Does anyone else need a drink?

Still noooo interwebs! (I know, I know!) So while I get tomorrow's WIAW par-tay set up, my fabric-ista and crafty bloggy BFF Jane is going to help us keep summer alive with a few fabulous drinks.

Because, though September has been good to me, its also been a pain in my bootay.

So won't you join  me for a cocktail?

Hey guys, I'm Jane, the writer of the rental decorating blog The Borrowed Abode!

I'm super excited to be guest posting here on Peas and Crayons today - but I have to apologize because this post was supposed to come to you in the middle of the summer, not after Labor Day! My life's been a little extra-crazy as of late, so I need to thank Jenn for being uber-patient with me :)

I love Jenn's blog and all her fabulous food inspiration, and was stumped for a while becuase I wanted to guest post for her - but had no idea what I'd write about! You see, I love to cook healthy meals, but I rarely follow recipes - I just throw things together. It's great for using up whatever's in the fridge, but it's not so great when you want to write a guest post for a good friend's foodie blog. :)

There's one thing I do create recipes for, however: cocktails! Whenever I travel I love to try new and unique cocktails, especially ones with herbs in them - and then try to recreate them at home. My best friend says that makes it taste like you’re drinking a salad; I say it provides a nice, light change from the usual margarita or cosmo. So feel free to pick a side. :)

And if you happen to choose my side, here's a great herbed cocktail that makes great use of those summery herbs that are surely still flourishing in your garden. And as a bonus, you can totally make this drink without alcohol so that the designated drivers and mommies-to-be can still feel like they're part of the fun.






The Lemon-Herb Martini
Ingredients:

• 2.5 oz good Vodka (Plain or Lemon, you choose)
• 1/2 Lemon, freshly squeezed
• Simple Syrup
• 2 Basil Leaves
• Sprig of Thyme

Useful Tools:

• Cocktail Shaker
• Muddler or Mortar & Pestle
• Cutting Board & Knife

Got your stuff assembled? Good!

Let's do this thing!

1. Slice your lemon in half, then make one nice, thin, round slice and set that aside for your garnish.

2. Now slice off a little chunk of lemon and throw it in the cocktail mixer.



3. Take two Basil leaves and a sprig of Thyme and toss them into the shaker as well.

4. Use your muddler or the wrong end of a fat-handled cooking spoon to squish the herbs and lemon slice. Breathe deeply and enjoy the fabulous fresh scent wafting up at you.



5. Add the Vodka, a splash of simple syrup, and a handful of ice to the shaker.

6. Put a lid on it and shake that thing!

7. Finally, use the shaker and a hand-held cocktail strainer to double-strain the drink into a chilled martini glass. If you don't double-strain, there will be pulp and a few bits of herbs in your martini.

Please note: I didn't follow my own instructions, which is why my photos show a more pulpy, yellow-y cocktail.

Pouring without a handheld strainer, as pictured here, will result in a pulpy drink.

Now sit back, relax, and tell your significant other it's their turn to take out the trash/put the kids to bed/do the dishes/fold your laundry. Because after your first sip, you'll want another, and another, and another. . . and if you're not careful, you'll down several of these in a jiffy, and be out of commission for the rest of the night!

Unless . . . you make the:

Designated Driver Version: Hand-Squeezed Herbed Lemonade

Muddle that lemon with herbs as before, squeeze a whole lemon, add some cold spring water, several splashes of simple syrup, and still pour into a martini glass so the DDs can look as cool as the rest of the partiers. ;) Just be sure to note whose glass is whose, so that no accidental intoxications occur.

I don't really have a proportional recipe for the DD version - I just whip it up "to taste" for my fabulous never-had-a-drink-in-his-life fiance, and he just adds a little water or syrup depending on what he thinks it needs. :)

You can totally whip up a batch of both the Party Girl version and the DD version ahead of time, then serve them poolside (or yard-side, seeing as I missed summer) to a group.

You'll have to let me know if you try this! And if you want, maybe Jenn will let me come back in October with a really yummy harvest cocktail.

And in the mean time, if you've got a rental decorating question or simply want some decor inspiration for your own place, I hope you'll hop on over to my blog and say hello!

Thanks snickerdoodle!!! <3 Make mine a double mmk?

Don't forget to get your gawk on at Jane's balleriffic produce bags and pillows over at her shop Janery! Because everyone needs a trendy turquoise IKAT pillow or four =)

Just sayin! <3

Love you kiddos! Thanks for sticking with me through the internet-less insanity!

I'll have to whip up a giveaway for my return to blog land ;)

You game?