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.