Honu Kitchen & Cocktails

Last night I headed out to dinner with my fellow gluten free gal Victoria. We headed to Honu Kitchen & Cocktails located in Huntington. I had been meaning to try Honu for a while because Victoria had told me that she can tolerate some of the menu items there.

Honu Kitchen & Cocktails has great atmosphere. We were seated right away (which is always a plus) and I immediately started looking over the menu. They have a great menu in general and my eye went to the small plates and on a stick section of the menu. Originally I was going to get the Thai Chicken which Victoria said was similar to a chicken satay which is delicious! While browsing the menu, our waiter came over to tell us the specials (none of which were gluten free – which is OK) and we ordered our drinks. We decided on the Acai Margarita which they had promoted on Facebook. It is Cabo Blanco Tequila, Triple Sec, Acai Juice and fresh lime. It was delicious! It had a little bit of bite to it from the acai juice but it was still sweet (which is what I like in my cocktails).

I was sure I was going to get the Thai Chicken but then Victoria told me that their calamari was dusted in cornmeal! I was sold! I love calamari and since becoming gluten free, I have been unable to have it because it is always crusted in flour. Victoria went for the Chipotle Chicken salad – one of their seasonal salads which also sounded delicious and it was an entree size so it is perfect for dinner.

Our meals came and they were very good. They calamari is served with a spicy aioli which was perfect for the cornmeal crusted dish. It wasn’t super spicy but it definitely had a little kick to it which was great. I had a bit of the chipotle chicken salad which was also very good. Big pieces of chicken, not too heavily dressed and the vegetables were very crisp.

Overall Honu Kitchen & Cocktails was great and I will definitely be back again!

Kwegyirba Croffie is a freelance Associate Producer at News 12 Connecticut and a Special Events/Event Planning and Social Media Intern at College Lifestyles (TM). She is a Quinnipiac University alumni and a sister of Alpha Delta Pi. She enjoy cupcakes,Broadway musicals, Forever 21 ,giraffes, peacock feathers, orchids, lillies and anything Disney.

Homemade Cherry Limeade

Nothing says spring like a refreshing drink! Cherry Limeade can definitely hit the spot!

Homemade Cherry Limeade

Sweet and Simple!!

Ingredients

• Simply limeade (Simply is a GREAT line of juices and are great in SO many drinks)
• Lemon-lime seltzer water
• Grenadine
• Lime slices or wedges
• Maraschino cherries
• Crushed Ice

1. Mix 1 part limeade to 2 parts seltzer water.
2. Add grenadine to taste (about 1 tablespoon per pint of limeade).
3. Add crushed ice.
4. Garnish with lime and cherries.

Check out the Simply website here!

Strawberry Basil Sangria

Strawberry Basil Sangria

Hello Spring! A sangria is one of the best springtime/summertime drinks! The basil gives this drink that little extra something!

via Treehugger.com

Ingredients

• ½ lb of fresh strawberries
• 1 apple (fuji is my favorite but you can use any of your favorite sweet apple)
• 1 ounce of fresh whole basil leaves
• 1 bottle of your favorite white wine
• ½ cup sugar
• 1 cup of club soda
• 1 cup of white grape juice

1. Trim and thinly slice the strawberries.
2. Slice and dice the apple into very small bits.
3. Score the basil leaves with a fork. Simply just rub the basil leaves gently with a fork in order to release their flavor in the sangria.
4. Layer the fruit, sugar and basil in a large pitcher and let sit for about 10 minutes. This is just to let the sugar absorb the juices from the basil and the fruit. You’ll see it turn a bit red.
5. Add the club soda first and then the remaining liquids. Stir well and serve.

Strawberry Watermelon Lime Frosty

It’s April 1st! Spring is in the air and it’s the perfect time for delicious drinks! (We’ll any time is a great time for delicious drinks – but spring yields some of the best fruits!) Watermelons, kiwis oooh so many yummy tastes!

Strawberry Watermelon Lime Frosty 

This recipe is so simple!

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups frozen watermelon (in large diced cubes for easy blending)
• 3/4 cup frozen strawberries
• 1/2 cup coconut water - add slowly as needed to get blender moving – add more if needed
• 1 banana
• 2 limes, squeezed
• 1-2 teaspoon sugar (or more to taste)
• ice

1. Place all ingredients – except ice – in the blender
2. Blend on high
3. Add ice slowly
4. Blend until you reach the desired consistency
5. Pour into glasses and garnish with a lime wedge

ENJOY!

Kwegyirba Croffie is a freelance Associate Producer at News 12 Connecticut and a Special Events/Event Planning and Social Media Intern at College Lifestyles (TM). She is a Quinnipiac University alumni and a sister of Alpha Delta Pi. She enjoy cupcakes,Broadway musicals, Forever 21 ,giraffes, peacock feathers, orchids, lillies and anything Disney.

Irish Kiss

St. Patrick’s Day isn’t just about Green Beer. Korbel California Champagne created its own cocktail, the Irish Kiss. 

Irish Kiss

Ingreidents

• 4 oz Korbel California Brut Champagne
• 1 oz Midori Melon Liqueur
• Green food coloring
• 1/2 cup of sugar

1. First, add two drops of green food coloring to 1/2 cup of sugar and mix well.
2. Rub a champagne flute rim with lime and dip it in your green sugar mixture.
3. Fill with champagne and liqueur.
4. Garnish with a lime or a kiwi

 

The Spectrum of Apple Flavors

Found this great infograph on Pinterest and I had to share! Wondering which apples are best for cooking and baking? This is perfect for you!

Lucky Leprechaun Lime Slush

Want a fun tangy drink for everyone to enjoy for St. Patrick’s Day? Check out this lime slush!

Lucky Leprechaun Lime Slush

Sweet, tangy and non-alcoholic! Great for a St. Patrick’s Day party, or a day at the parade! It would go great in green tumblers!

Ingredients

• 1 quart lime sherbet , softened
• ½ cup frozen limeade concentrate
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 2 (12 ounce) cans lemon-lime soda , chilled (Sprite, 7-Up etc…)
• 1 -2 cup crushed ice

1. In a blender, blend sherbet, limeade and sugar. Pour in soda and ice. Blend into smooth.
2. Pour into glasses. Garnish if desired.

ENJOY!

Coconut Blue Hawaiian

A quick cocktail!

Coconut Blue Hawaiian 

Ingredients

• 1  cup pineapple juice
• 1/2  cup (4 ounces) light rum
• 1/2  cup (4 ounces) blue curaçao
• 1/2  cup (4 ounces) cream of coconut (not coconut milk)
• 10  to 12 ice cubes
• Fresh cherries or maraschino cherries with stems

1. Chill martini glasses in freezer several hours before serving.
2. Place all ingredients except cherries in blender. Cover and blend on high speed about 45 seconds or until smooth.
3. Pour pineapple mixture into glasses. Garnish with cherry.

ENJOY!!

Kwegyirba Croffie is a freelance Associate Producer at News 12 Connecticut and a Special Events/Event Planning and Social Media Intern at College Lifestyles (TM). She is a Quinnipiac University alumni and a sister of Alpha Delta Pi. She enjoy cupcakes,Broadway musicals, Forever 21 ,giraffes, peacock feathers, orchids, lillies and anything Disney.

Italian Amaretto Margaritas

I know National Margarita Day was yesterday but another recipe to add to your margarita selection couldn’t hurt. Variety is the spice of life!

Italian Amaretto Margaritas

Amaretto gives this drink a fun twist! Frosty glasses rimmed with amaretto and sugar make this drink even better.

Ingredients 

• 4 fluid ounces amaretto liqueur, plus additional
• white sugar
• 6 fluid ounces frozen limeade concentrate
• 6 fluid ounces tequila
• 1/2 cup orange juice
• 6 cups ice
• lemon and lime wedge for garnish

1. Dip the rims of 4 margarita glasses in amaretto, then into sugar; set aside.
2. Pour the limeaid, tequila, amaretto, orange juice, and ice into the bowl of a blender.
3. Puree until smooth, then pour into prepared glasses.
4. Garnish with lemon and lime wedges.

ENJOY! REMEMBER DRINK RESPONSIBLY!

Happy National Margarita Day

“Wastin away again in margaritaville
Searching for my lost shaker of salt”

Happy National Margarita Day! This post will feature some delicious margaritas to enjoy on this day. It’s may be cold where you all but it’s always sunny in Margaritaville.

Kiwi Margarita 

Enjoy Responsibly!

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup superfine sugar
• 1/3 cup gold tequila
• 1/3 cup triple sec
• 2 large kiwis, peeled
• 1 cup fresh lime juice
• 2 cups small ice cubes
• Lime wedge for rim
• Sugar for rim
• Kiwis sliced for garnish

1. Combine the sugar, tequila, triple sec, kiwis, and lime juice in a blender.
2. Fill with ice cubes and blend until smooth.
3. Wet the rims of your margarita glasses with lime wedge and then dip rims in sugar.
4. Pour blended margarita into glasses and garnish with kiwi slices.

Let’s have a margarita with a pop of raspberry! Raspberry is a great flavor that doesn’t seem to get used as often.

Sauza Raspberry Margarita

Enjoy the fruity, tangy flavor of raspberry in this summery margarita made with flowery white tequila and served on ice. Yea it’s not summer but who cares! Enjoy responsibly. 

Ingredients

Original Recipe Yield 9 servings

• 9 ounces Sauza Silver Tequila
• 3 ounces Dekuyper Razzmatazz
• 24 ounces Margarita Mix
• Lime wedge for rim garnish
• Sugar for rim

1. Combine the ingredients without ice and shake vigorously.
2. Wet the rim with a lime wedge and dip rim of glass into sugar.
3. Then just pour the mixture over ice in rimmed glass.
4. Garnish with a lime wedge.

The piña colada is a popular cocktail. Let’s turn those flavors on their head an make a coconut margarita.

Coconut Margarita

Ingredients 

• 1 cup sweetened shredded coconut
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup freshly squeezed lime juice, plus 2 tablespoons for glasses (about 5 limes)
• 3/4 cup Coco Lopez or cream of coconut
• 1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons tequila
• 1/4 cup Cointreau or other orange liqueur

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. On a rimmed baking sheet, toss coconut with the salt. Spread on sheet; toast in oven, stirring frequently, until golden brown, 8 to 10 minutes. Let cool, then crush with your hands until crumbly.
2. Pour 2 tablespoons lime juice into a shallow dish. Place coconut mixture in another dish. Dip rims of two cocktail glasses in lime juice, then in coconut mixture, coating well.
3. Combine remaining ingredients with 1 cup ice in a blender; puree until smooth. Divide evenly between prepared glasses, and serve immediately.

I hope you all enjoy your day margaritas in hand or without! You can also enjoy fantastic mocktails on this National Margarita Day. I have posted the link under related articles. Remember ALWAYS DRINK RESPONSIBLY!

ENJOY!

Kwegyirba Croffie is a freelance Associate Producer at News 12 Connecticut and a Special Events/Event Planning and Social Media Intern at College Lifestyles (TM). She is a Quinnipiac University alumni and a sister of Alpha Delta Pi. She enjoy cupcakes,Broadway musicals, Forever 21 ,giraffes, peacock feathers, orchids, lillies and anything Disney.

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