Well, it seems Spring is going to take its sweet time arriving this year. And I'm okay with that. We are still undecided if we are going to start a garden. The truth is, when your day job is growing and harvesting plants, sometimes the last thing you want to do is take care of more plants at home. (My severely malnourished and wilting houseplants will attest to this).
Plus, I know myself too well---gardening gives me anxiety. That last year in California, Brian and I grew most of what we ate on a ½-acre plot behind my house. Each morning, while sipping tea and watching the sun come over the hills, my eyes would drift over the garden. The plants that needed my attention weighed on me. I would try to blur my eyes away from all the tomatoes that needed picking and canning. The zucchini swelling an inch every few hours---yeesh, please slow down! The basil that needed to be whirred in a food processor with olive oil before even more of those purple flowers popped out. The tomatillos, well, hell, how are you supposed to deal with those? (I tried freezing and it worked ok, but it did steal some of their zing). Seeing all the excess produce just reminded me daily of how much I needed to do.
I determined that 3 canning sessions is about all I have in me. The kitchen gets hot, your fingers get burnt, and scraping tomato skins out of my white sink is less than pleasant. I think I might take my grandma's stance and embrace store-bought.
Anyway, we need some more time to think about it. We are only two people, and we would be served well by a few tomato plants and one squash plant. But, if you're going to grow some, you may as well grow many and save the excess.
Speaking of excess, a few weeks back, the weatherman kept threatening snow. Each time he did so, I rushed to the store to buy milk and eggs. You too? I ended up with a few too many half-gallons of milk in our fridge, and so I put them to use the best way I knew how: milk punch.
Milk punch spiked with Bourbon is a great New Orleans invention. It's light, spicy and uplifting. If you have the patience, freeze it for a few hours before serving. Break up the iciness with an iced tea spoon and enjoy.
This unique drink deserves a spot in your party repertoire. Classic milk punch is scented with vanilla and nutmeg. It's lovely, but the ginger lover in me wanted a bright, spicy lemon version.
Makes 2 servings. As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.Bourbon Milk Punch
Ingredients
Instructions
Recommended Products
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
2
Serving Size:
1
Amount Per Serving:
Calories: 450Total Fat: 25gSaturated Fat: 16gTrans Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 8gCholesterol: 82mgSodium: 119mgCarbohydrates: 39gFiber: 2gSugar: 22gProtein: 9g
Cookbook Queen says
One time, I tried having a garden but it turns out that I have a black thumb. ALSO...it's a lot of work to GROW plants, pick plants, then turn plants into food.
I only have enough energy for one of those steps, and I think you know which one it is.
Also, I need this punch in my life. Can it be breakfast since there is milk in it?
Madison @ E&C says
I have never had milk punch, but I do love bourbon, so it wouldn't surprise me if this was right up our alley. For some reason I always find myself over-buying milk. I only drink a little milk and mainly almond milk, and I keep forgetting that Joe doesn't drink much milk, either, leaving us with a ton of milk leftover each week.
P.S. - We just got our two raised beds ready for gardening. But I have no idea what I'm doing. I may need to pick your brain come summer.
dishing up the dirt says
haha! I can relate to this post SO much. I'll come and tend to your garden if you make me cocktails like this all the time :)
Lauren @ Climbing Grier Mountain says
You had me at Bourbon, gurrrrl! And yes, spring is taking her sweet ol' time. You'd think she would have consulted with us first. So, rude.
Theresa says
#1 LOVE this recipe idea. Then again, I love bourbon. :) This makes me want to spike my next chai latte with some bourbon!
#2 I'm so with you on gardening. I love the *idea* of a huge garden, but when it comes to the weeding, watering, pest control, etc. I just don't wanna do it. And like you, we're a house of two so what do you do with all that stuff? That's why I container garden. Tomatoes, peppers, herbs, even strawberries! Just 1 or 2 of each plant, enough to grow my favorites without having an over abundance of produce, and best of all, practically no weeding! There is a good bit of watering mid-summer, but only if we don't get rain & it only takes a few minutes.
Sues says
I've been wanting to make a milk punch for a while now... and this one looks absolutely dreamy :)
Stephie @ EYHO says
There's a reason no one in my family cans. My mom and I make freezer jam every year, but that's as close as we come. I would just end up leaving the excess produce on neighbors' doorsteps and run away. "Who, me? No, I certainly would never dump 15 pounds of zucchini on your front porch, ding-dong-ditch style..."
Georgia @ The Comfort of Cooking says
I love the flavors in this beautiful bourbon punch. Definitely the more ginger and vanilla the better! Gorgeous drink for summer sippin'!
Vera Zecevic-Cupcakes Garden says
This combo sounds great, I want some!
Stefanie @ Sarcastic Cooking says
Mmmmmm Bourbon!!! I have never ever heard of this drink before. And it makes me sad. I wish I had heard of it earlier so I could have been drinking it more often! I am definitely making one of these this weekend. I am toying with the idea of a small garden too. Especially since my parents, who have a huge garden from which I "steal" all my summer produce, are talking about scaling back this year. It is hard work I don't know if I am up for.