Southern Sunday Y'all

BryGuy wanted one thing for Father's Day and that was homemade coconut cake. Seeing as though it was his first Father's Day, I thought granting his dessert wishes would be a nice thing to do. And since the weather forecast looked pretty good, he decided to smoke some ribs and some pork butt. While the meats were cooking, I whipped up some coleslaw, and Bry mixed up some tasty bourbon cocktails... and my friends, Southern Sunday was born. Check out more photos from our Father's Day below. Also, if you're interested in making the most refreshing bourbon cocktail in your own home, here's the recipe for a Whisky Smash.

Thirsty Thursday: A delicious derby cocktail

While mint juleps are traditionally all the rage during the Kentucky Derby, I have a new elixir for you that's just what the doctor ordered. It's smashing good, extremely refreshing and will have you acting like a fine southern gentlemen or lady in no time. It's really not too far off from a mint julep, but the addition of the lemon makes a world of difference. Grab a bottle of your favorite bourbon, a few lemons, some fresh mint from the garden (or grocery store, if that's how you roll) and crush up some ice. The best way to do the crushed ice is fill a gallon ziplock bag with a bunch of cubes, and use the back of a ice cream scoop to smash the cubes into little jagged pieces. 

Whiskey Smash
3 lemon pieces (cut a lemon in half and then quarter one of the halves, use three of the quarters for one drink)
5 mint leaves
1 ounce simple syrup
Splash of club soda
2 ounces bourbon
1 mint sprig for garnish

Muddle the lemon pieces, mint leaves, simple syrup and club soda in the bottom of a shaker glass. Add the bourbon and stir with with ice. Strain into a rocks glass filled halfway with crushed ice. Top off with a little more crushed ice and garnish with a mint sprig.

Do you have plans to pull out a floppy hat and watch the Derby this weekend? Tell me where you're watching. Obviously, I only pick my horses by the cleverness of their names... 

Luck o' the Irish martini

Are you sick of throwing back Irish Car Bombs, pints of Guiness, or shots of Jameson on St. Patty's Day? Well I've got just the fancy cocktail that'll make your friends green with envy, and it's basically dessert too, so win-win! 

A few weeks back, I was contacted by Chila 'Orchata, and challenged to come up with a St. Patrick's day beverage featuring their delicious cinnamon cream rum. Immediately, I knew it had to be green, and since I'm a lover of any mint and chocolate combination, I decided a dessert martini was the way to go! Also, since you never know how the weather will be in mid-March, I whipped up an 'Orchata Hot Toddy too! 

Get the recipes for both cocktails below.

Bourbon ginger cocktail

I know it's only Tuesday, but chances are you could use a drink. Preferably a stiff one. Or is that just me? I made some ginger infused simple syrup for our New Years Eve champagne cocktails and decided that I could put the simple syrup to use in another drink as well. I whipped up a bourbon cocktail that includes ginger simple syrup, bourbon, club soda and is garnished with a lemon twist and slice of candied ginger. Get the full recipe below.

Homemade margaritas by the margarita snob

I simply adore margaritas. They are the perfect warm weather drink, all citrusy and refreshing. I'm do not really discriminate when it comes to margaritas, I'll take them frozen, on the rocks, flavored or classic. I do prefer when they are not overly sweetened and I always take them without salt (or sugar). 

BryGuy however, is the worlds biggest margarita snob. He likes them one way and one way only. On the rocks, fresh squeezed lime juice and some agave nectar to sweeten. Don't you dare try to give him a salted rim, he'll throw that drink right in your face. Just kidding, he's not that mean. 

A very merry coquito factory

My husband and I have a holiday tradition. Each year we make Coquito (think eggnog with cream of coconut and rum, lots of rum) as a gift for our families and ourselves. It helps to put us in the Christmas spirit and I'd like to think that we've become quite the professionals at whipping up industrial-sized batches of the liquid gold. 

Coquito ingredients, ready to go!

We've got this thing down to a science. First, we do the grocery and liquor store run to pick up all the essentials, then we get organized so we can just keep the batches brewing. BryGuy methodically measures the spices, vanilla extract and rum (that explains why it comes out so strong every year). 

I can be found hovering over the stove to make sure the egg yolks and evaporated milk heat up to a precise 160 degrees. Then we combine all ingredients in the VitaMix and let it rip. 

BryGuy carefully pours the Coquito into wine/bourbon bottles we've saved for the occasion or pitchers from around the house. Then we start taste-testing and BAM! it officially feels like Christmas Time. Here's the recipe we go with Coquito Recipe on Allrecipes, we may or may not double the suggested amount of rum...(we definitely double it). 

Coquito 
(Adapted from Allrecipes - makes 8 servings)

Ingredients
2 egg yolks, beaten
1 (12 fluid ounce) can evaporated milk
1 (14 ounce) can cream of coconut
1 (14 ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
3/4 cup white rum
1/2 cup water
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions
In small saucepan, combine egg yolks and evaporated milk. Stirring constantly, cook over lightly simmering water until mixture reaches a temperature of 160 degrees F. The mixture should be thick enough to coat the back of a spoon.

Transfer mixture to a blender, and add cream of coconut, sweetened condensed milk, rum, water, cloves, cinnamon, and vanilla. Blend for about 30 seconds. Pour into glass bottles, and chill overnight.

See more photos after the jump.