Meghan Y., Author at Cake 'n Knife

Honey Lime Shrimp Guacamole Tostadas

POSTED BY Meghan Y. ON August 13, 2019 // Leave a Comment

Honey Lime Shrimp and Guacamole Tostadas are my new crunchy, tangy go-to for a party, or for any ol’ weeknight when I want to add a little flair to the menu. They are loaded with guacamole, my favorite shrimp, pico de gallo, red onion slices, and queso fresco. It’s an easy meal that can be made in less than 30 minutes!

Meals in under 30 minutes – they are the best thing in the world, aren’t they?

As I write this post, I feel exhaustion sweeping through my brain and I find that my words are coming out jumbled.

Fun fact: it took me at least four tries to write that previous sentence, and I still feel like it doesn’t sound right. I think my brain is playing tricks on me…

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Quick Start Guide To Seasonal Cooking

POSTED BY Meghan Y. ON August 11, 2019 // Leave a Comment

This is my Quick Start Guide To Seasonal Cooking! Here you’ll find out what seasonal cooking is and what’s in season anytime of the year. This is the way I love to cook, cherishing each season and finding new ways to gather people around the table to celebrate.

Quick Start Guide to Seasonal Cooking main image

Cooking seasonally is one of my top priorities because it is a fantastic way to celebrate where you live, eat a wider range of fruits and vegetables, as well as understand the seasons as they change.

Though this blog didn’t start off with a seasonal focus, you may have noticed that it has gone that direction in the last handful of years. In addition to creating recipes that are uncomplicated and gather people around the table, I want to food that I put out to be in season (or inspire you for upcoming seasons, you know since we are all basically thinking about Christmas right now, LOL).

Hand picking up a strawberry out of a bowl of berries

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Peach Breakfast Martini

POSTED BY Meghan Y. ON August 8, 2019 // 1 Comment

Peach Breakfast Martini is the casual brunch cocktail to tickle your taste buds this weekend. The flavors of peach, lemon, gin, and Cointreau make for a delightful sipper. Who says you can’t have a martini before Noon?!

Peach breakfast martini with peach slices

Martinis are now acceptable with breakfast and brunch.

So says I, and therefore it must be true…

Seriously though, this martini is the one that you will actually want to drink in the morning.

Normally, I am not much of a martini lover. Usually the booze is just way too strong and therefore I don’t really love it since they are normally made with vodka or gin. Of course, you know I love gin, but I need more to be in the drink.

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Spicy Korean Chicken Thighs with Crispy Ginger Rice

POSTED BY Meghan Y. ON August 7, 2019 // 1 Comment

Spicy Korean Chicken Thighs with Crispy Ginger Rice is a simple global dinner that will quickly become a family favorite! Chicken thighs are marinated in an easy gochujang marinade, then grilled and served over flavorful Mahatma® Rice. You’ll never think chicken is boring again.

This post has been sponsored by Mahatma® Rice. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Winner winner chicken dinner, people! It’s time to pop on over to your local Safeway to gather all the ingredients for the global meal that’s gonna change your life.

Do you know what I love about chicken? You can do pretty much anything with it. Do you know what you can also do pretty much anything with?

RICE.

More chicken thighs recipes: Tequila Lime Chicken Thighs / Chipotle Braised Chicken Thighs / Spicy Ginger Grilled Chicken Thighs / Creamy White Wine & Garlic Roasted Chicken Thighs

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48 Hour Foodie Guide to the Chicago West Loop

POSTED BY Meghan Y. ON August 2, 2019 // 1 Comment

Next time you are in the Windy City, be sure to check out the Chicago West Loop. This 48 Hour Foodie Guide is my quick rundown of my favorite bites and sips in the West Loop. It’s a side of Chicago everyone should see, even if you only have a day to pack it all in!

When I went to Chicago in June, let’s just say it was not the week long trip we were planning on. While the first half of the trip was fantastic, halfway through we were alerted to the fact that Kya was starting a quick decline… Therefore we had to cut our trip short to rush home, and I am sure you already know how that story goes.

However, while we were in Chicago after the conference wrapped up, we had an incredible time in on of the many neighborhoods of Chicago – Fulton Market.

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Strawberry Mint Vodka Gimlet

POSTED BY Meghan Y. ON August 1, 2019 // 2 Comments

This Strawberry Mint Vodka Gimlet is a spin on a classic you definitely need to know! Fresh ingredients and vodka make this cocktail all the summer happy hour goals. You can even make it sugar-free by skipping the simple syrup if you choose!

overhead image of vodka gimlets, strawberries, and fresh mint leaves

It’s the first day of August! And it’s hotter than hot outside right now.

ICK.

For all those people who were begging for summer, I hope you are happy right now. I HOPE YOU ARE HAPPY.

Fruit and herbs in a cocktail with coupe glasses

Personally, I just want fall. I want a chill in the air and I want to snuggle up in blankets with pumpkin spice things already.

I know, I know, I’m a monster.

So I’m trying to embrace the remaining days of summer as much as I can… Which usually involves something cooling and boozy!

This fresh and fruity twist on the classic vodka gimlet is one that I cannot stop drinking. It’s so easy to make (no extra infusions or simple syrups for this one! SURPRISE!) and it’s totally refreshing. You can drink it with lunch or dinner. It can be served at any poolside happy hour. The cocktail even is an oh-so delicious pairing for a summer brunch on the patio!

After you try this gimlet, you are going to become obsessed, so have this refreshing strawberry cucumber gimlet at the ready next!

This Recipe’s Must-Haves

I am a big fan of keeping bar tools simple and useable for multiple recipes. If you don’t have a shaker, this Boston cocktail shaker is ideal for this cocktail and many more.

Then all you need is a cocktail strainer to strain out the big chunks of strawberry and mint from the cocktail.

Personally, I like to serve this cocktail in pretty (seemingly fancy) coupe glasses. You can also serve these in martini glasses or double old fashioned glasses if that’s what you have on hand.

Hand holding a vodka cocktail in a coupe glass

How To Make This Vodka Gimlet

Muddle

First you start by muddling together the fruit and herbs for this cocktail in the bottom of a shaker. Doing this brings out the natural, fresh flavors of the strawberries and mint leaves.

This is one of the easiest way to infuse cocktails with flavor, without the hassle of making a simple syrup or infusion!

Shake

Once you’ve muddled it all together, you fill the shaker and add remaining ingredients.

Then it’s time to shake, shake, shake.

Every time I think about shaking cocktails, I always think about what my shake face looks like. We all have them, and they are typically terrible because, if you aren’t a bartender, you usually aren’t thinking about what you look like when shaking a cocktail.

Now you will. You’re welcome.

Strain

Strain the cocktail into glasses to make sure you don’t end up with any big chunks of strawberries or mint leaves. No one wants to eat their cocktail, after all. Then all you have to do is garnish!

Berries and herbs with vodka for a cocktail in coupe glasses

What is a gimlet?

I hadn’t heard of a gimlet until I read Julie & Julia many years ago. The author and her husband always made the cocktail, and so I always wondered if I would like it. Well, the gimlet is probably one of the most timeless cocktails out there and now I understand why. It’s made with just gin or vodka and lime juice.

Pretty darn simple right? There are versions with soda, which I personally prefer, but others prefer a half booze half juice ratio only.

For me, if you are making the classic cocktail straight up, I like a 2 parts gin/vodka to 1 part juice ratio. However, for this cocktail, I was looking to make the gimlet a little lighter and a little more refreshing. Therefore, you’ll find added fresh ingredients, some simple syrup to balance out the tartness, and a touch of soda.

Overhead image of strawberries in a bowl

How to garnish a gimlet?

As you can see here, I garnished my gimlet with a whole strawberry and a sprig of mint. You can also choose a mint leaf and a slice of strawberry, or even a lemon peel (since this recipe uses lemon juice instead of lime juice).

You also don’t have to garnish your cocktail if you don’t want to! Sometimes it can feel like you are wasting all that mint because it’s never going to be eaten… so I get it 😉

Suffice to say, this cocktail is one that you and your friends will want to sip on for the rest of August, until the rise of pumpkin takes over our lives. It’s bright, light, bubbly, and still strong enough to not be too fruity or sweet.

More strawberry cocktail recipes: Strawberry Rhubarb Champagne Cocktail / Strawberry Jalapeño Margarita / Strawberry Rhubarb Gin Fizz / Strawberry Mint Julep

If you need a tasty summer recipe to pair with this cocktail, this salmon sandwich with creamy dill sauce is absolutely mouthwatering!

Overhead shot of cocktail being held in a hand

Strawberry Mint Vodka Gimlet

A light and fruity take on the classic vodka gimlet, made with fresh strawberries and mint!

5 from 2 votes

Print Pin

Prep Time: 5

Total Time: 5

Servings: 2 cocktails

equipment

ingredients

2 strawberries hulled and sliced
4 mint leaves
2 oz lemon juice
3 oz vodka
1 1/2 oz simple syrup
Soda water chilled

instructions

In the bottom of a shaker, muddle strawberry slices and mint leaves. Add lemon juice, vodka and simple syrup.
Fill with ice and shake ingredients well.
Strain into a coupe glass.
Top with chilled soda water and serve.

notes

To make this cocktail sugar-free, omit the simple syrup and only use 1 oz lemon juice total. The sweetness of the strawberries will balance out the other ingredients.

Cuisine: Summer

Category: Booze

Bourbon Cherry Peach Crumble

POSTED BY Meghan Y. ON July 30, 2019 // Leave a Comment

This Bourbon Cherry Peach Crumble is a delightful combination of tart cherries and juicy peaches, topped with a brown sugar oatmeal topping. It’s one of those recipes that’s easy to make and everyone always goes crazy for! Just be sure to have some ice cream handy to serve it with 😉

Bowls of summer fruit crumble and ice cream

I love a good crumble this time of year. Really any kind of cherry crumble or easy cherry cobbler has my vote.

It’s late summer and that means I’m not only ready to eat all the peaches, I’m also getting ready for fall to roll around.

This dessert is the ideal pairing for a late summer/early fall baked recipe. You can get all the gooey warm filling, while also getting all the juicy, tart flavors of fresh summer fruit.

Then there’s this crunchy topping that is nice and golden, with just the right amount of brown sugar, oatmeal, and buttery flavor.

Top it all off with a big ol’ scoop of ice cream, and you have the easiest dessert that’ll have everyone running to the table.

I could literally eat this peach crumble every. single. night. right now. At least I’d be getting my serving of fruit in every day…??

This Recipe’s Must-Haves

To make the filling and the crumble topping for this recipe, you’ll need to grab your set of mixing bowls and wooden spoon. Also, you’ll need to use your hands, but more on that later 😉

I like to bake this recipe in an old 2 1/2 quart baking dish that I picked up at a thrift store many moons ago. However, you can use any shape baking dish that you have that is the right size. You can also use a 9-by-9-inch baking dish (glass or metal)!

Lifting out a fruit crumble from baking dish

How To Make A Fresh Peach Crumble

Make The Filling

To make the filling, start by preparing the fruit. Start by pitting all the cherries and thinly slicing the peaches.

Then you mix this up with the remaining ingredients for the filling, spread it in a baking dish, and top it with dots of butter.

crumble topping in a baking dish before baking

Make The Crumble

The brown sugar oatmeal crumble is one of my favorite parts about this dessert. It gets nice and golden brown when it bakes, giving you a buttery sweet crunch on top of the gooey and warm filling.

When you make the crumble, it’s the cutting in of the butter that’s important to get right. You want to use your hands, because it’s definitely the easiest way to make it. It should be a crumbly mixture that resembles wet sand in your hands.

Assemble and Bake

Top the filling with the crumble and stick it in the oven. The filling will be all gooey and bubbling when it’s done, and the topping will be nice and golden.

Just be sure to let it cool a few minutes before serving. Similar to pies and other fruit desserts, you want to let those piping hot juices settle.

Serve it on its own, but it’s SO much better with a big ol scoop of vanilla bean ice cream on top!

Can I use canned peaches?

While you can use canned peaches, I highly recommend using fresh peaches because the flavor is so much better.

If you have to use canned peaches, be sure to use ones that are in 100% juice. Drain the peaches and lightly rinse them under cold water before using them in the recipe.

Can I freeze peach crumble?

You can keep a baked crumble in the freezer, for up to 2 months! All you have to do is thaw it and then warm it in a 350˚F oven for about 20 minutes until it is heated through. You can also store it pre-baked, but keep the topping separate and freeze. Then continue to assemble, bake, and serve once fully thawed out.

Individual cherry peach crumble desserts with ice cream

Need more peach dessert recipes?

Peach Plum Cobbler

Raspberry Peach Prosecco Popsicles

Blackberry Peach Shortcake Stacks

Peach and Blueberry Galette

Small bowls of fruit crumble with ice cream

Bourbon Cherry Peach Crumble

Tart cherries, juicy peaches, and a hint of bourbon are topped with a golden brown oatmeal topping that brings together the best flavors of summer fruit!

4.4 from 5 votes

Print Pin

Prep Time: 10

Cook Time: 45

Total Time: 55