Sweating Champagne

Chicago Lifestyle and Mental Health Awareness Blog

recipe

The Perfect Summer Cheese Board

Looking for an easy appetizer to bring to your next summer potluck or event? Cheese boards are great because they are quick, aesthetically pleasing, and everyone enjoys one. For those that do not really cook (me) it’s a done deal. Follow the steps below on how to make the perfect summer cheese board!

Step 1: The Cheese

summer cheese board step 1: the cheese

First step is to pick two cheeses to feature on your cheese board. These can really be any two types of cheese that you fancy, however I picked softened brie and Boursin’s Basil and Chive for mine. Assemble the two cheeses on opposite corners of each other.

Step 2: The Meat

step 2: the meat

Next up: meat. Assemble hard salmi going down the board, from one corner to another. This should go in between the two cheeses to make a nice wave. It really adds an aesthetic flare!

Step 3: The Fruit

step 3: the fruit

The perfect summer cheese board wouldn’t be complete without some nice summer fruit! Split apart blackberries and strawberries on each side of the board. You can either cut up the strawberries or keep them whole like I did.

Step 4: The Nuts

step 4: the nuts

To add some nutty flavor, add in salted or non salted almonds where you still have empty spots. Almonds are great paired with brie, and really any type of cheese, for some extra flavor.

Step 5: Decorations

step 5: the decorations

You now have all the edible ingredients added on your cheese board. Adding decorations, such as fake or real flowers, gives the last touch to an already aesthetically-pleasing presentation!

Cheese Board Tips

  • Present using a cutting board or pizza tray.
  • Use Crunchmaster crackers to serve with your cheese board. They’re the best.
  • Have honey on the side in case someone wants to add it to their plate.
  • Tupperware the leftovers for at-home or at-work snacking later!
the perfect summer cheese board

Pink Hot Chocolate Valentine’s Day Recipe

pink hot chocolate valentine's day recipe

Just in time for the month of love, this Valentine’s Day pink hot chocolate recipe is the perfect festive addition to your party planning. Super easy to make, and even easier to want cute pictures of, this recipe takes a girly spin on a classic drink. Find the recipe detailed below!

pink hot chocolate valentine's day recipe

Valentine’s Day Pink Hot Chocolate

Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Total Time 15 minutes
Course Drinks
Servings 3 cups

Ingredients
  

Pink Hot Chocolate

  • 4 cups whole milk
  • 1 1/2 cups white chocolate chips
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1-2 tsp red food coloring

Toppings

  • Cool Whip
  • Fancy Sprinkles

Instructions
 

  • Add milk and white chocolate chips to a medium pan. Cook over low heat and stir until chocolate chips are smoothly melted. 
  • Stir in your vanilla and red food coloring.
  • Pour your pink hot chocolate into clear plastic (or glass) mugs.
  • Top with whip cream and decorative sprinkles. 
Keyword hot chocolate, pink hot chocolate, valentine’s day
pink hot chocolate valentine's day recipe

Besides the creamy, white chocolate flavor, what really sets this drink apart are the details. Clear mugs are crucial to be able to snap a pic of the gorgeous pink coloring! The pink coloring is, after all, the main component of this pink hot chocolate recipe. I used these 8 oz clear coffee mugs from Amazon.

pink hot chocolate valentine's day recipe

Another thing to consider is having festive sprinkles to top off the drink on top of your whip cream. I ordered the Friends with Benefits sprinkle jar from Fancy Sprinkles. All of their sprinkle jar combos are to DIE FOR and not badly priced either. Highly recommend for any fancy sprinkle orders!

pink hot chocolate valentine's day recipe

Planning a festive party or get together during the month of February? Make sure to try out this pink hot chocolate recipe for a festive flare!
I love how this is a unique recipe to have at your upcoming celebration <3 Pin the images below to save for easy viewing later. Happy Valentine’s & Galentine’s Day!

14 Hands Wine Fall Sangria Recipe

14 hands wine fall sangria recipe

14 Hands Wine Fall Sangria Recipe

Who’s ready for a very simple, very tasty Fall sangria recipe?? Made with my new favorite delicious, yet affordable wine, 14 Hands Wine, this Fall sangria recipe is sure to be a crowd pleaser for any event.

Side note: 14 Hands Wine is our new go-to for a night in, date night and hosting. Their bottles can be found in local Mariano’s, Jewel Osco and other supermarkets and are down right amazing – not to mention the under-$20-price is great. View images from a wine tasting I did with 14 Hands Wine here!

This 14 Hands Wine Fall Sangria Recipe only requires a few main ingredients to make it a hit, with a few optional ones to add. It is based off of a sangria recipe written by 14 Hands Wine themselves! The list of ingredients below are what I added to make my version of a Fall sangria recipe featuring 14 Hands Wine, but feel free to improvise as you wish.

14 Hands Wine Fall Sangria Recipe List

  • 1 bottle of red from 14 Hands Wine (I used their Cabernet Sauvignon)
  • 2 honey crisp apples
  • 2 oranges
  • 2 cups of cranberries
  • 1/2 bottle of sparkling apple cider
  • 3 ounces of simple syrup
  • cinnamon sticks for final product garnish

I used the exact ingredients above and found the mixture to be delicious and to my liking, alcohol-heavy wise. I like my drinks tasting more like sweet juice than booze. However, if you’d like a stronger mix, it is recommended to also add 1/2 cup brandy of your choice and 1/4 cup orange liqueur. 

Make sure the apples and oranges are cut into slices with the skin still left on. Mix these pieces with the other bulleted ingredients and let the mixture cool in the fridge for at least 4 hours before serving. Add extra cranberry and a cinnamon stick for garnish and wa-la! The perfect Fall sangria recipe! Do you have any special sangria recipe add-ons? Comment below!

St. Patrick’s Day Cereal Shots

st. patrick's day cereal shots

Top o’ the mornin’ to ya! This weekend the streets of downtown Chicago will be full of green beer, a green river, and green St. Patty’s Day cheer. The favored holiday is a favorite within the city, giving locals and tourists a day to remember (or not remember, that is). I was worried that I wouldn’t be able to pull together a last minute treat for hosting the staple 9 AM pre-game. However, with a few staple items from Jewel, I was able to find everything I needed a festive drink. They were out of shot glass size, so I had to use bigger cups, so adjust where needed.

How to Make St. Patrick’s Day Cereal Shots

st. patrick's day cereal shots

St. Patrick’s Day Cereal Shots

Make these festive shots for your next St. Patrick’s Day gathering!
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 10 minutes
Total Time 10 minutes
Course Drinks

Ingredients
  

  • 1/2 oz Irish Cream (I used Dekuyper Irish Cream)
  • 1/2 oz Kahula
  • 1/2 oz Creme de Menthe
  • 1 can Reddiwip
  • 1 box Lucky Charms

Instructions
 

  • Shake together your Dekuyper Irish Cream, Kahula and Creme de Menthe in a shaker. 
  • Pour into a clear plastic shot glass.  
  • Whip, whip, whip your Reddiwip and sprinkle a hand full of Lucky Charms cereal on top

Notes

This take on a Dirty Girl Scout shot is strong, tasty, and ready to lead you to your own pot o’ gold.
The color of Creme de Menthe is what gives your drink a green tint! 
Keyword cereal, shots, st. patrick’s day
st. patrick's day shots

Want to save this recipe for later? Use the pin below!