Okay, it’s 5 o’clock HERE. Excellent. I started yesterday evening writing a fantastic recap of all the things I saw and learned at the Kitchen and Bath show. This was supposed to be that post…but…

today was a statue kind of day. The post I was 6 hours into creating, I accidentally lost and now I need to start it over. After much whining and head banging, a brisk walk and some healthy carrot sticks, my daughter suggested cocktails. SO next week there will be a lovely recap post from KBIS.

In the meantime…this day calls for cocktails. And snacks to go with them. Nothing pairs better with so many cocktails as the dips Chef Nick from SKS taught us to make last year at the DesignHounds event I was fortunate to participate in!

I met Chef Nick in person at the Signature Kitchen Suite booth at KBIS this week where he was on hand to demonstrate the wonders of the 48” SKS dual fuel pro range with sous vide and induction. What I wouldn’t give to have the space (and funds) for that beast in my own kitchen! The range I mean, not Chef Nick - he’s cute and talented but too young for me and happily married and has an 11 month old daughter 🤣

The promised cocktail creation by the diva, is a cucumber cocktail made with blue Empress Gin and elderflower liqueur. And it is almost exactly the color of one of the green Paint Color of the Year selections, so totally designer-appropriate!

We are currently accepting names for this cocktail…cucumber queen? cucumber mist? emergency statue day cocktail?!

Cucumber Cocktail Recipe

serves 2-3

Juice of half of a lemon

2 oz Empress Gin - this magically changes color in the presence of certain other ingredients…like lemon juice

2 oz Elderflower Liqueur

~4-5 oz cucumber juice (ours was rendered from the juice of a half an English cucumber we grated and pressed through a sieve, but I’m sure if you have a juicer, that works too…)

Combine ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake and strain into martini or coupe glasses. Garnish with fresh mint leaves or lemon slices.

This sweet-tart cocktail is quite refreshing and a fun green color.

In any case, cocktails are mostly an excuse for tasty snacks. Like homemade crostini with one of these mouth-watering dips…addictive parmesan dip, eggplant caponata, or white bean artichoke spread. (click for link to recipes)

Yum. Good food and drink and company always makes the day better. Cheers to a happier and more productive tomorrow!

In a preview of coming attractions, here is one of the most memorable kitchen displays from the KBIS show - a kitchen inspired by Iris Apfel titled “Bold Ambition”at the GE Cafe booth