Peach and Rose Water Lassi

This lassi is a sweet, refreshing summer drink that's a little different from the usual. We love how it combines sweet ripe peaches and yogurt with a bit of rosewater, then is topped with a sprinkling of salty pistachios. We also love the blogger who created this recipe - it's Erin, from Yummy Supper! We were lucky enough to get our hands on an early copy of her brand new cookbook, which is where we found this jewel of a recipe.

Would you like to win a copy of the new Yummy Supper cookbook? We think you'd love it! Just leave a comment on this post and we'll randomly choose a winner on Friday August 29th. Open to US only.

A few words about the cookbook. It happens to be a gluten free cookbook, but to be honest I didn't  even notice that at first. It is filled with exactly the types of recipes we love to make. Fresh and interesting vegetable based dishes, really great drink ideas (many of which can be morphed into cocktails), and so many flavorful and simple main dishes. If you like cooking great tasting dishes using real food ingredients - you should definitely be checking this cookbook out.

Now back to this recipe. It's right in the middle of peach season here in Colorado, and we are a state that happens to produce truly delicious peaches. They're grown on the western slope of the Rocky Mountains, in picturesque little towns like Paonia and Palisade. The small batch food scene around here turns those peaches into some jaw-droppingly great things. Like this stuff. So of course, this recipe was a must try for us!

In addition to tasting great, I love the colors of this recipe. The soft pinky peach topped with vibrant pistachios is so lovely.

We hope you enjoy this recipe as much as we did. And if you'd like to enter to win a copy of Yummy Supper, don't forget to leave a comment. Winner will be chosen on Friday, August 29th.

 Peach and Rose Water Lassi

• 1 cup fresh or frozen peaches, cut into chunks (1 large or 2 small peaches)
• 1/2 cup plain yogurt
• 2 Tbs milk
• 1/2-1 tsp rose water
• 2-3 Tbs honey
• pinch of Maldon sea salt or any good sea salt
• 4 ice cubes
• 2 Tbs coursely chopped roasted salted pistachios

In a standing blender, combine the peaches, yogurt, milk, rose water, honey, and salt. Blend until everything is smooth and silky, then taste for sweetness.
Add additional honey if you'd like it and even a little extra splash of rose water, if it pleases you.
Finally, add the ice cubes. Blend again, and serve topped with the pistachios.

Whiskey Ember

This past fall, I ordered a cocktail at a local restaurant that I have not been able to get off my mind. It was basically a spicy Old Fashioned, and the element of heat came from cayenne. It had all the trappings of the familiar classic but with a spicy finish that was a little addictive. Over the next few weeks, I tried to conjure up something similar at home, but I was disappointed every time.

When I purchased a bottle of Royal Rose's Three Chile simple syrup, it seemed time to try again. Success! This whiskey drink has just the spicy, smoky finish that I was after.

Whiskey Ember

makes 1 cocktail

• 2 oz good whiskey
• 1/5 oz Royal Rose Three Chile Simple Syrup
• a couple dashes of cherry bitters

Mix everything in a low ball glass. Give it a good stir. Add ice (I prefer a single big ice cube which melts slowly). Enjoy.

Negroni

Have you come around to Campari yet? It is bitter red Italian liqueur, and it is most famously featured in the negroni. (Did I mention it is bitter?) It is one of those acquired tastes that is a bit off-putting at first, but once you wrap your tongue around it, you wonder why you ever hesitated at that first sip.

I only recently picked up a bottle, but I knew right away that I wanted to make a negroni. If you have read anything at all about Campari, you will read the phrase "featured in the negroni and other cocktails." The negroni is what always gets top billing. It is a classic cocktail, dating back to 1919, but it still feels quite modern and sophisticated. It certainly is a bitter drink, but it is also sweet and herbal.

But here's a little something that makes me like this drink even more (and also reveals just how lazy/forgetful I am). The negroni involves equal parts gin, Campari, and sweet vermouth. Equal parts! That means I will always remember how to make this drink. Cheers to that.

Negroni

• 1 oz gin
• 1 oz Campari
• 1 oz sweet vermouth
• 1 orange twist

Stir gin, Campari, and sweet vermouth in a lowball glass. Stir in ice. Garnish with orange twist.