Monday, June 30, 2025

Bourbon Peach Currant Cocktail

Bourbon cocktail in a glass styled with peaches, red currants and limes.

This peach currant cocktail is summer in a glass and was inspired by the sweet aroma of summer peaches. As usual, I do my best recipe creation at the farmer's market and the grocery store. Can I walk past containers of currants? No, I cannot because I'm obsessed with how they look and the sweet and sour taste they impart. Neither can I walk past the fragrance of fresh peaches with their very short selling window. So there was no chance both of those were not coming home with me.

Bourbon cocktail in a glass styled with peaches, red currants and limes.

If you're looking for a summer cocktail that's both bold and refreshing, this one might become your new summer sipper. The warmth of bourbon, the sweetness of ripe, juicy peaches, the sweet and sour notes of currants and a squeeze of lime for that bold tang. Not to mention that the color is absolutely stunning.

Bourbon cocktail in a glass styled with peaches, red currants and limes.

This flavor pairing combines the vanilla, caramel and oak notes of a good bourbon, the perfect sweetness of ripe peaches, the subtle tartness and vibrant color of muddled red currants and the citrus edge of lime. The result is strong but well balanced. Like it a touch less sweet? Add a bit more lime, less peach juice or top it off with club soda or a dry sparkling wine. Like it a bit less strong? Add more juice, top it off with club soda or give it a heavier shake and add more ice cubes to your glass. Serving this at a party? You can make a large batch in a pitcher ahead of time and then shake it off to order.

Bourbon cocktail in a glass styled with peaches, red currants and limes.

This fresh cocktail is tailor made for cocktails on the patio, the terrace, the backyard or the sofa. I hope you try it and let me know how you liked it. Cheers!

Yield: 2
Author: Anita Schecter
Bourbon cocktail in a glass styled with peaches, red currants and limes.

Bourbon Peach Currant Cocktail

Prep time: 5 MinTotal time: 5 Min

Ingredients

  • 4 oz. Bourbon
  • 6 oz. Peach juice
  • 2 oz. Lime juice
  • 1/2 Cup currants, muddled

Instructions

  1. Add the red currants to a cocktail shaker and muddle well.
  2. Pour in the bourbon, peach juice and lime juice.
  3. Fill with ice and shake well. Pour into chilled cocktail glasses. Garnish with peach slices and red currants.

Sunday, June 15, 2025

Cantaloupe Melon Sorbet

A cup of homemade cantaloupe melon sorbet with fresh mint.

We've had a long, cool spring in New York but have now had a few hot days and I know what's coming. Beach days, air conditioning and a craving for cold, refreshing treats. My fridge is usually stocked with melons during the summer anyway so I made a batch of cantaloupe melon sorbet. Easy, light, dairy-free and so, so good.

Wednesday, May 29, 2024

There's No Biting on Tuesdays - Part 5 (The Anniversary)

A mini series about losing my beloved dog and getting a new puppy.

Willow at 22 weeks

Tomorrow will be one year since I lost Hadley and I've had a chance to gather my thoughts. She was my first dog so everything about the process, including losing her and getting another, is new for me. The decision was not an easy one and I passed up several opportunities during the year to have another dog. But I felt like I would know when it was right and I needed time to make sense of all my feelings.

Thursday, May 23, 2024

There's No Biting on Tuesdays - Part 4 (The Land Shark)

A mini series about losing my beloved dog and getting a new puppy.


Part 4: The Land Shark


Although I knew that a 9 week old Cavalier puppy would weigh between 4 and 5 lbs., the photos made Willow look somewhat substantial. But the baby I took out of the carrier when I got her home was tiny and precious. She couldn't have been 5" tall at the shoulders and looked like a stuffed toy.

Tuesday, May 14, 2024

There's No Biting on Tuesdays - Part 3 (The Journey)

A mini series about losing my beloved dog and getting a new puppy.


Part 3: The Journey



The logistics of getting Willow here nearly broke my faith that this was meant to be. Hadley's breeder was located only about 2 hours away from us. Willow's breeder would not have been much further except for the move to South Carolina. They're in a small town, not close to a major airport. That would mean both flights and car rentals and I am a New York City girl who is not comfortable driving. I asked around and was referred to a flight nanny who flies that route and was asking a reasonable price to transport Willow. Done. Except suddenly not done. She had to work and then booked a vacation and her new schedule meant a month delay.

Tuesday, May 7, 2024

There's No Biting on Tuesdays - Part 2 (The Waiting)

A mini series about losing my beloved dog and getting a new puppy.


Part 2: The Waiting



I had imagined that I would be a much calmer future puppy mom as I was expecting my second. The constant worry and check-ins of the first would not be me anymore. HA! Panic would set in quickly over literally everything.

Tuesday, April 30, 2024

There's No Biting on Tuesdays

Hadley

Taking a break in my cooking to start a little mini series about losing my beloved dog and getting a new puppy. Mostly for me to get my feelings out but I hope the words resonate with some of you as well. When I got my first ever dog, 15 years ago, I kept a puppy blog (long since abandoned) for the first year of her life. I was endlessly fascinated with how she grew from week to week but it was also the place I got to express my fears and frustrations with raising a puppy. I didn't promote it or expect anyone to read it. But a few lovely people found it and reached out to express similar feelings. There are more social platforms now and blogs are less popular. But, again, this is mostly for me. If you're following along on the new journey, I'd love to hear from you.

Tuesday, February 13, 2024

Chocolate Covered Cherry Martini

Chocolate-Covered-Cherry-Martini-1

It doesn't have to be Valentine's Day to drink a chocolate cocktail. And you definitely don't need to drink it out of a heart shaped glass. Kind of impractical anyway because there's no way to drink it without a straw. But all that being said, it's totally fun and so delicious.

Monday, March 27, 2023

Easter Bunny Bark

Easter chocolate bark made with milk and white chocolates, sprinkles, Easter candies and sea salt.

Do we need a holiday excuse to make a sweet chocolate treat? No, but, also, yes because then we can use all the fun holiday candy to decorate it. This Easter bark combines milk chocolate, white chocolate, chocolate Easter egg candies and springtime sprinkles along with some flaky sea salt to cut the sweetness. And yes, I did color some of the white chocolate pink!

Tuesday, June 7, 2022

Banoffee Pie

Recipe for pie made with fresh bananas, dulce de leche, whipped cream and chocolate on a graham cracker base.

If you know me, or if you pay weirdly close attention to my blog (tell me if you do because I love you!) then you know that banana cream is my favorite pie and has been all my life. Banoffee pie (a combo word of banana and toffee) is kind of the British version of it. I'd heard of it, both in England and at home in the U.S. but didn't actually taste it until a few years ago. After all, nothing could be better than my beloved original, right?

Monday, May 2, 2022

Meyer Lemon Loaf Cake

Recipe for a moist, buttery loaf cake, flavored with Meyer lemon juice and zest and topped with a Meyer lemon glaze.

I am a sucker for interesting citrus fruit so, when I see it, I need to try it. That's how I first experienced Meyer lemons, years ago and they immediately became a favorite ingredient.

Wednesday, April 6, 2022

Cadbury Crème Egg Cocktail

Recipe for a bourbon cocktail made with cream de cacao, milk and Cadbury crème eggs.

I know I'm not alone in my obsession with Cadbury Crème Eggs, right? While I can resist most Easter candy, these eggs have had a hold on me forever. I watch the store shelves as spring arrives, waiting for the first batch to show up. And we won't discuss how many I've bought and eaten.

Monday, April 4, 2022

Carrot Cake Cupcakes with Maple Cream Cheese Frosting

Recipe for moist, carrot cake cupcakes filled and topped with maple cream cheese frosting.

For years I would say that carrot cake was not my first choice for dessert. I never ordered it at a restaurant and would be disappointed if that was the only sweet treat on a table. Clearly I just never had good carrot cake. Until now.

Wednesday, March 16, 2022

Chocolate Chip Tahini Swirl Cookies

Recipe for thick, chocolate chip cookies with a sweet tahini swirl.

Do we need another chocolate chip cookie recipe? Yes, of course we do. Because this one includes some nutty sesame paste both in the batter and swirled on top of the cookies while they bake.

Thursday, March 10, 2022

Smoked Gouda and Thyme Soda Bread

Recipe for Irish soda bread flavored with grated smoked gouda cheese and fresh thyme.

I decided a while back that I loved soda bread way too much to wait for St. Patrick's Day to make it. Because it has no yeast and requires no kneading or rising time, it's as fast and easy to make as a sweet quick bread.

Thursday, February 24, 2022

Pink Grapefruit Bourbon Crusta

Bourbon cocktail flavored with maraschino cherry liqueur, pink grapefruit juice, orange liqueur and bitters. Served in a sugar encrusted glass.

There's so much I love about this drink. The pink grapefruit that I can never resist. The thick sugared rim of the glass. The well balanced flavors of this variation on an old cocktail.

Thursday, February 17, 2022

Bacon and Cheddar Potato Soup

Recipe for a creamy soup made with potatoes, chicken stock, milk and cheddar cheese, served with crispy bacon.

Spring may be just a few weeks away but I'm still bundled up in layers and living that all soup, all the time lifestyle. I actually love soup year round but diving into a hot bowl of it when I get home from the cold is just pure comfort.

Thursday, January 27, 2022

Chocolate Cupcakes with Strawberry Cream Cheese Frosting

Recipe for tender chocolate cupcakes, filled and frosted with a strawberry cream cheese frosting.

I take issue with most cupcake sizing. Yes, mini cupcakes or even regular small ones are much better for me but they are not satisfying. They don't feel like a whole dessert but I don't want to take a second one. If I'm going to indulge, I want a large cupcake! And so that's what I made.

Thursday, January 13, 2022

Fried Yuca Balls

Recipe for panko coated and fried balls of cassava root (yuca) mashed and stuffed with cheese.

One beautiful April day, we drove upstate to meet our puppy and then had lunch at the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park. Our meal was insanely good, filled with memorable dishes of the tenderest short ribs and fried yucca balls. It was my first time tasting yuca (cassava root) and it was love at first bite.

Tuesday, December 21, 2021

White Chocolate Snowflake Sugar Cookies

Recipe for a buttery sugar cookie, shaped like stars and decorated with melted white chocolate and sanding sugar.

For all the delicious holiday cookies out there, sometimes you just need to make a batch of good vanilla sugar cookies, grab a cute cookie cutter and a bag of icing. Solo project, family activity, friend get-together or kid project, these cookies are an annual favorite.

Wednesday, December 8, 2021

Sparkling Rambutan Gibson Cocktail

Recipe for a gin based cocktail, with lime juice, sparkling wine and fresh rambutan fruit or lychees.

I wonder who the first person was that looked at this hairy, spiny, choking hazard of a fruit and thought it might be good to eat. That if you slice open the sea urchin-like shell, you'd find soft, sweet, juicy flesh.

Tuesday, November 30, 2021

Cheesy Ground Beef Stuffed Baked Potatoes

Recipe for browned ground beef cooked in a cheesy mustard bechamel sauce and served over baked potatoes.

For cold weather comfort food, meat and potatoes usually satisfy all my cravings. The classic baked potato is always welcome but, let's face it, it needs some help. We can slather it with butter and sour cream but, this recipe covers those potatoes with creamy, cheesy ground beef.

Tuesday, November 23, 2021

Green Bean Casserole From Scratch

Recipe for a green bean casserole made with mushrooms, caramelized onions and a creamy béchamel sauce, topped with homemade crispy onions.

When my European mother came to the U.S. she did her best to understand American holidays and customs. The idea of Thanksgiving appealed to her but some of the traditional foods did not. So she gave them her own spin.

Friday, November 12, 2021

Acorn Squash Stuffing Bowls

Recipe for buttery fresh herb bread stuffing with roasted acorn squash, served in individual squash bowls.

Is it called stuffing or dressing? The answer is that it depends on how it's cooked. It is stuffing if it's cooked inside the bird but dressing if it's cooked on the side. So now you just have to decide which way you want to make it.

Thursday, November 4, 2021

Oven Smoked Brisket with Vegetable Fritters

Recipe for a beef brisket, rubbed with mustard, liquid smoke and spices, wrapped and slow cooked in an oven and served over vegetable fritters.

I know that many of you grew up in places where brisket came off a smoker with meltingly tender meat and that characteristic smoke ring at the top. But I grew up with brisket that was cooked in an oven, submerged in beef stock and red wine, accompanied by herbs, onions and carrots. That came out meltingly tender as well and you also got gravy.

Thursday, October 14, 2021

White Pumpkin Cocktail

Recipe for a bourbon cocktail flavored with pumpkin puree, coffee liqueur, cinnamon and milk.

I'm not even going to pretend I don't love Halloween candy but I also want a grownup treat. Cool weather and fall flavors mean a combination of warming bourbon, pumpkin and spices.

Monday, October 11, 2021

Pumpkin Loaf with Salted Caramel Cream Cheese Frosting

Recipe for a fluffy, flavorful pumpkin loaf cake topped with salted caramel cream cheese frosting.

Is my house in full pumpkin mode all through autumn? Yup, it sure is. Not only do I love decorating with them but it's a full pumpkin-fest of cooking as well. I love it both sweet and savory and there's no end to my desire for a loaf of pumpkin bread as a snack.

Wednesday, September 22, 2021

Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Banana Bread

Recipe for a sweet loaf cake flavored with pumpkin puree, fresh bananas and filled with chocolate chips.

Happy first day of autumn! It's my favorite season and I wish I could say the weather was autumnal but, if we bake like it is then perhaps it will come.

Wednesday, September 8, 2021

Crispy Greek Meatballs with Tzatziki and Feta

Recipe for crispy baked chicken meatballs with oregano, tzatziki sauce and marinated feta cheese.

Sometimes a single ingredient in my fridge or pantry inspires an entire meal. And that's exactly how this dinner of Mediterranean flavors came together. What was the ingredient this time? Some leftover feta cheese from another recipe.

Monday, August 30, 2021

Honey Cake with Tahini Cream Cheese Frosting

Recipe for a honey cake with cinnamon, ginger and nutmeg. Topped with a sweet tahini cream cheese frosting.

You can eat honey cake to celebrate Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish new year. Or you can eat it just because it's delicious. I vote for doing both. and definitely doing the latter often.

Wednesday, August 25, 2021

Breaded Veal Cutlet Sandwich

Recipe for a sandwich with a breaded veal cutlet, arugula, tomato salad and burrata cheese, drizzled with balsamic vinegar.

This is my summer of awesome sandwiches. It started with a new gourmet sandwich place in my neighborhood and now I'm addicted to creating fun sammies of my own.

Friday, August 13, 2021

Maple Cream Scones with Candied Pecans

Recipe for scones baked with maple syrup and cinnamon, topped with a maple glaze and candied pecans.

I got my love of scones from my mom, back when they were not nearly as popular. These days they're a staple offering at fancy coffee shops but they're also one of the easiest pastries to make at home.

Wednesday, July 28, 2021

Grape Bourbon Smash

Recipe for a bourbon cocktail flavored with fresh grapes, lemon and elderflower liqueur.

Normally when we think about grapes and alcohol, we think wine. But fresh grapes taste completely different than fermented ones and actually make a great fruity addition to cocktails.

Wednesday, July 14, 2021

Strawberries and Cream Popsicles

Recipe for sweet and tangy vanilla ice cream popsicles swirled with fresh strawberries.

It's hot and I want ice cream. Sometimes in a dish, sometimes in a waffle cone and sometimes in the form of an easy to grab popsicle. I don't discriminate when it comes to ice cream.

Wednesday, July 7, 2021

Loaded Pastrami and Swiss Sandwich

Recipe for an over-stuffed sandwich filled with pastrami, Swiss cheese, shredded lettuce, diced pickles, mayo and mustard on toasted Ciabatta rolls.

There's a fairly new gourmet market in my neighborhood and they specialize in beautiful, over-stuffed sandwiches. The menu is long and it's so hard to choose. But, you actually have plenty of time to make your choice because the line snakes around the block. Sigh.

Monday, June 28, 2021

Watermelon Frosé

Recipe for a frozen cocktail with rosé wine and fresh watermelon.

Frosé became popular a few years ago when lots of restaurants and bars set up machines to turn out these slushy drinks all day. What is it exactly? Just rosé wine, maybe some fruit, maybe a little extra sweetness and citrus, all blended up with ice until slushy. It's delicious!

Thursday, June 17, 2021

Cherry Cobbler with Cream Cheese Biscuits

Recipe for a cherry cobbler, baked with a cream cheese biscuit top.

It's the middle of June and, shockingly, these were the first cherries of the season that I bought. Normally I scoop them up the second I see them but somehow I didn't get to it the past couple of weeks. But, they're here now!

Wednesday, June 2, 2021

Deep Dish Broccoli Cheddar Quiche

Recipe for a deep dish quiche with a savory crust and broccoli and cheddar cheese filling.

There's a new French bakery in my neighborhood. In addition to croissants and delicate fruit tarts, they also sell slices of their fresh baked quiche. It's hard to walk past the place without immediately getting hungry. So far the only thing that's saved me from buying them out has been the fact that the line to get in goes around the block.

Thursday, May 27, 2021

Peanut Butter Milkshake with Chocolate Doughnuts

Recipe for a peanut butter and vanilla ice cream milkshake topped with baked mini chocolate doughnuts with a peanut butter glaze.

Last week we had our first mini heatwave. It's not usually in the 90's in New York in May but it happened and we all got an unexpected chance to see if our air conditioners were still working. Apart from being in need of a cleaning, mine seem to be OK.

Thursday, May 6, 2021

Cheeseburger Hand Pies

Recipe for cheesy beef filling baked inside flaky, savory homemade pastry.

I have a hard time resisting anything in a crust, sweet or savory. So, when I'm developing recipes, I frequently ask myself - would this be good inside a crust of some kind? Truth.

Friday, April 30, 2021

Chocolate Chip Banana Bread

Recipe for moist, banana bread with Greek yogurt and milk chocolate chips.

Do you have a "buy nothing" group in your neighborhood? They've become super popular around here and I love my local one. Lots of generous folks and community spirit. So much so that a lovely woman was giving away slices of her homemade banana bread. I didn't have time to grab one but it did start a wicked craving.

Wednesday, April 21, 2021

S'mores Cupcakes

Recipe for a chocolate cupcake with a graham cracker crust base, topped with marshmallow butter frosting.

A couple of weeks ago I had a wicked craving for a cupcake. Sadly the best cupcake bakery (cupcakery?) in my neighborhood is closed for renovation. So I bought one at another place, not really known for them but, hey, you never know. Yes, yes you do. It did not hit the spot.

Wednesday, April 7, 2021

Pink Salty Dog Cocktail

Recipe for a vodka cocktail with grapefruit juice, grapefruit soda or beer and served in a salted rim glass.

We're kind of in that shoulder season between all the good winter citrus and all spring fruit. Coming home from the market with a load of beautiful pink grapefruit, I stopped to admire the first flowering tree on my block. A perfect example of where we are right now.

Wednesday, March 31, 2021

Potato and Caramelized Onion Bourekas (Turnovers)

Recipe for mini savory turnovers, filled with potato, caramelized onion and mustard and wrapped in puff pastry.

We may call them turnovers here but, in the Middle East, these filled puffs of dough are called bourekas. Popular in Israel, they usually contain a savory filling stuffed inside puff pastry.

Thursday, March 25, 2021

Cocktail 101 for the Home Bartender

Easy guide for putting together a home bar including spirits, mixers, glassware and tools.

Starting a home bar doesn't have to be fussy or expensive if you begin with some basics and then add to your collection over time. Unlike some guides that feel strongly about spirits brands, appropriate glassware and what type of shaker you use, this is going to be a judgement-free zone. Because making cocktails at home should be fun! Below is a guide for building your home bar including items I think you should buy now, items you don't need immediately but are fun and inexpensive and those things you will add over time. Even a small collection will allow you to make a great many types of cocktails. Once you have the basics, it's fun to add a specialty liquor from time to time. And because those tend to be used more sparingly than the base spirit, they'll last much longer.

Thursday, March 18, 2021

Sparkling Cotton Candy Cosmopolitan

Recipe for a Cosmopolitan cocktail version with vodka, cranberry juice, triple sec, lime juice, prosecco and cotton candy.

The Cosmo cocktail came into fashion when Sex and the City was airing but it's never left. For that matter, Sex and the City never really left because I'm sure I can find reruns of it daily. But that combination of vodka, cranberry, orange liqueur and lime definitely has staying power.