CHAMPAGNE APPLE CIDER
With Thanksgiving and the holidays quickly approaching, I was on the hunt for a great holiday cocktail that puts me in the spirit. With just a little apple cider and a little bubbly.. you have perfection.
Images by Andrea Bemis
Tis the season! If I’m being honest, I love all things fall and unfortunately for me, that means all things pumpkin. Gasp! Did she just say that? Yes, I did; I don’t like pumpkin. I know I must be crazy. Believe it or not us anti-pumpkiners exist... we’re out there! Problem is, I love a good holiday cocktail as much as the next girl, but too often that somehow means pumpkin or eggnog. Ya, I don’t like eggnog either. I know I’m terrible.
So with Thanksgiving and the holidays quickly approaching, I was on the hunt for a great holiday cocktail that puts me in the spirit. When I stumbled upon this amazing recipe from Andrea Bemis of DishingUpTheDirt I had to try it. With a little apple cider, a little bubbly, its perfection. And It was too good not to share.
So this one is for the pumpkin hating, cider loving, anti-eggnoggers out there. Enjoy this amazing taste of fall and cheers with those you love!
Spiced Apple Cider Champagne Cocktail
A lovely and festive cocktail that is easy to prepare,
Prep Time: 5 min, Serves 2
2 oz Tennessee Cider (you can sub apple brandy if you cannot find Tennessee Cider)
2 oz fresh apple cider
3-4 oz chilled champagne
Pour the Tennessee Cider into the bottom of each glass. Add the champagne and top with a splash of fresh apple cider.
Enjoy!
Use this recipe as a guide and adjust measurements and ingredients as necessary.
Contributed by estCA staff, Megan Araujo
TEN OF THE TOP COCKTAILS FOR SUMMER
It's June! Which means BBQs, hot summer nights and lots of laughs with friends. And what pairs well with hot summer nights with friends? Nice, lovely, refreshing cocktails! That's why we pulled together ten of the top cocktails for summertime!
It's June! Which means BBQs, hot summer nights and lots of laughs with friends. And what pairs well with hot summer nights with friends? Nice, lovely, refreshing cocktails! That's why we pulled together ten of the top cocktails for summertime!
Grapefruit, Ginger & Lemongrass Sake from The Bojon Gourmet
Whiskey Sprite & Lime from Cooking LSL
Peach, Mango & Pineapple White Sangria from Averie Cooks
The Simple Pineapple Mule from Something Turquoise
Lavender Mint Julep from Pizzazzerie
Cucumber Pineapple Mint Martini from I'm Bored, Let's Go
Chili Mango Margarita from Minimalist Baker
Spicy Old Bay Bloody Mary with Rosemary Infused Vodka from With Food and Love
Dragoons Punch from Barbells and Bellinis
Ginger Mojitos from Chow
What's your favorite summer cocktail? Let us know in the comments or share with us using #estcalifornia on your social channels!
Contributed by estCA staff, Lindsay Vacek
Fruit Infused Ice Cubes for the Summer
I'm always trying to think of ways to dress up drinks, especially when you’re having summer parties! These summer fruit infused ice cubes are the perfect addition to any cocktail, mocktail, or just plain old water.
Photography by Ashley Williams
Happy Summer!!
My favorite time of year! During summer, I am definitely in the mood for entertaining, long beach days, bright fun colors, and refreshing beverages (wellI'll take one of those all year round, just saying..)
I'm always trying to think of ways to dress up drinks, especially when you’re having summer parties! These summer fruit infused ice cubes are the perfect addition to any cocktail, mocktail, or just plain old water. I made a huge batch of these and have been popping them in my La Croix sparkling grapefruit water. Best summer drink ever! If you're having a party or happy hour, pour a shot or 2 of vodka and you got your self the most refreshing, summery cocktail! Love it!
These adorable ice cubes are so simple to make. Hardly no prep time, you just have to wait for the water to freeze and there ya have it! Pick a couple of your favorite summer fruits. I am a huge fan of pineapple and strawberries, so that's what I chose, but any fruit would be great! (watermelon, berries, kiwi, etc)
♥ Fill an ice cube tray with a piece or 2 of fruit. (I love this chunky ice cube tray because it makes large square ice, and I really only pop 1 or 2 into a drink and you're good to go)
♥ Fill with water
♥ Pop into the freezer over night
♥ Serve in your fav summer drink!
What are some of your favorite things to do/make in the summer??
XO Melissa ♥
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Melissa Heyde is the creator behind the beach inspired lifestyle blog, Mermaid Memos! She's a total beach girl, with a love and passion for health, travel, beauty and overall wellness. She grew up in beautiful San Diego, lived in Hawaii for a couple years and have always been drawn to the beach lifestyle. She believes that life is a balancing act so staying positive and grateful are her key motives for being the best version of herself, each and every day!
CRANBERRY COCONUT DETOX MOCKTAIL
This detox mocktail is so refreshing and is a great alternative to drinking booze. Although, I like to put it in a martini glass and pretend!
Photography by Ashley Williams
Hey babes!
I have the best detox drink/mocktail ever!! Sometimes your body just needs a flush and this easy peasy drink has so many health benefits. There are only 4 ingredients: fresh muddled mint leaves, organic cold pressed cranberry juice (I’m not talking about Ocean Spray cranberry cocktail← filled with calories and sugar) pure coconut water, and a fresh lemon.
This detox mocktail is so refreshing and is a great alternative to drinking booze. Although, I like to put it in a martini glass and pretend! It is great for flushing the lymphatic system, cleansing, weight loss, and eliminates any unwanted bacteria. I have been drinking this flush drink once a day in the morning to start my day off right!
Check out the health benefits
Fresh muddled mint: Helps sooth an upset stomach, takes away bloat, and has many antibacterial properties. YES PLEASE!! Another favorite thing of mine to do is make mint and cucumber water! Feels like you’re at the spa!
Cranberry: Pure cranberry juice is a bit bitter (you don't want it to be filled with sugar), but tastes really good mixed with a little something. It’s rich in antioxidants, helps prevents UTI’s, and is full of vitamin C.
Coconut water: There are so many health benefits of coconut water; I drink this stuff on the daily. It is ultra hydrating, rich in nutrients, great for skin (moisturizes the skin from within and ditches oil), is the best hangover cure known to man, aids in weight loss, I mean I could go on for days over here. Anddd, I'm obsessed with anything coconut, so it's a win win in my book!
Lemon: I put lemons on anything and everything. It’s packed with vitamin C, amazing for your skin, immune system, is a natural cleanse for your stomach and blood purifier. Hangover cure anyone?
This drinky drink is the easiest thing to put together in the whole world and all the ingredients will cost you under $10. I'm all about simple, cheap and effective!
Directions:
♥ Muddle about 5-10 mint leaves in the bottom of your martini shaker. I just use the butt of a knife to release the essence of the mint.
♥ Pour about a little less than a cup of coconut water into your shaker
♥Pour a few splashes of cranberry juice, just eyeball it (exact recipe measurements give me anxiety, so do what you like and what works for you)
♥ Squeeze a fresh lemon wedge on top
Optional: You can add a dollop of honey if you like a little sweeter drink. Raw honey has many health benefits, just watch how much you add.
Shake Shake Shake it up!! The color of this drink is so pretty and summery, and if you’re feeling feisty I don’t see why you couldn’t add a little booze (healthy cocktails, if there is such a thing)
Pour into a cutsie glass, top with a mint leaf and enjoy!! You will feel refreshed and energized and just know you are doing something healthy for your body.
Happy sipping!
XO Melissa ♥
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Melissa Heyde is the creator behind the beach inspired lifestyle blog, Mermaid Memos! She's a total beach girl, with a love and passion for health, travel, beauty and overall wellness. She grew up in beautiful San Diego, lived in Hawaii for a couple years and have always been drawn to the beach lifestyle. She believes that life is a balancing act so staying positive and grateful are her key motives for being the best version of herself, each and every day!
EST. SPOTLIGHT: BOOZE BROTHERS BREWING CO.
When first entering the Vista brewery Booze Brothers you don’t initially get the feeling of an industrial park brewery. But, located along the Hoops Highway (Hwy 78) in North County San Diego, it's somewhere you want to hang out.
When first entering the Vista brewery, Booze Brothers Brewing Co., you don’t initially get the feeling of an industrial park brewery. Located along the Hoops Highway (Hwy 78) in North County San Diego, is somewhere you want to hang out. With the decor being very visually appealing it does not feel like your typical brewery. This place has style! With the décor having an Old West feel the brewery features planks of different wood paneling throughout creates a rustic décor and the antler taps, American Flags and vintage hanging bulbs doesn’t hurt either. They were able to create the homey vibe with a lot of help from family and friends.
Brother’s Donny and Dave Firth first started brewing beer in their garage after making beer for their sister’s wedding about 5 year ago. Donny, who has a science background started experimenting with the help of Dave and realized just how much they enjoyed it. As they continued to get better at brewing and receiving praise from everyone who tried their beer the idea came to be they should move their operation out of the garage and open their own brewery. Booze Brother’s first opening in October 2013 with only 4 beers on tap. Donny and Dave continued to brew new beers and with the help of their family and friends. All employees are either family or friends and have been helping grow the brewery from the ground up. The Firth Brother’s have created a laid back atmosphere and are continuing to grow their brewery with some of their closest friends.
Currently, Booze Brother’s is open Wednesday-Sunday and has anywhere from 8-14 beers on tap at a time. My first visit I thoroughly enjoyed the creative beer names and had to try as many as I could so I ordered a flight I was thrilled to have enjoyed each one I tried. Some of the beers you can find on tap (that I loved!) are Pail Ale, Easy Rider Brown, Ol’ Grand Daddy IIPA, and Mama Kombucha. The brewery features ping pong, a large outdoor patio with taps outside for busier nights, food stand (Thursday-Sundays), dog and kid friendly, live music and tons of space to kick back and enjoy some tasty beer. The brewery also features one of the largest patios with tons of nooks for good conversation over delicious beer. If you can’t find a beer you like you should probably reconsider drinking beer and stick to wine or hard liquor! Manager Kris Anacleto said it perfectly “Brew Beer, Have Fun, Make a Living”.
http://boozebrothersbrewery.com/
@boozebros
2545 Progress Street, Suite D - Vista, CA 92081
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Ashley Williams was born and raised in Encinitas, a beach community in Northern San Diego. She has been photographing weddings and lifestyle photography for the past four years and loves it! Living in Southern California, she enjoys road tripping and exploring this beautiful state of California. She is looking forward to sharing her travels and being a part of the Established California Team. Keep an eye out for her as she shares this beautiful state we are all lucky to call home!
MEZCAL COCKTAILS WITH MUSIC ARTIST, LISSIE
With Halloween upon us, we can't wait to celebrate festivities all over the state and one we can't stop talking about is "Noche De Agave". The evenings festivities will begin at 7pm on Saturday, November 1, 2014. Starting wiith an Agave bar where patrons will be able to sample Lissie's signature Metl Mezcal and Reposado Tequila, each product has Lissie's stamp of approval.
With Halloween upon us, we can't wait to celebrate festivities all over the state and one event we can't stop talking about is "Noche De Agave".
The evenings festivities will begin at 7pm on Saturday, November 1, 2014. Starting wiith an Agave bar where patrons will be able to sample Lissie's signature Metl Mezcal and Reposado Tequila, each product has Lissie's stamp of approval. She even serenaded the in-fermentation barrels of Mezcal, so every sip is infused with a bit of her soul. The rest of the nights activities include Day of the Dead traditional face painting, flower crowns, artisan booths, traditional Mexican food and live music from Lissie and her band, George Stanford and Dan Wilcox will be DJing.
NOCHE DE AGAVE
November 1, 2014 at 7PM
At the Paramount
2708 Cesar Chavez Avenue Los Angeles, CA 90033
Tickets Available : HERE
Fans first fell in love with Lissie’s sun-and-tequila-soaked voice from her five-song EP Why You Runnin', produced by Bill Reynolds of Band of Horses. Lissie’s debut album, Catching a Tiger, co-produced by Reynolds and Jacquire King (Kings of Leon), earned Lissie a Q Awards nomination for Best Breakthrough Artist, the Best New Solo Artist nod by Paste Magazine and a coveted spot as a VH1 “You Oughta Know” artist. For her second full length, 2013’s Back to Forever Lissie teamed up with producer Garret "Jacknife" Lee (R.E.M., U2, Weezer, Snow Patrol, Silversun Pickups). Her music has seen numerous placements in Film and TV and her live performances and recordings have received praise from Rolling Stone, American Songwriter, Los Angeles Magazine, Relix Magazine, Under the Radar Magazine, Spin Magazine, Pitchfork and more. Videos of songs from Lissie’s two cover EP’s, 2011’s Covered Up With Flowers and this year’s Cryin’ To You, have collectively racked up over 15 million views on YouTube.
The evening’s festivities will be hosted at the Paramount, located in the heart of the Boyle Heights community. The building, previously known as the Paramount Ballroom was designed and built in 1924 by Los Angeles architect Gregory R. Evans. The building’s history is deeply rooted in association with Jewish social and cultural history of Los Angeles. Since it’s inception in 1925, the venue has hosted thousands of musical performances. Just this year, the Paramount completed a major renovation into a state of the art all-ages event space, including a full restaurant and bar with multiple floor configurations.
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We wanted to give you something a little extra to get you excited for the event, so we were able to chat with Lissie and she gave us her favorite Mezcal Inspired cocktails.
In theory a high quality, 100% agave tequila or a pure mezcal should be sipped and savored straight but there's a few ways I like to dress them up.. - Lissie
We can't wait to check it out for ourselves, will you be there? If so, make sure to share by using #estcalifornia.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Lindsay Vacek has a passion for style, details and design. As a Fashion Editorial Photographer, she's worked in the Entertainment Industry for over 10 years and has a love for adventure and travel. She spends her spare time globe-trotting her way through foreign countries and loves new cultures, food, music and the arts.
Being a California Native, Lindsay loves meeting new people and sharing her version of life with others. With an infinite list of things-to-do, places-to-go and sights-to-see - she believe everyone can have a little more California in their own lives.
BAGBY BEER COMPANY
San Diego's specific love for craft beer has birthed breweries such as Stone and Ballast Point. Now it's time for the Coastal North County to make its mark. Established California is giving you a closer look at the new Bagby Beer Company.
San Diego's specific love for craft beer has birthed breweries such as Stone and Ballast Point. Now it's time for the Coastal North County to make its mark. Oceanside residents have been enthusiastically waiting for Jeff and Dande Bagby to open Bagby Beer Company since they purchased the site in late 2012. Bagby's plans to open a brewery with a delicious menu have now become a reality. They feature gluten free options, a private event space, an ocean view balcony patio, a full pizza oven, family and pet friendly. Having only been open for a week, judging by the full bar and many servers delivering delicious items, Bagby Beer Co. seems to be here to stay!
601 S Coast Hwy,
Oceanside, CA 92054
P.S. The ice cream sandwich sampler is off the charts!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Ashley Williams was born and raised in Encinitas, a beach community in Northern San Diego. She has been photographing weddings and lifestyle photography for the past four years and loves it! Living in Southern California, she enjoys road tripping and exploring this beautiful state of California. She is looking forward to sharing her travels and being a part of the Established California Team. Keep an eye out for her as she shares this beautiful state we are all lucky to call home!
HOW TO CREATE THE PERFECT GREEN SMOOTHIE
We’ve all been there. We tell ourselves we are going to eat healthy this week. Get back on track and promise ourselves that we won’t grab frozen yogurt for the fourth time this week.
Image via Juice Served Here
We’ve all been there. We tell ourselves we are going to eat healthy this week. Get back on track and promise ourselves that we won’t grab frozen yogurt for the fourth time this week. Then, the late hours at work begin, the skipped breakfast and rushing out the door, the office lunch of pizza that everyone is eating around you. All of a sudden you are back to square one and sluggish, tired and irritable. When your body isn’t performing at it’s best, you aren’t performing at your best.
This is why I’m here to tell you about a fantastic California based juice company, Juice Served Here, that has just the thing to get you back on track. Cleanse 2.0 starts July 7th and consists of different level juice cleanses (soft, semi and hard) and range from 3, 5, 7 or 10 days. With the right detox plan, you’ll help rid your body of some of the bloat, fatigue and stress that is bringing you do. By cleansing your digestive system, your body will be able to process the food that you put in it properly, allowing for more energy, better sleep and better skin, hair and nails.
Each cleanse starts from $55 and includes 6 different juices that you drink throughout the day in place of your meals. If you are a cleanse virgin, start with the Soft Cleanse which goes down nice and easy (and super tasty!). Or if you’ve done a cleanse before but aren’t quite ready for the super stuff, try the Demi Cleanse.
Juice Served Here is available for delivery and pick up in the Los Angeles area. If you aren’t in Los Angeles, you can still make tasty juices at home. Check out our Tips on How to Create the Perfect Green Smoothie below.
For more info, check out their website at www.juiceservedhere.com or visit one of their stores around LA.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Lindsay Vacek has a passion for style, details and design. As a Fashion Editorial Photographer, she's worked in the Entertainment Industry for over 10 years and has a love for adventure and travel. She spends her spare time globe-trotting her way through foreign countries and loves new cultures, food, music and the arts.
Being a California Native, Lindsay loves meeting new people and sharing her version of life with others. With an infinite list of things-to-do, places-to-go and sights-to-see - she believe everyone can have a little more California in their own lives.
FOLLOW HER ON: INSTAGRAM / TWITTER / PINTEREST
TEQUILA SOAKED WATERMELON SLICES
We love getting together with our families during Father’s Day and if your families are anything like ours, Dad is always in front of the BBQ cooking up some mouth-watering treats.
It’s Father’s Day! So, I want to first take a minute to give a big “Thank You!” to all the Dad’s out there. You are the best!
We love getting together with our families during Father’s Day and if your families are anything like ours, Dad is always in front of the BBQ cooking up some mouth-watering treats. We all love getting in the backyard to soak up the fantastic June sunshine and what better way to cool off than with some juicy watermelon?!
In my family, we often have potluck style get-togethers and we all love to cook (so our gatherings never disappoint). But with all that competition to see who can bring the best dish, this dish is sure to be the favorite! And it’s super simple.
Tequila Soaked Watermelon Wedges
Ingredients
1 small seedless watermelon, quartered and cut into 1” thick wedges
1 cup sugar
¾ cup water
½ cup tequila
¼ cup triple sec
2 limes, halved or cut into wedges
flaked sea salt or coarse salt
Instructions
Cut watermelon and arrange into a single layer in two 9-by-13 inch baking dishes.
Bring water, sugar, tequila and triple sec to a boil in a small saucepan. Cook until the sugar dissolves, stirring frequently (about 1 minute). Let the mixture cool slightly and pour syrup over the watermelon wedges.
Refrigerate for at least 45 minutes (the longer you let it soak, the more flavorful it becomes).
Remove watermelon from syrup and arrange on a platter. Squezze limes over melon and season with salt.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Lindsay Vacek has a passion for style, details and design. As a Fashion Editorial Photographer, she's worked in the Entertainment Industry for over 10 years and has a love for adventure and travel. She spends her spare time globe-trotting her way through foreign countries and loves new cultures, food, music and the arts.
