Champagne mojitos

I spent this last weekend at my beach house in Delaware with my boyfriend, my parents, and a few friends.  And the best beach activity is having cocktails on the beach.  These drinks, however, are not just good for the beach, they are good for any occasion any time. 

The Champagne Mojito:

What you will need:
LOTS of mint leaves (I used a whole box)
2 bottles of champagne
6 limes
14 spoonfuls of sugar
1 bottle of white rum (750 ml)

Directions:
Chop mint leaves, but not too small, and crush with a glass.
Place in pitcher.
Cut 5 limes into quarter slices, and squeeze into the pitcher.
Pour rum into the pitcher.
Put 14 spoonfuls of sugar into pitcher.
Stir for a few minutes.
Add champagne and continue to stir until the sugar is dissolved. 
Use a fork or the grated portion of the pitcher top to pour into glasses (to prevent excess mint). 
Use a spoon to add desired amount of mint.


Serve with lime garnish. 

Sugar do do do do do ohhh honey honey

Recently one of my friends gave me a school bus cookie cutter because I want to be a teacher.  So obviously, when I got a job as a teacher, I made myself a lovely batch of sugar cookies.  Because Chris and I are only two people though, I had to make some in shapes that he, as a 26 year old man, could take to work.  We picked dinosaurs haha.  I used a different recipe than the one I am putting down here because the recipe I used is more for regular sugar cookies rather than roll out sugar cookies.  Anyway, here is the recipe:

What you need:
1 1/2 cups melted butter (3 sticks)
2 cups sugar
4 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract (or to taste if you like more or less)
5 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt

Directions: 
Melt butter in large bowl, after melted mix in sugar, eggs, and vanilla (in that order). 
In separate bowl mix flour, baking powder, and salt together.
Mix dry ingredients into wet ones.  Mix completely.  Cover dough and chill for at least an hour (preferably 3).
Once dough is chilled, preheat oven to 400 degrees. 
On a floured surface, roll out the dough til about 1/4 in thick (roll slimmer than you'd think).  Use cookie cutters or a knife to create desired shapes. 
Place cut dough on cookie sheets.
Bake for about 5-6 mins each. 
Cool completely.
Frost.


Frosting recipe:
What you need:
2-3 tablespoons melted butter
1 tablespoon cream
about 2-3 cups powdered sugar
1 tablespoon vanilla (or to taste)
Food coloring

Directions:
Melt butter.
Add sugar and mix.
Add cream and mix.
Add vanilla.
Divide into however many colors you want, and add food coloring to each section...add one drop at a time...a little bit goes a long way.


And here are the finished products:

Homemade ice-cream sandwiches

I started with the cookies. My favorite recipe for chocolate chip cookies is as follows:

Melt 3/4 cup butter (salted or unsalted) in a big bowl.
Add 1/2 cup sugar and 1 cup brown sugar to the butter.
Beat thoroughly.
Add vanilla to taste.
Beat in one egg and one egg yolk.
In separate bowl mix 2 cups flour, 1/2 tsp baking soda, and 1/2 tsp salt.
Stir into the butter mixture.
Add chocolate chips.

Bake at 350 for 6 mins.

Let cool.

Now for the ice-cream.
Glide along the top to get thin strips of ice-cream. Place on one cookie. Cover with a second one. And there ya go. I made mine with vanilla ice-cream, but you can make it with any kind. I suggest blackberry, strawberry, or chocolate (if you are a big fan of chocolate).

Enjoy!!

New music obsessions 3

I got some new music ideas for y'all.  Here they are:

Peter Bjorn and John:
Recently I heard Young Folks in a store.  Young Folks is a song done by these guys.  It was popular around the time Gossip Girl the TV show came out.  I really only picked up on that song from them in terms of being popular, but I recognized Lay it Down as well. 

http://peterbjornandjohn.com/blog/

They are a Swedish (duh) indie/rock band.  The band is named after its first three members.  They have six albums all together: Peter Bjorn and John, Falling Out, Writer's Block, Seaside Rock, Living Thing, and Gimme Some.  I downloaded the latest two albums, and so far these are the only two songs that have really stuck out to me, but I hear some of their earlier stuff is pretty good. 


Living Thing:
8) Lay it Down

Writer's Block:
 3) Young Folks

Bloc Party:
Everyone goes through a Bloc Party stage, and like most people I went through a few month where I listened to them non-stop.  Recently I was watching one of my favorite shows (How I Met Your Mother...SO good), and heard one of their songs in the background.  Since then I have gotten back into them in a big way.

http://blocparty.com/

They are a British band who classify themselves as an indie/rock band.  They have three albums (Silent Alarm, A Weekend in the City, and Intimacy) with a fourth on the way (aptly named Four).  In any case, I have a few favorites all of the songs I am going to recommend are off of Silent Alarm because that was the CD that was out when I was into them.  That being said, I have listened to their more recent CDs, and they are pretty good. 

Off of Silent Alarm:
2) Helicopter
4) Banquet
7) This Modern Love (this is the song that sparked all of this)

Air:
I recently got a new computer, and I have been dreading going through my itunes and editing songs I don't want anymore.  That being said, I DESPERATELY need it.  I have songs from middle school in there that, let's face it, if they came up on shuffle around other people I'd be horribly embarrassed.  

http://www.aircheology.com/

The band is two guys from France.  Interesting fact: one of the members studied architecture while the other studied mathematics before joining together to make a band.  They both played in a band before Air called Orange.  I only downloaded one album so far (Talkie Walkie), but I also have one other song from a previous album that I like. 

Talkie Walkie:
3) Alpha Beta Gaga
9) Universal Travler

Pocket Symphony:
7) Photograph

Passion Pit:
We all love Passion Pit, but they have a new album out that deserves some recognition.  I first heard the album through NPR.  I have just recently gotten around to downloading it.  I don't like this new stuff better than the older stuff, but this album is fun, and definitely has the Passion Pit sound. 

http://www.passionpitmusic.com/home

The band is from Cambridge, MA which I didn't know.  All but one of the members attended the Berkley College of Music in Boston.  Some choice songs from the new album (Gossamer) are:


1) Talk a Walk
8) Hideaway
10) Love is Greed
11) It's Not My Fault, I'm Happy


Anywho, as always, I am always looking for new music, if you have any suggestions let me know!

Mary, Mary, quite contrary, how does your garden grow?

 Cats and flowers don't mix.  Not only are they (especially Wedge) allergic to most flowers, but they also seem to be insanely attracted to munching on them.  As a result I decided to make a non-kitty-toxic bouquet. Below are individual pictures and instructions on how to make them. 

The carnation:

Step 1: Using tissue paper, cut 5-6 circles (about 3 inch circumference). Tissue paper can be the same color or different colors.                           

Step 2: Stack the circles, and use a sharpie or other marker to draw along the edges of all the circles.  It doesn't matter if the color does not get on all of the edges, in fact that creates a cool effect.                                    

Step 3: Fold circles in half, and cut two holes in the center of the halved circles.                    

Step 4: Put an unfolded paper clip or pipe cleaner through the two holes, and twist.

Step 5: Work from the inside, and pull the middle circle together, and pinch the base. Keep working out until all circles are bunched up. Instructions including pictures can be found here. 

              

The rose:       

Step 1: Cut a circle out of paper or tissue paper. Make sure to cut the edges wavy.

Step 2: Cut the circle into a spiral also making the cuts wavy.

Step 3: From the outside curl inward.  Be careful that it does not turn into a cone.

Step 4: Glue the bottom of the rose.                                                              

Step 5: Slide a paper clip or a pipe cleaner into the bottom in the center of the rose. You can find a step by step video here.

The plain flower:

Step 1: Pick 5 different colors of paper, or if you want use the same color.

Step 2: Cut 1 oval shaped petal out of each color. 

Step 3: Put them all together

Step 4: Using a paper clip or pipe cleaner poke two holes in the center.  Twist underneath.