My Twist on a Classic: Arnold Palmer 2.0 I often take for granted that everyone knows what I know about drinks—and that some people know even more than I do. Way more. Here we are: Arnold Palmer 2.0, the drink of the moment. It’s a layered lemonade and tea drink that was requested so often by the famous golfer Arnold Palmer that it was named after him. Traditionally, it consists of unsweetened iced tea and lemonade. What makes mine 2.0? Pandan lemonade and honey drizzle spiced chai masala spice blend with black salt and lime garnish. Three lemons yield about 5 ounces of juice. Add rich pandan syrup and enough water to achieve a pH of 3; I prefer it a bit more tart. Check the pH using litmus paper. You can strain out the pulp or keep it—it’s a matter of preference. I tested this a couple of times. Varying pH. Stir in spices for the chai (I use Diaspora Marsala spice blend here); it’s heavier than regular tea, but the tea on top remains lighter. For garnish, rim the glass with black salt and garnish with a wedge of lime. Voilà! Arnold Palmer 2.0. Ingredients list Bag of lemons Diaspora Chai Masala spice blend Honey Pandan leaf Water Ice Lime For the Pandan syrup (I’ll do ounces since the other is in ounces) 1 cup of water (about 200 grams if you are using a scale) 2 1/2 cups of sugar (500 grams if you are using a scale) 1 Pandan leaf Method Steep the pandan leaf in boiling water (around 212 degrees F) for about 30 to 45 minutes. Remove the leaf and add it to the sugar mixture. Blend until dissolved. This syrup lasts about two weeks in a sealed container in the refrigerator. If you freeze it, because of the sugar content, it won’t completely freeze in a regular home freezer, but it will last longer that way. It tastes so good and delicious that I found myself eating it with a spoon. For the lemonade 1 ½ oz pandan syrup1 oz fresh lemon juice2 oz filtered water (to thin out the lemon juice, making it lemonade) For the tea Diaspora Co. Chai Masala spice blend recipe is 1-2 teaspoons to one cup of boiling water. Steep for 1-2 minutes. I add a tea of honey. For the drink Rim the glass with black salt using lime or boney. Chill the glass. Boil water and add Diaspora chai according to the directions. Stir in a teaspoon of honey and let it cool. Prepare the lemonade. Add ice to the chilled glass, then fill it a little more than half full with lemonade. Top it off with the cooled chai. Garnish with a neatly trimmed lime wedge. Glass: highball glass Garnish: lime wedge and lime wheel Bar Chef Notes: Oh, and what is Pandan? It is commonly used in culinary applications for flavoring dishes, desserts, and beverages. It is also known for its vibrant green color in certain food preparations. The plant is widely cultivated in countries such as Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, and the Philippines. It is a long narrow tropical green leaf. Where to buy the goods? Blonde Behind the Bucket Storefront, of course. I may receive compensation from eligible purchases. Thank you!
Big Green Apple Juice It’s apple juice! Yes, it’s cold-pressed juice made from Granny Smith apples. It’s sweet, tart, and clean. Vodka is always optional. Remember that Appletini 2.0? An apple cider vinegar float adds a zing. You can also add a jalapeño or two for spice, or maybe some fresh ginger. You could add lots of things. Today, I’m only voting for apples—good ol’ (classic) apple juice. Because sometimes you don’t want orange juice. Before we get to it, you may be wondering: what is cold-pressed juice, and why cold-pressed? No heat, for starters. It’s just better for you. Nutrient retention. The shelf life is 2-3 days when refrigerated. Drinking it immediately isn’t necessary, although I recommend it. Your cocktails and mocktails will thank you too, and the guests will enjoy them, of course! Big Green Apple Juice Ingredients 6 Granny Smith apples Method Thoroughly wash the Granny Smith apples under warm running water to remove any wax, dirt or residue. Sometimes I use a spoon to scrape the apple shiny coat. If they have one. Cut the apples into smallish pieces, removing the stems and seeds. Leave the skin on as it contains nutrients and adds flavor. Set up your cold-press juicer according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Feed the apple pieces into the juicer. Place a container under the juicer’s spout to collect the freshly pressed apple juice. My juicer comes with two containers. One nestles up against the base of the juicing machine. The other in front of that. If: Strain the apple juice through a coffee filter, fine-mesh sieve or cheesecloth to remove any residual pulp or floaty solids. I love it. Probably won’t be much anyway. Optional. Once the apple juice is ready, refrigerate it for a few hours to chill or serve it immediately. Note: Cold-pressed apple juice may separate slightly, with a layer of foam on top. Simply give it a gentle shake or stir before serving. Where to buy the juicer and other tools?? Blonde Behind the Bucket Storefront, of course. I may receive compensation for eligible purchases. Thank you.
For Orange H Day The cloves are from the Diaspora. They aid in digestion after a meal when chewed, not swallowed. They also make a great mouth for the garnish of this frozen goodness. This smoothie tastes like pie! So good! I mean so good! The citrus flavored activated charcoal liquid seals the deal—it’s too good to believe it’s healthyish. It really brings all the flavors together. And who doesn’t love a chocolate orange combo? Hey pumpkin hey! I did extra tests to confirm the first try wasn’t just a stroke of great luck. Just a great each time after; and because it was, again, so good! For a thicker consistency, use less liquid; for a thinner consistency, use more. I left the little half peeled Dracula oranges in the refrigerator for a day so they could develop a bit of skin and become firmer. A little extra security for the cloves. They are still juicy inside. I mean aren’t they the cutest little pumpkin garnishes ever? If there was ever a smoothie that caters to the inner child, this is it! Nothing has to be perfect in the decorating—that was my thought process. And because I piped the zigzags with hotter than recommended chocolate in the piping bag. Have fun! It’s so good! For Orange H Day Ingredients 1 single serve packet of Ancient Nutrition multi-collagen protein powder 10 grams collagen per serving 1 CYMBIOTIKA single serve lemon cream citrus activated charcoal (inside of the the glass and top swirl) Melted 74% Ghirardelli chocolate pieces add a little coconut oil for fluidity and shine 1/2 cup of goat milk 1 cup of filtered or distilled water 1 single serve pouch of vanilla Truviani protein powder Some cloves for decorating and chewing A pastry bag or zip locked bag to pipe a chocolate zizag pumpkin mouth 2 1/2 frozen baby Dracula oranges 1 baby Dracula orange for decorating 1 1/2 to 2 cups of Whole Foods 365 frozen mango chunks (use your best judgment regarding size). If you have fresh mangoes, freeze them ahead of time and use them when ready. Method This a second test. Are you real zig-zag mouth or zig-zag side eye? For the chocolate zigzags Melting, piping and chilling. Melt chocolate chips in a double boiler (Ban-Marie) or microwave. Let it cool slightly. Place ziplock bag or pastry bag into the glass and fill with chocolate. Make zig zag shapes onto a plate. Place in the freezer to set. For the chocolate cover orange(s) Peel the oranges, keeping one half intact. Dip the top half into chocolate and place it in the freezer to set. Once set, decorate with the cloves. Use a cocktail pick to fasten it to the glass. Blending decorating consuming Snip with scissors or tear open the top of the charcoal single-serve packet. Roll the glass while adding some of the liquid to coat the inside. Reserve the remainder for the top of the smoothie swirl. Blend all ingredients until smooth. Pour the mixture into the glass coated with charcoal. Add more liquid charcoal and swirl it using a toothpick, fork, or your fingers. Add pumpkin garnish. Glass: bucket glass Garnish: little orange pumpkin Where to buy the goods? Blonde Behind the Bucket Storefront. Please know I may receive commission from eligible purchases.
Single Serve White Wine Sangria Spritz 2.0 Figs and Riesling, oh my! In the mood for Sangria? I almost always am. With some figs and Riesling on hand, I’m getting creative. Let’s get to it. Single Serve White Wine Spritz 2.0 Ingredients 2oz hibiscus tea (use tea bags if you wish, I prefer dried hibiscus flowers with hot water and steep, strain and chill) 2oz of honey syrup (2:1 ratio honey to water) 1/2 oz Grey Goose vodka 3 muddles figs (the plumpest you can find) 1 oz saville citrus (it looks like an orange but bitter like a lemon, sort of. It’s a hybrid? Hey Siri) 1/2 oz sparkling water (your choose, bubble texture doesn’t really matter here) Top with as much Kabinett Mosel Riesling crisp wine as you wish (I love a German Kabinett) I use Zilliken. 1/4 teaspoon black pepper Method Muddle the figs and black pepper. Add citrus, honey syrup and hibiscus tea and then vodka. Best to put honey syrup in jigger first and then use the citrus to wash it; the remaining stickies from the syrup. Add ice and shake. Pour into bucket glass over ice. Add sparkling water then the wine and give a quick stir. Top with sliced figs. Glass: bucket glass or high ball glass Garnish: sliced figs Bar Chef Notes: more on the wine here. Remember when I attempted (wink, wink) to open my Riesling using a tuning fork?! Kabinett is specific to Germany, FYI. Please drink responsibly and be of the legal drinking age. Thank you. Where to buy the goods? Bucket glasses, black pepper and stuffs? Blonde Behind the Bucket Storefront. Please know, I may receive compensation for eligible purchases. Thank you!
Vanilla and Berries A new smoothie test I didn’t expect to be this good. Enjoy the iPhone photos too! Cheers to good health! Vanilla and Berries Ingredients 1 single serve packet of vanilla Truvani protein powder (contains monk fruit pumpkin seeds chia seeds and pea protein) 1/2 cup of While Foods frozen pineapple chunks 1 1/2 cup of Whole Foods frozen mixed berries antioxidants and a couple extra pieces for the garnish 1/2 teaspoon ground Ceylon cinnamon 1/2 scoop of Ancient Nutrition collagen powder 1-2 cup of spring or filtered water 2 fresh ripe skin off bananas one for the blending and a few slices for the garnish and the remains for snacking 1/4 teaspoon of hemp seeds for garnish 1/4 teaspoon bee pollen for the garnish Method Blend all ingredients until smooth, except those reserved for the garnish. Pour into a bucket glass. Glass: bucket glass Garnish: hemp seeds, sliced banana, frozen fruit and bee pollen pearls. Where to buy the goods? You know blending machines and bucket glasses. Blonde Behind the Bucket Storefront, of course. Please know, I may receive compensation from eligible purchases.
Another Goodie! A Smoothie. You are probably noticing a trend in the smoothie category for this site, right? One bag of protein powder can go a long way! This one is a fun one! It’s tart and sweet and packed full of goodness. Especially if you had too much wine or too many cocktails last night, uhmkay. Cheers to what does a body good when you need a meal on the go. Cuisinart To Go to the rescue! Another Goodie! A Smoothie. 1 fresh orange (save an end slice for the garnish) 1 1/2 cups of frozen mangoes 1/2 cup of goat milk (more for fluidity) 1 scoop SAKRA Metabolism Chocolate Protein Powder 1 scoop Agent Nateur collagen powder 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon (who are we kidding, you know I did a few shakes and called it a day) 1/2 teaspoon for you. Blend until smooth. Pour into a bucket glass. Garnish with citrus slice. Glass: bucket glass Garnish: citrus 🍊 slice Before the light.. Where to buy the goods? You know, bucket glasses, spoons, blending machine and stuffs? Blonde Behind the Bucket Storefront of course. Please know I may receive compensation for eligible purchases. Thank you so much!
Sweet Tart Smoothie Sweet Tart Smoothie 1 cup of frozen passion fruit cubes 1 cup of frozen cranberries 1 cup of frozen mangoes 1/2 cup of Diaspora Chai spice mix with water per instructions (this tea is the liquid here, wink wink) if you like it looser use more 2 tablespoons of honey 2 oz of goat milk Pinch of pink salt 1 scoop of SAKARA metabolism protein smoothie powder Pinch of cinnamon 1 heaping tablespoon of bee pollen for creating texture and the garnish (I love an edible garnish) Method Blend all ingredients until smooth. Top with bee pollen. Glass: bucket glass Garnish: bee pollen pearls Where to buy the goods? You know bucket glasses, protein powders and stuffs? Blonde Behind the Bucket Storefront, of course. Please know I may earn commissions from eligible purchases. Thank you so much!
From the Bar Top: A Ginger Mint Mocktail Why mocktails? Mocktails are specifically for days when you just don’t want to drink, crave something refreshing, and want to feel included in the crowd without consuming alcohol. Bonus: no hangover and an overall healthy alternative to alcohol. This was a request from the other evening. I took a couple of snaps with my iPhone for continuity—too good not to post! A Ginger Mint Mocktail Ingredients 3/4 ginger simple (skin on juiced fresh ginger+ sugar+water) 1 oz fresh lime juice 6-8 mint leaves for the muddling 2 mint with stems bunch ?? 1 skin on lime for making the lime garnish Fever Tree club soda (blue label, if possible) Method For the syrup Juice three knobs of fresh ginger with the skin on. Combine the juice with equal parts water and sugar to create a ginger simple syrup. Store any unused syrup in a sealed container for up to two weeks. For the drink In a mixing tin, muddle the mint leaves. Add the ginger syrup, followed by the lime juice. Add ice and shake well. Strain the mixture into the same non-iced mixing tin you just used. Add club soda and stir, then let it sit for a moment to create a nice foam. Pour over ice and garnish with mint and a lime wedge. Glass: bucket glass Garnish: a couple of mint leaves stems and a neatly trimmed lime wedge Bar Chef Notes: For the adult version, you know what to do. Cheers! Where to buy the goods? Storage jars, mixing tins, Fever Tree club soda and stuffs? Blonde Behind the Bucket Storefront. Please know I may earn commissions from eligible purchases. Thank you so much!
Mostly Blueberries Smoothie Woke up late and needed something to chase down my calcium pill and complement the citrus vitamin D liquid. So, I mixed blueberries, chai masala powder, cocoa nibs, ground cayenne, sea moss, water, and chocolate protein powder, with a few frozen extra blueberries for garnish and for good measure. And whoosh!! It’s a goodie. Interesting movement in the glass when sipping from the glass. You guessed it, the sea moss gel. Beautiful color. Plus, blueberries are a powerhouse of health benefits, providing a good dose of antioxidants. They support brain, heart, and skin health, and they also have anti-inflammatory properties to top it off. Some even say these powerful spheres help with weight management. All good reasons if you ask me. Which you are, because you are here. Mostly Blueberries Smoothie 2 1/2 cups (ish) of frozen blueberries 1 cup of water 3 tablespoons of Navitas cocoa nibs A single serve packet of Triviani chocolate flavored protein powder 1/4 teaspoon of cayenne ground pepper dash or two of cinnamon pinch and a dash of pink salt 1 tablespoon of sea moss gel (I make mine but it takes some minutes. You can buy sea moss gel premade should you want to save yourself time.) 1 tablespoon of Diaspora chai masala powder mix Recommended dose of Erewhon Vitamin D citrus flavor drops a few frozen blueberries for the garnish Method Add all ingredients to a blender; except the few blueberries for the garnish. Blend until smooth. Pour into bucket glass and garnish with the remaining frozen blueberries. Glass: bucket glass Garnish: several frozen blueberries Bar Chef Notes: Please check with your health care provider when incorporating new supplements and vitamins to your diet. Where can you buy the goods? You know, protein powder, spices, buckets, glasses, blending machines, and other stuff? The Blonde Behind the Bucket storefront, of course! Please know I may receive commissions from eligible purchases. Thank you so much!
BR Granola Smoothie BR Granola Smoothie Ingredients 2 large romaine lettuce leaves 1 1/2 cup of wild frozen blueberries (these came from a South Carolina farm) 1 cup of Chobani yogurt with pineapple (single serve container) 1 tablespoon of ground cinnamon 1/4 teaspoon ground cayenne Water for fluidity Tablespoon of honey unused a single serve packet Manuka 850 1/2 scoop Sakara protein greens 1 single serve of Sakara metabolism protein powder 1 scoop of Agent Nateur marine collagen powder for skin hair and nails Recommended drops of THORNE Vitamin D/K3 drops Method Add all ingredients to a blender and blend until smooth, except for the granola. Top with Bear Naked Vanilla Granola; the flavors in this mix really bring the smoothie together. Hey, vanilla, I’m looking at you! Glass: milkshake glass Garnish: Bear baked granola mix Where to buy the goods? You know glasses granola dna blending machines? Blonde Behind the Bucket Storefront. Please know I may receive compensation for eligible purchases.