Cranberry White Wine Spritzer

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Cranberry White Wine Spritzer

cranberry white wine spritzer

I don't always take my food photographs in traditional locations. Sure, I have plenty of photos taken in the kitchen or dining room, but I have just as many taken elsewhere. My motto is to follow the light—when the light isn't in the kitchen, I pack up my equipment and move. I've taken photos on the laundry room floor, the ledge of a floor heater, and many more on top of the dryer... No place is safe from my camera lens.

This spritzer posed a unique challenge. Light flooded every room in the house which left me with many options. I initially set up for the photo shoot on the dining room table. Napkins and garnishes covered the table to offset the drink, but the photos were dull and uninspiring. I moved to the side table in the living room. The window curtains were reflecting in the glass. I moved to the bedroom. It was even worse. After moving to four separate locations, I was ready to throw in the towel (or napkin, as it may be).

But then I was hit with an idea. A wonderful, awful idea.

Barefoot in the snow on the deck, I snapped these photos. And it worked.

I love it when it works.

cranberry white wine spritzer

This cranberry white wine spritzer is bubbly, fizzy, and just plain good. The cranberry syrup is tart and tangy but, when combined with the wine and the soda, the whole mixture become light and sweet. This cocktail is perfect for dinner parties, sharing with friends, or when you simply want a little pick-me-up at the end of the day.

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Vanilla Pear Milk

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Vanilla Pear Milk

vanilla pear milk

Pears have always been one of my favorite fruits. Not only do they have an elegant shape, but they are juicy and charmingly sweet. Though, pears have a dark side. They can be temperamental, finicky, and are never perfectly ripe.

I would argue that pears are one of the most elegant and graceful fruits until you bite into them. Whenever I bite into a ripe pear, a small explosion occurs. Juice dribbles down my chin, sprays my clothing with a fine mist, and runs down my hands until I am sticky and dripping puddles on the floor. Maybe you have more grace when eating pears (and I commend you for it), but I certainly don't. Pears are only portable in theory. I can never eat a pear in public with good conscious (well, not unless I'm eating them with a knife and fork and who does that?).

vanilla pear milk

Finding a ripe pear is virtually impossible. I believe Eddie Izzard, one of my favorite comedians, said it best.

Pears are like a rock, so you think, "I'll take them home and they'll ripen up," and you put them in a bowl, and they sit there going, "No! No! Don't ripen yet! Don't ripen yet! Wait till he goes out of the room! Ripen now! Now! Now!" And you come back in, and you go, "I'll just have one of these… Hey, these pears are dead!"
The pears are mush before you even saw it coming.

vanilla pear milk

This vanilla pear milk is light and sweet. The texture falls somewhere between yogurt and a smoothie. The dash of cinnamon melds all of the flavors together in a way I didn't expect. Treat yourself to this healthy, delicious drink. You won't be disappointed.

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30 Second Sangria

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30 Second Sangria

sangria

After a long, miserable day at work, I don't feel like doing anything. I don't feel like making dinner. I don't feel like doing dishes. Sometimes, I don't even feel like eating. All I want to do is zone out in front of the television, involve myself in someone else's life, and forget about my own reality for a moment or two.

top down sangria

If you've had a particularly bad day, and you're like me, you might just need a drink. A sangria, perhaps? After the first drink, the cares of the day start washing away. After the second, making dinner might not seem like such a bad idea after all. And after the third drink? Oh, you'll be feeling mighty fine by then.

sangria

Although this isn't a traditional sangria, for a quick fix it can suit your needs just fine. This certainly doesn't taste like a simplified sangria; it tastes really good. This is not the ocassion to bring out the fancy wines. For this sangria, you'll want a cheap wine, something in the range of $7-8 dollars. If you spend anymore than that, it will be a waste. As a poor college student who can't afford fancy wines, this sangria is just perfect.
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