An Old Fashioned cocktail is my personal favourite but I’ve changed things up with a cozy, warming spiced simple syrup.

With just a couple of ingredients you can be sipping one by the fireside in no time.

If you like bourbon-forward cocktails, I think you will love this cocktail.

Even for those of you who are not bourbon-drinkers but are adventurous, you’ll want to give this a try!

What goes in an Old Fashioned

A classic Old Fashioned is made with: bourbon or rye whiskey; a sugar cube; and bitters. In many Old Fashioned cocktails you’ll also find an orange peel

What makes this spiced Old Fashioned cocktail recipe different is the addition of the spiced simple syrup which takes the place of the sugar cube.

The spiced simple syrup has a hint of sweetness mixed with warming spices like ginger, cinnamon and cloves. Mixed with the warmth of the bourbon you get a delightful sip that’s perfect for enjoying at home or during an evening with friends.

What do you need to make this Winter Spiced Old Fashioned

• Cocktail glasses
• Bourbon
• Spiced Simple Syrup
• Orange peels
• Agnostura or Orange Bitters
• One large ice cube per cocktail or a handful of smaller ice cubes

Print

Winter Spiced Old Fashioned

This spin on the classic Old Fashioned cocktail uses a spiced simple syrup that brings lovely warming notes to this Wintery sip.

Course Drinks

Cuisine American

Keyword bourbon cocktail

Prep Time 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time 30 minutes minutes

Total Time 40 minutes minutes

Servings 1 cocktail

Author Jess

Ingredients

For the Spiced Simple Syrup

• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup water
• 3 cinnamon sticks or 1 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1 inch fresh ginger, sliced or 1 tsp ground ginger
• 2 inch piece orange peel
• one large pinch ground cloves or ground nutmeg

For the Cocktails

• 1 ounce spiced simple syrup
• 2 dashes agnostura or orange bitters
• 2 ounces bourbon
• ice cubes

To Garnish

• orange peel
• cinnamon sticks

Instructions

Spiced Simple Syrup

• To make the spiced simple syrup. In a small pot bring 1/2 cup water, 1/2 cup granulated sugar, cinnamon sticks, fresh ginger, orange peel and cloves or nutmeg to a boil. Boil 3 minutes then remove from the heat and let stand for 30 minutes to infuse and cool. This syrup makes enough for 6-8 drinks.
• Remove the cinnamon sticks, ginger and orange peel from the simple syrup and store in the fridge until ready to use. *You can store simple syrup in the fridge for a couple of weeks.*

Winter Spiced Old Fashioned

• To make one cocktail add spiced simple syrup, bitters, bourbon and ice to a cocktail glass. Stir for at least 20 seconds and up to one minute.
• Spritz an orange peel over the glass to release its oils by giving the orange peel a twist and then add to the glass. Garnish with cinnamon stick as well if you desire.

What bourbon to buy to make an Old Fashioned

The bourbon you use will have a great deal to do with how this cocktail tastes. Bulleit is my personal favourite bourbon for an Old Fashioned. Some other favourite’s to try are Knob Creek or Four Roses. Whichever bourbon you choose, make sure you enjoy it in other drinks too.

I picture sipping this cocktail by a cozy warm fireplace, with the Christmas tree beautifully lit, holiday music on and a few friends over. It’s really perfect for the season!

More Winter cocktails to love from the blog:

Easy Mulled Wine

Kombucha Cranberry Bourbon Smash

Citrus Vodka Crush

Until the next cooking adventure,
Jess

The post Winter Spiced Old Fashioned appeared first on Cooking in my Genes.

While this year at times felt extremely slow I found the last couple months went quickly.

But, we’re about to enter my absolute favourite time of year! Even though things are going to be pretty different when it comes to celebrating the holidays, I’m sharing with you my favourite December recipes and some extra holiday cheer!I am in FULL holiday cookie baking mode; what about you?? I’ve been putting on Christmas movies while baking too. Elf and The Holiday are two of my absolute favs!

December is also the best time to cook recipes with cranberries! You can make cocktails, desserts and jams just to name a few. I like to buy fresh cranberries and freeze them so I can have them at my hands in the kitchen when a cranberry recipe strikes. If you’re a cranberry fiend like me, here are few favs this time of year:

Kombucha Cranberry Bourbon Smash

Cranberry Orange White Chocolate Fudge from Broma Bakery

Cranberry White Chocolate Rolls from Crumb Top Baking

Cranberry Rosé Fizz

No-Bake Mini Cranberry Cheesecakes

Need some more holiday treat inspiration? A couple of years ago I shared this holiday cookie box AND stay tuned as I have an updated one coming very soon!

So, what else in season to make in December?

Brussels Sprouts: Sheet Pan Roasted Carrots, Brussels Sprouts and Potatoes

Cranberries: Cranberry-Pear Chia Seed Jam

Citrus: Citrus Vodka Crush

Lemon: Lemon Squares

Pears: Baked Pears with Cardamom Cream

Spices: Spiced Winter Punch

Depending on where you live you might be like me with restrictions on getting together in person. SO, here are a few of my favourite ideas to make holiday weekends more festive as we stay home more:

• Cozy day or night at home: Create my hot chocolate bar to share with your family, partner or friend and have a cozy afternoon or night in. Go old-school with some board games or watch all your fav Christmas movies! Or even take your hot chocolate to-go for a walk around your neighbourhood to see Christmas lights.
• Online cooking class: If you’re in the mood for some ‘online’ cooking fun, I’m hosting a FREE cooking class with Wine, Women & Wellbeing on Thursday December 10th! We’re going to make a really simple appetizer and you can register here for free to join in.
• Get crafty: Brit & Co. is offering a selection of their classes for FREE until the end of the year! Grab some supplies and get crafty one afternoon.

I hope you have a lovely holiday season this year.

Until the next cooking adventure,
Jess

The post What’s In Season – Recipes to Make in December appeared first on Cooking in my Genes.

I LOVE when all of the different citrus varieties arrive at winter time, so I knew I had to create a festive vodka cocktail with them.

Pairing the citrus juice with the spicy & citrus notes of Northern Keep Vodka and fizzy ginger soda, it’s a sip you’ll come back to! Let’s cheers to the season with this Citrus Vodka Crush friends!

I’m taking my cocktail game up a notch by making my own citrus juice as the base for this Citrus Vodka Crush; if you have the time, it’s a game-changer!

By combining a variety of oranges and tangerines, you get a super fresh citrus juice made for cocktails. Plus, the colour is just so lovely.

Creating cocktails is one of my favourite things to do in the kitchen. I especially love to mix fresh fruit flavours with local spirits like Northern Keep Vodka which is made right here in Alberta! They use Canadian grains of rye and winter wheat to craft their vodka which gives it hints of citrus and a light spiciness. And, because the vodka is distilled five times you get a very smooth vodka that pairs perfectly with fresh fruits like the citrus in this cocktail.

How to make a fresh citrus vodka cocktail

Fresh citrus: Use a variety of citrus like blood oranges, tangerines, cara cara or navel oranges or grapefruits to mix up the citrus juice.

Vodka: Use a smooth vodka with hints of citrus to mix with the fresh citrus juice in this cocktail.

Ginger soda or ginger beer: The ginger soda or beer rounds out the bright, fresh flavours of this cocktail.

Print

Citrus Vodka Cocktail

With fresh citrus juice, ginger beer & vodka, this Citrus Vodka Crush cocktail is a bright, colourful drink to sip on during the holidays.

Course Drinks

Cuisine American

Keyword citrus cocktail, holiday cocktail, vodka cocktail

Prep Time 10 minutes minutes

Total Time 10 minutes minutes

Servings 1 cocktail

Author Jess

Equipment

• blender

Ingredients

• 1.5 oz Northern Keep Vodka
• 4 oz citrus juice
• 2 oz ginger soda or ginger beer
• ice
• garnish with extra citrus slices & mint

Citrus Juice

• 2 blood oranges
• 2 cara cara or navel oranges
• 2 tangerines or 1 large grapefruit
• 1/2 cup water
• 1/2-1 tbsp honey

Instructions

• To make the citrus juice: Add peeled pieces of fruit and water to a blender and blend on high for 1 minute.  Taste and add ½-1tbsp honey if too tart, blend again and then strain into a container for use in cocktails.
• To make one cocktail: In a cocktail glass stir together vodka and citrus juice. Then, add crushed ice or ice cubes followed by a top up with the ginger soda or ginger beer. Garnish with citrus and mint. Cheers!

I seriously cannot get enough of the fresh citrus juice in this vodka cocktail! It complements the vodka and ginger soda just so perfectly.

If you’re short on time feel free to sub-in a fresh store-bought citrus juice. Whichever way you make it, this cocktail is so worth making anytime of year.

If you’re looking for more holiday cocktail inspiration, check out my other creations in partnership with Northern Keep Vodka. Try the Apple Ginger Cranberry Punch or the Pomegranate-Rosemary Vodka Sparkler!

Until the next cooking adventure,
Jess

Disclaimer: Thank you to Northern Keep Vodka for sponsoring this post. Thank you for supporting the brands that I support. All opinions are my own.

The post Citrus Vodka Crush appeared first on Cooking in my Genes.

Depending on where we live, we may be experiencing life events (and planning for them) in ways that we’re not used to.

So I am sharing my best tips on how to celebrate Mother’s Day at home or from afar, and how this might help you to celebrate other events to come!

One of my favourite things to do before everything changed was to gather together with family and friends to enjoy delicious food and drink. From casual gatherings like picnics to setting the table for a dinner party, these are the connections I miss the most right now.

But, I think there are ways we can celebrate the people in our lives or just treat ourselves to a nice ‘night-in’ using what you have at home.

Mother’s Day is just one week away so here are a couple of ways to celebrate Mom together, even though we may need to be physically distant:

Create & deliver a brunch-at-home box

Bake your Mom’s favourite muffins or buy a delicious treat and pair with fruit, juice, coffee and something sparkling like prosecco. Drop off the brunch-at-home box at your Mom’s on the weekend for her to enjoy! Need a bit of recipe inspiration!? These recipes are delicious, simple & will transport well:

Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal Muffins

One Bowl Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies

Cranberry Chocolate Scones with Orange Glaze

Sweet Potato & Cheddar Drop Biscuits

4 Easy & Creative Breakfast Toasts

Make & send a homemade card

Who remembers making cards with markers, pipe-cleaners and macaroni noodles when they were kids!? Make your Mom a simple, classic homemade card; drop it off or pop it in the mail.

Set a nice table with what you already have at home

I love a good table-setting but these days I enjoy mixing & matching what I have on hand. If you’re living with your Mom, set a nice table to enjoy a meal together or set the table anyway to enjoy a virtual meal together. Either cook or do take-out! There’s so many restaurants offering delicious takeout menus right now too.  Here are a couple dishes I look to for simple celebrations:

Market Spring Vegetable Salad

Mushroom Tart

Rhubarb Cake

Roasted Tomato, Arugula & Halloumi Salad

Swiss Chard, Goat Cheese & Leek Frittata

Picnic in your backyard

Pack a picnic and deliver to your Mom. Or, if you live with Mom you make one at home to enjoy in the backyard. Setup a blanket to enjoy food and time outdoors.

Pick up the phone

While video chats are all the rage, I do enjoy a ‘classic’ phone call. Grab the phone and give your Mom a call. Maybe you can both enjoy a cocktail whilst chatting too.

Whether you’re celebrating your Mom or that special woman in your life, I hope these ideas inspire you for now or future special days at-home.

Create a custom cocktail or wine tasting

Gather together the ingredients for Mom’s favourite cocktail & deliver to her door. Save some for yourself so you can virtually cheers together via video! Or, grab a selection of her favourite wines to enjoy with cheese and crackers. Local businesses may have similar offerings to help get a gift like this together too.

Need a special cocktail? Here’s a cocktail recipe I created with Tanya from Extra for Avocado last year that is absolutely divine. (And thanks to Tanya for taking the photo of me above!)

I know things will look different for the foreseeable future but my hope is that we can still make Mother’s and Father’s Day, birthdays and other times in our life still pretty awesome!

Until the next cooking adventure,
Jess

The post How to Celebrate Mother’s Day at Home appeared first on Cooking in my Genes.