Light Summery Cocktails and Pickled Cherries

I’m back on the raw diet in full force which means I am trying to look for healthier options when happy hour comes around.  I found this deliciously light and sweet Red Red “Vine” Cocktail on yummly.

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You’ll need:

  • 12 Fresh Concord grapes
  • 2 oz Bulldog Gin
  • 2 Fresh mint leaves
  • 1 (.25-inch) slice Fresh ginger
  • 3 Lemon wedges
  • 1 tsp Raw sugar
  • Club soda

Directions:

In a shaker, muddle the grapes. Add the remaining ingredients except the club soda and fill with ice. Shake well and double strain into a highball glass filled with fresh ice. Top with club soda and garnish with a mint leaf and a grape cluster.

I’ve also learned about the many healthy benefits of eating fermented items such as pickles and sauerkraut so I was delighted to find this recipe for pickled cherries in the new Sweet Paul magazine.

Pickled Cherries

cherry

1 quart sweet cherries ( I used both Bing and Rainier and the sweetness of the Rainer worked much better with the sweet and spicy recipe)

You’ll Need:

2 cups white wine vinegar

2 cups water

2 3/4 cups sugar

2 tablespoons honey

1/4 teaspoon salt

zest of 1 lemon

4 bay leaves

2 hot peppers

Directions:

1. In a medium sauce pan, combine all ingredients except cherries and bring to a boil.

2. Lower heat and simmer liquid for 5 minutes to infuse with flavor.

3. Add cherries, continue cooking for 2 more minutes, and remove from heat.

4. Let cool and and serve or refrigerate.

I also made an adaptation of the cocktail above with the leftover juice from this recipe.

 Pickled Cherry Cocktail

1 part cherry pickling juice

1 part gin

1 part club soda

add one pickled cherry to drink

Enjoy!

Lauren

Lauren Lear

About Lauren Lear

Virginian to Mainiac, I moved to Maine for a photo internship with Aurora Photos and stayed because I met the man I would marry after winking at him on Match.com. My photo business, Lola Studios, is where I pursue my love of fantasy photography using makeup and props to create alternate realities for my clients. I started this blog a little over a year ago to share the wedding prep, diy, food, and family experiences that I had. To bring you up to speed, my husband Alex and I bought a home, got married, went on our honeymoon, hosted Thanksgiving and Christmas back to back (never again ;) ), I turned 30 (never again :( ), we went to London to celebrate our first married year, and we got a puppy, Walter! That’s about it! I hope you’ll join me to see what unfolds next. Enjoy!