Dirt and Martinis » Recent Guest Posts http://dirtandmartinis.com Eat. Drink. Live in the Dirt. Wed, 11 Jul 2012 16:13:34 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 J. Peterson Garden Design and 3 Summer Cocktails http://dirtandmartinis.com/2011/08/22/3-cool-cocktails-to-beat-the-summer-sizzle/ http://dirtandmartinis.com/2011/08/22/3-cool-cocktails-to-beat-the-summer-sizzle/#comments Mon, 22 Aug 2011 15:00:42 +0000 Dirt and Martinis http://dirtandmartinis.com/?p=949 Share the love        I recently shared some cool and refreshing summer cocktail recipes over at the inspiring J. Peterson Garden Design blog and wanted to make sure you didn’t miss these 3 mouth watering recipes.   But first, I want to introduce you to the lovely Jenny Peterson, owner of J. Peterson Garden Design in Austin Texas.  …

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I recently shared some cool and refreshing summer cocktail recipes over at the inspiring J. Peterson Garden Design blog and wanted to make sure you didn’t miss these 3 mouth watering recipes. 

 But first, I want to introduce you to the lovely Jenny Peterson, owner of J. Peterson Garden Design in Austin Texas.   Not only is Jenny a a hard working small business owner she’s also committed to enjoying an awesome happy hour!  You’ll always find useful tidbits of advice and gardening inspiration on her blog,  Facebook page updates and via Twitter. I LOVE this piece of gardening advice Jenny shares that involves a glass of wine! Watch the video here.  You rock Jenny! We are cocktails sisters!

Jenny Peterson and her team have been creating cool gardens in the Austin area since 2001. From elegant courtyards to funky meditation spaces and Longhorn gardens (Go Horns!), Jenny’s gardens span the spectrum. Austin and Austinites defy the norm, and their gardens should, too!  Jenny listens to her clients and brings out their style and taste so their landscape always reflects the personality of the owner.

Trained as a Master Gardener, Jenny brings a deep understanding of the ecosystems that promote a vibrant garden: healthy soil, integrated pest management, appropriate plant choices and organic methods. She is committed to using primarily native and adapted plants to conserve water and reflect the beautiful Texas landscape.

Visit this site often for regional gardening tips, project ideas, random musings and the occasional offbeat picture to put a smile on your face!  Contact Jenny to get started on your own slice of Austin grooviness:

 

Now, here’s the cocktail recipes that are sure to cool down any hot day… 

 

Cucumber-Tomato Water Martini 

  • 1 1/2 ounces gin
  • 1 teaspoon dry white vermouth
  • Ice
  • 3 ounces cucumber-tomato water
  • garnish: cocktail onion and cucumber slices

Fill a cocktail shaker with ice, add the gin, vermouth, cucumber-tomato water. Shake until cold, strain into a chilled cocktail glass.

Cucumber-Tomato Water 
  • 6 cups chopped tomatoes (the ripes juiciest you can find), chopped
  • 1 English cucumber, peeled and chopped
  • 1 tsp salt (optional)

Put all ingredients in a food processor or blender and pulse until coarsely pureed. working in batches, process the tomatoes, pulsing on and off, to create a very course puree. Pour puree in a cheesecloth or coffee filter lined colander with a bowl underneath to catch the liquid.  Refrigerate overnight.Cucumber-tomato water will be clear and not a tomato red color.

Cantaloupe and Watermelon Cocktail

This cocktail is a party pleaser!  As with all drinks, fresh is best so this drink entails the use of veggie juicer which is so worth the extra effort.  Juice up one cantaloupe and one small watermelon separately and pour juice into it’s own individual container .

  • 1 1/2 ounces vodka
  • 3/4 ounces of tripe sec or Cointreau
  • 1 ounce cantaloupe juice
  • 1ounce watermelon juice
  • squeeze of fresh lemon juice
  • ice
  • garnish: cantaloupe and a lemon wheel.

Make cantaloupe and watermelon juice with a vegetable juicer and store juice separately in its own container. Fill a cocktail shaker with ice, add vodka, triple sec, lemon juice and shake until icy cold.  Pour into a chilled martini glass and garnish with melon and lemon.

Campari Spritzer

    • 2 ounces Campari
    • 2 ounces orange juice
    • 6 ounces sparkling water
    • ice
    • Garnish with orange, or in  my case I used what I  had on hand…borage.

In a highball glass add the Campari, orange juice, and sparkling water.  Garnish.

 

 I’d love to hear what your favorite summertime hydration libation is?  Enjoy and stay cool!

 

]]> http://dirtandmartinis.com/2011/08/22/3-cool-cocktails-to-beat-the-summer-sizzle/feed/ 5 Guest Post for About.com Container Gardening, Infusing Vodka http://dirtandmartinis.com/2011/07/06/guest-post-about-com-container-garden-infusing-vodka/ http://dirtandmartinis.com/2011/07/06/guest-post-about-com-container-garden-infusing-vodka/#comments Wed, 06 Jul 2011 18:49:42 +0000 Dirt and Martinis http://dirtandmartinis.com/?p=857 Share the love   Infusing Vodka Summer is upon us and there’s many excellent reasons to have an herb garden this time of year. Not only do herbs add fresh flavor, nutrients and color to our meals they also add a sophisticated flavor and aroma to our happy hour cocktail. Trendy herbal infused liquors and …

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Infusing Vodka

Summer is upon us and there’s many excellent reasons to have an herb garden this time of year. Not only do herbs add fresh flavor, nutrients and color to our meals they also add a sophisticated flavor and aroma to our happy hour cocktail. Trendy herbal infused liquors and aromatic vodkas are simple and economical to make at home. The delicate flavors of herbs, such as basil and thyme, can surprisingly transform your basic martini or cocktail. So, why not put your home bartending skills to work and impress your guests at your next cocktail party with herbal infused vodkas you’ve made yourself. (Read more….)

]]> http://dirtandmartinis.com/2011/07/06/guest-post-about-com-container-garden-infusing-vodka/feed/ 0 Guest Post- #gardenchat blog http://dirtandmartinis.com/2011/06/27/guest-post-gardenchat-blog/ http://dirtandmartinis.com/2011/06/27/guest-post-gardenchat-blog/#comments Mon, 27 Jun 2011 11:56:31 +0000 Dirt and Martinis http://dirtandmartinis.com/?p=841 Share the love   Got Junk?  Reduce, reuse, recycle are words we hear everyday and sometimes several times a day. Specifically in the area of reuse, gardeners all around the world, from all walks of life and economic status have taken the incentive to use items that were headed to the landfill to create unique …

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Got Junk? 

Reduce, reuse, recycle are words we hear everyday and sometimes several times a day. Specifically in the area of reuse, gardeners all around the world, from all walks of life and economic status have taken the incentive to use items that were headed to the landfill to create unique gardens.  Read more…

]]> http://dirtandmartinis.com/2011/06/27/guest-post-gardenchat-blog/feed/ 2 Guest Post-Aha Modern Living http://dirtandmartinis.com/2011/06/06/cocktail-gardening-and-my-first-guest-post/ http://dirtandmartinis.com/2011/06/06/cocktail-gardening-and-my-first-guest-post/#comments Mon, 06 Jun 2011 18:10:59 +0000 Dirt and Martinis http://dirtandmartinis.com/?p=664 Share the love     Cocktail gardening.  Wouldn’t it be nice if you could plant a cork and a bottle of wine would grow?  Ooops, there goes my imagination taking off on me   Yes, back to cocktail gardening.  Last week I wrote a guest post for Jayme Jenkins over at aHa! Modern Living and I wanted to make sure you …

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Cocktail gardening.  Wouldn’t it be nice if you could plant a cork and a bottle of wine would grow?  Ooops, there goes my imagination taking off on me :-)  

Yes, back to cocktail gardening.  Last week I wrote a guest post for Jayme Jenkins over at aHa! Modern Living and I wanted to make sure you didn’t miss it.  The article discusses 5 plants to make any garden party a success and cocktail recipes featuring herbs, fresh fruit and berries.  While you’re over and aha! Modern Living be sure and check out Jayme’s cool online store that features unique, modern and eco-friendly home and garden accessories.  I especially love the Roost Hemingway muddlers and the gift guide for the entertainer, the gardener and the bird lover.  Jayme Jenkins and aHa Modern Living can also be found on Twitter, Facebook, and at her personal garden blog Nest in Style.

Grow Your Own Cocktail Garden

This summer get creative in your garden by planting herbs, fruits and vegetables that you can take out of the garden and plunk right into your cocktail glass. Make imaginative cocktails and mocktails with rose, scented geranium, thyme, pineapple sage, peppers and tomatoes. Theme gardening is a fun and sometimes theatrical way to get creative in the garden. If you’re not a gardener but like to create meals and drinks with fresh ingredients.  Read more…

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