Mrs. G. Mixology (2): Homemade Arancello with Cinnamon and Cardamon | You've Got Meal!

Strong, full of flavor and sweet, this home made drink is based on the classic Italian Arancello. Ready in 2 weeks, it is amazing served chilled, with ice or used in desserts. It is also great to give someone as a gift, especially if you play around with the presentation.

You will need:

• the zest from 5 oranges
• 1 l vodka
• 1 cinnamon stick
• 3 cardamon pods
• 600 g sugar
• 500 g boiled water

1st step: Week 1:

1. Peel the orange zest, trying to avoid the white, bitter part. Place the zest, the cinnamon and the cardamon in a big jar.
2. Pour the vodka on top of them.
3. Seal the jar.
4. Shake the jar everyday, for a week to combine all the flavors.

2nd step: Week 2:

1. Place the sugar in a heatproof bowl.
2. Pour the hot water over it and stir well, until all the sugar is dissolved.
3. Add the syrup over the vodka in the jar and stir.
4. Let it sit in the jar for another week
5. Shake the jar daily.
6. When it is done, pour it in bottles. You can keep it bottled for up to 4-5 months.

Enjoy,

Summer Drinks: Flavored Ice Cubes

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It seems summer is all over us these days, it's getting so hot you just wanna live underwater or in a fridge.

Summer drink will help us get through though. Previously I showed you some ideas to flavor your ice cubes to get a refresing cold coffee/ mik drink. Below you have 3 alternatives for your lemonades, ice tea or fizzy water.

This time I added mint, lavender flowers and grapefruit juice.

You just have to fill an ice cube tray with water or lemonade and then add mint leaves or lavender flowers. For the pink grapefruit one, my favorite, just fill the tray with grapefruit juice with or without the pulp, however you like it.

Here is an example of some fizzy with the grapefruit cubes. You really feel like in a spa and the effort is minimum.

xoxo,

Mrs.G. Mixes (1): Vodka Soda with Grapefruit

We posted a photo on Instagram, announcing this post, basically a drink post, so here it is.
For the first alcohol cocktail presented on this  blog, we tried to keep things simple and show a easy peasy one, that would actually go perfect with  our passion for Italian food, proven numerous times on youvegotmeal blog.

This drink is awesome because it has no sugar added, so you won't wake up with a headache the next morning, is really simple so it is most likely all of your guest will enjoy and it does not require special bartending skills.

In a glass with ice cubes pour around 50 ml vodka, then add sparkling water until you fill the glass. San Pellegrino would work great, I couldn't find it simple, without flavours and I couldn't resist this limited edition Perrier by Andy Warhol. Of course you can use any sparkling water, don't judge my snobbish moment, we all have those.

After you added the water, add a splash of grapefruit juice, just a splash, don't make it all about the grapefruit. Garnish the glass with a generous piese of mint and you're done.

I find the mint extremely important in this drink, it adds freshness and makes it more suitable for summer and for light meals. You have to try it!

Cheers,
Mrs. G.

Summer Drink- Fresh Ginger Lemonade

It is getting pretty hot outside, so it's about time we talk about refresing summer drinks. I like to make some lemonade or ice tea, pop it in the fridge in the morning to enjoy it when we come back from work.

For a special touch, we made a ginger lemonade, that we first saw on Ligia Pop's blog. It is super fast, easy to make and it makes us forget about our Pepsi addiction for the day. No need to tell you ginger is really healthy for you, it helps with nausea, headache and high blood pressure.

In a blender you have to mix the juice from 2 small lemons, 3 tbsp of honey, 1 thumb-size piece of ginger peeled and finely sliced and 1,5 l water. Then you have to strain it to remove the ginger. Serve cold or on ice.

Amazingly refreshing! Enjoy!

Green Sorrel Juice

A perfect morning pick-me-up. I don't have to mention this is healthy, do I? Sorrel is a good source of vitamin A and C, it helps with digestion and liver problems.
We used 1 handfull of garden or french  sorrel + 5 carrots + 4-5 apples + 1 lemon peeled, all in the juicer = salad in a glass.