Awww. Look at hubby in the background. What you can’t see is our husky puppy Raiden behind the cocktails. He likes to run tethered besides hubby, channeling his inner sled dog instincts. So cute.

I was channeling my weekend instincts. You know, the instinct to make a cocktail every weekend. Don’t blame me, it’s genetic. I adapted this gene to survive in life.

So, you might be wondering about the name: We Jammin’. Well, it’s because there is a genius ingredient in these cocktails. Yep. You guessed it. Jam. 

Yes. Jam.

Before you begin mumbling at the screen and questioning my judgement, hear me out. The jam is sweet and fruity, and when mixed with liquid, it adds an amazing flavor as well as texture. The pectin (thickener) in the jam gives the cocktails some body and you see tiny fruit pieces in the cocktail. OMG. You have to try it.

If you have jam at home and some kind of liquor, there is no reason you shouldn’t be making this. I mean, I can think of a few reasons why you shouldn’t but spare the details. Spare the details.

 This is what you need:

You only need one type of jam per cocktail. I made two cocktails, one with strawberry jam and the other with peach.

Alright, let’s get started.

The cocktail shaker. 

Please don’t make fun of the water spots on my shaker. I love my dishwasher and I’m not ashamed of it.

If you don’t have a shaker, do not despair. Just violently shake the cocktail with a spoon, take out the week’s frustrations as you do so. See, this drink is a stress reliever in many ways.

Add some ice to the shaker.

A *heaping spoonful* (it’s like when they say the name of the movie during the movie) of jam.

Whatever fruit jam you have is perfect. If you like it on toast, you’ll like it in a cocktail.

 Then toss in a sprig of mint.

Cut a lime into quarters. You only need two quarters per cocktail.

Then add the juice of two of the quarters, an ounce (or more) of vodka and a 1/4 cup of water.

 Now shake until your hands are about to develop frostbite. Or for about 30 seconds.

Then drop those lime wedges you just squeezed into a glass. I hope you didn’t throw them out. Top with some ripped mint leaves and ice. Finally, pour the cocktail in.

I repeated the process again except with strawberry jam.

 Cheers to the freakin’ weekend!

Drink to that.

Yeah yeah.

(Name that song)

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 I just wanna dive right in. So refreshing. You don’t have to be a fan of Floyd Mayweather to enjoy this drink.

But if you are a fan, and you will be watching the fight this weekend, you should really make this drink. It’s green, the color of money, money is the name of Mayweather’s team (The Money Team), it’s May and Cinco de Mayo is right around the corner, which means so are margaritas.

Therefore the name: Money May-garitas.

Get it? Get it?

Anyway this is what you need:

Optional tools are a cocktail shaker and a jigger:

If you don’t have them you can just use a cup with ice and stir with a spoon. To substitute a jigger, use 2 tablespoons for 1 oz and half a tablespoon for 1/4 oz.

Ok, so add ice to whatever the hell you decided to use.

Add an oz of tequila, or more if you’ve had a long day. Or a short day, you don’t need to justify this.

I used silver tequila but any kind you like is just fine.

Then add a 1/4 oz of blue curaçao.

Don’t overdo it, this stuff is pretty potent in taste and in color.

Then add 6 oz or 3/4 cup pineapple flavored Jarritos. 

Jarritos are Mexican sodas found at Mexican markets and most grocers. I know that Wal-Mart sells them too.

Don’t ask me how I know that.

Finally, the juice of a juicy lime.

If your lime feels hard press down on it with both hands and roll it back and forth against the counter. That should release some of the juices. Apparently, nuking it helps too.

Shake or stir the hell out of the drink and add it to a salt-rimmed and ice-filled glass.

Hyphens.

Add ice, the juice from the shaker and a slice of lime for garnish:

Oh man, that looks good. Tastes good too, by the way. I had to taste if for work purposes.

You know how that goes.

If you’re rooting for Mayweather, this has your name written all over it. If you’re Team Maidana, then you should make this drink because you’re gonna need it. Oh yes, I did. 

And if you don’t give two shits about boxing then you really need to make this drink and just call it a “May-garita,” because it’s May.

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Cheers! This chic cocktail is perfect for any occasion and can be made with several variations.

I love, love, love mango. Pomegranate doesn’t hurt that much either. If for some weird reason you don’t like mango and/or pomegranate then use any frozen fruit you like and your fav juice.

Only three ingredients are needed for this recipe:

Throw or toss or place a cup of the frozen mangos into a blender or food processor. I just got a food processor recently and have been looking for any excuse to use it. A champagne cocktail seemed like a no-brainer.

Pour an equal amount of juice. That would be a cup if you weren’t paying attention.

Blitz the hell out of it. You want it as smooth as possible.

“As smoooooooth as eggs!” (If you can guess where I got that from I will be so impressed. If not, then I understand. I’m disappointed, but I understand. Hmph.)

Pour a little bit of the puree in a champagne flute. The more of the puree you add, the sweeter the cocktail will be. It will also be weaker. Your choice. 

Top off with the champagne.

(Side note: I used Rose champagne so the color is more pinkish brown than it would be with regular champagne.)

Happy Sipping!

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Spring has sprung! So, naturally, it’s time to drink! Well, for those of you who have been following my journey on this-here blog, I made a batch of rose vodka and I’ve been testing recipes with it (read: drinking it) and I’m loving this Spring Sangria. It’s fresh and perfect over a glass filled with fruits and ice. I’m. So. Thirsty. Right. Now.

If you don’t have rose vodka you can a.) make it using my recipe which is heeeeeere. Otherwise you can use plain vodka or any other vodka you like. As always, make it work for you.

The basic ratio I use for Sangria is a cup of hard liquor, 1 bottle of wine, 2 cups of a juice or a cup or so of simple syrup (an equal mix of water and sugar heated until sugar dissolves), depending on how sweet you like your sangrias) and lots and lots of sliced fruit for garnish. Nothing worse than a sangria with a few lonely-ass fruits with no other fruits to mingle in your drink with.

Ok so this is the combo I went for. I wanted something light and citrusy. 

 I used a crisp white wine, Pinot Grigio and used tangerine juice which is sweeter than regular OJ. I didn’t make a simple syrup because I didn’t want it too sweet. Plus I’m trying to go sugar-free. Booooo.

So first thing you want to do is grab a pitcher. Or gently pick it up. Your choice. I’m a grabber.

Then pour the cup of vodka, 2 cups of juice and bottle of wine into the pitcher and stir. 

 Not sure how necessary the above pictures were. In case there is someone out there who is having difficulty pouring liquids into pitchers, I’m here to save the day! You’re welcome. 🙂

Slice your fruits for garnish. This is your chance to go crazy and add whatever fruits you like, or are about to spoil in your fridge and throw them in the mix baby! I just called you baby. Sorry. I don’t know you like that.

 The final step is to try to resist the chihuahua sitting down so obediently, begging. Try to resist throwing him a piece of fruit. I dare you. 

Oh ya, and let the drink marinate in the fridge for a few hours if you can control yourself, because it will taste better that way. I don’t know why. Ask science.

 Cheers! 

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“Rosey Posey” Cocktail: a fruity and exotic tasting drink, flavored and scented with rose. Sounds like a commercial. So this is what you need to make this cocktail that will knock your spanx off, or your socks. I think it’s your socks. Ya. It’s your socks:

Did you see it? Look again.

So the ingredients are: homemade Rose Vodka, (for the easy recipe click here), Jallab Syrup (A syrup popular in Syria, Lebanon and Jordan. Usually made out of dates and/or grapes cooked down to a syrup and scented with rose. Very yummy.), water, fresh orange and lemon juice. Two optional ingredients I used were a drop of rose water and edible flowers for garnish. You can garnish with rose petals or citrus wedges or nothing at all. Whatever  makes you feel good about yourself and the world at large.

I chose edible flowers.

See. I can prove it. After I poured the cocktail I spent way too much time on the garnishing part. Like, wayyy too much time.

Even the dog got tired of it….

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