Rotisserie chicken, orzo, and veggies are paired with a bright, lemony broth in this lemon chicken orzo soup. This easy soup will add a bit of brightness to a cold, dreary day.
It’s soup season!
Every year I get excited for colder weather because it means I can bust out my soup pot and make one of my very favorite foods: soup!
This lemon chicken orzo soup is one that adds a little bit of sunshine into a gloomy fall or winter day. It’s loaded with chicken, veggies, and plenty of lemon and dill for tons and tons of flavor.
As an added bonus, it comes together pretty quickly, so it’s a great recipe to make on a weeknight when you’re low on time and energy.
The Salty Dog is a refreshing citrus cocktail that pairs grapefruit juice, gin, and a salted rim. It’s perfect for…
The Salty Dog is a refreshing citrus cocktail that pairs grapefruit juice, gin, and a salted rim. It’s perfect for brunch or happy hour!
Want a citrus cocktail with a salted rim that’s not a margarita? Enter, the Salty Dog! This cocktail’s got a unique name and a beautiful pale pink color. It’s tangy and refreshing, perfect as a brunch drink or for happy hour.
As cocktail experts, we find the Salty Dog is a true winner: it’s unique, simple, and it’s always fun to say the name (ha!). It’s got a light summery vibe, but it works in winter when citrus abounds. Really, it works anytime!
Ingredients in a Salty Dog
The Salty Dog cocktail is believed to originate in the 1920’s. It’s similar to a Greyhound cocktail, which is essentially the same ingredients, without the salty rim! Here are the ingredients you need to make a Salty Dog (for exact quantities see the recipe below):
Gin
Grapefruit juice
Salt for the rim
Simple syrup or maple syrup (optional)
Lime wedge (optional)
So why is it served with salt?
Why the salt? According to some sources, during and after Prohibition, cocktails were often served with a sugar or salt rim to make up for the fact the liquor was sub-par. So, the crappy gin was covered up with a salty rim!
What’s the point of serving with salt today? Salt intensifies the sweet and sour flavors in the drink. It makes the sour seem brighter, which makes the overall drink experience more pleasurable.
How to make a Salty Dog: basic steps
After making the salt rim, the Salty Dog is shaken in a cocktail shaker until cold, then served over ice! Here’s what to do:
Rim the glass with salt. It doesn’t just look cute! The salt enhances the overall flavor of the drink. How to make the perfect salt rim? See below.
Shake in a cocktail shaker. Take that gin and grapefruit juice and shake it together in a cocktail shaker with 4 ice cubes. We like adding 1 dash simple syrup or maple syrup, which rounds out the flavor (otherwise it’s very tart).
Strain into a glass and add ice. Strain the drink into the glass and add ice. Garnish with a grapefruit wedge and you’re done!
Tips for the salt rim
For salt rims on cocktails, we like to use flaky sea salt. You can also use kosher salt if you have it, which has large grains. Avoid iodized salt: it is too concentrated of a flavor and can add a metallic taste! Here are a few tips to making a salt rim:
Spread the salt on a plate in an even layer.
Take a lime wedge and cut a notch in the middle: then slide it around the rim of the glass. This moistens the glass rim without having to use your fingers.
To rim the glass, the salt should be on the outside rim the glass only, not the inside where it can fall into the drink. To do this, tilt the glass and gently turn so the outside edge goes into the salt. Shake off any loose salt into the sink.
Best gin for a Salty Dog
For this Salty Dog, you’ll want to use the high quality gin! The better the gin, the better the drink.Try to invest in a mid-price range gin: the drink will only taste as good as the gin you invest in! Also, be on the lookout for local gin, if you have distilleries in your area.
Every bottle of gin tastes a little different and has different botanical flavors. Experiment to find your favorite!
We like Malfy gin for a martini, so it’s our choice for a Gibson.
Steer away from Tanqueray gin: in our personal opinion, it gives a strong floral quality to the martini. It’s better used in a gin and tonic or Negroni.
Sweetener is optional
Officially the Salty Dog cocktail does not include sugar. However, it’s so tart without it that bartenders often add a dash of simple syrup. Here are two ways to sweeten this drink:
Maple syrup: To keep things naturally sweet, we like using pure maple syrup to sweeten our cocktails. Not only does it provide a gentle sweetness, it gives a nuanced undertone (it doesn’t taste like maple).
Simple syrup: Or if you prefer, head to How to Make Simple Syrup to make it in 5 minutes! You’ll only need a dash in this recipe.
And this time of year, I’m making batches of zucchini muffins and these lemon raspberry muffins on repeat.
Sometimes I will store them in the freezer to enjoy in a few months when fresh raspberries are no longer in season, and sometimes I just bake them to share with my neighbors.
Either way, you can’t go wrong with these bright, beautiful raspberry muffins.
Glazed lemon cookies are packed with lemon zest and lemon juice in both the cookie dough and the glaze. These big, chewy cookies are the perfect balance of sweet and tart.
I don’t need to tell you about my love for lemon again, do I?
Refreshing, fruity, and the perfect balance of tart and sweet, this blueberry lemonade is sure to become a summertime favorite.
Even as someone who cooks and bakes from scratch on a regular basis, I fall back way too often on coffee shop drinks or bottled lemonades from the store.
Last summer I was all about my watermelon lemonade and this year I’m all about this blueberry lemonade. It’s got a great blueberry flavor and is just the right amount of tart and sweet.
There’s nothing better than a cold glass of this lemonade while hanging out next to the pool!
For fans of the combination of tart citrus and crunchy, nutty poppy seeds, these tender lemon poppy seed scones are sure to become a fast favorite!
When people think of scones, they tend to think of dry, crumbly pastries. But lemme tell ya, scones don’t have to be dry and flavorless, ok?
I love making scones at home and sharing them with friends and neighbors because they’re always surprised at how tender and flavorful they are. Even “basic” flavors like my vanilla bean scones make them re-think what they knew about these pastries!
There are so many great flavor options to make, too, like pumpkin scones in the fall and lemon raspberry scones in the spring. Right now, I’m loving all things tart and lemony, so these lemon poppy seed scones are at the top of my favorites list.
So is it really surprising that I combined these two loves into these beautiful glazed lemon scones?
Nope. It is not.
These tender lemon scones, which are similar to my raspberry lemon scones, are topped with a bright lemon glaze, making these beauties the ideal treat for anyone who loves lemon as much as I do.
Mini lemon cheesecakes are topped with lemon curd and fresh berries for a bright addition to any summer menu.
I come from a cheesecake obsessed family. Whether it’s mini cheesecakes for a spring birthday party or a pumpkin cheesecake on Thanksgiving, a cheesecake of some variety graces our table for almost every occasion.
It’s one of those desserts that immediately takes me back to being a kid and baking with my Nana.
Perched up on a kitchen stool, I’d help her every step of the way. From sifting cups of flour and cutting shapes into pie dough to rolling up the perfect pumpkin roll, I was always her right hand girl.
Many times, we’d bake the day away and then deliver our sweet treats to neighbors, church friends, and family. I loved every minute of it. In that kitchen is where my love for baking began.
So of course, any time I make cheesecake, whether it’s Nana’s easy cheesecake or these mini lemon cheesecakes, I always think of her.
Here’s the ultimate frozen margarita recipe: refreshingly simple with just 4 simple ingredients! Blend up a party-sized pitcher in minutes.…
Here’s the ultimate frozen margaritarecipe: refreshingly simple with just 4 simple ingredients! Blend up a party-sized pitcher in minutes.
The classic margarita is one the greatest cocktails of all time. The best way to dress it up for summer? Try this Frozen Margarita recipe!
Why we love this recipe: The frozen margarita is our favorite summer entertaining trick: it’s so simple to blend up 4 servings in minutes! Who can turn down the sweet tart goodness of a frosty margarita? It’s a great frosty, citrusy drink for the season, to serve as a summer cocktail, poolside beach drink, barbecue or cookout, and more.
Ingredients in this frozen margarita recipe
The margarita is one of the most popular classic cocktails of all time: it was invented in Mexico in the 1930’s and is just as popular today. The standard recipe is just three ingredients: tequila, Triple Sec or Cointreau, and lime juice. To make the frozen version of it, you’ll just add ice!
A hint of simple syrup balances out the tartness of the icy mixture. That’s right: there’s no need for a store-bought mix! Here are the simple ingredients you’ll need:
One tip: buy a quality tequila for this recipe! Since tequila is the main flavor in this frozen margarita, spending a few extra dollars is worth it for the flavor. Look for 750 ml bottles in the range of $22 to $35.
We like using tequila reposado for this recipe. This type of tequila is aged and has a nuanced flavor with vanilla and oak notes. Some brands we like are Casamigos, Milagro Reposado, and Suerte Reposado.
Tequila blanco is not aged and has a straightforward flavor. You can use either, but reposado adds the most flavor. Some tequila blanco brands we like are Espolon Blanco, El Tesoro Blanco, Patrón Silver, and Casamigos.
How to make frozen margaritas
A good frozen margarita recipe is all about getting that perfect pureed frozen texture without sacrificing flavor. Will it stay frozen or melt within 2 seconds of pouring it into the glass? We tested a variety of methods and came up with the frozen margarita recipe here (go to the full recipe below for quantities):
Step 1: Cut a notch in a lime wedge, then run it around the edge of a margarita glass. Dip the glass rim into kosher salt or sea salt.
Step 2: Add tequila, Cointreau or Triple sec, lime juice, and simple syrup to a blender. Add ice and blend until smooth.
Fun ideas for the salt rim
You can use kosher salt or chunky sea salt for the rim, like Himalayan pink sea salt. To make it look even more festive, use colorful margarita salt with orange and lime zest. You’ll already have the limes for when making this frozen margarita (just make sure to zest them first!).
Or, try a Tajín rim: it’s a Mexican seasoning blend of chili peppers, lime, and salt that adds a burst of tangy, spicy flavor.
Make ahead tip
To prep this frozen margarita in advance, we recommend mixing up the liquids prior to serving and refrigerate up to 2 days in advance. Blend up the drink right immediately serving. You can also freeze your glasses prior to serving to slow the drink from melting (freeze them 30 minutes to 2 hours in advance).
Margarita recipe variations
If you love this frozen margarita recipe, you’ll love our collection of margarita recipes, from Cadillac to virgin to pitcher margaritas. Here are a few favorites:
Do I need a special machine to make a frozen margarita?
No! While margarita machines are convenient, you can easily make delicious frozen margaritas at home with a regular blender.
My frozen margarita is too icy! How can I fix it?
If your frozen margarita is too icy, add a little bit more water or lime juice (a teaspoon or so), and blend again.
Can I make a frozen margarita ahead of time?
Yes, you can! Blend all the ingredients except the ice and store the mixture in the freezer for up to 24 hours. When ready to serve, blend the mixture with ice until frozen.
What are some fun variations for frozen margaritas?
Replace the ice in the recipe below with 4 cups frozen strawberries or diced frozen mango cubes.
Place the salt on a plate and wet the rim of the glasses (it’s easiest to cut a notch into a lime and run it around the glass). Dip the outside edge of the rims into the margarita salt.
Place the frozen ingredients into a blender and blend until smooth and fluffy. Pour into the prepared glasses and serve*. If desired, garnish with lime wedges.
Notes
*Make ahead tip: To make this drink in advance, mix up the liquids prior to serving and refrigerate up to 2 days in advance. Blend up the drink right immediately serving. You can also freeze your glasses prior to serving to slow the drink from melting (freeze them 30 minutes to 2 hours in advance).
Fruity variations: Replace the ice in the recipe above with 4 cups frozen strawberries or diced frozen mango cubes.
Category:Drink
Method:Blended
Cuisine:American
Keywords: Frozen margarita recipe, Frozen margarita, How to make frozen margaritas, Best frozen margarita recipe
This sweet and creamy custard-based ice cream is flavored with candied orange syrup and features a swirl of rich and chewy chocolate fudge and bits of candied orange peel studded throughout. Inspired by a particularly memorable cone of gelato from our travels, Crema del Doge is a flavor fit for a king: sweet cream with […]
This sweet and creamy custard-based ice cream is flavored with candied orange syrup and features a swirl of rich and chewy chocolate fudge and bits of candied orange peel studded throughout.
Inspired by a particularly memorable cone of gelato from our travels, Crema del Doge is a flavor fit for a king: sweet cream with a hint of orange, with swirls of dark chocolate fudge and bits of bright candied orange peel mixed right in.
Sometimes, a single delicious bite from a trip is so memorable that you’re still thinking about it 7 years later.
This is one of those bites.
Ok, so we had quite a few memorable bites on our trip to Venice back in 2017, including a decadent pistachio cream and the always satisfying straciatella, but it was a mind-blowing scoop of chocolate-and-orange deliciousness dubbed Crema del Doge that embedded itself in my mind and refused to leave.
Crema del Doge is the signature flavor of Gelateria il Doge in Venice, Italy. (The Doge was the highest ranking leader in Venice from about the 7th to 18th centuries… so this gelato is fit for royalty, wouldn’t you agree?) If you ever find yourself in the Floating City, I highly recommend seeking out this particular gelateria as you won’t be disappointed (SuSo is the other one that’s an absolute must).
This particular flavor flavor features a sweet cream gelato base with a swirl of chocolate fudge and bits of candied orange peel, making for a lovely chocolate and orange combination that’s darn near perfection. It was one of those moments where I knew, shortly after taking that first lick, that this was a flavor I needed to recreate at home.
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