a pomander cocktail

So, I've been taking a bit of a break from work, and the constant pressure of trying to sell you things.  Can I afford to take this break?  Probably not.  But I'm really enjoying it.  And it's apparently kick started my creativity, because:  I.  Invented.  A.  Cocktail!  Yay!  Just for you.  Well, really--for me.  Remember the big pomander kick I was on back in November?  I had a pomander-ish cocktail when I was in NYC, and since then I've tried a couple other cocktail recipes at home that were lovely, but not quite perfect (i.e., not clove-y enough for me). 

So I spent some time in the kitchen on Christmas day tinkering and I present you with:  the Pomander Cocktail!

(serves 2)

*make some clove simple syrup (I used this recipe from Food & Wine; it is quick and easy to make)

*chill two cocktail glasses

*fill a cocktail shaker with ice

*pour the juice of four clementines over ice

*add 3 oz gin

*add 2 oz clove simple syrup

*add 4 dashes orange bitters

*shake until chilled and serve in chilled glasses.  Add slice of clementine for garnish, if desired.

It's delish--and so nice and clove-y!  This is also very good with bourbon, although I think the clove taste diminishes a bit with the bourbon.

Andy got me this amazing vintage dogs in a cocktail bar painting for Christmas.

Isn't it the best?

xo

K

obsessed: pomanders

This might be the start of a new series on the blog of things with which I'm obsessed.  We'll see.  But first of all, the title of this should probably be "obsessed: the scent of pomanders," or, "obsessed: the scent of pomanders and other things with clove in them."  But let's start with pomanders.

Aren't they cool?  I've made three of them, using this tutorial from Mrs. Meyer's, the cleaning product line.  It's really easy, even for a non-crafty all-thumbs gal like myself.  They smell lovely, and look pretty neat, too.

Speaking of Mrs. M, I bought some of this stuff, and it also smells wonderful.  As with all orange/clove products, I find myself wishing it had a bit more clove in it, but that's just me.  (I even put extra clove in our homemade sloppy joes when Andy made them recently.  I was the sous chef, so I snuck 'em in there.)

I bought this Clementine Clove candle from Sydney Hale on Etsy, and I love it.  It has a wonderful scent, is a nice big size, and the old timey label and amber glass container are nice bonuses.

I bought two of these wonderful clove and lavender sachets from AdobeHouseVintage on Etsy last year, and kept one for the house, where it hangs in my bedroom.  It has a wonderful scent--plenty of clove for me--and is cute as heck.  I feel like a need another one--or six--for my house this year.

I've been a fan of Burt's Bees lip balm for a long time, and was happy as heck when they came out with this balm with clove oil.  So good!

Please tell me about your favorite pomander or clove-scented products and recipes in the comments!  I would especially love to find a nice clove-y or pomander scented perfume.  Or a clove-centric cocktail.  I know cloves are a staple in mulled wines and cider, but is there a way to use them in other cocktails?  (See...I really am obsessed!)

xo

K