Cocktails and Ice-cream

There was a time on my blog last summer when I attempted to make featuring different cocktails on my blog a regular feature. However this habit died quickly when I came to the quick realisation drinking cocktails and taking my camera on a night out results in either very poor pictures or a lost camera. 

However on my recent little trip to Arnside I realised that although I still love cocktails (I think you all know that by now) I actually enjoy making them. We didn't have any shortage of alcohol on the trip. In fact I think we had more than the local shop (and possibly pub). Vodka, gin, tequila, rum, blueberry rum, watermelon vodka, raspberry vodka, Malibu, baileys, champagne, wine even limes, mint and grenadine. We had thought of it all. 

Since the lovely people from Drink Stuff had sent us over a cocktail making kit and some amazing cocktail glasses I was in my element. The first creation was beer margaritas what the lovely Kel whipped up. Containing, mint, limes, tequila and of course you guessed it beer. My favourite creation was the summery punch which contained fresh strawberry's, errrmmm then alcohol. Lots of that. If I'm honest other than the researched beer-garita recipe we didn't have a clue other than chucking stuff in. What usually tasted nice. Or maybe we just drank too many.

Although the cocktail making kit came with a cocktail guide book with scrumptious cocktails we had a better idea. Stealing the local bar man. Yep you heard me, we kind of borrowed the bar man from the pub to come make us all drinks. Bless the poor boy. Although he defiantly approached the cocktail kit more professionally than us. If your like me than if you can't taste the alcohol then it's a good cocktail. These were those kind of cocktails. 

The following evening after a day of nursing hangovers, an attempted beach walk and a trip to local pub to check if the poor boy had it made it out alive, we decided to put the array of cocktail glasses to a different use. Although the mason jar had been my glass of choice for the weekend I decided it was time for a Margarita Sundae. With fresh raspberry's, Kels home-made white chocolate flapjack (seriously yummy), ice cream, toffee sauce and whipped cream it was delightful. 

Sammie

All that's missing is the sea

Top - boohoo
Shorts - Topshop

Shoes - Topshop

Necklace - eBay

So this weekend I was a lucky little thing when I won a free cocktail making class for me and 2 friends. I'm sure it's a shock to no one that this was right up my street. Having previously worked in bars and done a fair amount of cocktail making I dived straight in and shook up some rather tasty concoctions. I even got offered a job! I have no idea what I put in my cocktails as me been let loose behind a bar to make my own drinks I was more excited then a child on Christmas (or all of the male population when GTAV came out). I think my first cocktail was Malibu, amaretto, strawberry and orange liqueur and pineapple juice, it was delicious and my own biased opinion tells me it was better than most cocktails I've tried. After this my memory is a little hazy but It's pretty likely I made something with gin or tequila (can anyone ever say tequila without going tequuuilllaa).

My outfit choice for the night was my new fav pair of tailored shorts from topshop. I was a little unsure when I ordered these but I think this is new fav outfit. I feel it kind of has a retro look to it along side the high necked cropped top. I have also got a new S necklace what's like an adorable little Scrabble letter. 

P.S I would recommend trying a cocktail making class, so much fun!

Hope you all had a weekend.

Sammie

My Cocktail Mojito Review

So this weekend has been  a rather stressful one for myself. Considering Friday night I lost my phone,  camera , driving licence, door key (don't worry my filofax is fine I know you was concerned) and then a taxi driver stole my best pair of shoes (another tale for another time.) This weekend defiantly wasn't my best weekend. So when a collection card arrived through the door my mother got exciting thinking her new blinds had arrived. When my father brought back a swishing box back full of Mojito to my mothers disappointment,  I was rather pleased.

The Mojito cocktail and Margarita cocktails courtesy of the Manchester Drinks Company was a very welcomed addition to Sunday afternoons BBQ, although the cocktails would be ideal to take to a festival (I say that with gritted at teeth as all my friends are currently at Download festival, I am not). The larger bags of cocktails are available in cosmopolitan, mojito and woo-woo are available from Asda at £13.99 and serve 14 people. The best thing about the cocktails is the packaging is also designed to keep the drinks chilled so it a nice thought for campers. 

The Mojito Cocktail was lovely and refreshing and tasted just as good if not better then some professionally made cocktails. I'm sure you all need little convincing to believe me when I say I've drank many cocktails in my time. Despite not containing mint leaves and lime wedges all the delicious flavours of a mojito were still there and everyone at the BBQ loved it. 

Powering through with my cocktail tasting. Here at Little Blonde Life I take this duty seriously, I next tried the margarita cocktail frozen. It took some squeezing out the pack and in the end I cut the top of (I think this is actually what I was suppose to do). This again was amazing and I would defiantly recommend it frozen. Again all the delicious flavours were there and the drink was incredibly refreshing.

Have you tried the My Cocktail range?

Sammie

Please note I will not be held responsible for any hangovers. 

Always drink responsibility 

How hot would you like it?

I quite like the idea of giving cocktails their own posts and this little number for reasons I'm yet to decide deserved its moment of glory. The Wasabi Martini from Angelica in Leeds was a unique experience. It wasn't the most pleasant of drinks and the wasabi made the drink somewhat grainy however it was slightly addictive and for once a cocktail took me more then a few seconds to drink. 

What the strangest cocktail you've tried?

Sammie

The Alchemist (Trinity Leeds)

So this bank holiday (what already feels like it was months ago) me and my friends headed over to try The Alchemist restaurant in the new trinity shopping centre in Leeds. 

When we arrived I quickly fell in love with the place when I noticed the words popping candy on the cocktail menu. This was in fact part of the delicious bubblegum daiquiri £5.95. With the sun making an appearance for the afternoon we headed out onto their rooftop terrace for a view of the city centre. 

After our much needed vitamin d dose we headed back inside for a bite to eat. I had the crispy pork skewers followed by the classic club sandwich. 

Crispy pork skewers

with sage and apple sauce 

£5.75

Classic club sandwich

roast chicken, bacon, fried egg, tomato, lettuce and mayonnaise with salad or fries 

£7.95

The starter was delicious however I was a little disappointed by the main course. I can't expect too many amazing things from a sandwich but it was rather dry and I was disappointed the egg wasn't runny. However there was very good service and whilst I had a little nosey at other peoples food seated nearby there seemed to be some rather exciting Heston B' style dished been delivered. 

I finally treated myself to more cocktails my favourite been the Cheesecake Martini £6.95. I must add all the cocktails are amazing expect wizardry style smoking drinks. 

The rest of my bank holiday was spent having a simple BBQ with friends. Although I did have an awful I'm getting old moment when I bumped into friends in the supermarket. Supermarkets are not suppose to become social places for a good 10 years yet. 

How was your bank holiday?

Sammie