La Araña

Posted by amoraexcyna in Musings and tagged with , , , , , , , ,

I’ve developed a strange fascination with the macabre lately.  Especially morbid “children’s” stories – epitomized by Neil Gaiman’s Snow, Glass, Apples.  Partly inspired by Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab’s recent Pickman Gallery update, I wrote a morbid version of Itsy Bitsy Spider:

La Araña

I’m just a little spider that climbed the water spout

The sun did not save me; I drowned when the rain fell.

Look closely at those threads outside your window,

I left a message for you in my web.

The same words I wove every day

“I love you in every possible way.”

Spring in your Step Sangria

Posted by amoraexcyna in Taste All the Things and tagged with , , , , , , , , ,

The snow is melting, crocuses are blooming, and the cherry blossoms are right around the corner.  I give you a fruity yet refreshing white sangria to put some spring in your step (pun intended)!

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Single serving recipe

  • 4 oz dry white wine
  • 0.5 oz Smirnoff Green Apple vodka
  • 1 oz peach schnapps
  • optional: splash of club soda or San Pellegrino (I bet lemon would be great) for an even more refreshing cocktail
  • sliced apple, strawberry, kiwi, and/or green grape
  • squeeze a slice of lime and stir
  • serve over lots of ice

Enjoy!

Protip: If you have a leftover wine you don’t enjoy (for me this is white zinfandel from a box), it can be saved using this recipe, especially if you use a few ounces of flavoured San Pellegrino – lemon/lime/blood orange is what I’d recommend!

White Wine Sangria Recipes!

Posted by amoraexcyna in Taste All the Things

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Recipe 1 (Pitcher size!)

  • 1/2 bottle of leftover Codorniu Brut (or any leftover, flat/sparkling wine/champagne!)
  • 2 oz Sourpuss Raspberry
  • 2 oz Chambord
  • 1 can Blood Orange San Pellegrino
  • 1 orange, freshly juiced
  • 1 kiwi, muddled

Protip: Serve all of these sangrias on ice.  Careful with them; it’ll go down very easily and get you tipsy without realizing it.

Recipe 2 (Single serving size)

  • 2 oz dry reisling
  • 1 oz Alizé Bleu
  • 1 oz Guava juice
  • 1 wedge lemon
  • 1 wedge lime

Recipe 3 (Single serving size)

  • 2 oz dry reisling
  • 0.5 oz Blue Curacao
  • 0.5 oz Soju
  • 1 tbsp Korean Honey Pomegranate Tea Concentrate with Nata de Coco
  • 2 wedges lemon

I personally like dry reisling for a balanced wine that’s not too expensive and is great by itself or with food.  However you can really use whatever wine you have – indeed, sangria is a great way to enjoy that 3 day old wine (red, rosé, or white) that has over-oxidized.  Save that 1/3rd bottle that’s left over in a sangria, don’t throw it out!!!

Cheap Lab Grown Diamonds! (chemically, physically, and optically identical.)

Posted by amoraexcyna in For the Consumer, Silver and Stone and tagged with , , , , , , , , , ,

Many of my generation are lately getting engaged and married – I wish these partnerships long-lasting happiness!

To couples thinking of engaging: please look into complications of the natural gemstone trade when purchasing rings. Burmese and Kashmir sapphires/rubies, and diamonds from many unstable West and Central African regions, are associated with violent conflict (as many of you probably have heard already). By purchasing one of these gemstones, which are occasionally mixed with stones that are marketed as non-conflict (smuggling between porous borders facilitates this), you indirectly help to finance these groups to obtain arms.

Please consider the much more affordable and chemically/physically identical (and flawless) lab-grown alternatives!!!

http://www.betterthandiamond.com

Disclaimer: I am in no way affiliated with this company.

Blue Raspberry Gummies Apéritif

Posted by amoraexcyna in Taste All the Things and tagged with , , , , , , , , , , , ,

BlueRaspGummies

  • 1 oz Alize Bleu
  • 1 oz Bols Blue Curacao
  • 0.5 oz Chambord

Tastes like blue raspberry gummies gone drunk!  I drank this poured over ice.  If you add the Chambord first, then pour the Blue Curacao slowly over a spoon, then Alize (again over a spoon), you can make it a beautiful ombre.  For a more refreshing version, add 2 oz of soda and some fresh lemon.  Enjoy!

The Envious Elf Cocktail

Posted by amoraexcyna in Taste All the Things and tagged with , , , , , , , , ,

I love drinking. Alcohol in small amounts can be a lovely thing, and can be done affordably even in Vancouver – if you mix them yourself.

Tonight’s holiday recipe, created by myself: The Envious Elf! (I watched the Hobbit yesterday, so this is particularly relevant.)
- 2 oz Soju (I used the 20% alcohol content kind)
- 2 oz Alize Bleu
- 1.5 oz Guava juice
- 4-6 mint leaves, bruised then shaken
- served on ice