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Angie Mosier's Cocktail of the Week

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Angie Mosier is no stranger to beautiful food and drinks. She's worked in front of the lens as a food stylist, and as the owner of an oft photographed wedding cake and pastry business. She loved both experiences and collaborating with photographers so much that she started shooting beautiful images herself. Fast forward several years, and she's now a well respected writer, stylist, and photographer who's been published in Food & Wine, Town and Country, The New York Times, Garden and Gun, and the list goes on.  That and the fact that she's super cute almost makes you kinda hate her right? In that way that also means you can't wait to grab a drink with her, too. Well, wait no more, friends. Angie has shared a delicious tipple with us! Bottoms up.

Angie says:

The variety of Camellia known as "White By the Gate" is one of my favorites. It’s the kind of flower that even a tomboy like me would want to put in my hair. The camellia happens to be Alabama's state flower.  This cocktail was inspired by two of my best friends who both happen to be from Alabama...Natalie Chanin, who’s company Alabama Chanin makes the most exquisite hand-stitched garments and home goods, who can also stitch together a great story, a delicious meal and pour a good drink. One of my other great friends who is originally from Alabama but lives in Atlanta is a wine professional named Ashley Hall. Ashley is so smart, has such a great palate and she too has been eager to boost her knowledge of cocktail culture.  

White By The Gate

Dolin Blanc vermouth (be sure to get the blanc, not the dry) 

Club Soda

Juice from 2 small lime wedges

Bruised mint

In a cocktail shaker, combine mint leaves and ice. Add one part Dolin Blanc and one part Club Soda. Squeeze in the lime juice. Stir or shake (shaking makes it a little weaker because more water stays behind). Strain into a stemmed cocktail glass and add a sprig of mint.

***Check out Angie's photographs is this gorgeous cookbook, Avec Eric: A Culinary Journey with Eric Ripert!

rug reaction

© Madeline Weinrib, All Rights Reserved

via miles domino

via house beautiful

© Madeline Weinrib, All Rights Reserved

sitting at my pool today i found myself flipping through my huge pile of yes paper magazines. one thing about online magazines, there is something physically lacking...i love lugging my mag stash to my lounge chair and turning page after page of my favorite shelter and cooking magazines while sipping lemonade on ice.{ + you can't float around in the water with your ipad or lap top} there is something pretty wonderful about the pages of a magazine getting damp and curling up after sitting in the sun all day... elle decor's latest issue features one of my all time favorites madeline weinrib. let's face it a lot of rug makers do it right. but madeline's line is the right kind of right for me.
i am obsessed, i have a physical reaction to the patterns and color combinations. it's a love thing! now which one do i want?

Susanna Salk's Cocktail of the Week

cocktail image

As a former editor (who helped launch Elle Decor, among other things), Susanna Salk is an expert on home style.  She's published several best selling books on decor and has another one out now, Be Your Own Decorator: Taking Confidence and Cues by the World's Leading Designers. It promises to help the rest of us achieve high style through inspirational photographs from the best of the best designers.

As a regular contributor to The Today Show, featured writer on 1st Dibs, and mother of two boys...Susanna has a lot going on. When she does have time to kick back and entertain she likes to keep it simple and delicious, my kind of girl. Thanks Susanna!

"Susanna's Summer Drink"

Here’s a delicious summer drink that is SO easy to make and tastes so refreshing. I make a pitcher of it with vodka (added to taste,) and also serve one without:

Best of all, you can get all the ingredients from Trader Joes: they do all the hard work for you!

• 1 Cranberry/Raspberry juice from Trader Joes
• 1 Orange Peach Mango juice from Trader Joes
• 1 fresh lime

Pour in 2 cups vodka and stir well!  Combine all juices and pour into a pitcher (a cheerfully colored one preferred!).  Add slices of lime to float on top.  Store in fridge for an hour before you serve. Do not add ice.

Check Susanna's new book out (with a drink in hand)...it's absolutely beautiful!

new kinda clean

normann copenhagen make this super slick dustpan and natural broom 30 bucks {my pick}

rockett st. george makes this lovely zinc storage box for letters and things {my pick}

"work in progress" at baileys makes the metal tiered rolling cart to die for! {obviously my pick}

by now you know that i love british house & garden. i found these amazing new items for cleaning and organizing your life. in a feature called "practically perfect" written by florence rolfe, and photographed by sarah hogan. i love everything and for the complete story and resource guide pick up a copy of the april 2012 issue on newsstands now. i have however picked out my fav and must haves to keep it clean.

David Burtka's Cocktail of the Week

cocktail photo credit: Becky Stayner

I met David Burtka, and Neil Patrick Harris a few years ago in Mykonos, Greece through mutual friends. So I am happy to add the very handsome down to earth and multi-talented Dad, Partner, Gourmand, Actor, Professional Chef to my "cocktail of the week". David has found success in the kitchen and on the stage. He trained as a chef at Le Cordon Bleu and then under Mario Batali.  He's performed on Broadway and prime time television, David is currently a correspondent for E-NEWS so you can see him regularly on E. After meeting his partner Neil Patrick Harris, he went on to star in their own happy fairy tale ending with the addition of an adorable baby boy and girl to the family. I'm impressed about what he's achieved in his short time on earth because he's so young. Not only does he juggle all of these roles and successes, but he does it with style and a flair. Something tells me that a cocktail every now and again also helps.

**Full disclosure: we made this at the end of a photo shoot and it totally rocked our socks off. Surprisingly light, slighty spicy...I totally think this would be awesome with Indian food!

"Step Ball Change"

•   2 oz Boyd & Blair Vodka (Best vodka currently made in the world)

•   1 oz El Dorado 12 Year Old Rum

•   1 oz fresh lemon juice

•   1 oz Cinnamon & Cardamom infused simple syrup (The recipe is below but you may also substitute plain simple syrup)

•   .75 oz Carpano Antica Vermouth 

•   One dash of Bitters.

Shake vigorously and fine strain into a Collins glass filled with crushed ice. Garnish with a spiraled lemon twist.

Cinnamon & Cardamom Infused Simple Syrup

•   2 cups water

•   2 cups granulated sugar

•   1 cinnamon stick

•   4 pods green cardamom

Bring the water to a boil and reduce to a simmer. Add the sugar, stir and remove from heat. Add the cinnamon stick and cardamom pods and let chill, covered, overnight. Fine strain into another container and reserve.

playing around with pattern on pattern on pattern

via British House and Garden April 2012 issue.{produced by olivia gregory photographed by tom mannion}

as most of you know i love to experiment with patterns and textures. this month british house & garden featured "colour explosion" on page 49 of the print edition. i will say that h&g is one of my favorite shelter magazines {"world of interiors" is the love of my life}. it's a large, bold and beautifully printed magazine as most shelter magazines are in europe. h&g bridges contemporary design with traditional and beautifully appointed homes. it's right in my wheelhouse. the bright combinations are thrilling don't you thnk? {and oh so fresh} the message? think about color patterns and ethnic influence this year for the home. i know i will. check out the complete story in the print edition on news stands.