Most of us are spending a lot more time at home, perhaps cooking and baking more than we ever have.

So, let’s chat April recipes including seasonal dishes, easy recipes to make for Easter at home and what we’ve been up to as we #stayhome more.

As we’ve been cooking a lot more at home, we’re trying to use more pantry ingredients and keep to recipes that are simpler in nature like my Quick White Beans with Tomatoes & Kale.  Frozen veggies are going a long way these days too.

And, my Easy Pea Soup is exactly the dish to make them shine. Are you on a baking kick?! A couple of my friends are trying their hand at sourdough bread; but I’m sticking to my Sweet Potato & Cheddar Drop Biscuits because they’re SO easy!I dove back into a couple of books from my bookshelf that I haven’t read in years too, re-reading some of my favourites like Snow Falling on Cedars and The Little French Bistro.

And, we’ve also been watching a couple of movies & shows – some of my fav tv shows are:

• Ozark
• Virgin River
• Succession
• Schitt’s Creek
• The Office
• Modern Love
• Jack Ryan
• The Good Fight
• The Mindy Project

If you want a break from tv or cooking, get creative with Brit & Co. They have all of their online classes available FOR FREE until April 9th – maybe they’ll even extend it a bit!

In between reading, show-watching and getting creative, we are DEFINITELY cooking! So, here are some simple recipes to make this month and many of them contain fresh ingredients in-store right now:

Apples – Apple Cheddar Breakfast Toast

Grapefruit – Grapefruit Lavender Spring Blossom Cocktail

Leeks – Leek & Pancetta Pasta

Lettuce – Market Spring Vegetable Salad

Carrots – Honey Butter Roasted Carrots & Radishes

Spinach – Bacon, Mushroom & Spinach Quiche

Most of these recipes would be great as a main or side dish for Easter brunch or dinner and here are a couple more that are great for enjoying at home:

Mushroom Tart

Sheet Pan Roasted Carrots, Brussels Sprouts & Potatoes

Swiss Chard, Goat Cheese & Leek Frittata

Easy Pea Soup

Rhubarb Cake

I don’t know about you but I am sure looking forward to seeing more and more seasonal produce in the stores. And, starting to cook with it more!

Until the next cooking adventure,
Jess

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

I love this time of year; going to the farmers market to see all of the bright and fresh produce and of course using it in my cooking.

Spring also brings a sense of freshness and inspiration to me, so here are my favourite things from this past month including cookbooks, recipes and florals to brighten up your day!

March went by in a flash but I’ve definitely spent some time enjoying two new books from the library. First, I’ve been thoroughly loving Modern Lunch by Allison Day. The recipes totally shake-up what you ‘think’ lunch should be with some seriously delicious flavour combinations. What I really enjoy about the book is the ‘mix and match’ sections that give you a ton of ideas for using different recipes together for delicious lunches!

The second book I cannot get enough of is The Cook’s Atelier. Simply put, you are transported a French cooking school and culinary boutique in a town in France. With beautiful photos, recipes and stories from their cooking school, it’s absolutely a divine read!

And, I always like trying out other bloggers’ recipes, like these Baked Teriyaki Meatballs with Roasted Broccoli from The Modern Proper. I made this as a ‘build your own bowl’ kind of dinner for family and they absolutely LOVED it!

So, what are we cooking as we head into April? Here’s some inspiration for you!

Almonds – Almond Butter Squares

Grapefruit – Grapefruit Lavender Spring Blossom Cocktail

Leeks – Leek & Pancetta Pasta

Peas – Easy Pea Soup

Radishes – Spring Toasts with Radishes, Pea Shoots & Feta

Spinach – Bacon, Mushroom & Spinach Quiche

So, what’s your favourite Spring ingredient!? Is there a recipe you’d love to see on the blog?? I’d love to hear from you!

I’m also making a list of DIY projects because I am in the mood to create! I’m going to try my hand at these DIY Watercolour Cloth Napkins to use in an upcoming photoshoot so stay tuned to see how those turn out.

And, I’ll have some highlights from a trip to Arizona to share with you too!

Until the next cooking adventure,
Jess

The post What’s In Season – Monthly Favourites appeared first on Cooking in my Genes.

The natural tartness of the grapefruit is very refreshing, and when paired with a touch of lavender it’s a beautiful harmony of flavours.

This delicious cocktail recipe is inspired by my friend Erin! She gave me the most lovely lavender bitters as a birthday gift. I knew once I tried the lavender bitters, I HAD to use them to create a cocktail which featured the beautiful, floral flavour.

Why you’ll love this Spring cocktail

I like to keep my cocktails fairly simple and really easy to execute so whether you’re making this Grapefruit Lavender Spring Blossom Cocktail for just you or for a group of guests, you spend more time enjoying the cocktail than making it!

This would be the perfect Spring sip to enjoy on a warm, sunny day or even for brunch.

If you love my Lavender French 75 Cocktail, you’re sure to love this one too!

Do lavender and grapefruit go together?

The beautiful floral flavor of the lavender bitters pairs beautifully with the tart grapefruit juice. They share similar floral and citrus aromatics. The tart nature of the grapefruit balances the floral-forward lavender. Balance is key so start with 1-2 dashes of the lavender bitters as they can be overwhelming if you use too much.

What liquor pairs well with lavender?

A floral-forward gin pairs very well with lavender. A nice selection of gin’s to choose from for this drink are: Hendrick’s, The Botanist and Empress 1908 (which has a gorgeous lilac hue).

Ingredients needed for this Spring blossom cocktail

Lavender bitters: You will need 1-2 dashes lavender bitters (my personal favourite are Scrappy’s Bitters)

Grapefruit juice: I like to use fresh squeezed grapefruit juice for the most tart, fresh flavor; if desired, you can use store-bought fresh or bottled grapefruit juice (from about 1 grapefruit)

Gin: You will need 2 ounces of gin; I like to use a more floral gin like

Simple syrup: Make a batch of simple syrup before making this cocktail.

How to make simple syrup

To make simple syrup you will need equal parts water and granulated sugar. For this grapefruit lavender cocktail I like to make a batch of simple syrup with 1/2 cup water and 1/2 cup granulated sugar. The simple syrup can be stored in the fridge in an airtight glass jar (or container) for 2-3 weeks.

Combine the sugar and water in a small pot or saucepan. Stir and then bring the mixture to a boil over medium-high heat. Turn to medium-low and simmer for about 5 minutes until the dissolved. Set aside and let the simple syrup cool.

How to make a grapefruit lavender cocktail

First make the simple syrup by combining the sugar and water in a small pot. Stir and then heat the mixture on medium-high until simmering. Turn to medium-low and simmer for about 5 minutes until the sugar is dissolved. Set aside and let the simple syrup cool. You can also transfer the simple syrup to a glass container, uncovered, to help cool faster.

To make the cocktail, fill one cocktail glass about 2/3 full with ice.

Then, to a cocktail shaker add 1-2 dashes of lavender bitters (depending on how floral your taste is, use 1 dash for less floral notes), fresh grapefruit juice, gin and simple syrup. Shake and then pour into an ice-filled cocktail glass. Garnish with a grapefruit slice and if you so desire, dried lavender buds or a sprig of dried lavender.

Tips & Tricks

• Cool the simple syrup: You can transfer the hot simple syrup to a glass container, uncovered, to help cool faster.
• Make this cocktail for more people: You can easily make a big batch of this cocktail. Double, triple or quadrupole this recipe to make more cocktails for a larger group.
• Add club soda: If you want to make this cocktail a bit lighter, add a splash of club soda, tonic or sparkling water.
• Garnishes: The lavender garnish is optional.

FAQs

More Spring cocktail recipes to love from the blog

• The Best Rhubarb French 75 Cocktail Recipe
• Minty Cucumber Gin Spritz
• Strawberry Rosé Spritzer

Print

Grapefruit Lavender Spring Blossom Cocktail (with gin)

This Grapefruit Lavender Spring Blossom Cocktail is a beautiful sip for the Spring. With gin, fresh grapefruit juice & lavender bitters, it's a delight.

Course Drinks

Cuisine american-inspired

Keyword grapefruit, lavender

Prep Time 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time 5 minutes minutes

Total Time 10 minutes minutes

Servings 1 cocktail

Author Jess

Ingredients

• 1-2 dashes lavender bitters
• 2 ounces gin
• 3 ounces fresh-squeezed grapefruit juice
• 1/2 ounce simple syrup
• ice cubes
• slice of grapefruit for garnish
• optional: dried lavender for garnish

Instructions

• First make the simple syrup by combining the sugar and water in a small pot. Stir and then heat the mixture on medium-high until simmering. Turn to medium-low and simmer for about 5 minutes until the sugar is dissolved. Set aside and let the simple syrup cool. You can also transfer the simple syrup to a glass container, uncovered, to help cool faster.
• To make the cocktail, fill one cocktail glass about 2/3 full with ice.
• Then, to a cocktail shaker add 1-2 dashes of lavender bitters (depending on how floral your taste is, use 1 dash for less floral notes), fresh grapefruit juice, gin and simple syrup. Shake and then pour into an ice-filled cocktail glass. Garnish with a grapefruit slice and if you so desire, dried lavender buds or a sprig of dried lavender.

The post Grapefruit Lavender Spring Blossom Cocktail (with gin) appeared first on Cooking in my Genes.

This is inspired by my friend Corinne who makes a mean cocktail; we concocted this one Friday night at my house and it’s been a hit every since.

You can easily make this for a crowd and is the perfect start to a holiday soiree (or any party for that matter!)

Prep time: 5 minutes
Equipment:  measuring cup, shot glass
Servings: 2

Ingredients:
2 ounces of your favourite Gin (a shot glass is about 1 ounce)
1 cup of grapefruit soda (or juice)
1/2 cup sparkling water (plain or lime flavoured)
lime (cut in wedges)
ice for serving

Instructions:
Measure out the Gin, grapefruit soda and sparkling water into a pitcher and then stir.

Put ice into each of your glasses and pour the drink evenly into each glass.  Squeeze a wedge of lime into each glass and them drop the lime wedge in. Enjoy!

It’s truly that easy and every so beautiful.

If you want to make a non-alcoholic version simply don’t add the gin and add a bit extra sparkling water.

Until the next cooking adventure,
Jess

The post Grapefruit Gin Splash appeared first on Cooking in my Genes.