Farm Week In Review...

It has been a cooold one here in the mitten, but quite a lovely week at the snowy white farm.  We had snow every day, two snow days due to snow and fog, and just an all around good week to snuggle in and be with each other and friends.

On Wednesday, my friends and their cavalcades of children rolled in for Scrabble night!  There is nothing I love more than putting an apron on, putzing around, making the house pretty, and making some yummy cocktails and vittles.

The Cocktail:  The Improved Brubaker

Tequila Agave

Fresh Lime Juice

Fresh Blackberry Syrup

Dash of Cinnamon

The Eats:  Homemade crustini, baked asiago, fresh pomegranate (do you know about pomegranates?  These are a new discovery for me, and we can't get enough!)  Followed by pasta with sauce from this summer's garden, Allison's tiramisu, and Kelly's root beer floats...belly up people!

The pretty ladies...

This is the life...a house full of happy moms and happy kids...and Kelly with the camera...

And while the moms eventually moved the scrabble board to bring the food and wine closer to us, the responsible children set up the board and played a round in the other room.  We are raising responsible kids people.

And in other news...We had to give the bird back.  It's mamma came home, and she needed him, and it was the right thing.  We truly enjoyed our time with him, and welcome him with open arms should he ever need a home :).  And, kindness begets kindness.  His mamma baked us an amazing chocolate cake with butter cream frosting that tasted like love, and angels, and heaven.  And home made goats milk soap and a beautiful card.  

And still, in other news...kittenpants took a nap in the vintage piles.

And in even more news (last one I promise)...The first issue of Hey Doll vintage magazine came out yesterday, featuring yours truly in the "all dolled up" section!  These two lovely gals put out an adorable and informative online magazine for us vintage gals to connect...yay Brittany and Bunny!

We wrapped up last snowy night in the embrace of friends at a cozy groundhog celebration, and we leave in a bit for an early Superbowl "eating and making valentine's for the elderly" party.  Because we're cool that way.

xoxo, e.

The Improved Brubaker.

I know I'm preaching to the choir on this one, but if you have been living under a rock, and you haven't been to The Sugar House yet...go.  Drop everything.  Leave your husbands and children to fend for themselves, put on something pretty, and go.

It was a cold and snowy Detroit night when my gal pals and I were ushered into a dark, brick walled, taxidermied, candle lit, magical wonderland know as The Sugar House - a craft cocktail bar featuring a refined and pallet titilating menu of prohibition era style cocktails.  (And this after being ushered into one dressing room and fitted for bras together at the fabulous Bravo Intimates...yep.  we needed a stiff cocktail)  (But a good bra is life changing, just sayin'").  But I digress, they get a giant block of ice once a week from Dexter and hand chip your cubes.  The gentlemen bartenders wear their sleeves rolled up with little black arm bands.  You feel as though you've been transported...and then there are the cocktails.  Oh! the cocktails.  They make their own syrups, bitters, and squeeze their own juices.  The different flavor combinations are so complex and so perfect.  Go ahead, put a raw egg in my drink (just don't tell me about it), because I trust you , and I know it will be delicious.

So, when planning a big Sunday family dinner for this afternoon, I decided we were going old school and everyone was partaking in my favorite Sugar House delicacy...The Improved Brubaker...or Joe's take on it at anyway. (recipe slightly different, yet delectable!)

1 part fresh squeezed lime juice
1 part homemade blackberry syrup (simple syrup with a pint of blackberries...and let 'em simmer)
3 parts agave blanco tequilla
Mint leaves
Cinnamon (a pinch)

I meant to take a picture of the jug of cocktails all day...but somebody drank it all too fast (ok, maybe me.)

Joe made the cocktails in a growler from my other favorite place on earth - Tandem Ciders

Here are a few picks of last years Tandem Cider excursion...best damn hard cider anywhere.  Light and smooth and something you crave until the next summer on Leelanau.

And, one more of the sugar house menu.  Watch a sultry and hot Sugar House promo video here.

And, thank you family - for a lovely day walking around the farm, eating beautiful food, and sipping cocktails with me.
We built memories today people!