by Stella Lancaster | recipes
Hi friends! Sooooo… I was a bit disappointed that Charleston didn’t get the slight dust of snow that swept through the east coast this week. But we experienced our own winter snap that got us in high spirits for the upcoming holidays. On Tuesday I attended an event in Charleston at the Out of Hand Warehouse that showcased holiday tablescapes paired with cocktails by some of Charleston’s finest creatives.
I wanted to share with you the inspirational mocktails & cocktails we enjoyed. Check out the hot chocolate bar! What a fabulous idea!!
www.clayaustinphotography.com
My friend Clint runs Squeeze OnSite and shared with me the sparkling mocktail recipes, so you can spice up your next holiday party:
Spiced Citrus
A Fresh and Spiced Welcome Mocktail For Your Holiday Gathering!
[makes 12-18 servings]Ingredients:
12 Lemons
3 Florida Navel Oranges
12 Star Anise
4 Cinnamon Sticks
10 Whole Cloves
1/4 Cup Local Honey
1 Cup Simple Syrup
2 Cups Water
3 Whole Lemons [garnish]
12-18 Star Anise [garnish]Process:
Zest the lemons into sauce pan. Cut Lemons in half and place in sauce pan. Juice oranges and place in sauce pan. Combine all other ingredients in saucepan and bring to boil on high heat, then turn to low and simmer for 30-45 mins. Remove from heat, allow to cool, then strain in china cap strainer. Place into squirt bottle and chill.
With remaining whole lemons, make 12-18 lemon twist for garnish.Combine 2oz. of spiced citrus concoction with sparkling water. Garnish with Lemon Twist and Star Anise.
Pear Cranberry
A Colorful and Fruity Neutral Mocktail For Your Holiday Gathering!
[makes 12-18 servings]Ingredients:
4 Cups of Pear Nectar
4 Cups Early Harvest White Cranberry
2 Cups Red Cranberry
2 Sprigs of Rosemary
1/2 Cup of Fresh Lemon Juice
1 Dozen Rosemary Sprigs [garnish]
2 Dozen Fresh Cranberries [garnish]
Process:
Combine all other ingredients in saucepan and bring to boil on high heat, then turn to low and simmer for 30-45 mins. Remove from heat, allow to cool, then strain in china cap strainer. Place into squirt bottle and chill.
Break remaining rosemary into small sprigs for garnish and set aside with fresh cranberries.Combine 2oz. of pear cranberry concoction with sparkling water. Garnish with Fresh Cranberry and Rosemary Sprigs.
Mulled Blackberry
A Festive Spice Berry Mocktail For Your Holiday Gathering!
[makes 12-18 servings]Ingredients:
2 lbs Fresh Blackberries
2 cups Pomegranate Juice
2 Florida Navel Oranges
12 Star Anise
4 Cinnamon Sticks
10 Whole Cloves
1/4 Cup Local Honey
1 Cup Simple Syrup
2 Cups Water
2 Dozen Fresh Blackberries [garnish]
1 Dozen Rosemary Sprigs [garnish]
3 Whole Lemons [garnish]Process:
Juice oranges and place in sauce pan. Combine all other ingredients in saucepan and bring to boil on high heat, then turn to low and simmer for 30-45 mins. Remove from heat, allow to cool, then strain in china cap strainer. Place into squirt bottle and chill.
Break remaining rosemary into small sprigs for garnish and set aside with fresh blackberries. With remaining whole lemons, make 12-18 lemon twist for garnish.Combine 2oz. of Mulled Blackberry concoction with sparkling water. Garnish with Fresh Blackberry, Rosemary sprig and Lemon Twist.
www.clayaustinphotography.com
Thanksgiving is right around the corner. I am sure you are all pinning up a storm on Pinterest. Need inspiration? Check out the ah-mazing and inspiring tablescapes shared on the Candy Shop Vintage blog.
This Thanksgiving, put me at the kids table:
Turkey Popcorn
XOXO
–Stella
by Stella Lancaster | adventures, featured guests
India? Yes!! Last year my husband applied to attend a tech conference in Mumbai and then we conveniently forgot about it as we focused on our wedding. While we were housesitting in Asheville a few weeks ago, he received an email inviting him to the conference. The kicker? They provide airfare!
Photo: Afar.com
On the way home to Charleston, we stopped in Charlotte to discuss the breaking news with my family. The conference is going on during the week of Thanksgiving. It’s my German Mom’s most FAVORITE holiday. And the first year her nest will be empty, as one brother lives in Tampa, my sister lives in LA, and my youngest brother shipped off for bootcamp two weeks ago. We all agreed this was an opportunity that we should not pass up!
We love adventure!! In fact, the “bible” for our wedding was a vintage book called I Married Adventure, by Osa Johnson. We braced ourselves for less than 6 weeks of visa applications and vigorous planning. This is our first trip backpacking! EVER!!
Photos: Afar.com
So with two weeks to go, we are still awaiting our visas. Anxious! We might have to drive to Atlanta to expedite the process. In the meantime, we’ve been busy planning. We’ve been testing backpacks, prepping our electronics, scouting accommodation, and dreaming about ELEPHANTS.
The plan? We’ll fly into Mumbai (aka Bombay) for the conference. We’ll then spend three weeks exploring southern India via Goa, Kerala down to the tip of the continent, and then back up the coast north via Pondicherry, before shooting west through Bangladore and back to Mumbai. Kissing ALL the elephants along the way.
Have you been? We need all the tips we can get!!
XOXO
-Stella
by Stella Lancaster | adventures
Hi friends! I know we have all had a whirlwind year and the holidays are shortly upon us. I have done a lot of traveling this year — and have been out of town almost every weekend since June. Whew! So before gearing up for the holiday season, I made time for a much needed STAYCATION!
Conde Nast
We are so blessed live Charleston, South Carolina. The Holy City has been busy snapping up international travel & destination awards:
Best City in the World 2012 – Conde Nast
Top City in the USA 2013 – Conde Nast
Ravenel Bridge
In 2012 Burton and I traveled cross country for 9 months with our spunky dog Luna. We fell in love with many cities, but were content to return to the Carolinas and call Charleston HOME. I enjoy living in a city where we can bike or walk everywhere. And where foreign languages tickle my ears as I walk through our cobblestoned roads. And the food? It’s ah-mazing!!
Downtown Charleston at CofC
Here is a run down of an ideal weekend staycation in Charleston:
FRIDAY
- wake up leisurely late as I don’t work on Fridays 🙂
- bike over to Taco Boy to meet friends on the patio for fried avocados and mango margaritas
- drop by Earthling Day Spa for an afternoon massage
- hop back on my bike and cruise Waterfront Park to The Battery
- circle back around for a sunset dinner at Fleet Landing
- cocktails at Rarebit (Moscow Mule) or Belmont Lounge (Manhattan)
- pop in for show at Redux before biking home
- bourbon nightcaps on the porch with friends
SATURDAY
- brisk walk to Kudu for a to-go coffee
- sip my coffee as I wander around the corner to Marion Square for the Farmers Market
- place an order for crepes, while picking out fresh flowers for the week from Johns Island farmers
- pet ALL the dogs, adore all the children
- enjoy a picnic blanket with friends while we eat, laugh, and people watch
- light lunch of cucumber soup at Gaulart & Maliclet known by locals as “Fast & French”
- rooftop cocktails at Cocktail Lounge
- oysters for dinner at The Ordinary
SUNDAY
- beat the noon brunch rush at Hominy Grill, chocolate pudding as my appetizer
- drive over the Ravenel Bridge with the windows rolled down, out to Station 28.5 on Sullivan’s Island
- enjoy my bare feet in the sand, before heading to Poe’s Tavern for a bloody mary on the porch
- sunset bike ride to Salty Mikes at the marina, looping back downtown to race through the ghost ridden cobblestone alleys
- place a to-go order for for pad thai from Basil, enjoy it on my porch with my boo 🙂
MONDAY – back to reality!! 🙂
Waterfront Park Fountain
Need more ideas? Click here to read what Freunden von Freunden loves about Charleston. Daily Candy raves here.
Planning a visit?? Please get in touch, and please come visit!! I have tons of suggestions — from romantic to quirky to adventurous. And … I would love to meet YOU!!
XOXO
-Stella
