Spicy Strawberry Frozen Margarita

October 17, 2025 By

What’s better than a cold drink on a hot day while sitting by the pool?

I recently bought strawberries from the farmers’ market that I’d frozen, so decided to use some up for frozen strawberry margaritas with a spicy rim on the glasses.

Ingredients:

  • 2 cups frozen strawberries (farmers’ market freshness—perfect!)
  • 5 ice cubes
  • Juice of 3 limes (or ~¼ cup fresh lime juice)
  • 2–3 Tbsp agave syrup or honey
  • ½ cup silver Tequila (reposado if you want a richer flavor)
  • ¼ cup Cointreau (or Grand Marnier for a deeper orange note)

Directions:

  1. Blend all ingredients in a high-speed blender (I use a Vitamix) for 20–30 seconds until mostly smooth.
  2. Taste and adjust: Add more agave/honey or lime juice if needed.
  3. Rim the glasses: Rub a lime wedge around the rim, then dip in Tajin, chili-lime sugar, or smoked sea salt for a gourmet twist.
  4. Pour in prepared glasses and serve immediately.

Serves 2 generous margaritas or 3 smaller ones.

🍸 Pro Tips

  • Chill your glasses ahead of time for extra refreshment.
  • Add a splash of sparkling water if you want a lighter, spritzier version.
  • Make it a mocktail: Skip the alcohol and add ½ cup coconut water + splash of orange juice.
Filed Under: Cocktails, Fruits, Mexican Tagged With: , ,
11 August 2022 Aperol Gin Cocktail

Aperol Gin Cocktail

August 11, 2022 By

My foodie pal Justin, who lives in New Jersey, is hilarious and sarcastic in the best possible way and he’s been a constant inspiration in my pursuit of craft cocktail mastery. I’ve been following his posts on Instagram (you must follow him too: https://www.instagram.com/justinelmini/) and recreating some of his libations since the start of the pandemic. The latest drink I’ve recreated of his is what I’m calling Aperol Gin Cocktail.

The Aperol Gin Cocktail is incredibly easy to make and is a fantastic drink to enjoy on a hot summer day and/or by the pool. While Justin serves his version up in a coupe, which is lovely, I served mine in a more typical Aperol stemmed glass over ice.

Aperol Gin Cocktail

Ingredients:
1 ounce Aperol
1 ounce Gin (I use Aviation)
1 ounce lime juice
1 ounce simple syrup
2 ounces sparkling or soda water
Thinly sliced lime for garnish

Directions:
Fill a cocktail shaker with ice and add the Aperol, gin, lime juice and simple syrup. Shake hard until the shaker is frosty and too cold to hold (if it’s metal), about 30 seconds.
Pour the drink and the ice into a large stemmed glass and top with the sparkling/soda water and a slice of limes.

Cheers, Veronique

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White Lady Cocktail Recipe

September 15, 2020 By

One of my very favorite drinks is undeniably the White Lady. Love the tartness of the lemony drink and the thick foamy head from the egg white. If you’ve not had a drink made with egg whites, do it, now, it’s incredible.

The main trick to this drink is to dry shake the drink, meaning, to shake the drink ingredients in a cocktail shaker with NO ice to create the white foamy head.

Ingredients:

  • 1 ½ ounces Gin (I used Aviation American Gin)
  • ¾ ounce Triple Sec
  • 1 ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
  • ½ ounce simple syrup
  • ½ an egg white
  • 3 or 4 drops of bitters (optional)

Directions:

Fill a cocktail shaker with ice and add all the ingredients except the bitters. Shake vigorously for about 15 seconds then strain into a second shaker (without the ice) and ‘dry shake’ for about 30 seconds. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass (I use a coupe). If using, add a few drops of bitters to the surface of the foamy top.

Makes one cocktail.

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9 June 2020 Top Shelf Margarita

Top Shelf Margarita

June 9, 2020 By

Mexican food is one of our favorite to make at home. So many easy and delicious options and here are some from this blog.

What I find pairs perfectly with Mexican food or just because, is a great margarita made with fresh lime juice. Good quality bottled lime juice is perfectly okay for many things, but, take the extra minute to squeeze fresh juice and you’ll be rewarded by a tangy, delicious drink.

I like a salt/sugar rim on my margarita, but please use all salt if you prefer (or skip the rim).

Ingredients:

  • Coarse salt + sugar + lime wedge for rim
  • 2 ounces good quality Tequila (I use Patron)
  • 2 ounces freshly-squeezed lime juice (about 2 limes)
  • 1 ounce Grand Marnier or Triple Sec
  • ½ ounce simple syrup
  • Slice of lime for garnish

Directions:

  1. Add equal amounts (1 tablespoon should do) of salt and sugar (or just salt if not using sugar) to a plate. Mix to combine. Run the lime wedge around the rim of a glass and them press the rim into the salt + sugar mixture. Add a couple of ice cubes to the glass with the salt/sugar rim and set aside.
  2. Fill half a cocktail shaker with ice and add all the ingredients except the lime slice garnish. Shake hard until the shaker is frosty, about 15 seconds. Strain the mixture into the prepared glass. Garnish with a lime slice.

Makes one cocktail.

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28 May 2020 Blood Orange Whiskey Sour

Blood Orange Whiskey Sour

May 28, 2020 By

A whiskey sour is a classic cocktail that has both sour and sweet flavors. It can have many variations but typically is a blend of three ingredients: whiskey, sugar and lemon juice.

I saw amazing blood oranges on sale at the store last week, so I used them to make this delicious and refreshing cocktail for virtual happy hour.

Ingredients

  • 2 ounces whiskey
  • 1 ounce blood orange juice
  • 1/2 ounce lemon juice
  • 1/2 ounce simple syrup
  • 1 maraschino cherry, optional
  • Blood orange slice for garnish
Juicing Beautiful Blood Oranges

Instructions

  • Add ice to cocktail shaker. 
  • Pour the whiskey, blood orange juice, lemon juice and simple syrup over the ice. Cover and shake for around 15 seconds or until the shaker is frosty.
  • Strain into a chilled cocktail glass, over ice, and add a cherry (if using) and a slice of orange to garnish.

Makes one drink.

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8 May 2020 Classic Gin Gimlet

Classic Gin Gimlet

May 8, 2020 By

I love cocktails with big lime flavors and the classic gin gimlet is one of my favorites. It couldn’t be simpler to make:

Ingredients:

2 ounce good quality Gin, I used Aviation

1 ounce fresh lime juice

1 ounce simple syrup

Lime peel (optional)

Directions:

Add ice to a cocktail shaker then all the ingredients. Shake well/hard for 15 seconds, then pour in a cute glass over ice then add a lime peel, if using.

Makes 1 cocktail.

Filed Under: American, Cocktails Tagged With: , , ,
31 October 2019 Fall Cocktails in Philadelphia

Fall Cocktails in Philadelphia

October 31, 2019 By

Fall is in full swing and the perfect season to cozy up with a cocktail to put you in the Autumnal spirit is here!

Check out some of the top places in the Philadelphia area to take a break from pumpkin picking and hayrides.

Aqimero at The Ritz-Carlton thinks inside the box with their specialty Smoke cocktail. The hazy spirit comes with Patrón Reposado, Del Maguey Mezcal, Luxardo, sugar, grapefruit bitters, and orange zest, served tableside in the restaurant’s signature smoking box.

SMOKE Cocktail

ChopHouse Grille in Exton, PA offers two fall-lovers martinis that give Bond a run for his money. Their Caramel Apple Martini has Smirnoff caramel vodka, apple pucker, butterscotch schnapps, and caramel. More of a pastry person? Try the Pumpkin Pie Martini, made with Pinnacle pumpkin pie vodka, Rumchatta, pumpkin pie spice, and a cinnamon sugar rim.

Caramel Apple Martini

The ChopHouse in Gibbsboro, NJ puts a spin on two classic cocktails. The Manhattan in the Fall offers Old Forester Rye, Averna, Maple Syrup, Angostura bitters, and brandied cherry. Tired of your average mule? The Spiced Pear Mule has Absolut Elyx, Pear Nectar, Turbinado, cinnamon syrup, and ginger beer.

Manhattan in the Fall

Thirsty Dice on 17th & Fairmount, Philadelphia’s original board game café, is fall-ready with their Timeline cocktail, a simple mix of hot spiced cider and scotch sure to warm you on chilly evenings.

Timeline Cocktail

It’s root veggie season! Visit Boardroom Spirits craft-distillery, located in Lansdale, PA to try their Keep Calm and Carrot On cocktail, a mix of Boardroom Gin, C, Carrot Spirit, Simple Syrup, fresh orange juice, fresh lemon juice, and thin carrot slices.

Keep Calm and Carrot On

It’s not so bad when your night’s a blur while visiting Inchin’s Bamboo Garden to try the 99% Chance of Foggy Nights cocktail. This creative drink combines vodka, honey, cream, chamomile bitters, ginger liqueur, and orange blossom water.

99% Chance of Foggy Nights

Happy cocktailing!

Veronique

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3 July 2019 Purple Rain Cocktail

Purple Rain Cocktail

July 3, 2019 By

This cocktail, created by Beverage Consultant/Mixologist extraordinaire, Rachael Robbins (check her out on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chickologist.

Purple Rain. Photo by Rachael Robbins

The ingredients look incredible and I loved butterfly pea flower tea from my recent trip to Thailand, but come on, just the look of this drink makes me want to yell “come to mama”!

Ingredients:

  • 2 ounces silver tequila 
  • 1 ounce lavender simple syrup (see instructions below)
  • 1 ounce lime juice 
  • 2 ounces lychee juice (Rachael recommends Calpico, available online and at Asian grocery stores)
  • 1 ounce butterfly pea flower tea (see instructions below – flowers available online and at specialty markets)
  • Garnish with fresh lavender, optional 

Lavender Simple Syrup: 
Bring 1 cup sugar, 1 cup water & 1/4 cup dried lavender to a rolling boil and remove from heat. Let cool overnight and strain. Keep refrigerated. 

Butterfly Pea Flower Tea: 
Bring 1 cup water and 12 dried flower buds to a boil until the color is gone from the flower. Let cool and strain. 

Directions:

In a shaker, combine the tequila, simple syrup, lime juice and lychee juice. Pour over ice and top with the butterfly pea flower tea and lavender garnish (if using).

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6 June 2019 House Party Punch

House Party Punch

June 6, 2019 By

With so many summer parties happening in the next couple of months, fun cocktail ideas are always welcomed. For those of you, like me, who don’t want to be making individual cocktails for your guests all night, punch bowls and large format drinks are the way to go! Let your guests self-serve and you can enjoy your gathering.

Here’s a delicious punch recipe idea made using watermelon juice that’s going to be a favorite at your next party.

Recipe and photo courtesy of award-winning mixologist Christopher James of Felina (http://felinarestaurant.com) in Ridgewood, NJ.

Follow Chris on Instagram at @kingjamescocktails

Christopher James

Ingredients:

  • 1.5 parts tequila blanco, Chris recommends Tequila Espolon Blanco
  • 1.0 part watermelon juice
  • 0.5 part tangerine juice
  • 0.5 part lime juice
  • 0.5 part simple syrup (here’s a link to my easy recipe. Chris recommends doubling the sugar for a thicker simple syrup, known in the biz as 2:1)
  • 1.0 part chilled spring water
  • 1 bottle of Champagne, Chris recommends Perrier Jouet brut

Directions:

  1. Combine all ingredients (except Champagne) in a non-reactive container and briefly stir to integrate.
  2. Pour the cocktail mixture over a large hunk of clear ice in a punch bowl.
  3. Add ¼ of the bottle of Champagne to the mixture in the punch bowl, leaving the rest of the bubbly for guests to add to their cocktail to give it additional fizz.
  4. Garnish the punch with mint sprigs and citrus thyme flowers.

Cheers,

Veronique

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23 May 2019 Cocktails and Mocktails to Sip this Memorial Weekend

Cocktails and Mocktails to Sip this Memorial Weekend

May 23, 2019 By

Looking to mix it up (see what I did there?) cocktail-wise for your Memorial Day weekend parties? Here are some fresh recipe ideas from some of New Jersey’s best bars and kitchens.

Mother Dearest by Ho-Ho-Kus Inn & Tavern, Ho-Ho-Kus, NJ

Lemonade for adults!

  • 2 oz Meyer lemon infused vodka
  • 3/4 oz Thyme simple syrup
  • 1 oz Meyer lemon Juice

Combine all ingredients in a shaker with ice and shake. Strain into glass. Garnish with thyme sprig.

Mother Dearest

The Spring Spritz by Jockey Hollow Bar + Kitchen, Morristown, NJ

Sip on this while sitting on the porch swing

  • 1 oz Tito’s vodka
  • 1 oz St. Germain (elderflower liqueur)
  • 1/4 oz Benedictine (spiced herbal liqueur)
  • 1/2 oz Fresh squeezed lemon juice
  • 1 oz Prosecco

Shake all ingredients, excluding Prosecco.

Then add Prosecco to the shaker. Strain into a wine glass filled with ice. Add a splash of Prosecco to re-carbonate the cocktail. Garnish with mint sprig.

The Spring Spritz

A Thousand Miles Away by Mandara Ristorante + Pizzeria, West Caldwell, NJ

Close your eyes … ahh … paradise

  • 2 oz Uruapan Rum
  • 3/4 oz banana
  • 3/4 oz lime
  • 1/2 oz orgeat
  • 1/4 oz Fernet Menta

Add all ingredients except Fernet Menta into a mixing glass or tin then fill with ice and shake vigorously until tin is cold. Fill high-ball glass or Collins glass with fresh ice and double strain. Float Fernet Menta on top and garnish with mint sprig.

A Thousand Miles Away

East Coast Negroni by Pharmacie Bar + Kitchen, Montclair, NJ

Yes, Mezcal Gin is a thing and you need to try it!

  • 1 1/2 oz Gracias a Dios Mezcal Gin
  • .75 oz Lime juice                                           
  • .5 oz Aperol                                       
  • .5 oz Campari                                    
  • .5 oz Agave syrup                                        

Shake all ingredients with ice and strain into coupe. Garnish with lime.

East Coast Negroni

Suco de Abacaxi com Hortelã by Samba Montclair, Montclair, NJ

A pineapple and mint smoothie featured in the Samba Montclair cookbook

  • 2 cups water
  • 1 cup diced pineapple
  • 10 mint leaves, or more to taste
  • 4-6 ice cubes

Place all ingredients in a high-speed blender and blend until smooth. If your pineapple isn’t sweet enough, you can add a tablespoon of honey or maple syrup to taste.


Suco de Abacaxi com Hortelã

Ginger Lee by Zeugma Mediterranean Grill, Montclair, NJ

You might want to spike this at home

  • 8 oz fresh lemonade of your choice
  • Splash of honey water (50/50 honey dissolved in water)
  • Tsp fresh ginger, shaved
  • Cayenne pepper, pinch
  • Club soda

Fill glass with ice and fresh lemonade. Add honey water, cayenne pepper and ginger, then shake. Top with a splash of club soda and garnish with lemon peel.

Ginger Lee

(Pro tip: when making fresh lemonade, zest the lemons and let them soak in lemonade overnight to give it that bright yellow color.)

Happy Memorial Day!

Veronique

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