The Most Perfect Egg Cream

One of my favorite drinks - and it really should be considered a sweet treat -is the egg cream. My Dad introduced me to it on on our many trips to local diners.I recently discovered the best add in  - Bubly flavored seltzer. Mix this in for sheer heaven. Another plus is using Hershey's Extra Dark syrup. This is a new addition and it adds a richer flavor.

Many will have questions about what kind of milk to add in. I've used almond milk which does make for a creamy drink. You can use regular milk or even a scoop of vanilla or chocolate ice cream which made up the original ones sold in Brooklyn candy shops.

Here is the recipe.

1 can of either Bubly Cherry , Raspberry or Blackberry flavored seltzer (if you're making a vanilla egg cream, then use Bubly's Lemon or Peach flavors)
1/2 cup milk any kind
one good squirt of Hershey's Extra Dark Syrup (or vanilla syrup if you want to make a vanilla flavored one - go easy with it .Vanilla syrup is intense)

Squirt a good half  inch (more if you want it more chocolate-y) of syrup into a tall glass. Fill glass halfway with any kind of milk. Add Bubly and stir with a fork (yes a fork) to aerate and create foam. drink with a straw or straight to catch all that yummy froth.

This is the improved version of what my Dad and I used to have.💙💙

Road Trip Pit Stops

It's holiday time and that means road trips.They're fun and exciting with them ending at a sunny beach, cool mountains or interesting town or city. Road trips also mean pit stops - namely to eat. The question is do you eat something at a rest stop or pack your own food? Which is better?

Rest stops can be fun,especially if you 're with friends or have tweens. You can settle down for a few minutes before the next leg of your journey.If you're traveling on New Jersey's Garden State Parkway or Turnpike, you could always pull over in to the Garden State's various rest stops and either relax with a Starbucks coffee or grab a salad at Burger King. However many don't go for the healthy eats which kick starts a week or two of vacation indulgences. Some rest stops , such as the ones located on the New Jersey Turnpike, has an entire section where visitors can pick up low calorie salads with such varied ingredients as feta cheese, olives, flax seeds, and bean sprouts. They also have a good array of healthy, low calorie whole wheat wraps too. Any of these and water make for a good lunch or dinner . Another thing to look out for is a farmer's market. Many of the rest stops host local farmers and their produce. You can easily pick up some tomatoes or fruit for snacking, along with artisanal whole grain breads.

A better idea is packing your own lunch and dinner.One fun one is stuffed pita pockets with turkey and a cucumber salad. The last is an easy make of chopped cucumbers, tomatoes and parsley with a vinaigrette. Hummus is the perfect snack or meal on the road, especially stuffed into a pita pocket. Try making a home made one with a squirt of lemon for a refreshing bite. If there are kids, there should be snacks.I just found these at my local Stop & Shop by the produce. They're Perfectly Free Fruit Bites and those little balls or bubbles are only 25 calories each. They are definitely going into m

 

my lunch box when I make my shore day trips.I bought them in the mixed berry which is made up of strawberry, cranberry and blueberry concentrate.I definitely want to try their pineapple mix bites as well. Kids love crunch  too. Try anything of Annie's Homegrown products. Have little containers filled with their cheddar bunnies and a new product,  white cheddar bunny puffs, which are like a much healthier Cheez Doodle. Wash these down with either Bubly seltzer or Silk mini bottles of chocolate  almond milk.

Pit stops are one of the most important parts of any road stop. Make sure that you start and end your trips by eating and drinking foods that help boost your energy levels and satisfy your hunger. They can make those many miles back and forth enjoyable.

Your Summer Bar

Summer is the time for entertaining. There are barbecues and pool parties, Sunday morning brunches and Saturday night gatherings. A backyard bar is necessary. Guests want a cooling drink and it's up to you to provide some fun and fruity libations.

What should a summer or backyard bar have? A good mix of alcohol and non alcoholic beverages. Champagne should be on hand.It's an exciting twist to a Saturday night get together and is needed for Sunday brunch mimosas and Bellinis,If it's too expensive , then try sparkling wines such as Prosecco and Asti Spumanti. Lighter wines are also a must.Pinot noir is a good choice on a hot night.It's a red that will go with bold steaks and juicy hamburgers.A German Reisling white can be good with grilled chicken along with any kind of fish or seafood. Try it when you serve grilled lobster tails or scallops. If you want to vary it, then choose a Chardonnay to go with barbecued meats and seafood.It's also good with any kind of ham or toasted food such as almonds or baked goods - think mini quiches.Of course there should be beer. Everyone's favorite is Corona - with a slice of lime . What does it go with besides Mexican dishes? Gazpacho shooters which are easy to make along with grilled chicken wraps. As for the usual fare try pale ales with the burgers and dogs.Other kinds  of alcohol to have are vodka and rum, along with bourbon and tequilas for cocktails and shots.

A summer bar should have extras for mixers and non-drinkers. Plain and flavored seltzers are a must.One of the best and most flavorful is Bubly. The brand has a myriad of flavors from an intense cherry to a zingy grapefruit. Buy a number of flavors for your guests' many tastes. Of course there should be soda. Stick with the classics Coke and Pepsi which you can add rum to for a fun rum and Coke.What about fruit juices?Lemon and lime juice should always be on hand. You can buy bottled juices or have the fruit  ready to be cut and squeezed. Include oranges too. A bottle of the pulp free is needed for tequila sunrises, screwdrivers and mimosas. Pineapple juice ,reminiscent of luaus and exotic climes , can add spark to any summer cocktail. Imagine grilled ham steaks served with pina coladas or mojitos. Sub in grapefruit juice for a real change. Just remember these two won't get used as much as other juices. Buy small bottles if you're planning on using them.You can't go wrong with a bottle of cranberry juice.It's good on it's own or mixed with vodka.If you're planning on a brunch , then buy a bottle of tomato juice for Bloody Mary's.

A well stocked summer bar is the key to a good warm weather get together. Have the appropriate wines and hard liquor on hand as well as the extras. Your  thirsty guests will appreciate the variety.

Candela Mamajuana The Perfect Sip

Mamajuana has always been an interesting concoction and a staple of  Dominican life. Candela has created their version of this potent and delicious drink.

Mamajuan is a brew of rum, organic honey  and a mix of tree bark and herbs. It kind of has an earthy green tea aroma. No wonder - That part is taken from a tea that the Taino indigenous tribes made and gave to Christopher Columbus.He combined it with wine for the first Mama Juama Clove is one of the herbs used and star anise which give the liqueur that licorice taste.

I wanted to try the Candela brand  because they have the real deal.Theirs is 60 proof which is a bit potent. 

On it's own, it's a bit strong.I cut mine with Pepsi to give it a more rum and Coke  vibe.

It  definitely had a kick to it and I can see sipping this on Oscar night (along with on summer evenings too). You could also add flavored seltzer like Bubly.I mixed their grapefruit flavor with it .It makes for a nice tropical marriage . Next time I'll add grapefruit and pineapple c hunks for a truly tropical treat.

If you want a change of pace try Candela Mamajuana. This is an interesting spin on rum and Dominican tradition. Best of all it is a great mixer. There's a dozen or more new drinks that can be made with it.