In honor of the Kentucky Derby tomorrow, I thought I’d share my simple twist on the traditional Mint Julep.
Just mix equal parts lemonade (for a bit of sweetness) and seltzer, plus a shot of bourbon, over ice. Garnish with a lemon slice and a sprig of mint!
For a strawberry version, try last year’s recipe. Enjoy! and may the best horse win…
I had a bunch of strawberries that were on their way out, so it was either freeze them for smoothies or make jam! This kind of jam (that lasts about 10 days in the fridge) is super simple. Just put all the ingredients in a pot and simmer them until it’s thick - this recipe makes one small jar. Stir occasionally - it should take about 45 minutes to get to jam consistency. As it cools, it gets thicker, too. The balsamic adds a nice kick that makes it a perfect compote for cheese and crackers at cocktail hour. (I also put it on greek yogurt with nuts which is pretty tasty!)
By Erin Gleeson for The Forest Feast
Last weekend I had the great pleasure of hosting one of my favorite cookbook authors, Yvette van Boven, for a little cocktail party to celebrate her newest book, Home Made Summer. Her books are works of art…amazing recipes paired with photography, illustration, story telling and humor in the most magical way- they’ve been such a source of inspiration for me. This is the third book in her Home Made series and we got connected because we have the same publisher (Abrams/Stewart, Tabori & Chang.)
Yvette and her husband Oof Verschuren (who took all the gorgeous photos in the book) are creative collaborators who split their time between Amsterdam and Paris. They were in the U.S. for a few weeks on a book tour and I feel lucky that The Forest Feast was one of their West Coast stops! We hosted a group of local food bloggers, writers and friends on a warm Spring afternoon on the deck. Yvette made treats from her new book- Chaneterelle Pate, White Bean Hummus, Feta & Olive Cake, and Financiers. Plus her delicious Pimm’s Cup cocktail with strawberries, mint and cucumber, and a refreshing Mint Lemmo cocktail mixed with Prosecco. I made a couple appetizers from my blog as well, like my Eggplant “Tacos” and Guacamole Deviled Eggs. We tasted the goods and Yvette signed books as the sun went down behind the mountains.
Congrats, Yvette and Oof, on a gorgeous new book! Come back and visit the woods anytime!
xxx Erin
Papercut lettering illustration at the top is by Yvette van Boven. Photo of the group of 5 of us, and the one of me in the chair are by Oof Verschuren.
This is a unique and delicious way to prepare citrus! The full recipe and more photos are in my Better Homes and Gardens post today. Enjoy!
Even though it’s starting to become spring, it’s still cold in some parts! We were recently in NYC and since Jonathan’s family has a house in Vermont, we took a group of friends there for the weekend. We cooked big meals together, played snow football and spent evenings by the fire. (It’s kind of like The Forest Feast in the snow!). Our friend Sam made his herb marinated BBQ chicken one night and for Sunday breakfast we made these pear pancakes topped with walnuts (and real Vermont maple syrup, of course!).
By Erin Gleeson for The Forest Feast
