Santera Tequila offers a variety of cocktails for your Memorial Day celebrations

Memorial Day weekend is the unofficial kickoff to summer all across the land. If you're like many of our readers, cocktails are just one of the many components to your long weekend celebrating. Whether you like unaged or aged tequilas, there’s a simple recipe for everyone to make with Santera Tequila: the brand new line of 100% blue agave tequilas that are expertly distilled and aged and wonderful sipped neat, on the rocks or in your favorite tipple.

If you like silver tequilas
Santera Blanco Santera Margarita (top right) nothing shows off a blanco tequila like the classic margarita. Refreshing, cold and a perfect blend of sweet and tart in a glass.
Ingredients

• Spicy salt rim, optional. 
• 2 parts Santera Blanco Tequila 
• 3/4 parts Fresh Lemon and Lime juice 
• 3/4 parts Agave Syrup

Directions
Combine all ingredients in a shaker. Add ice and shake vigorously. Strain into a rocks glass over fresh ice and garnish with a lime wheel.

If you like a bit of aging
Santera Reposado Mustache Tickler (middle right) this cocktail has a bit of spice, so depending on your tolerance for heat, add as little or as much Sriracha Sauce as you like!
Ingredients

• 2 parts Santera Reposado 
• 3/4 parts Fresh Lemon Juice 
• 3/4 parts Honey Syrup 
• 1/4 parts Sriracha Sauce 

Directions
Combine all ingredients in a shaker. Add ice and shake vigorously. Strain into a rocks glass over fresh ice and garnish with a lemon wheel.

If you like your tequilas like whiskey
Santera Añejo El Anticuado (bottom right) Santera Añejo is aged up to 3 years, with a bit of extra añejo tequila added to the final blend to round out the full flavors of this spirit. Try it in your favorite whiskey cocktail like the one below or try it neat.
Ingredients

• 2 parts Santera Anejo Tequila 
• 1 Sugar cube 
• 5 drops Bittercube Bolivar Bitters 
• Large Orange Twist 

Directions
In a rocks glass, muddle sugar cube and bitters. Add 1 large ice cube, tequila and stir until very cold. Express an orange twist over the glass and rim and garnish.

For more information about Santera Tequila, please visit their website, Facebook page or Twitter feed. As always, please celebrate responsibly and stay safe this holiday weekend!

The Brew Kettle announces the launch of three new beers

The Brew Kettle, a craft brewery located in the Cleveland, OH suburbs, has just announced the launch of three new craft beers: Balloon City, Loco Libre, and Primavera.

Balloon City, a north coast style hazy IPA, boasts of a tropical and citrusy hop flavor profile and a smooth, bright finish. Weighing in with a 6.3% ABV, this brew won't weigh you down on those hot summer days. Loco Libre, a new take on their classic El Lupulo Libre, features a blast of mosaic hops brewed with habanero, cilantro and lime. This beer is an Imperial IPA weighing in at 8.8% ABV and is not for the faint of heart! Primavera is a margarita sour ale that is brewed with orange and lime before being aged in tequila barrels for 6 months. This tropical treat weighs in at 9.5% ABV, so sip responsibly!

The Brew Kettle has 4 locations, Strongsville, Amherst, Hudson, and Mentor, that are open daily for service and many of their brews can be purchased locally. For those looking for a unique experience, the Strongsville location offers a "Brew Your Own Experience" where you can choose from over 70 recipes of beer and wine to brew. 

Stir fry asparagus with peanuts recipe

 

Asparagus is one of spring's first gifts to us and this recipe is a quick and easy way to showcase it's unique flavor. 

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 3/4 pound fresh asparagus, cut into 2-inch pieces
• 2 teaspoons soy sauce
• 2 tablespoons chopped dry roasted peanuts

Directions

Heat oil in large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add asparagus; cook and stir 4 minutes or until crisp-tender. Remove skillet from heat. Add soy sauce; stir to coat. Sprinkle with peanuts.

Horseshoe Margarita recipe from Tequila Herradura

 Celebrate Cinco de Mayo with this tantalizing margarita from Tequila Herradura.

HORSESHOE MARGARITA
Ingredients 

• 2 parts Tequila Herradura Ultra 
• 1 part Fresh Squeezed Lime Juice 
• ½ - ¾ part Agave Nectar (to taste) 

Preparation
Combine all the ingredients in a shaker with ice, shake hard so that some of the ice melts, then strain over fresh ice. Garnish with a lime wedge.

Blood orange margarita recipe from Betty Crocker

Cinco de Mayo is just around the corner. If you want to celebrate with something a little different this year, try this delicious sounding margarita from the Betty Crocker website.

Ingredients

• 2 cups blood orange juice, freshly squeezed (about 8 oranges)
• 1/2 cup lime juice, freshly squeezed (about 2 limes)
• 1/2 cup orange-flavored liqueur
• 1 3/4 cups silver tequila
• 2 to 3 tablespoons agave nectar, to taste
• Kosher (coarse) salt
• Ice
• 8 blood orange slices, halved, 1/4 inch thick

Directions 
1 Mix blood orange juice, lime juice, liqueur, tequila and agave nectar; strain into large pitcher. Refrigerate until chilled, at least 30 minutes.
2 Moisten outer rim of 8 glasses with orange or lime, and dip rims into salt to lightly coat.
3 Add ice to pitcher, and stir well. Pour into glasses. Garnish with blood orange slices, and serve over crushed ice.

June Food Holidays

 

Aaahhhh, the month of June. When a foodie's fancies start to turn towards the thoughts of gardening, fresh produce, farmer's markets and grilling out. Fortunately, there's a holiday for nearly all of those!

MONTHLY CELEBRATIONS

• National Candy Month 
• National Dairy Month 
• National Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Month 
• National Iced Tea Month 
• National Mango Month 
• National Papaya Month 
• National Seafood Month 
• National Steakhouse Month 
• National Turkey Lover’s Month

WEEKLY CELEBRATIONS

• Negroni Week, Second week

DAILY CELEBRATIONS

• National Doughnut Day, First Friday
• World Tapas Day, Third Thursday
• June 1: National Hazelnut Cake Day 
• June 2: National Rocky Road Ice Cream Day 
• June 3: National Egg Day 
• June 4: National Cheese Day 
• June 4: National Frozen Yogurt Day 
• June 4: National Cognac Day 
• June 5: National Gingerbread Day 
• June 5: National Veggie Burger Day 
• June 6: National Applesauce Cake Day 
• June 7: National Chocolate Ice Cream Day 
• June 8: National Jelly Doughnut Day 
• June 8: World Oceans Day (Sustainable Seafood) 
• June 9: National Strawberry-Rhubarb Pie Day 
• June 10: Herbs & Spices Day 
• June 10: National Black Cow Day
• June 10: National Iced Tea Day 
• June 11: National German Chocolate Cake Day 
• June 12: International Cachaça Day 
• June 12: International Falafel Day 
• June 12: National Jerky Day 
• June 12: National Peanut Butter Cookie Day 
• June 13: Kitchen Klutzes of America Day 
• June 13: National Cucumber Day 
• June 14: National Strawberry Shortcake 
• June 15: World Gin Day 
• June 15: National Cannoli Day 
• June 16: National Fudge Day 
• June 17: Eat All Your Veggies Day 
• June 17: National Apple Strudel Day 
• June 18: National Cherry Tart Day 
• June 18: International Picnic Day 
• June 18: National Splurge Day 
• June 18: National Sushi Day
•  June 19: National Dry Martini Day 
• June 20: National Vanilla Milkshake Day 
• June 21: National Peaches and Cream Day 
• June 21: National Smoothie Day 
• June 22: National Chocolate Éclair Day 
• June 22: National Onion Rings Day 
• June 23: National Pecan Sandy Day 
• June 24: National Pralines Day 
• June 25: National Catfish Day 
• June 25: National Strawberry Parfait Day   
• June 26: National Chocolate Pudding Day 
• June 27: National Indian Pudding Day 
• June 27: National Orange Blossom Day 
• June 28: National Ceviche Day 
• June 28: National Tapioca Day 
• June 29: National Almond Buttercrunch Day 
• June 30: National Ice Cream Soda Day

May Food Holidays

 

It's no wonder that the month of May is one of the busiest for food holidays, the first rounds of fresh produce are being picked, farmer's markets are opening up and restaurants are updating their menus in anticipation of warmer weather.

MONTHLY HOLIDAYS

• National Asparagus Month 
• National Barbecue Month 
• National Chocolate Custard Month 
• National Egg Month 
• National Gazpacho Aficionado Month 
• National Hamburger Month 
• National Mediterranean Diet Month 
• National Salad Month 
• National Salsa Month 
• National Strawberry Month 
• National Vinegar Month

WEEKLY HOLIDAYS

• National Raisin Week, First week
• National Herb Week, First week 
• National Hamburger Week, Second week
• International Pickles Week, Third week
• National Frozen Yogurt Week, Fourth week
• American Craft Beer Week, Fourth week

DAILY HOLIDAYS

• May 1: National Chocolate Parfait Day 
• May 2: National Truffles Day 
• May 3: National Chocolate Custard Day 
• May 3: National Raspberry Tart Day 
• May 4: National Homebrew Day 
• May 4: National Orange Juice Day 
• May 4: National Candied Orange Peel Day 
• May 5: Cinco de Mayo 
• May 5: National Hoagie Day 
• May 6: National Crêpes Suzette Day 
• May 6: International No Diet Day 
• May 7: National Roast Leg of Lamb Day 
• May 8: National Coconut Cream Pie Day 
• May 8: National Empanada Day 
• May 8: Have A Coke Day 
• May 9: National Butterscotch Brownie Day 
• May 9: National Moscato Day 
• May 10: National Shrimp Day 
• May 11: National Eat What You Want Day 
• May 12: National Nutty Fudge Day 
• May 13 National Apple Pie Day 
• May 13: National Fruit Cocktail Day 
• May 13: International Hummus Day 
• May 13: World Cocktail Day 
• May 14: National Buttermilk Biscuit Day 
• May 15: National Chocolate Chip Cookie Day 
• May 16: National Coquilles Saint Jacques Day 
• May 17: National Cherry Cobbler Day 
• May 18: National Cheese Soufflé Day 
• May 19: National Devil’s Food Cake Day 
• May 19: World Baking Day 
• May 20: National Quiche Lorraine Day 
• May 20: National Pick Strawberries Day 
• May 21: National Strawberries and Cream Day 
• May 22: National Vanilla Pudding Day 
• May 23: National Taffy Day 
• May 24: National Escargot Day 
• May 25: National Brown-Bag-It Day 
• May 25: National Wine Day 
• May 26: National Blueberry Cheesecake Day 
• May 26: National Cherry Dessert Day 
• May 27: National Grape Popsicle Day 
• May 28: National Brisket Day 
• May 28: National Hamburger Day 
• May 29: National Coq Au Vin Day 
• May 30: National Mint Julep Day 
• May 31: National Macaroon Day