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Blood Orange Gose Margarita

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Blood Orange Gose Margarita is a colorful and festive cocktail using both beer and tequila for a refreshing beverage perfect to celebrate Cinco de Mayo

Blood Orange Gose Margarita is a colorful and festive cocktail using both beer and tequila for a refreshing beverage perfect to celebrate Cinco de Mayo

It’s Margarita Week!

Blood Orange Gose Margarita is a colorful and festive cocktail using both beer and tequila for a refreshing beverage perfect to celebrate Cinco de Mayo

What better way to celebrate Cinco de Mayo than with a collection of all things margarita! Kate at Hola Jalapeno has rounded up 7 days worth of margarita cocktail recipes and margarita inspired food recipes from food bloggers and influencers from all around the interwebs to bring you everything you could possibly need all in one place.  Be sure to swing over to Kate’s Margarita Week page and keep checking back because the list gets updated daily.  You won’t want to miss any of these delicious recipes.

Blood Orange Gose Margarita is a colorful and festive cocktail using both beer and tequila for a refreshing beverage perfect to celebrate Cinco de Mayo

My contribution is a Blood Orange Gose Margarita.  I was inspired by a Blood Orange Gose beer from Anderson Valley Brewing Company.  This beer is tart, fruity, and refreshing and in my opinion a perfect addition to this margarita (and magically delicious on its own).

Happy Margarita Week and have a fun and safe Cinco de Mayo celebration! Cheers!

Blood Orange Gose Margarita
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Blood Orange Gose Margarita

Ingredients

  • Juice of 1 blood orange about 6 tablespoons
  • 8 ounces silver tequila
  • 4 ounces triple sec
  • 1 can blood orange gose beer
  • Margarita salt for the rim
  • Lime and blood orange slices to garnish optional

Instructions

  1. Combine blood orange juice, tequila, and triple sec in a cocktail shaker with ice and shake
  2. Pour some beer in a bowl and margarita salt in another bowl
  3. Dip the rims of two tall pint size glasses into the beer then the salt to coat
  4. Add ice to the glasses, pour tequila mixture over ice, top with remaining beer, garnish with orange and lime slices if using

NOTES:

  1. This recipe made two Blood Orange Gose Margaritas
  2. I didn’t use lime juice because this beer is a sour style gose and it’s a perfect balance to the sweetness of the juice and triple sec
  3. I used Blood Orange Gose from Anderson Valley Brewing Company – I usually stick to North Carolina breweries, but I also happen to really love Anderson Valley and we can actually get it here

Blood Orange Gose Margarita

30 Cookout, Grilling, and Party Recipes for Labor Day Weekend

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30 Cookout, Grilling, and Party Recipes for Labor Day Weekend

We are headed to Hilton Head this weekend for one last beach trip before summer ends – not to worry – the house won’t be vacant.  We have a pet sitter coming so the dogs won’t be running amuck and doing water ballet in our living room like in those Farmers Insurance commercials.  Hilarious if not in your own house.  I thought I’d leave you with a recipe roundup to cover all your cookout, grilling, and party needs for the long weekend.  Party on!

APPETIZERS

Stuffed Mushrooms

Stuffed Mushrooms – Beer Girl Cooks (pictured above)

Texas Caviar – The Beach House Kitchen

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Smoked Jalapeno Poppers with Bacon, Apple, and Brie – Tasty Ever After (pictured above & photo credit)

Baba Ganoush – Cook With Manali

Fig, Goat Cheese, Bacon + Honey Crostini – Feast and West

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Bacon-Wrapped Brats – Spiced Blog (pictured above & photo credit)

 

SIDES AND SALADS

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Bourbon & Brown Sugar Baked Beans with Candied Bacon – No Spoon Necessary (pictured above & photo credit)

Grilled Corn on the Cob with Spicy Lime Seasoned Salt -Ciao Chow Bambina

Peach & Chickpea Salad – Girl Heart Food

Quinoa Spinach Salad with Pesto – Family Food on the Table

Smoked Gouda Mac 'n Cheese

Smoked Gouda Mac ‘n Cheese – Beer Girl Cooks (pictured above)

Parmesan-Pea-Pasta-Salad-Pic

Parmesan and Pea Pasta Salad – Tasty Ever After (pictured above & photo credit)

Grilled-Potato-Salad-short-pin

Grilled Potato Salad with Everything Bagel Seasoning and 7  Minute Eggs – No Spoon Necessary (pictured above & photo credit)

Grilled Watermelon and Feta Salad with Mint and Balsamic Reduction

Easy Grilled Watermelon and Feta Salad with Mint and Balsamic Reduction – Beer Girl Cooks (pictured above)

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Easy 7 Layer Salad – Tasty Ever After (pictured above & photo credit)

 

MEAT DISHES

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Sundried Tomato and Gorgonzola Burgers – Spiced Blog (pictured above & photo credit)

Grilled Country Style Pork Shoulder Ribs with Blueberry Peach Salsa – Cooking LSL

Honey Mustard Grilled Salmon – Kevin is Cooking

Roasted Vegetable Grilled Pizza with Garlic Herb Oil – Ciao Chow Bambina

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Honey Balsamic Chicken Skewers with Strawberry Kiwi Salsa – No Spoon Necessary (pictured above & photo credit)

Bacon and Feta Stuffed Lamb Burger with Tzatziki

Bacon and Feta Stuffed Lamb Burgers with Tzatziki Sauce – Beer Girl Cooks (pictured above)

 

DESSERTS

Banana Pudding in a Jar Recipe

Banana Pudding in Jars – Beer Girl Cooks (pictured above)

S'mores in Mason Jars

S’mores in Jars – Beer Girl Cooks (pictured above)

Butterscotch Blondies – Just About Baked

Grilled Pound Cake with Mascarpone Cream and Blueberries – Pumpkin ‘n Spice

Marshmallow Fruity Pebble Bars – Baked by an Introvert

Gluten Free Vegan Peanut Butter Cup Brownies – Beaming Baker

Blueberry Coconut Popsicles

Blueberry Coconut Milk Popsicles – Beer Girl Cooks (pictured above)

Honeydew Kiwi Coconut Popsicles

Honeydew Kiwi Coconut Popsicles – Beer Girl Cooks (pictured above)

Strawberry Kiwi Coconut Popsicles

Strawberry Kiwi Coconut Popsicles – Beer Girl Cooks (pictured above)

Boozy Root Beer Float Popsicles

Boozy Root Beer Float Popsicles – Beer Girl Cooks (pictured above)

 

Ok.  Yes, I know that lawyers can’t do math, but I’m well aware that there are actually 31 recipes in this post of 30 recipes for Labor Day.  I just felt like the booze wasn’t well represented, so I had to add that last popsicle.

Y’all have a safe and fantastic Labor Day Weekend!  Fingers crossed that we all stay dry on the east coast and this hurricane spins back out to sea!

 

Mother Earth Weeping Willow Wit Steamed Mussels

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It’s official.  Cam, Luke, Greg, and the rest of the Cardiac Cats are totally trying to kill me.  That game, y’all!  I just can’t take it!  It was a super stressful second half, but thankfully we’re moving on to the next game and we’ll be hosting the Angry Birds here again in Panther Nation for another home field advantage.  I hope I survive.

 

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Because it’s Monday.  Because I had several cardiac arrests, a blood pressure emergency, and a head explosion yesterday, we’re starting out this week with beer.

As if I need a reason.

 

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We actually have beer-steamed mussels a lot.  They’re cheap, fast, easy and delicious.  Seriously, a pound at the Publix is usually only about $4.50.

 

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Add beer?  Yes, please!  Mother Earth Brewing is located in Kinston, North Carolina and makes some great craft beer.  How can you not love a brewery that brews beer with sustainable practices and whose motto is Peace, Love & Beer?!?!  I know, right?  These are clearly my kind of people.

 

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Any-hoo, I normally like to include the actual beer bottle or can in some in the photos with food I cook with the beer, but I didn’t this time because this was dinner and no one wants to eat cold and grainy mussels. Bottom line?  The Weeping Willow Wit bottle had already made it to the recycling bin and I wasn’t going back to get it or dinner would be cold.  At least I think Mother Earth Brewing would be proud that I recycled their bottle. 🙂

 

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Any-hoo again.  I tend to get distracted and digress.  These mussels are garlicky and delicious with the floral notes from the Belgian-style Weeping Willow Wit.  If you don’t have Mother Earth where you are, just use your favorite Belgian – a tripel would be awesome.

 

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You could serve them as an appetizer, toss them over pasta with some parmesan (which is what we did and don’t judge me for mixing cheese and fish – I give it an A-OK if it’s parm and pasta is involved), or just hoard them all to yourself with a big piece of crusty bread.

 

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Until next time friends.  In the words of the cool peeps at Mother Earth Brewing, I wish you Peace, Love & Beer.

 

I also wish you a $700 Amazon gift card, so don’t forget to enter the giveaway!!!! (CLOSED)

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Mother Earth Weeping Willow Wit Steamed Mussels

Ingredients

  • 1/4 cup flour
  • 1 tablespoons butter
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 8 cloves garlic roughly chopped
  • 1 12 ounce bottle Mother Earth Weeping Willow Wit Belgian-Style Wit Beer
  • 1.5 pounds mussels
  • 1/4 cup chopped basil for garnish optional
  • 1/2 pound angel hair pasta prepared and optional
  • Parmesan to taste, optional

Instructions

  1. Combine 1/4 cup flour with a large bowl of water - enough to cover mussels by a couple of inches
  2. Add mussels and soak for 20 - 30 minutes
  3. Scoop mussels out of flour water with a slotted spoon and transfer to a colander, discard flour water
  4. Scrub mussels and remove the weird hairy beard things by using a towel to grab and pull it off, discard any that don't stay closed
  5. Melt butter and olive oil in a Dutch oven on medium heat, add garlic, and cook until soft and fragrant, about 2 minutes
  6. Transfer mussels from bowl to Dutch oven
  7. Add beer, cover, and cook on medium low until mussels open, 8-10 minutes, discard any that don't open
  8. Serve over pasta garnished with parmesan and basil if using

Mother Earth Weeping Willow Wit Steamed Mussels

Artichoke Party Dip or Appetizer

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Happy last week of 2015, y’all!  Have you been having a happy holiday season?  If you’re anything like me, you’ve been over-indulging in all things fattening and fun!

 

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And not that I’m complaining, but can someone please tell me what in tarnation is up with this weather? I do realize that I live in the south, but it was 78 degrees here on Saturday?  It’s been hot, rainy (most of the time), and humid for the last week or so.

 

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It’s the end of December and we slept with the windows open the last two nights.  Fortunately, we didn’t get homicided.  I woke up Sunday morning with a spring-like breeze coming in the windows, the sun shining, and the birds chirping like it’s the middle of June!   My apologies to my friends in the colder climates.

 

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I was all comfy under the covers with the mistaken belief that I was in the middle of my summer vacation. It’s true that I’m on (a much needed!) stay-cation, but we’re a long way from summer.  It’s almost New Year’s Eve!  And that means more partying!

Every good party needs some dip, so I bring you this artichoke dip (no spinach) that’s totally easy and always a hit.  A friend of mine gave me this recipe a long time ago.  It only requires three ingredients and about thirty minutes in the oven.

 

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Yes.  Mayonaise is involved here and so are artichokes and parmesan.  That’s it.  I apologize for the photo of a big blob of mayo, but Jennifer demands politely requests pics of steps and I try to oblige or she throws a hissy fit is heartbroken.

 

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Anyway, everyone needs an easy go-to dip for a holiday party and I’ve totally got your back. Seriously, a 5 year old could make this.

And y’all be sure to check back on Thursday for a delicious cocktail and we’ll totally ring in 2016 in style!

 

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Artichoke Party Dip or Appetizer

Ingredients

  • 1 cup mayonaise
  • 1 cup parmesan
  • 1 can artichoke hearts chopped

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350
  2. Combine all ingredients reserving a couple of tablespoons of the parmesan
  3. Transfer mixture to a baking dish
  4. Sprinkle remaining parmesan over top
  5. Bake 30-35 minutes, until golden and bubbly