Blackberry Cream Soda

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Blackberry Cream Soda

The Cream Soda has long been one of my favorite cocktails. Such basic ingredients, and it tastes so darn good. I remember being shocked by how much the simple combination of Capt. Morgan’s, ginger ale, and fresh lime tasted exactly like a cream soda. You remember, those sodas from your childhood that no one else would drink? They were always the last thing floating in the cooler of ice, long after all the Cokes had been picked out. But, this one definitely isn’t for the kids…

I recently tried a bottle of Captain Morgan’s newest release, their Black Spiced Rum. It’s darker and bolder than the “OG” – but everything you love about the traditional spiced rum is still there. Notes of molasses, vanilla, and cinnamon. And smooth! An absolutely wonderful rum.

I think it’s safe to say we’ve all had a few nights “sailing away with the Captain”, and this is definitely a drink that makes it easy to do. Since I was using the Black rum, I thought it would be fun to add another “black” twist – in the form of blackberries. They added a gorgeous hue and a little pucker that I loved! But still completely tasted like a cream soda.

It’s only Monday, but I’m already looking forward to the weekend. Memorial Day is the official start of summer here at the beach, and we are all ready for it to begin!

Blackberry Cream Soda

1.5 ounces Captain Morgan Spiced Rum
3 ounces ginger ale
1 tsp blackberry puree*
1 lime, juiced
lime wedges
ice

Fill a glass with ice. Add rum, ginger ale, 1 tsp lime juice, and blackberry puree. Stir with spoon to combine. Garnish with a wedge of lime.

* To make blackberry puree, combine 1/2 cup fresh blackberries with 1 tsp. granulated sugar in a food processor. Blend until smooth, then push through a fine-mesh strainer to remove large pieces of pulp and seeds.

Pink Moscato Sangria + Giveaway

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Pink Moscato SangriaI hope everyone is busy planning their Mother’s Day festivities! Whether your the lady being celebrated, or are lucky enough to be celebrating with your mom this year – I think there’s one thing most ladies in your life could use: a lovely cocktail that includes lots of fresh berries this Mother’s Day! One of my favorite wines to drink in the summer months are Moscatos – and I’ve been seeing more and more of them pop up on the shelves these days. They are light and fruity, and if they’re good  – not to sweet.

One of my favorites is Bello Boy, a Moscato infused with rose petals to give it a distinct flavor, and a gorgeous shade of rose. It’s delicious, light & complex at the same time. The man behind it is Jaime Laurita, a well-known chef who’s worked with many notable people and artists in his culinary career. Incidentally, he also happens to be of the Real Housewives of New Jersey’s Laurita crew, which I’ve made no secret is a guilty pleasure. He’s got a couple bubbly wines under his label now, as well as some other wonderful Italian products – top notch olive oils and dried pastas to name a few.

The sangria comes together in a snap, and just gets better as it sits and the flavors mingle. I went with a berry theme – choosing strawberries, raspberries, and blueberries. But really, any combo of fruit would be wonderful. Looking forward to fresh peaches from the orchard down the street, they’ll be a wonderful addition.

And to celebrate Mother’s Day, I thought it would be fun to have a giveaway! For the past couple months or so, I’ve totally been crushing on the folks over at Hen House Linens. They’re based right here in Maryland, and their selection of fun, colorful prints is out of this world. Any fellow food bloggers will know what I mean when I say “kid in a candy store”. They’ve been so kind to offer an adorable cocktail apron to one lucky winner. All you need to do is comment below answering the question: What are your plans for this Mother’s Day weekend? I’m looking forward to spending time with all my guys. And on Sunday, our first taste of crabs for the year at The Red Roost with my parents. It’s become our Mother’s Day tradition. You have to take a 2-car ferry to get there – the boys just love it, and so do we!Hen House LinensWant a couple of extra entries?:

Like Hen House Linens on Facebook – leave a separate comment letting us know you did so.
Like Bello Boy Moscato on Facebook – leave a separate comment letting us know you did so.

Contest will end Thursday, May 16 2012 @ 11:59 PM EST. Winner will be selected using a random number generator.

Congratulations to Entrant #2 – Diana. Thanks so much for entering, everyone!

Pink Moscato Sangria

1 1/2 cups fresh strawberries, sliced
1 cup raspberries, fresh or frozen
1 cup blueberries, fresh or frozen
1 (750 ml) bottle Pink Moscato wine
1/2 cup Grand Marnier (or orange liqueur)
1 cup sparkling water
1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
1/4 cup fresh lime juice
fresh mint, for garnish
ice

In a large pitcher combine berries, wine, orange liqueur, sparking water, lemon juice, and lime juice . Stir to combine. Chill for 1 hour to let flavors mingle. Serve in ice filled wine glasses with a sprig of mint for garnish.

Disclaimer: I received Bello Boy Moscato and Hen House linens to review at no cost. As always, all opinions are my own.

Cherry Cheese Pie

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Cherry Cheese Pie

This pie has been a favorite of mine since my best friend Morgan introduced it to me a few years ago. It’s super easy – whipped cream, cream cheese, and cherry pie filling. Some chilling time in the fridge, and you’re set with a great dessert to take to a pool party or backyard barbecue.

I like to use a blind baked pie shell, because I feel they hold up the best. But, a graham cracker or Oreo crust are also excellent choices that work well with this pie. You can also feel free to switch around pie fillings – I’ve tried it with strawberry and blueberry as well. While I often reach for generic brands to save money, when it comes to pie filling – you get what you pay for. Lucky Leaf has been making quality pie fillings for over 60 years. You guys know I make things “from scratch” as often as I can, but I always keep a couple of cans of these fillings in my pantry – just because they’re such a great “go to” for desserts like this.

The good folks at are kicking off a fun Pinterest contest today, so make sure stop by and check it out. We could all use an extra $500 to burn a hole in our apron pockets, amiright?

Cherry Cheese Pie

1 blind-baked pie shell (recipe here)
8 ounces cream cheese, softened
1 1/2 cups heavy whipping cream
1/2 cup powdered sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 (21 oz) can cherry pie filling, chilled

Beat cream cheese in a large bowl until light and fluffy – set aside. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, beat the whipping cream at medium-high speed until soft peaks form. Slowly add the powdered sugar and vanilla, and increase speed to high. Beat until stiff peaks form, about 30 seconds more.

Carefully fold the whipped cream into the cream cheese until thoroughly combined. Pour into the cooled pie crust, and smooth the top with a spatula. Refrigerate for 2 hours. Top pie with chilled pie filling and return to refrigerator to chill for 1 more hour before serving.

Orange Chicken

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Take Out Fake Out: Orange ChickenIt’s been a while since we shared a take out fake-out favorite here on the site – so I thought it was high time! I’ve made this orange chicken several times now over the past couple years, and we always really enjoy it. I hate deep-frying anything. Not that I don’t love fried foods, but it makes a mess, isn’t figure friendly, and the smell lingers in the air for hours. But, once in a blue moon it’s a nice treat that we all look forward to.

At first I was leery of the cornstarch batter. But, I’ll tell you – it’s totally the secret of the Chinese restaurants. Browns and crisps up beautifully, and it stays crispy. Even after spending some time in the oven while I fried the rest of the chicken, and saucing – it was still nice and crunchy.

And the sauce? Fresh orange juice and zest, a little tang from rice wine vinegar, and a spicy kick from cayenne makes for a perfect combination. I actually like to use whole dried small red peppers, but I couldn’t find any – so cayenne works in a pinch (heh, in a pinch – no pun intended). I’m looking forward to trying the sauce in other applications as well. I think it would be a fabulous basting sauce for chicken or pork on the grill – which we’ve been firing up a lot lately.

So let’s give your delivery guy a rest, and make this Chinese favorite in your own kitchen tonight!

Orange Chicken

For the marinade and sauce:
3/4 cup low-sodium chicken broth
3/4 cup freshly squeezed orange juice
2 tsp. finely grated orange zest
6 tbsp. rice wine vinegar (or white vinegar)
1/4 cup soy sauce
1/2 cup brown sugar (dark or light)
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 tbsp. fresh ginger, grated
1/4 tsp. cayenne pepper
1 1/2 lbs. boneless chicken thighs or breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
1 tbsp. plus 2 tsp. cornstarch
2 tbsp. cold water
8 thin strips orange peel (optional)

For the coating and frying:
3 large egg whites
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. cayenne pepper
3 cups vegetable oil

To make the marinade and sauce, combine the chicken broth, orange juice, orange zest, vinegar, soy sauce, brown sugar, garlic, ginger and cayenne pepper in a large saucepan; whisk to blend well.  Measure out ¾ cup of the mixture and transfer it to a large zipper lock plastic bag.  Add the chicken pieces to the bag, pressing out the excess air and sealing well.  Refrigerate and let marinate 30-60 minutes, but no longer.  Place the saucepan with the remaining mixture on the stove and heat over medium-high heat.  Bring to a simmer.  In a small bowl, whisk together the cornstarch and water until smooth.  Add the mixture to the saucepan with the sauce.  Continue simmering until the sauce is thick and translucent, about 1 minute.  Remove from the heat and stir in the strips of orange peel, if using.

To prepare the coating, place the egg whites in a pie plate and whisk until frothy.  In a second pie plate combine the cornstarch, baking soda and cayenne pepper; whisk to blend.  Drain the chicken of the marinade in a colander or large strainer; pat dry with paper towels.  Place half of the chicken pieces in the egg whites and turn to coat.  Transfer the pieces to the cornstarch mixture and coat thoroughly, shaking off the excess.  Transfer to a plate and repeat with the remaining chicken pieces.

To fry the chicken, heat the oil in 5-quart Dutch oven or straight-sided sauté pan until the oil reaches 350 F.  Carefully place half of the chicken pieces in the oil and fry until golden brown, about 5 minutes, turning the pieces halfway through cooking.  Remove from the oil with a skimmer or slotted spoon and transfer to a paper towel-lined plate.  Return the oil to 350 F and repeat with the remaining chicken pieces.

Reheat the sauce if necessary and toss with the cooked chicken pieces.  Serve over rice, if desired.

Source: adapted from America’s Test Kitchen via Annie’s Eats