The Happiest Hour {Citrus Champagne Punch}

I wish I could fill your head with warm thoughts today about how Florida is gorgeous and warm and delightful, but I can't. It's seriously just as cold here as any where else. While I can't to stop thinking about how cold my toes are, I am trying to fill my head with happy thoughts. Thoughts of sunshine filled spring days while sipping this beauty are the only hope I have of warmth right now. While I love a good champagne punch for celebratory occasions, it's also just as appropriate for warm afternoons, brunches, Saturday mornings, and everything in between. The combination of lights and refreshing citrus with ginger ale, peach nectar and a splash of champagne is just what the doctor ordered for any day with celebrating! Here's the recipe…

:: Ingredients ::
1 Bottle Champagne or Prosecco
1 Grapefruit, sliced thin
1 Lemon, sliced thin
2 Clementine, sliced thin
1 Quart Strawberries, sliced
2 Cans Ginger Ale
2 Cans Peach Nectar

:: Directions ::
1. Mix all ingredients except the champagne in a large pitcher. Let sit overnight for all flavors to combine.
2. Fill a glass with ice half full with Ginger Ale mixture. Top with champagne and serve.

Indulge In {Strawberry Pie}

Hello there! We are one day closer to the long holiday weekend ahead and I'm starting to get really excited (as I do every Thursday!). This weekend I'm packing up my bags and heading to Rob's parent's house to celebrate his Mom's birthday. You all know birthdays are my favorite and when you combine that with a holiday, I get extra happy. I want to share a recipe today that I have shared before but reminds me of both Rob's Mom and Memorial Day. Last year I had a bunch of strawberries left over from an event and took them down to his parent's house with me. With the help of Rob's Mom, we whipped up this delicious strawberry pie. If you've never had strawberry pie before, you are seriously missing out. Loaded with a ton of fresh strawberries and topped with a dollop of whipped cream, it's a great summertime dessert. Plus, the color makes it perfect to serve up on Memorial Day. Make ahead of time and keep in the fridge till guests arrive. They will surely be impressed by it's fresh, light, and delicious flavor. Here's the recipe!

:: Ingredients ::
2 Cups Sugar
2 Cups Water
6 Tablespoons Strawberry Gelatin Mix
2 Pounds Fresh Strawberries
3 Heaping + 3 Regular Tablespoons Cornstarch
1 Pilsbury Pie Crust Cooked and Cooled
:: Directions ::
1. In a sauce pan, mix together sugar, strawberry gelatin, and cornstarch
2. Add water and heat over medium heat, stirring constantly to prevent burning, until thick and clear. Set aside and let cool completely.
3. Slice strawberries in quarters and set aside till gelatin mixture is cool.
4. Once cool, mix strawberries in with gelatin mixture. Pour into pie crust and put in fridge until ready to serve.

Indulge In {Strawberry Pie}

I often find myself in the situation of heading out of town with food in the fridge that never got used that will most certainly go bad before I get back. Does this happen to anyone else? Call it poor planning  or life getting in the way of grand plans to eat at home for every meal, but it never fails. This past weekend, we were heading out for a couple days at R's parent's house with a two pound box of strawberries just hanging out in the fridge. After a quick call to R's mom, it was decided that we would find some use for the lingering strawberries. With the help of Google, we finally landed on strawberry pie. I've never had it before but let me tell you it's major delicious! Here's the recipe...

:: Ingredients ::
2 Cups Sugar
2 Cups Water
6 Tablespoons Strawberry Gelatin Mix
2 Pounds Fresh Strawberries
3 Heaping + 3 Regular Tablespoons Cornstarch
1 Pie Crust Cooked and Cooled

:: Directions ::
1. In a sauce pan, mix together sugar, strawberry gelatin, and cornstarch
2. Add water and heat over medium heat, stirring constantly to prevent burning, until thick and clear. Set aside and let cool completely.
3. Slice strawberries in quarters and set aside till gelatin mixture is cool.
4. Once cool, mix strawberries in with gelatin mixture. Pour into pie crust and put in fridge until ready to serve.