Memorial Day isn’t just a day in which we get time off of work and school. Every last Monday of May, we celebrate by remembering the men and women of the United States Armed Forces who have passed while serving and protecting our country. While most of us relax over some traditional, American food and look forward to even warmer weather, others are looking for a sipping soiree. Check out these fabulous, summery drink recipes to kick-start Memorial Day with loved ones. -Meryl Lumba

Sparkling Gin & Juice

1/4 cup gin

2 tablespoons lemonade concentrate

2/3 cup Champagne

1 teaspoon freshly squeezed lime juice

Lime wedges for garnish

Instructions:

In a small pitcher, mix gin and lemonade until fully mixed. Add in lime juice. Top mixture off with Champagne and mix lightly. Serve with fresh lime wedges over ice.

Boozy Banana Split Milkshake

Ingredients:

2 frozen bananas, chopped

1 cup light cream

1/4-1/3 cup dark cocoa liqueur

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

2 tablespoons sugar

1/3 cup whipped cream plus 1 tablespoon

Instructions: Place bananas, light cream, liquer, vanilla and 1/3 cup whipped cream in a blender. Blend on low until smooth and thick. Garnish with extra tablespoon of whipped cream, coffee grounds or chocolate chips.

Porch Swing

1 1/2 ounces (3 tablespoons) gin

1 1/2 ounces (3 tablespoons) Pimm’s No. 1 liqueur

4 ounces (1/2 cup) homemade lemonade

7-Up or another lemon/lime soda

10 paper-thin half moon slices of cucumber

Instructions:

Pour gin, Pimm’s and lemonade into tall Collins glass, then add a few ice cubes and a splash of 7-Up. Finish with cucumber slices.

Strawberry Sake Cocktail

2 strawberries, sliced plus another for garnish

3/4 ounces fresh juice from 1 to 2 limes

1 ounce simple syrup (see note above)

1 sprig of mint, plus another for garnish

2 ounces sake

1 1/2 ounces seltzer water

Instructions:

In a mixing glass, muddle strawberry, lime juice, and simple syrup in the bottom of a tall glass until the strawberry is completely dissolved. Add mint leaves and gently tap 5 times with muddler. Fill glass with ice and add sake. Stir and pour unstrained into serving glass. Top with seltzer and garnish with a sprig of mint and a strawberry.

The Rocket

1 cup finely crushed ice (to slush consistency)

1/4 fluid ounce blue curacao liqueur

2 fluid ounces lemon-flavored Smirnoff vodka, divided

1/4 fluid ounce raspberry flavored liqueur

Instructions:

Place half the ice into a bowl; divide the other half of the ice between 2 bowls (1/4 cup of ice in each). Place blue curacao liqueur and 1/2 fluid ounce of lemon vodka into a bowl containing 1/4 cup of ice. Mix well. Place raspberry liqueur and 1/2 fluid ounce of lemon vodka into the other 1/4 cup of ice and mix well. Mix the remaining 1 fluid ounce of lemon vodka into the bowl containing 1/2 cup of ice. Layer the blue curacao-flavored ice into the bottom of a glass. Place the lemon vodka-flavored ice over the blue layer; top with the raspberry-flavored ice.

Boston Rum Punch

2 oz Parrot’s Bay Rum

Lemonade

Fill a shaker with finely cracked ice. Add the rum and fill with lemonade. Shake briefly and pour (unstrained) into a pint glass. Garnish with nutmeg or half a strawberry and an orange slice.

Dirty Shirley

1 oz Little Black Dress vodka

5 – 6 oz lemon-lime soda

1 dash grenadine syrup

Instructions: Pour the vodka over ice cubes in a highball glass. Fill the glass the rest of the way with lemon-lime soda. Add grenadine, garnish with a cherry, and serve.

The Emerald

2 ounces Jack Daniel’s whiskey

1 ounce  vermouth

1 dash orange bitters

Instructions: Stir all ingredients well with cracked ice, then strain into a chilled cocktail glass.

We here at Shecky’s love to bring in sweets to the office to treat ourselves when we feel like indulging. These sporadic spurts of sweet morsels usually are sparked by someone stumbling onto any of the many food blogs that we are obsessed with. We decided to share some of our favorite pastry and dessert blogs with you so you can get just as inspired as we are by the many delectable recipes! – Grace Texter

Butter Me Up Brooklyn

http://buttermeupbrooklyn.com/

This fantastic blog by Lillie has the most scrumptious recipes of every kind. But we especially covet her various sweets. From her brownies to her tarts, we trust that every recipe will produce a delicious dessert that will leave us wanting more… and MORE!

Sweet Roots

www.sweetroots.blogspot.com

We love to hate this blog because all the photos are beautiful and make us hungry at our desks. Author Mary Banducci calls herself a modern-day forager, mother, wife, and as you’ll see, an incredibly talented chef of non-dairy gluten-free foods. The recipe for the Ginger Cake pictured above is to die.

Orangette

http://orangette.blogspot.com/

This quaint blog by Molly hosts fantastic recipes alongside actual blog posts focused around Molly’s life (and her scrumptious little baby) that keep us coming back for more! What more could you ask for than tasty recipes with great reading on the side that inspires you to follow your dreams?

A Splash of Vanilla

www.asplashofvanilla.com

We love Emma from Australia, and how her sweet personality matches her love of sweets. She’s got the best taste in dessert, and her recipes often suggest “smashing up some biscuits” like for these Lemon Coconut Bars.

Food52

www.food52.com

If you haven’t discovered the Food52 phenomenon yet, you are really in for a treat. This website has a whole archive of delicious recipes constantly rolling in. You’ll not only get a slew of ideas for tonight’s dinner every single day, but you may find a recipe for chocolate cabernet cake and before you realize anything has happened, it’s 7 hours later.

Pastry Studio

http://pastrystudio.blogspot.com/

We love the way Pastry Studio treats each sweet treat like an artistic masterpiece. Photographed with delicacy and precision, the morsels couldn’t look more mouth-watering. And each recipe is written in prose that convinces you to dive right in and start baking! Go for it!

Baking Obsession

http://www.bakingobsession.com/

It is almost torture to scroll through Baking Obsession because each and every recipe gets better and better and BETTER! If that is even possible… Vera has turned her obsession for baking into her career and generously shares her creations with all of us! Of course, we may not make it as beautiful as she, but it tastes so good so we have to forgive ourselves for any error in presentation… right?

Dorie Greenspan

http://doriegreenspan.com

While Dorie has many recipes of various categories, she is a master of all things sweet! She has written many a cookbook and mainly focused on sweets and cakes. However, we love her blog because she not only shares her recipes with us, she keeps us updated on social media and issues that are important to her. Way to go Dorie! Keep on keepin’ on!

Scrambled Eggs

Beat eggs, dash of optional milk, salt, pepper. Melt a little butter over medium heat, add the egg mix, and massage minimally with spatula. Remove when slightly undercooked. High heat and lots of movement makes for tough eggs.

Roasted Chicken

Wash chicken, cut the backbone with poultry scissors (gotta learn to do it some time). Pat dry. Season all over with olive oil, salt, dried rosemary, pepper. Place in oven preheated to 475 for about 20-25 minutes. Now take some of the bastings, mix in a mug with paprika, and brush over chicken. After 30 minutes reduce heat to 350 and cook for an hour longer, brushing chicken with paprika and juice every 20 minutes.

Roasted Vegetables

Slice up onions, carrots, butternut squash, potatoes (yumm) etc. Toss in olive oil and kosher salt. Spread out thinly on cookie sheet. Throw in 425-degree oven for about 10-15 minutes, knock heat down to 400 and cook until tender.

Steak

Take a good steak, pat it dry, salt it on each side, and throw in sizzling hot cast iron pan with butter for 5 minutes a side for medium rare. Let rest for five minutes.

Homemade Mac n’ Cheese

Easy Mac is over. Especially once you realize how tasty homemade mac is. Here’s what you do:

Boil water for your pasta. In another pot on low heat, add 1 cup milk, salt, 1/4 cup whole wheat flour, and stir gently. Add about 1.5 cups shredded cheese and stir slowly until it’s melted and starts to thicken like a paste. Add salt, pour the cheese sauce over the cooked pasta. Add hot sauce.

Basic Tomato Sauce

This weekend’s gonna be a doozy. Saturday May 4th kicks off the 2013 Kentucky Derby, and Sunday May 5th  is the annual celebration of margaritas (and Mexican victory) – Cinco de Mayo.

There are many variations on the signature beverages for these occasions, but classics are simply the best. Whether you’re inviting friends over to enjoy the races or taking guacamole and BBQ to the roof, these simple recipes will be so easy you can teach your guests to refill their own glasses.

Easy Mint Julep

The trick is to prepare the simple mint syrup ahead of time. This is done best with fresh mint leaves, a few large mason jars, sugar, water, and maybe 5 hours (it doesn’t have to steep this long, but if you can, let it). The kind of bourbon you use matters less, since you’re mixing it, so we suggest leaving the Woodford Reserve and Maker’s Mark for a really special occasion. Good inexpensive bourbons (under $20) are Ezra Brooks, Four Roses Yellow Label, and Rebel Yell.

What You Need

For the Simple Syrup:

• About 20 fresh mint leaves
• 1 cup water
• 1 cup white sugar (make more if you’re expecting more guests)

To make a mint julep:

• 2-3 oz. bourbon
• a measuring jigger
• plenty of crushed ice
• a copper cup
• 2 tsp simple syrup

How To

Make the Simple Syrup:

Boil 1 cup sugar and 1 cup of water for 1 minute. Stir until the sugar is dissolved and the liquid is clear. Reduce heat and simmer for 5 minutes. Turn off heat and add mint sprigs. Allow this mixture to steep for 20 minutes. Wait until it’s completely cool (really check to make sure) and then pour it into a mason jar. You can then store this for later. (Make more if you’re expecting more guests – that’s what the extra jars are for).

Make a Mint Julep:

Fill a mint julep cup (or copper mug, or pewter cup) with ice, add bourbon and mint syrup. Stir well and garnish with a mint sprig. Enjoy the races! Or compete for the best wide-rim hat.

Easy Classic Margarita on the Rocks

This recipe doesn’t use Cointreau. No no. The special ingredient is fresh oranges (you can throw in a few jalapeno slices if you want – but be sure to strain them out before pouring!)

What you Need

• 1.5 ounce Silver Tequila (Jose Cuervo Silver)
• 0.5 ounce fresh lime juice
• splash of simple syrup
• 1 fresh orange cut into wedges
• sea salt for the rim

How To

Make a Classic Margi:

Add ice, tequila, lime juice, simple syrup, and fresh oranges to a shaker. Make sure you squeeze the juice from the orange wedges into the shaker before you drop them in. Next, shake the heck out of it.

Salt the rim of your glass by pouring sea salt into a small saucer (the saucer should be at least as large as the circumference of the glass you’re using). Rub a lime or orange wedge around the rim of the glass. Turn the glass upside down and spin it around on the saucer so the salt sticks to the rim. Add a little ice to the glass, strain the margi over the top. Serve. Cinco Oh My-o, that’s good.

If you’re craving a new kind of cocktail, trust any of these flirtatious drinks to simply make your mouth water. From avocado margaritas to rum-filled daiquiris, get your happy hour on with these spring-ready recipes.  -Courtney A. Leiva

1. Going Green

Courtesy of Skinnygirl Cocktails

• 4 mint leaves
• 1 large basil leaf
• 1 lime wedge
• 1/12 parts of Skinnygirl Cucumber Vodka
• 3 parts soda water
• 1/2 tsp of agave nectar

Squeeze lime wedge into glass. Muddle lime wedge with mint, basil and vodka. Add ice. Top with soda water Add agave nectar and stir. Garnish with mint leaves.

2. No Stress Blood Orange Spritzer

Courtesy of LaCroix and Little Black Dress Vodka

• 1/2 cup fresh blood orange juice
• LaCroix sparkling water
• 1.5 oz. Little Black Dress vodka
• Ice
• Fresh mint for garnish (optional)

Fill a cocktail shaker with ice, vodka, and orange juice. Pour into a highball glass filled with ice, and top off with LaCroix. Garnish with fresh mint (optional). Serve and enjoy!

3. Avocado Margaritas

Courtesy of Montalvo Tequila

• 1.5 oz. Montalvo Tequila Plata
• 1 oz. Fresh Lime Juice (about 1 lime)
• 1 oz. Agave Nectar
• .75 oz. Midori
• .5 oz. Triple Sec (optional)
• 1/2 Avocado

Combine all ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth and creamy.

4. KAPPA Punch

• 1 1/2 oz KAPPA Pisco
• 1/2 oz of Grand Marnier Cordon Rouge
• 1 oz pineapple juice
• 1/2 oz fresh orange juice
• 1/2 oz lime juice
• 2 dashes of Angostura bitters

Combine all ingredients in a mixing glass filled with ice. Shake vigorously and strain into a wine goblet or rocks glass with fresh ice. Garnish with a pineapple wedge.

5. Coconut Watermelon Freeze

Courtesy of Niccole Trzaska and Pucker Vodka

• 1 3/4 parts Pucker Watermelon Wow Vodka
• Approximately 2 parts of Coconut Sorbet
• 1/3 part Lemon Sour Mix
• Toasted Coconut Flakes
• Watermelon Ball

Add all ingredients into a blender with ice; blend in crush ice mode. Garnish with toasted coconut flakes and a watermelon ball and pour into a hurricane glass.

6.  Vivacious Vixen

Courtesy of My Derby Love

• 1/2 oz of freshly squeezed orange juice
• 1/2 oz freshly squeezed lemon juice
• 1/2 oz homemade ginger syrup
• 1/2 oz St. Germaine elderflower liqueur
• 1/2 oz homemade raspberry syrup
• 1 and 1/2 oz Tangueray Malacca gin (Plymouth gin is also acceptable)
• 4 dashes of Peychaud’s bitters

Swizzled in a Collins glass over crushed ice, topped with angostura bitters.

7. Spring in Stockholm

Courtesy of Polar Seltzer

• 0.5 oz Swedish Vodka (or elderflower liquer)
• 1.5 oz Hendrick’s gin
• 0.5 tablespoon of elderberry syrup (available at Ikea)
• Cucumber slices
• Fresh mint leaves
• Heavy squeeze of lime juice
• Cucumber Melon Polar Seltzer

In a cocktail shaker, combine vodka, syrup, cucumber slices and a nice amount of mint leaves. Using a wooden spoon, crush all ingredients together. Add crushed ice, cover and shake vigorously in a cocktail shaker. Pour into a martini glass ( or a mason jar for a more generous serving). Top generously with Polar Cucumber Melon Seltzer. Garnish with a thin slice of cucumber.

8. Cruzan Passionway Daiquiri

Courtesy of  Jesse Card and Cruzan Rum

• 2 parts Cruzan Passion Fruit Rum
• 1/2 parts Fresh Squeezed Lime
• 1/4 parts Fresh Squeezed Grapefruit Juice
• 1/4 parts DeKuyper Cherry Liqueur
• 1/4 parts Rich Simple Syrup (2 parts sugar, 1 part water)
• Thin Lime Wheel

Combine all ingredients in a shaker over ice and shake vigorously for 10 seconds. Fine strain into a chilled coupe. Garnish with a thin sliced lime wheel.

9. Mixed Berry Mojito

Courtesy of Hard Rock Cafe

• 3 oz. Bacardi Dragon Berry Rum
• 4 oz. blended mixed berries
• 10-16 mint leaves
• 12 lime cubes

Top with Club soda. Garnish with mint sprig

10. Good Vines Sangria

Courtesy of Good Vines Wine

• 4 oz Good Vines Cabernet
• 1 oz Lemon Juice
• 1 oz Orange Juice
• 2 oz Brandy
• 1.5 oz Simple Syrup
• 4 oz. Good Vines Marzemino

Combine all ingredients (except Marzemino) in pitcher and stir vigorously. Once everything is uniform, pour over iced wine glass and top off with Marzemino. Gently stir and garnish with apple cubes.

Even though True Blood is returning in June, there’s no reason to deny our thirst. Many Truebies know that True Blood is actually an adaptation of Charlaine Harris’ novel series, The Southern Vampire Mysteries. This HBO hit will be meeting a new producer to replace Alan Ball, though said producer (Brian Buckner) has actually been a writer since season one. True Blood’s regularly scheduled 12 episode track will be cutting down to 10, making viewers anxious about the various plot lines.

But whether you’re ambivalent about season six or not, gear up to fight the human fight or hide away from Billith, and check out these eight refreshing drinks.  -Meryl Lumba

1. The Comptom

INGREDIENTS

1.5 oz. Belvedere Orange
1/2 oz. lime juice
3 oz. ginger beer
3 oz. Tru Blood

DIRECTIONS

Pour all ingredients into a highball glass with ice; garnish with an orange wedge.

The Marilyn

Ingredients

2 parts strawberry-infused vodka (We used Three Olives Marilyn Monroe Strawberry Vodka)

2 parts cranberry juice

Splash of half & half

1 strawberry

Preparation

Combine all ingredients in a shaker filled with ice and shake vigorously. Strain into a chilled martini glass. Garnish with a strawberry.

]]> http://www.sheckys.com/2013/04/10/10-cocktails-inspired-by-marilyn-monroe/feed/ 17 http://www.sheckys.com/2013/04/03/12-herbal-teas-to-sip-for-a-healthier-you/ http://www.sheckys.com/2013/04/03/12-herbal-teas-to-sip-for-a-healthier-you/#comments Wed, 03 Apr 2013 12:00:18 +0000 Molly Friedman http://www.sheckys.com/?p=101014
Love sipping a cup of freshly brewed tea but can’t stand the jitters you get from caffeine? Boost your health and skip out on the tweaker jolts with these herbal [...]]]>

Love sipping a cup of freshly brewed tea but can’t stand the jitters you get from caffeine? Boost your health and skip out on the tweaker jolts with these herbal tea finds any health enthusiast would love. From sleep-aiding passion flower to cool and calming peppermint for a sour stomach, read on for more herbal goodness.

-Courtney Leiva

Kusmi Be Cool Tea ($15.50 at kusmitea.com)

When you’re suffering from a sour stomach, let this soothing blend of licorice root, peppermint and verbena to provide you instant relief.

]]> http://www.sheckys.com/2013/04/03/12-herbal-teas-to-sip-for-a-healthier-you/feed/ 13 http://www.sheckys.com/2013/03/28/9-mad-men-cocktails-inspired-by-the-swingin-60s/ http://www.sheckys.com/2013/03/28/9-mad-men-cocktails-inspired-by-the-swingin-60s/#comments Thu, 28 Mar 2013 12:00:35 +0000 Molly Friedman http://www.sheckys.com/?p=100890
Even though Mad Men will be comfortably settled into the 1960s when Season 6 premieres on April 7, we have a feeling Don Draper will still be swigging straight Canadian [...]]]>

Even though Mad Men will be comfortably settled into the 1960s when Season 6 premieres on April 7, we have a feeling Don Draper will still be swigging straight Canadian Club from a schooner glass. But the world continues to change around him, and these cocktails exemplify the swinging ‘60s’ most popular drinks. -Molly Friedman

Bee’s Knees

from Hard Rock International

The honey helps disguise the scent of liquor on your lips.

Ingredients

2 oz. Hendricks

1 ½ oz Sweet & Sour

1 oz honey syrup (equal parts honey and simple syrup)

Directions

Shake and strain into a martini glass

Garnish with a lemon wedge in the drink

I know what you’re thinking. It might sound disgusting, but those of us who don’t mind the taste of beer question why it’s just wine and liquor in our food. If you like experimenting in the kitchen, especially through baking, beer can surprisingly be a perfect sidekick in making delicious and flavorful treats!

Convinced but don’t know where to begin? Check out this list of common beers and how they can be incorporated into some of our favorite desserts. -Meryl Lumba

1. The Pale Ale

These beers are usually a combination of malt and hops. Ales can sometimes be a little florally and bitter in taste, depending on much hops are in it. The more hops, the smoother.

A perfect dessert to appreciate Fall flavors is the pumpkin ale cheesecake with beer pecan caramel sauce, which takes advantage of seasonal beers. Pumpkin ales are incredibly spice-filled and smooth, so combining this beverage with cheesecake can really showcase the taste of beer and pumpkin in a delicate manner.

Plus, how good does beer pecan caramel sauce sound?