Cocktail of the Week: Fish N' Soda!

This simple cocktail is so much more than just a gimmick! Anyone who's had vodka infused gummy bears will understand this recipe right off the bat (and anyone who hasn't should try them!).

1/3 vodka
1/3 citric soda (such as 7-up)
1/3 orange juice
3-4 swedish fish

Fill your glass with ice cubes, a handfull of gummies, vodka, soda, and juice. Don't shake it, but do stir it, and let it sit for a minute, preferably in the refrigerator. The longer it sits, the more of the gummy deliciousness will seep into the cocktail.

I'm calling this one "Fish n' Soda", because not only do I love fish, I also love the ascetics of bright red swedish fish in a pale-orange vodka-juice concoction. That being said, any sort of gummy will work with this recipe, worms, bears, whatever you can find! So with that, I say cheers! And please drink responsibly.

*this concoction was modified from an original at www.1001cocktails.com

CATCH of the day, SOUP of the day!

Of all the adjectives suited for this soup, VERSATILE is probably the most fitting. The brothy and fishy qualities complement the summer season, while the parsley and tomato aromas belong to the winter kitchen. This is truly a soup for any season. This soup also works with almost any fish you have at hand, making it the perfect dish for whatever happens to be biting today. Ready to give it a try? Here are the simple directions, and as always, feel free to modify and let us know which substitutions work and which additions don't! 

You'll need: 

1 tablespoon butter

3 tablespoons olive oil

1 medium onion

3 cloves garlic

1/4 cup chopped flat leaf parsley

1 teaspoon basil 

1 teaspoon oregano

salt

pepper

1/2 cup dry white wine

1 cup chunky tomato sauce (or 1 can crushed tomatoes)

1 cup water

24 oz fresh fish

Start by:

Melt butter and heat oil over medium flame in a stock pot. 

Add diced onion and garlic, and simmer until the onions become translucent (fairly standard soup starter).

Stir in parsley, basil, and oregano, with a pinch of salt (be sure to save a few pinches of parsley for garnish).

Add white wine and let the mixture cook down for a few minutes.

Stir in tomatoes, water, and continue to cook down for a few more minutes.

Cut the fish into 1 inch cubes, stir into the soup, cover, and boil until the fish is fully cooked through (10 to 15 minutes).

Salt and pepper to taste.

Garnish with a pinch of parsley and a sliver of butter.

This soup goes great with a crusty French or Italian bread. It's never better than with a fresh parmesan baguette! Enjoy!

Is 'ladder ball' Really For the Elderly?

             ***spoiler alert: the answer is maybe...

Looking back on July and August, I must say, I've played a lot of yard sports in the last two months. But when I reflect on the matter, I get hung up on one main question; what's the difference between all the projectile based yard games? I'm thinking primarily of horse shoes, ladder ball, and bags, though we could certainly add others to the fray (beer pong anyone?).

Lets think about it, we don't even have to get to deep into the details. Competing parties stand on opposite sides, next to their opponents target (of sorts), and launch a projectile of some kind towards it. Your score is based on proximity to the target, and if you're old enough, you can drink a beer while youre playing any of them. So what exactly is the substantive difference? Two balls on either end of a string (called a bola), a heavy metal U, and a cloth bag filled with beans. That's about it.

This simple distinction, however, translates into various advantages for some players and relative disadvantages for others, and age may be what matters. Bean bags are for kids. They're soft, blunt, and a miniature version of a favorite kids chair. Horse shoes, on the other hand, are hard, heavy, and easily turned into a dangerous weapon. They're definitely for adults. Adults with some arm strength. As for the bola, wielding it requires patients, finess, and precision. These skills come with age. I'm not trying to say a 10 year old will never school her grandfather in a game of ladder ball. In fact, I've seen it happen. But when it comes to planning your backyard parties, organizing your yard sports, and dividing up teams, it might be wise to keep this in mind. Obviously there are exceptions, but as a general rule of thumb, horse shoes is not gonna be grandma's strongest game.