About Mr. B

Oregon grown musician, baseball fan, and man of mystery.

Spiced Cranberry Mule {Recipe}

Warm spices pair perfectly with crisp cranberry vodka to create this festive, refreshing Spiced Cranberry Mule.

From Mr B’s Man Cave

The house is decorated, the tree is up, the gifts are wrapped, and the Christmas music is playing. Now all that’s left to do is kick back in the big chair with Renée and watch my favorite holiday movie, “It’s a Wonderful Life.”

Yep – life is good.

And it’s even better when you have a delicious adult beverage to enjoy in the process. I’m loving these Spiced Cranberry Mules, a combination that Renée and I stirred up while we were experimenting with her Spiced Simple Syrup. Warm spices like ginger and cinnamon pair perfectly with crisp cranberry vodka to create a festive and truly refreshing holiday treat.

^{This post may contain affiliate links, but don’t worry – they won’t bite.}

One of the reasons I love a good mule – besides the obvious fact that they are delicious – is that I get to use our Moscow Mule Mugs and not just because they make for a great presentation either.

There are a couple of bonafide benefits to drinking your mule from a good copper mug. Not only do copper mugs keep drinks colder, but the copper seems to enhance to the flavor of the drinks as well. The difference isn’t something you can really put your finger on per-say, but in my experience the copper mugs seem to complement and heighten the flavors of the ginger and vodka, as well as whatever else you add.

If you are the kind of person who can perceive the subtle differences between drinking soda or beer from a glass bottle versus aluminum can, you will likely notice a similar difference when you drink a mule in a copper mug. Drinking from copper vessels may also carry some impressive health benefits too, including antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti-cancer, and anti-inflammatory properties.

If you don’t have your own mule mugs, consider making this the year that you give yourself a set.

The mugs Renée and I have are very well-made of hammered solid copper, and have a nice, heavy feel in your hand. My only advice is that if you are going to get yourself some, don’t go cheap! Quality makes a big difference when it comes to mule mugs. Plus, if you get good ones, they’ll last forever.

Spiced Cranberry Mule

Author Renée B. ♥ The Good Hearted Woman

Ingredients

2 large mint leaves
2 oz. Cranberry Vodka
2 oz. Spiced Simple Syrup
6 oz. "Craft" Ginger Ale**
Garnish: Sugar & Spice Cranberries & Fresh Mint Leaves

Instructions

Muddle two large mint leaves int he bottom of a Moscow Mule mug or tumbler.
Fill mug with ice. Pour in vodka, spiced simple syrup, and ginger ale. Stir gently.
Garnish with Sugar & Spice Cranberries and mint leaves.

Recipe Notes

We like to use spearmint leaves for this.

Renée’s Spiced Simple Syrup is a key ingredient in this cocktail. You can use a plain simple syrup if you have to, but the spiced syrup really does bring a special kick to this mule. If at all possible, set aside the extra five or ten extra minutes it takes to cook some up. One batch should last you all holiday season.

Spiced Simple Syrup

Author Renée B. ♥ The Good Hearted Woman

Ingredients

2 cups water
2 cups granulated sugar
3-4 slices fresh ginger
4-5 cinnamon sticks
3 whole star anise
15 whole allspice

Instructions

In a small saucepan over medium-high heat, stir together water, sugar, cinnamon sticks, sliced ginger, star anise, and heat, stirring frequently, until the sugar has completely dissolved. Bring mixture to a boil and allow to simmer for 4-5 minutes. Remove from heat and allow mixture to cool completely.
Using a slotted spoon, remove spices from liquid and pour into bottle or jar. Mixture can be refrigerated for at least two weeks.

Thank you so much for being a faithful reader and supporter of The Good Hearted Woman. ❤ Be sure to Pin and print this recipe!

^{Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, which means we may receive a commission if you click a link and purchase something that we have recommended. While clicking these links won’t cost you any extra money, they do help keep this site up and running. As always, all opinions and images are my own. Please check out our disclosure policy for more details. Thank you for your support!}

Mowcow Mule Mugs

Emerald Sunrise {Cocktail}

March 14 By Mr. B 18 Comments

Forget the green beer! Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day in style with this beautiful spin on a Tequila Sunrise.

An original cocktail from Mr B
One day last spring, I was mixing myself up a Tequila Sunrise and decided to use Blue Curaçao in place of the traditional grenadine, which turned the whole drink a bright green. (Curaçao is a liqueur flavored with the dried peel of the laraha citrus fruit, similar in flavor to an orange, and is grown on the island of Curaçao, hence the name.)

Anyway, all this happened just after St Patrick’s Day, which thanks to my wife is a very big deal around our house, and when I saw that tall glass of green, I had a flash of inspiration! I garnished it with a mandarin slice, and there I had the Irish flag! Renée even added a shamrock to make it official.

So here it is: my contribution to what my lovely wife calls the “perpetuation of negative cultural stereotypes” – and what I like to call my Emerald Sunrise. Enjoy!

St Patrick's Day Emerald Sunrise | The Good Hearted Woman

Emerald Sunrise {Cocktail}

Course Beverage

Prep Time 5 minutes

Total Time 5 minutes

Author Mr. B

Ingredients

For each drink:

1 1/5 ounces 1800 Tequila
1 1/2 ounces Blue Curaçao
4-6 ounces Orange Juice

Instructions

Fill an 8-10 ounce glass half full of ice. Add Blue Curaçao and tequila and mix. Stir in orange juice. Garnish with a mandarin orange slice and a shamrock. (A mint leaf or sorrel will work fine too.)

Tip:
No Alcohol for you? Mix up a kid-friendly St Pat’s Day beverage by combining three parts orange juice with one part lemon-lime soda, and then stir in a few drops of blue food coloring.

A Few Thoughts from Mrs B
First things first. YES! Shamrocks are edible, and they make a lovely garnish. (I just felt like we needed to get that out of the way.) So are false shamrocks, better known as sorrel.

Shamrocks have three leaves (not four) and were used by St Patrick to teach the concept of the Holy Trinity to the Irish people. Like the Irish people themselves, shamrocks are one of those plants that survive under very difficult circumstances, which is why there is a pot of them (shamrocks, not Irish people) thriving on my kitchen windowsill year-round.

Next, if you are going to perpetuate this St Patrick’s Day green beverage tradition, I do think Mr B’s Emerald Sunrise is a far better choice than green beer. Plus, I love the name. (If you know us, you’ll know that it’s a little nod to our birthstone too!)

Finally, if you are at all interested in an actual Irish person’s perspective on US traditions visa-vie St. Patrick’s Day, I encourage you to check out this post – Surviving St. Patrick’s Day in America [Sass & Shamrocks]. Highlights include meeting Patrick’s forgotten sister Patty, and learning the proper response to the traditional Irish greeting, “Ciúnas bothar cailín bainne!” Check it out!

THANK YOU so much for being a faithful reader and supporter of The Good Hearted Woman. ❤ Be sure to PIN and PRINT this recipe!

I’m sharing this recipe on the Weekend Potluck Recipe Linkup. Check it out for more great recipes!

Cannon Beach Distillery

May 29 By Mr. B 11 Comments

Notes from the Man Cave

Tucked on the far end of the touristy section on the north end of town, Mike Selberg’s Cannon Beach Distillery is making waves in Oregon’s booming distillery culture.

This friendly Cannon Beach native, who holds degrees chemistry and biology, became involved in home brewing from a young age. It was a short step from there to opening the doors of his own distillery less than three years ago, and he has already assembled an impressive trophy shelf for his efforts.

Cannon Beach Distillery | The Good Hearted Woman

Donlon Shanks Amber Rum: 2014 Gold medal, Best in Category (Rum aged one year or less), and Best in Class (all Rum) at the American Distilling Institute Judging of Craft American Spirits. Dorymens’ Rum: Bronze medal in the category of Silver Rum at the American Distilling Institute Judging of Craft American Spirits.

Everything at the Cannon Beach Distillery [CBD] is hand produced from quality raw ingredients; fermented, distilled and matured on the distillery premises. CBD currently produces two styles of rum, two styles of gin, a Il Kêyóte Spirit (distilled from agave), and has also begun production on several other spirits. Each bottle is hand numbered with a batch and bottle number, and signed by its maker.

Renée and I visited Cannon Beach over Memorial Day weekend, and discovered the shop quite by accident. However, it was no accident when I walked out of the doors with two bottles of very fine spirits!

Dolon Shanks Amber Rum [Batch 11, Bottle 250]
Blackstrap molasses and charred American white oak barrels give this amber rum its distinctive flavor. Buttery and smoky, this rum stands on its own as a sipping spirit, and would make a great mixer as well.

Lost Buoy Gin [Batch 15, Bottle 102]
The first thing that hits you about this gin is the aroma – it’s very citrusy and floral. It’s not as dry as most gins I’ve tried either. This is the first gin I’ve enjoyed sipping. I happened to be eating some homemade vanilla ice cream when I poured my first glass, and discovered completely by accident that they are quite good together.

If you are making a trip to Cannon Beach, I highly recommend a visit to the Cannon Beach Distillery, where you will likely find Mike behind the counter serving up samples and eagerly sharing his passion for distilling.

One of the things Mike shared with us during our visit really impressed me: he told us that he “crafts everything he makes so it can enjoyed straight over ice.” His philosophy is that if you want to mix his spirits with something – great, but he wants his products to be able stand on their own merit. This approach is a significant divergence from the heavy-handedness of so many of today’s distillers, and one that as an enthusiast of fine quality spirits, I truly appreciate.

Cannon Beach Distillery
255 N Hemlock, Building C
Cannon Beach, Oregon

503-436-0301
cannonbeachdistillery@gmail.com

Tasting Room 12pm – 6pm daily
Closed Wednesdays

Time for Another TOAST! {+ Ticket Giveaway}

February 20 By Mr. B 5 Comments

Notes from the Man Cave

One of the best parts about having a wife who is a Portland blogger is that occasionally I get to attend some really awesome events with her, and when Renée got an invite to attend TOAST 2015, you can bet I jumped right on it!

TOAST 2015, organized by Oregon Distillers Guild, is the signature artisan spirits tasting event of the Pacific Northwest. More than 40 distillers will be on hand serving 100’s of distilled spirits from Oregon and beyond. Whether your preferences run toward whiskey, rum, gin, vodka, tequila, brandy, or liqueurs, there is something wonderful waiting there for you. You can even try something new-to-you or a rare spirit, like absinthe or aquavit.

Distillers and owners will be on hand to pour samples and discuss their craft while you enjoy the fruits of their labor. Local chefs will also be there to provide food prepared to pair with spirits (included with your ticket).

It’s all happening March 7, 2015 from 4pm-10pm at the beautiful Leftbank Annex in NE Portland at 240 N Broadway (across from the Rose Garden). The MAX stop at the convention center is just a short walk away, and the Street Car stops one block away. There is also plenty of space for bikes. If you do drive, there is parking available at the Moda Center parking garages (Marked East/West on map) one block from the Leftbank.

This year’s lineup includes some of my personal favorites, including Bull Run Distillery (have you tried my Whiskey Ginger yet?), House Spirits Distillery and Cascade Alchemy. (Click here for a full list of participating distilleries.) But while I’m looking forward to visiting old favorites, I’m even more excited to try some new-to-me spirits, and sample some of the unique flavors that Oregon Distillers are becoming so renowned for.

Of course, a party isn’t a party without a something savory to soak up all those libations, and TOAST will not disappoint. Small bites will be presented throughout the evening by five local chefs, including:

Elias Cairo of Olympic Provisions
Johanna Ware of Smallwares
Scott Dolich of The Bent Brick
Matthew Fields of Stella Taco
Kevin Schantz of (soon-to-open) RingSide Grill (RingSide East, located on Glendover Golf Course, is currently undergoing major renovations and is set to reopen as RingSide Grill in the spring. I’m looking forward to a round of golf and a good steak with my lovely wife!)

Local supporting organizations will also be featured at TOAST, including Oregon Coffee Guild, Bradley’s Tonic Co., and Raft Botanicals.

WHAT’S IN IT FOR YOU? (This is such a great deal!

TOAST Attendees will receive:

All-inclusive spirit samples from over 40 distillers from Oregon and beyond
Unlimited bites from top local chefs
A commemorative TOAST 2015 tasting glass
The Oregon Distillery Trail Scout book
plus the opportunity to purchase cocktails from the bar and purchase exclusive products from the distilleries at the on-site spirits shop.

VIP Guests also receive:

Two cocktails from the cash bar
Access to the VIP lounge
Entry to the Distillers After-party!!!

TICKETS INFO

General Admission – $45
VIP tickets – $60 (VIP tickets sell out fast – be sure to get yours now!)
Designated Driver – $15 (includes entry, free non-alcoholic beverages)

Tickets are now available for purchase online, but you can also enter to win one General Admission ticket right here! (Be sure to check out the links below the entry form for more chances to win!)

SAFE RIDE

In the spirit of safety first, event organizers have also coordinated with Broadway Taxi to ensure guests have rides available to them after the event. They are also offering a special $15 non-drinking admission for designated drivers and those who do not wish to imbibe but still explore the event.

GIVEAWAY TIME!

Enter below to win one General Admission TOAST 2015 ticket. Entrants must be 21+ to enter to win, and able to attend TOAST 2015 on Saturday March 7, 2015 in Portland, Oregon.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Check out these other PDX blogs for more chances to win tickets:

DISCLOSURE: As always, many thanks to my beautiful wife for all her help making my words into sentences, complete with capitals and periods and such. All images provided courtesy of TOAST 2015 and the Oregon Distillers Guild. Giveaway ticket is being provided by Oregon Distillers Guild and Little Green Pickle.

Sweet & Spicy Buffalo Chicken Wings

July 29 By Mr. B 7 Comments

Notes from the Man Cave

Today is National Chicken Wing Day! (I would never have known that if Renée hadn’t told me, but she says it is, so it must be true.)

To celebrate this auspicious occasion, I thought I’d share Renée’s wing recipe with you – because they are amazing! She served them up for my last poker night and the guys had them stripped clean in minutes! They have just the right amount of spice for a party. (I like to spice things up a little more, but that’s easy enough to do.) The mild sweetness of the sauce really brings them together, too. And that Blue Cheese Dip! Wow! (My wife insists on spelling it “Bleu,” but with a name like Renée, who can blame her?)

You can make them with bone-in wings or chicken tenders; Renée doesn’t like to get her face messy when she eats, so she prefers the tenders. Me, I’m all about good old-fashioned chicken wings. Dig in!

Sweet & Spicy Buffalo Wings with Bleu Cheese Dip

Course Appetizer, Snack

Cuisine Tailgate

Author Renée B. ♥ The Good Hearted Woman

Ingredients

3 lbs. chicken wings or tenders or a combination of both

Wing Sauce:

1 1/2 cups Franks Hot Sauce
1 cup cola DO NOT use diet cola! Try to use one with real sugar.
2 tsp. paprika
1/2 cup butter melted
2 tbls. honey

Bleu Cheese Dip

1/2 cup sour cream
1/2 cup bleu cheese crumbles
1/4 cup mayonnaise
1 large stalk celery finely chopped
2 green onions including tops, thinly sliced
1 clove garlic minced
2 tbls. buttermilk
1 tbls. lemon juice
1/2 tsp. Kosher salt
1/4 tsp. freshly ground pepper

Instructions

Chicken Wings

Mix the sauce ingredients together in a bowl.
Put the chicken tenders/wings in a ziploc bag or a dish and pour half the sauce over them. (Reserve the rest of the sauce for later.) Marinate for an hour or six.
Barbeque the chicken wings (or tenders) over medium heat until it is done.
Once the chicken is done, you can pour the remaining sauce over the wings, or serve it on the side and let people take what they want.

Bleu Cheese Dip

In a medium bowl, mix all the dip ingredients together. Refrigerate until you are ready to serve the wings.

Raspberry Sundae with Ginger-Butterscotch Sauce

June 25 By Mr. B 2 Comments

An important notes from Mr B…

Last night, I had a serious craving for something sweet, so Renée went down to the kitchen and came back with a bowl of this stuff. After the first bite, my exact words to her were, “Oh Baby, you need to blog this!” But I know she won’t. She doesn’t usually like blogging about stuff that’s bad for you, or meat, or stuff made with a lot of store-bought ingredients.

I, on the other hand, have no problem with any of that.

So here’s Renée’s Raspberry Ginger-Butterscotch Sundae, which I’m pretty sure is one of the best ice cream combinations I’ve ever tried.

Raspberry Sundae with Ginger-Butterscotch Sauce

Course Dessert

Cuisine American

Keyword ginger, ice cream, ice cream sundae, raspberries, sundae

Prep Time 5 minutes

Total Time 5 minutes

Servings 1 serving

Author Renée ♥ The Good Hearted Woman

Ingredients

1-3 scoops Vanilla Bean Ice Cream
2 tablespoons Butterscotch Syrup
1 tablespoon Ginger Syrup
1 handful Fresh Raspberries

Instructions

Mix two parts butterscotch syrup with one part ginger syrup. Drizzle over ice cream and garnish generously with raspberries.

I’m pretty sure that after this, Renée will be making butterscotch sauce from scratch. See how I suffer?

Thanks to my lovely wife for taking this picture and Picmonkeying it up for me.

Classic Whiskey Ginger with Lime {Made with Homemade Ginger Syrup}

June 13 By Mr. B 10 Comments

Made with a delicious homebrewed ginger syrup and finished with fresh mint and a lime wedge, our Whiskey Ginger elevates this classic warm-weather cocktail to a whole new level.

My sweetheart Mr. B is pretty handy around the kitchen and an excellent cook in his own right: he’s always been very supportive of me and the work I do here on the blog. However, I didn’t know he had any interest in contributing himself until last winter when he made our holiday scalloped potatoes. As he took them out of the oven – perfect and golden and smelling like heaven – he asked if I would like him to write down the recipe. He even had me take pictures of them… “you know, for our blog.”

“Our blog“… Hmmm. I sensed the tide was changing. Then this spring, when we got an invitation to attend the opening of a new steak house here in Portland, he helped me write up the review. As we sorted images and recalled the details of the evening, he commented, “I’m really liking this blogging thing.” That may have just been the Brazilian barbecue talking, but whatever it was, he’s hooked now.

With that in mind, and with Father’s Day just around the corner, it seems like the perfect time to launch a new feature here on The Good Hearted Woman – a little corner of the blog where Mr. B can occasionally share his grilling and mixology skills and flex his culinary muscles.

So, without further ado, welcome to the first installment of “Mr B’s Man Cave.”

Hi everyone! This is my first blog post, and I’m keeping it short and sweet. When Renée made her Homemade Ginger Syrup for the first time awhile back, I immediately thought of how great it would be in a Whiskey Ginger, and WOW was I right! Enjoy!

(For all our non-drinking friends out there, this recipe includes a non-alcoholic option)

Whiskey Ginger with Lime

Made with a delicious homebrewed ginger syrup and finished with fresh mint and a lime wedge, our Whiskey Ginger elevates this classic warm-weather cocktail to a whole new level.

Course Beverages

Prep Time 2 minutes

Author Mr B.

Ingredients

2-3 Tbs Homemade Ginger Syrup
2-3 Tbs Whiskey*
3-4 ounces club soda or seltzer water
1 small lime wedge
1 mint leaf

Instructions

Fill a tumble (or other “short glass”) three-quarters full with cubed ice. Over the ice, pour 3 tablespoons of ginger syrup, 4 ounces club soda, and a shot of whiskey. Rub the glass rim with a lime slice, and garnish with lime and a mint leaf. Adjust amounts to be as strong as you like.

Non-alcoholic option:

Leave the whiskey out and enjoy a wonderful lime-ginger ale.

Recipe Notes

*I suggest Temperance Trader American Whiskey from Bull Run Distillery, Portland.

Homemade Ginger Syrup

Course Beverages

Author Renée B. ♥ The Good Hearted Woman

Ingredients

6 cups water
6 cups white sugar
1 lb ginger sliced

Instructions

Put 3 cups of water and all the sliced ginger in a blender and blend until ginger is chunky smooth.
Pour the blended mixture into a large saucepan. Stir in the remaining 3 cups of water and the sugar, and bring to a boil over medium heat. Reduce to low and simmer for 30 minutes.
Allow the syrup to cool in the pan.
Line a sieve with two to three layers of cheesecloth and strain syrup. Squeeze the cheesecloth bag tightly to get out all the gingery goodness.
Pour syrup into containers and refrigerate or freeze.

Recipe Notes

Makes about 8 cups of very strong ginger syrup. You can easily scale down the amounts (3 cups/3 cups/1/2 lb) and make less syrup, but you will regret it. This stuff is delicious!

About Mr. B

Warm spices pair perfectly with crisp cranberry vodka to create this festive, refreshing Spiced Cranberry Mule.

From Mr B’s Man Cave

Spiced Cranberry Mule

Ingredients

Instructions

Recipe Notes

Spiced Simple Syrup

Ingredients

Instructions

Thank you so much for being a faithful reader and supporter of The Good Hearted Woman. ❤ Be sure to Pin and print this recipe!

Forget the green beer! Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day in style with this beautiful spin on a Tequila Sunrise.

Emerald Sunrise {Cocktail}

Ingredients

For each drink:

Instructions

THANK YOU so much for being a faithful reader and supporter of The Good Hearted Woman. ❤ Be sure to PIN and PRINT this recipe!

Notes from the Man Cave

GIVEAWAY TIME!

Notes from the Man Cave

Sweet & Spicy Buffalo Wings with Bleu Cheese Dip

Ingredients

Wing Sauce:

Bleu Cheese Dip

Instructions

Chicken Wings

Bleu Cheese Dip

An important notes from Mr B…

Raspberry Sundae with Ginger-Butterscotch Sauce

Ingredients

Instructions

Made with a delicious homebrewed ginger syrup and finished with fresh mint and a lime wedge, our Whiskey Ginger elevates this classic warm-weather cocktail to a whole new level.

Whiskey Ginger with Lime

Ingredients

Instructions

Non-alcoholic option:

Recipe Notes

Homemade Ginger Syrup

Ingredients

Instructions

Recipe Notes

THANK YOU so much for being a faithful reader and supporter of The Good Hearted Woman. ❤ Be sure to PIN and Print this recipe!