Want to know what the greatest invention is since gluten-free sliced bread?
Monthly Archives: March 2014
Sparkling Cocktails with Blackberry, Mango & Mint Simple Syrup
Whether you want to liven up a beverage or a plate of pancakes or waffles; simple syrup can help transform ordinary into extraordinary. What I love most about making a simple syrup is the ability to infuse almost any of your favourite ingredients to develop a flavour you and your guests will love and savour.
While I usually favour prosecco based cocktails, I recognize that not everyone else does. Instead, try substituting with a infused vodka-soda or mix the syrup with sparkling water to make it non-alcoholic.
Depending on how runny you want your simple syrup, you can always boil it longer, causing it to reduce and become thicker in consistency. So keep it simple sweethearts and enjoy!
Sparkling Cocktails
Infused with Blackberry, Mango & Mint Simple Syrup
Prep Time: 10 minutes Cook Time: 25 minutes Yields: 1 ½ cups Author: Milk & Marigolds
Ingredients:
½ mango, chopped into chunks
340 g (12 oz) of blackberries
10 large mint leaves, roughly torn
1 cup of water
¾ cup of white sugar
1 bottle of prosecco or sparkling wine (or a liquor of your preference)
Garnish:
mint leaves, whole
Directions:
1. Chop half of the mango into chunks.
2. In a small saucepan, add one cup of water, the mango, blackberries, mint leaves and bring to a boil for 2 minutes. Turn heat down and allow it to simmer for about 15 minutes with the lid on.
3. Add in the ¾ cup of white sugar. Stir until it dissolves. Allow 10 minutes to simmer with the lid on.
4. Remove from heat and allow the simple syrup mixture to cool.
5. Strain off the fruit and mint leaves from the liquid. The liquid is your simple syrup. You can keep the fruit as a dessert topping if you wish.
6. Add about 1 teaspoon (or more to taste) to your freshly poured beverage, garnish with mint leaves.
7. Place cooled simple syrup in a air-tight jar in the refrigerator for storing.
Tips:
Boil down leftover syrup to further thicken it. Then use the thickened syrup on ice-cream, crepes or waffles. Simple syrup can keep up to months in the refrigerator.
Copyright © 2014 . Milk and Marigolds
Smoked Salmon, Avocado and Mango Fresh Rolls
Fresh rolls are delicious and healthy. Did I mention they also look super impressive with minimal effort required? Bonus!
Whether you are entertaining or just need a quick meal idea, fresh rolls are a simple option that can be easily accustomed to appease any palette or that particularly picky eater! Do you have leftover veggies in the fridge? A rotisserie chicken? I like to keep a roasted chicken from the deli in the fridge for snacking on. Those pre-roasted rotisserie chickens can be awesome! Just carve it up and use it in a fresh roll to put an exciting spin on leftovers!
Fresh Quinoa-Tabouli Salad
Refreshing, zesty and flavorful; this protein-packed salad is both tasty and healthy.
Tabouli is traditionally prepared with wheat-based couscous or bulgar (gluten) which is a big NO-NO for Celiacs like myself, but problem solved! Simply replace these ingredients with delicious, nutty quinoa.
Quinoa is pronounced as: Keen-wah (which honesty, I’m still trying to accept). Sometimes I want to confront “Keen-wah” because on occasion, she tends to come across as a little pretentious and quite honestly needs to lose the attitude problem already! I can picture her at parties with a fancy cocktail in hand while correcting strangers, “no, no it’s pronounced Keen-wah.” I’m pretty sure even couscous would roll her eyes. But the matter of fact is, Quinoa is quite simple and often misunderstood… Many people often neglect the important step of thoroughly rinsing quinoa which helps discard any unpleasant bitterness. It is easy and quick to cook and has more nutritional value than wheat-grains.
Continue reading
Apricot, Dark Chocolate, Pecan Cookies
“Never trust a man who, when left alone in a room with a tea cozy…doesn’t try it on.”
~Billy Connolly
There’s something comforting and calming about a hot cup of tea and freshly-baked cookies. Perhaps for some it’s purely nostalgic; surfacing memories of childhood. For others, it may allow the chance to escape from everyday life, if even for a moment.
milk & marigolds 