavor and an additional amount of grapefruit juice to help fill the glass. 

 

Spicey Grapefruit Margarita

Serving size 2 drinks 

½ cup fresh squeezed grapefruit juice

3 TBLS fresh squeezed lime juice

2 TBLS agave or honey

3 oz white tequila

2 oz orange liquor

Salt to rim the glass

Lemon basil for garnish

 

Before you mix your drink prepare your glass.  Rub a lime wedge or grapefruit wedge around the glass and then salt with your favorite option.  Take all your liquid ingredients and pour into a shaker cup that has been filled with ice.  Vigorously shake your drink to mix together.  Then pour it over your salted, ice filled glass.  Garnish with grapefruit, lemon basil, lime or jalapeno slices.

 

               Make this drink your own and mix it up with different bases to find the one you like the best.  Increase the sweetness as you desire or decrease to make your drink more tart.  Mix in additional jalapeno for extra spice or remove it to eliminate all spice.  Either way, this drink will be a summer favorite for sure.

 

               As always please drink responsibly by having a designated driver.  We hope you will let us know if you make this cocktail and tell us which you like it the best.  Cheers!

Around Town ~ Farmer's Market

 

               Have you ever been to either of the famer’s markets that are close to Sulphur Springs?  We took a couple of Saturdays to check them out and let you know which one is our favorite.  Greenville and Winnsboro both have vibrant farmer’s markets where you can find unique items and handmade goodies for your whole family to enjoy. 

 

               We started out in Winnsboro and really enjoyed our visit there.  The market offers one long, covered area where vendors from the area are there to share their love of homemade and home-grown goodness with others.  Canned goods, homemade bread, meat and fresh grown vegetables dress the tables just waiting for someone to stop by and take them home.  Farm fresh eggs, and sourdough are offered, along with locally grown mushrooms that were full of flavor and deliciousness. 

 

               One of our new found favorite vendors is a fresh pasta maker.  All kinds of pasta are available for purchase.  Stuffed pasta, noodles, and even sauce are offered.  Such a wonderful selection and a must buy when shopping at the Winnsboro farmer’s market. 

 

               Other unique vendors, such as homemade hot sauce and unique jelly’s can be found at the farmer’s market.  A few vendors have made handmade jewelry and kitchen items like hot pads and oven mitts.  I love to see the fresh vegetable options that are grown with care and harvested for customers to enjoy at home.

 

               The Greenville farmer’s market is similar to Winnsboro but offered some different choices for fresh vegetables.  The mung beans and sprouts were a new choice and a wonderful option for guests who are looking for something different to add to meals.  Fresh melon, vegetables, and eggs are also offered in Greenville. One stand had an entire table of okra.  Such a great summer vegetable that is prolific.

 

               Greenville offered a little more in the handmade jewelry and t-shirt options so depending on if you are looking for those or vegetables, either farmer’s market can have something for everyone.  We prefer those markets that have more fresh vegetables than those that offer handmade jewelry and clothing. 

 

               Both markets had fresh homemade bread and a variety of fresh grown vegetables and fruit for guests to bring home.  Each vibe was a little different, Greenville was a little more tight and chaotic while Winnsboro seemed to be more open.  I’m sure that is all due to how the vendors set up at each  market. 

 

               Grab some friends and take an early morning adventure to either market, you will leave satisfied.  Farmer’s markets are a great way to support local farmers and feed your family fresh grown or homemade goodness.  With each market located in the downtown community, after your visit you can shop or dine at local restaurants.

In the Garden ~ Fall Planting

 

               Believe it or not it’s time to start thinking about your fall garden.  I know we are in the thick of summer and it seems like those 90 plus degree days will never end but fall will be here before you know it.  You won’t want to miss out on getting your garden fall ready.

 

               One of our favorite vegetables to plant for the fall is greens.  All the greens, to make big, beautiful, healthy salads.  Plus, we tend to plant hardy greens, that cook well, so that adds versatility to your garden and what you grow.  A few of our favorite greens to plant for the fall garden is spinach, arugula, kale and bok choy. A mix of varieties and flavors makes cooking more fun as well as treating your palette to a variety of flavors for the fall.

              

               Another favorite that could also be considered a green is cabbage.  While cabbage might take little longer to grow, 60-90 days until mature, it will withstand colder temperatures if your area gets an early cold snap.  There are choices to be made when growing cabbage as well.  Are you an all green type of grower or do you like to mix it up with purple cabbage?

 

Time to close up the head

               Broccoli is another great choice for a fall garden.  Broccoli really tends to thrive in cooler temperatures, such as 65-75 degrees but will get started while it’s still a little warmer. Maybe start those seeds inside where the climate is a bit cooler than outside and transfer when you have a strong seedling started.  A little tip I learned is to snip off the first heads as baby broccoli and that should yield to larger heads at the finish.

 

               Along with broccoli, cauliflower is another great fall vegetable to plant.  Now cauliflower tends to be a little more picky about the temperature in which it grows, so plant those a little later when you can be assured of cool temperatures for this temperamental plant.  Afterall, you do not want it to bolt before you produce heads. Once the heads start to grow, if you pull the leaves over top, the heads are protected from the sun and heat, and will grow to a beautiful white color.

 

               If you loved your peas in the spring, bring them back for the fall.  Fall peas taste just as yummy and crisp as those spring peas. Plus, who doesn’t love to just pluck them from the vine and enjoy while picking the rest of the vegetables.

 

               Carrots are another great option to plant in the fall.  Add these into the ground directly among your other plants and they will thrive in the fall.  After all carrots love tomatoes, so sprinkle in around your already growing tomatoes and see what comes up.

 

               A quick growing vegetable is the radish.  Succession plant these every two weeks to have fresh radish for your salad or as a garnish all throughout the fall.  By planting a new set every couple of weeks ensures you have new plants started when harvesting the first batch. 

 

               Beets are probably best known for being grown in the fall garden.  So many wonderful varieties are available for growers that you are bound to discover one you love.  They are even more versatile since you can eat the root and the tops, so nothing goes to waste when you grow beets in your fall garden.  These colorful root vegetables are a great addition to add in nutritious food choices to your daily diet. Beets are hardy after picking, if kept in a cool dry space.

 

               If you have never eaten celery grown fresh from the garden, you are missing out.  The taste is so much better than anything you can buy in the store.  Since celery can be used in so many different ways, you cannot go wrong with adding this to your fall garden.  While it does take a bit longer to mature 90 to 120 days, it will really start to produce when the temperatures drop. 

 

               While there are a myriad of choices and varieties to plant in your garden for the fall, do not let time slip away before you get started.  If you do not have a lot of space find out what goes well together and use the same pot for multiple plants.  Everyone can access fresh, grown produce with a little bit of effort. 

Travel ~ Mineral Wells, Texas and The Magpie Inn

     

   Mineral Wells, Texas boasts the home of Crazy Water.  The story goes that a woman who was suffering from her mind failing, came to Mineral Wells and drank the healing waters and recovered.  Thus, Crazy Water was born.  There are four levels of Crazy water to choose from, based on the mineral content.  One being the lowest amount to four being the highest amount.  No matter where you go in town you are bound to experience Crazy Water.  While I was there, I tried number two and felt that by itself, it had too much mineral flavor but with food, it evened out to have a "regular" water flavor.  When you plan your stay, be sure to check out the Crazy Water to discover your favorite and see if it helps you to feel better mentally.

 

    Of course, during my visit, I had to check out the downtown area of Mineral Wells.  It was a short walk from the Magpie Inn, where I stayed the night.  While making my way downtown I saw quite a few murals on the exterior of the buildings and just loved the different images they portrayed.  Murals are such an easy way to incorporate art into your downtown area that can also be a draw for people to visit.  Hint, hint City of Sulphur Springs. 

 

    I decided to step into one of the shops which ended up leading me to four different shops.  It was pretty cool how they were all connected and just flowed from one to the other.  There was a little eatery in one of spots.  Here you could order sandwiches or salads, along with some fresh meat, pasta and sauces as well.  It was cute little spot to enjoy lunch, grab something you might be missing for dinner, to a souvenir to take home and enjoy later. 

 

    One of the staple shops of Downtown Mineral Wells sports a two-story building that literally has something for everyone.  From olive oil to balsamic vinegars, housewares, kids clothes, and even something for the men in your life.  The Market has a little bit of everything, including a cocktail and coffee bar for guests to enjoy while they shop or just to sit awhile and enjoy. 

 

    I even managed to make my way to the brewery, Rickhouse Brewing, that is located downtown in the same building as the Crazy Water Hotel.  I tried a flight of beers and did not find one that I didn't like.  Each one was unique and with a story that resonated with the brewery, creating a history for why they brew the beer and the name given.  Their brew space is right where guests can see it all and I was really impressed with the quality and quantity of beers that they create in the space allotted to them.  You can regularly find musical groups playing at the brewery and a good conversation if that is what you are looking for.  Be sure to ask about the beer stories while you are there and of course find your favorite.

 

    My favorite part of my visit was staying at The Magpie Inn.  This Chef owned and operated inn is a short walk from the center of downtown and is a lovely getaway for couples.  Select from five rooms and enjoy a group breakfast or an in-room breakfast during your stay.  Be sure to look for Waldo, the tortoise, during your stay.  He is definitely part of the Inn experience.  Each room is designed with your comfort in mind and is welcomed retreat during a visit to Mineral Wells. 

 

    If you are visiting family or just looking for a getaway you can't go wrong with a stop in Mineral Wells.  There is plenty to do and see during your visit, and of course wonderful places to stay, eat and drink.  Explore Clark Gardens or hop on over to the lake or take a tour of local wineries or a history tour.  Don't forget to grab a bottle of Crazy Water and find out which level you like the best. 

Herb Infused Cocktail ~ Limoncello Mojito

    

     I don't know about you, we have an abundance of mint.  We have regular spearmint, peppermint and one other variety that I cannot for the life of me remember the name.  Needless to stay, our mint is prolific and oh so yummy.  We use it in a variety of ways, a lot of Asian inspired dishes, garnish for salads and of course mixed drinks.  

    Mint is so versatile and easy to grow that if you have a spot in your yard that needs a good ground cover, add it in and see what happens.  Mint grows really well and spreads better than almost any other ground cover.  So if you do not want your mint to overtake your yard, be sure to plant it in a pot.

    I chose this Limoncello Mojito as our cocktail this month. The use of the mint and lemons, just seem so cheery and summery, that I could not have picked a better option.  Who doesn't like a bit of summer color in your drink?

    This one is easy to mix for your personal drink or as a big group.  Use your multiplication skills to make that big batch cocktail happen.  My secret to a great tasting cocktail this month is the simple syrup.  I didn't just use any old simple syrup.  I snagged some of my son's, lemon simple syrup to mix into this drink.  

    The added citrus flavor of the lemon simple syrup is just too good to pass up.  It really helps to bring the flavors together and make a drink worth sipping on.  

Limoncello Mojito

Serving size 1

6-8 fresh mint leaves

1 ounce white rum

1 ounce Limoncello lemon liqueur

1 TBLS lemon simple syrup

1/2 tsp. lime juice

top of with club soda or sparkling water

First muddle your mint leaves in the bottom of a shaker cup.  Once the oils have released and you can really smell the fresh mint, add in your ice.  Once the ice has been added, pour in your rum, Limoncello, simple syrup, and lime juice.  Give the cup a vigorous shake.  Pour over an ice filled glass and then top of with sparkling water.  Garnish with fresh mint and a slice of lime. 

    This drink is sure to wow all your rum drinkers.  Simple, refreshing and full of summer flavor.  Make a batch today to share with friends.  As always please drink responsibly and have a designated driver. Cheers!

In the Garden ~ Sunflowers

 

 

               If you have recently driven by The Oaks Bed and Breakfast, and caught sight of our garden, you will easily be able to see that we love flowers.  All kinds of flowers are in bloom right now and we cannot seem to get enough.  Today for “In the Garden” I wanted to focus on the Sunflowers.  Now I’m the first to admit that when we planted these beauties the first year I thought they were going to be these beautiful, three foot tall or so  flowers that we could use to do cut flower arrangements for the rooms.  Never in my wildest dreams did I think they would grow to be what they are today. 

 

               I’m sure a lot of their height and proliferation is due to cross pollination.  After all the pollinating insects love our flowers.  You can find bees, butterflies and other winged insects flying around the garden finding all the best places to gather up pollen and spread that goodness around.  Our sunflowers have taken on a life of their own and I can only hope that they continue to do amazing as the years progress.

 

               This year I was a little more intentional with my flowers, believe it or not, and actually planted some new varieties.  Alas, I only see one new variety growing this year, and I partially think that is due to a huge rain that happened right after planting.  I think the water washed the beds out a little too much and then the birds swooped in to claim the uncovered seeds.

 

               Needless to say, the majority of our blooms are return plants from self-seeding.  We still have a few varieties that growing, I just wish from previous years, I had labeled them a little better when saving seeds from the heads.   This year, I will be much more intentional with my system for seed saving so that I can produce a larger variety of blooms for guests and neighbors to enjoy. 

 

               Sunflowers have a short growing season each year, right at about 2-3 months.  As you watch them grow you can see how the heads follow the sun throughout the day.  Nature is truly amazing to watch and experience at how it adapts and changes as time progresses.  So much so, that once the heads are fully developed they will face down and east permanently to protect the seeds from solar radiation. 

 

               Since their growing season is so quick you can direct sow seeds every few weeks to ensure you have flowers all season long and into the fall.  Many people who have pastures can plant sunflowers to attract wildlife such as dove, to prepare for hunting season later in the year.  Sun flowers provide food for wildlife and pollinators alike throughout the dryer summer months, and can help support your actual garden that you use for food.

 

               You can grow a variety of sunflowers in your garden depending on what you are looking to support.  Cut flowers have been engineered to not leave any messy pollen behind and come in a variety of colors.  The size of the heads vary from 3 inches to 12 inches depending on the type of flower.  One of the best things about growing sunflowers is their ability to return macronutrients to the soil. 

               Some of the varieties that we have are Honey Bear sunflowers, that have more petals in the center than traditional sunflowers.  Three of our traditional sunflowers are Chocolate Gold, Little Becka, and Strawberry Blond among others.  Our smallest producing flower is the Mexican Sunflower, that blooms out a beautiful reddish orange bloom.  These are prolific and I secretly want to spread them along the roadside of county roads to help increase the pollinator population.

 

               If you have never tried to grow sunflowers before, just toss some seeds out or get a bird feeder along with feed that has black oil sunflowers in the mix.  Move it around your yard and see what pops up.  You will not be disappointed in your sunflower production.

Herb Infused Cocktail ~ Cucumber Watermelon Gin and Tonic

    What says summer better than fresh cut watermelon?  How about combining it with some home grown cucumbers from the garden, and add a sprig of mint.  You have a great, refreshing summer cocktail or mocktail.  This one is easy to make as either one.  

    Now you might be wondering how to get that great watermelon flavor into your drink.  It's easy, cube it up and blend until there are no more chunks.  The longer part in this process is going to be straining the liquid from the left over pulp.  At least it was for us since, our strainer has pretty small holes, just enough for the liquid to pass through. I would not skip this step, since it helps to make the drink so much smoother.

    All of the ingredients are pretty simple and straight forward.  Everything is fresh and can come directly from your garden.  All except for the gin, since that might be easier to purchase.   Never fear, a garden is not a requirement on this drink.  It's just another tool in your belt that you can use to help you know where your food comes from.  

    After you blend your watermelon up it's as easy as pouring the rest into your pitcher.  This drink is made in a big batch for all your friends to enjoy at the summer bar-b-que or book club.  In my video I did make it a single drink so use those math skills and reduce or expand to make this drink for the number of people you are looking to serve. 

Cucumber Watermelon Gin and Tonic (serves 8)

8 cups of watermelon cubed and blended

4 ounces fresh lime juice (about 4 limes)

1 cup Gin

1 cup thin sliced cucumber

1 TBLS Agave or honey

1/2 cup mint leaves

1 cup tonic water (optional)

Cut and blend up your watermelon.  Cut and squeeze your limes.  I double squeeze mine.  Place in the juicer skin down, squeeze.  Then fold over and squeeze again. Add in the remaining ingredients of Gin, lime, honey, cucumber, and mint. You can add the tonic at this point if you are ready to serve.  If not serving immediately hold off until you are.  You don't want the bubbles to fade away. 

    You can make your pitcher look extra beautiful by including the cucumber and mint directly in there.  I would also add lime slices and watermelon slices for a little extra flare in the cup.  I lined my cup with the cucumber and placed a small sliver of watermelon at the bottom of the glass.  You can "decorate" your glass however you desire.  

    Your friends and family will thank you for creating this drink for any occasion.  It's like summer in a glass.  As always please drink responsible and have a designated driver. Cheers!