Travel Destinations & Culinary Adventures

cocktail

Pumpkin Spice and Everything Nice Apple Cocktail

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I dreamt of making this cocktail while at work on Friday. Don’t judge me. One taste of my Pumpkin Spice and Everything Nice Apple Cocktail and you’ll know why I was a tad bit distracted by my day dreams.

pumpkin-spice-and-everything-nice-apple-cocktailAll you need to make this cocktail are two ingredients: apple juice and pumpkin vodka. I use Barnett’s pumpkin vodka, a cheaper distilled variety, but it has great flavor for any fall seasonal drink. So where does the spice come from? Add pumpkin spice to sugared graham cracker dust and rim your glass in it before pouring your shaken cocktail. I garnished this one with an red apple slice.

I bought these amber colored plastic wine glasses on clearance from World Market this week. They considered them "summer" but I saw potential as a golden goblet for the perfect fall cocktail.
I bought these amber colored plastic wine glasses on clearance from World Market this week. They considered them “summer” but I saw potential as a golden goblet for the perfect fall cocktail.

Ripe with seasonal flavors, Pumpkin Spice and Everything Nice Apple Cocktail is crazy simple to make and is like fall in a glass. Cheers!

Rim the glass with a piece of apple and then your sugared graham cracker dust.
Rim the glass with a piece of apple and then your sugared graham cracker dust.

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Pumpkin Spice and Everything Nice Apple Cocktail

onedelightfullife.com
Reminiscent of pumpkin pie and apple cider, this cocktail is fall in a glass.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Total Time 10 minutes
Course cocktail
Cuisine American
Servings 1 glass

Ingredients
  

  • Cockail Mix:
  • 4 cups apple juice
  • 3 oz. pumpkin vodka
  • cubed ice
  • Rim Sugar:
  • two finely ground graham crackers
  • 1 tsp brown sugar
  • 1 tsp pumpkin spice
  • half an apple

Instructions
 

  • Mix the rim sugar ingredients together in a small bowl.
  • Rim your small cocktail glass with an apple slice to moisten it.
  • Turn your glass upside down in the bowl of graham cracker mixture.
  • Fill glass with cubed ice.
  • Add the apple juice and vodka to a martini shaker and shake vigorously.
  • Pour into iced filled glass.
  • Garnish cocktail with a slice of apple.


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It’s Fall Y’all: Decorating Your Home For Autumn DIY Style

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Any Kansan will tell you that one of the many reasons we love our “flyover state” is because of its ever-changing seasons. For me, a mental shift occurs when I see the towering wild sunflowers basking in the afternoon sunshine. And the shift in outdoor temperature signals one thing: time to decorate our home for autumn.

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Because I love to decorate, I tend to incorporate new items each season and this season is no exception. My new fav addition this year is this hand-painted wooden sign on the mantel made by From Mama’s Porch purchased at The Vintage Rhinestone. It set the tone for the rest of the room from the Pumpkin Spice melts giving it a seasonal fragrance to the napkins on our dining room table.

pumpkin-signI took a note from designer Joanna Gaines and turned my antique book backward this year and topped them with little ceramic birds. These little guys make a year-round appearance in our home because we (and by we I mean my pilot boyfriend) is obsessed with birds. Why? Say it with me…”because they FLY.”

Create height and layers in your decorating to give it dimension. Turning antique books backwards is all the rage right now.
Create height and layers in your decorating to give it dimension.

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fall-mantel3I’m a big believer in decorating with bargain finds or crafting items with a bit of do-it-yourself ingenuity. These plastic pumpkins were way too bright for the neutral earth tones of our home decor so I simply painted them with Martha Stewart acrylic paint.

I'm pretty sure real pumpkins don't come with bright neon yellow stripes. Am I right?
I’m pretty sure real pumpkins don’t come with bright neon yellow stripes. Am I right?
Cover the stem with blue painter's tape prior to painting.
Cover the stem with blue painter’s tape prior to painting.
I like how the brush's bristles made for a natural texture.
I like how the brush’s bristles made for a natural texture. Allow the paint to dry overnight, turn over once dry, and paint the bottom of each pumpkin. After they dry, remove the tape, and ta-da!

painted-pumpkin-toolboxI added one of these pumpkins with some blinged-out gourds to an antique toolbox with picks nestled underneath it all. The rustier the metal the better, which contrasts well with our leather ottoman.

fall-flowersBut I don’t limit my decorating to the living room. It spills out into other rooms of our home and of course, the front porch too. You know, someone once asked me if our dining room table is always set as if we’re expecting dinner guests any minute. Why, yes it is and I love it too. These cream-colored chargers came from the Dollar Store, plates on clearance from Pier 1, and I can thank my friend’s garage sale for the copper napkin rings.

fall-table

fall-centerpiece

What reminds you of fall? One of my fondest childhood memories is taking a hay ride with my scout troop pulled by a tractor through the woods with hot chocolate in hand.
What reminds you of fall? One of my fondest childhood memories is taking a hay ride with my scout troop pulled by a tractor through the woods with hot chocolate in hand.

fall-front-porch2 fall-front-porch1If I inspired you to love fall as much as I do, give my new seasonal recipes at try including a delicious Pumpkin Spice and Everything Nice Cocktail and my Apple Cider Pecan Muffins with Walnuts and Caramel Drizzle Topping. Are these muffins for breakfast or dessert? Who cares! They’re that scrumptious.

It’s fall y’all! Have a thankful, fun season of celebrating.

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Grilled Pineapple and Peach Silver Tequila Cocktail

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My Grilled Pineapple and Peach Silver Tequila Cocktail reminds you of one of those fancy, chef-inspired drinks featured on Food Network. The catch? There isn’t one. It’s actually easy to make assuming you can turn on a grill and a blender.  Essentially, all you have to do is grill fresh pineapple and pitted peaches until grill marks appear and blend them with lime juice, ice, honey, and tequila. Cheers!

grilled-pineapple-and-peach-silver-tequila-cocktail

Can’t make this recipe now? Pin it to save it for later! This cocktail is a fantastic compliment to my recipe for Apple Wood Smoked Teriyaki Pork Loin with Grilled Pineapple and Cilantro Rice .

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Grilled Pineapple and Peach Silver Tequila Cocktail

onedelightfullife.com
Blend juicy grilled pineapple and peach with lime juice and ice and you've got summer in a glass.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Course cocktail, Drinks
Cuisine American

Ingredients
  

  • 1/2 c. cubed grilled skinless peach
  • 1/2 c. cubed grilled pineapple
  • 1 1/2 oz. silver tequila
  • 1 c. crushed ice
  • juice of 1/2 lime
  • 1 T. honey
  • kosher salt for glass rim
  • garnish of grilled pineapple and lime wedge optional

Instructions
 

  • Trim and core fresh pineapple.
  • Have a peach and remove the pit.
  • Grill the fruit until marks appear.
  • Cut the fruit into chucks.
  • Blend all ingredients in an electric blender on high.
  • Pour into a salt rimmed margarita glass.
  • Garnish with a chuck of grilled pineapple and lime wedge.

Notes

If you don't like tequila, swap it for silver rum or coconut rum.

Berry Beach Blast

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Raise your hand if you wish you were on a sandy beach right now.

Me too!

Sometimes we can’t always escape to the beach to watch the crash of the waves and swarming seagulls overhead. There are bills to pay, children to feed, and a to-do list to accomplish on the weekends. But, I’ve got the next best thing just for you: Berry Beach Blast cocktail.

Okay, you’re right. It’s not just like sitting on the beach, but humor me for a second. Once you take a couple sips of this all natural cocktail made with coconut and lime juices and ripe strawberries, you may just mentally escape during happy hour.

Oh, and coconut water has numerous healthy benefits. According to lifehacks.org, it is rich in nutrients and reduces your blood pressure. You can buy it at any grocery store but you’ll probably find it in the organic section. If you’re not sure which brand to buy, check out this ranking list of the Top 7 Coconut Water Brands by the Thrillest.

This summer cocktail takes ten minutes to make and delivers real tropical flavor. Be sure to comment below and tell me what you think of it or tag OneDelightfulLife on Instagram. 

I can hear those ocean waves crashing now. 🙂

Cue the Jimmy Buffet.
Cue the Jimmy Buffet.

Berry Beach Blast

onedelightfullife.com
One sip and you'll swear you can hear the waves at the beach.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Total Time 10 minutes
Course cocktail
Cuisine American

Ingredients
  

  • 1 1/2 oz. vodka
  • 1 c. coconut juice
  • juice 1/2 lime
  • 1 sliced strawberry
  • 1 sliced lime
  • 1 T. red cocktail rim sugar

Instructions
 

  • Rim a glass with lime juice.
  • Rotate glass in red cocktail rim sugar until the rim is coated well.
  • Add ice cubed ice to the glass.
  • In a separate large glass mix vodka, coconut juice, and sliced fruit. Stir.
  • Transfer mixed cocktail into ice glass.
  • Garnish with a strawberry. (optional)

I love that red gingham antique metal tray in the photo. I bought it at The Vintage Rhinestone, a super cute store stocked to full of household treasures.

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Sunset Gold

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Is anyone ready for a TGIF cocktail for happy hour? Me too! Why does it feel like the clock is moving in s-l-o-w motion today? If you’re going to sit on the deck or just in your good ol’ easy chair after work today, this gorgeous drink is perfect for chillaxin’.

When I created this recipe, I tried making a cocktail similar to an Orange Julius. Do you remember heading straight for the Orange Julius stand at the mall in the 1980s?

Oh, wait, that might just be me. When you approached the counter to place your order, you had to yell it over the blaring sound of the blenders behind the counter. Why, oh why, is Orange Julius gone? No worries, my Sunset Gold cocktail reminds you of those sweet flavors but has the tang of fresh-squeezed grapefruit juice.

sunset-gold

If you don’t have vanilla rum, use regular rum or orange-flavored liquor instead.

Kick off your work shoes, mix up this beauty in five minutes, and prepare to relax. Enjoy!

Sunset Gold

onedelightfullife.com
Like an Orange Julius, this copycat sweet cocktail has hints of grapefruit. A great cocktail to serve at brunch.
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Prep Time 5 minutes
Total Time 5 minutes
Course cocktail
Cuisine American
Servings 1 glass

Ingredients
  

  • 3 oz. vanilla rum
  • 1 c. orange juice
  • 1/2 c. grapefruit juice
  • cubed ice

Instructions
 

  • Fill a small cocktail glass with cubed ice.
  • Mix all ingredients in a separate larger glass and stir them.
  • Transfter mixture into cocktail glass.
  • Garnish with a grapefruit or orange slice.

Notes

You could rim the glass with sugar.

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Just Like Paradise

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When was the last time you reached a state of complete happiness?

Sometimes we need to remind ourselves how to take a relaxing break. You deserve it.

This drink is Just Like Paradise in a glass. The ingredients, Camarena tequila, fresh squeezed grapefruit and lime juices, and lemon-lime sparkling water, alert your tastebuds. The tartness of the grapefruit is balanced by the sweetness of the sparkling water.

It’s your turn to take a break. Cheers!

Feel free to let me know what you think of this cocktail in the comments section below.

just-like-paradise

Just Like Paradise

onedelightfullife.com
One sip and you'll be daydreaming about a beach scene. Cheers!
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 5 minutes
Total Time 5 minutes
Course cocktail
Cuisine American
Servings 1 glass

Ingredients
  

  • 1 1/2 oz silver tequila
  • 1/2 c. grapefruit juice
  • 1/2 c. lemon-lime sparkling water
  • juice of 1/2 lime
  • kosher salt
  • cubed ice

Instructions
 

  • Rim a cocktail glass with a lime slice.
  • Then rotate the glass in kosher salt on a small plate to rim it.
  • Fill glass with ice cubes.
  • In a separate larger glass, combine all ingredients except salt.
  • Stir well.
  • Pour into ice-filled cocktail glass and garnish with grapefruit slice.

Notes

Use a short cocktail glass for this drink recipe.

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