Drinks

April showers may bring May flowers, but I'm an impatient lady, as I want the world to be in full bloom already. My solution is simple: I turn to the home bar when in need of a floral fix. A swirl of lavender simple syrup and a dash of Page's Parfait Amour — a crème de violette analogue — dress up the classic Tom Collins cocktail for a sipper that transports you to sunnier days.

Wary of floral elements in food? I was too, not so long ago. The key is restraint, as the line between lovely and eau de old lady is fine. Thankfully, this cocktail is well balanced, refreshing, and could convert all but the most stalwart floral food haters. What are you waiting for? Transport yourself to a field of lavender the fast-fix way.

Light, refreshing, and almost too easy to sip on, this sparkling Lillet aperitif is just the ticket for starting a weekend off on the right note. Even better, it clocks in at a mere four ingredients and requires naught but a languid stir in the glass and a quick swipe of a vegetable peeler along a juicy orange for the twist garnish.

If you're not yet familiar with the concept of the "elegant hour" — essentially cocktail hour, with an emphasis on delicate aperitifs — embrace the idea by sipping this sparkling stunner slowly.

Eating breakfast is one way to get your metabolism fires burning strong, but what you eat can boost your metabolism even more. With a quick whir of the blender, here's a smoothie recipe loaded with metabolism-boosting ingredients.

In this recipe, you'll find calcium-rich Greek yogurt, almonds, and broccoli, which has been shown to help the body break down fat. The almonds, cannellini beans, and yogurt also add a great deal of protein, and what's more, the zinc in the yogurt may increase the production of the hormone leptin, shown to improve metabolism and suppress appetite. The high-fiber strawberries keep you feeling full longer and are also packed with vitamin C. Pour in some green tea for caffeine, a natural metabolism booster, and top it all off with cinnamon, a warming spice that can temporarily boost metabolism. In the end, you've got a breakfast under 345 calories that offers over 30 grams of protein and 7.2 grams of fiber.

Find out how delicious boosting your metabolism can be when you read more.

In Texas, just about every restaurant offers three different ways of serving a margarita: straight up, on the rocks, or frozen. I took this for granted, as when I moved to California, I sadly discovered that most Mexican joints don't offer the slushy form (with a few exceptions — thank heavens for the frozen margarita machine at Tacolicious!). Luckily, I am the proud owner of a blender, so when I'm making Mexican food at home, you better believe I'm pairing it with a frozen margarita.

There's no sugary syrup involved in my recipe, only orange liqueur, lime juice, and blanco tequila. And if you're worried it won't be sweet enough, don't be! This is a smooth, very drinkable cocktail. This recipe will make you feel the effects fast, so even if you think it tastes "weak" after a few sips, remember: that's just because your taste buds may be a bit frozen!

Keep reading for the recipe.

When my parents first moved to Amsterdam, my mother gushed about two things: the surplus of colorful bunches of tulips and the fresh mint tea, as standard in cafes as coffee. "They actually steep a large bunch of fresh mint, stems and all, in a cup of hot water," she told me over the phone. So simple, yet it sounded so novel. In America, cafes and restaurants usually serve prepackaged mint tea bags, stuffed with the dried, powdered herb that basically tastes like dust, but in Amsterdam, most grocers and restaurants are stocked with the cooling herb year round; the demand is that high.

When you do see fresh mint available in the produce section, be sure to snatch it. Fresh mint tea is so fragrant and comforting, prepare to develop a new addiction. In terms of flavor and quality, there's no comparing fresh mint tea to dried tea bags. Dried mint tea tends to become bitter when overbrewed, but there's no fear of overbrewing fresh mint. If anything, the more the fresh mint brews, the more essential minty oils release into the cup. Keep reading for the recipe.

Can you guess what's in this drink? Don't let the orange hue fool you; these mimosas aren't made with oranges — instead, they're made fruity with the help of mango purée and grapefruit juice. Mango thickens and sweetens the mimosa, while the grapefruit provides a crispness that complements the sparkling wine.

Nothing beats fresh, so if you have time, then whirl up ripe mango chunks in a food processor to make homemade mango purée and squeeze some grapefruits in a citrus juicer. Keep reading for the recipe.

While the original gimlet, from 1930's The Savoy Cocktail Book, was made with equal parts Rose's lime juice (sweetened, concentrated lime juice) and gin, today's palates prefer a stiffer drink.

Shaken and served straight up, the light green gimlet is still surprisingly sweet and easy to drink, which is why we think it's Mad Men character Betty Draper's go-to cocktail.

The herbaceous gin and syrupy Rose's lime juice combine for a classy cocktail that you'd be happy to drink either noon or night.

Keep reading for the recipe.

As soon as I had my first sip of today's cocktail — a tangy balsamic-vinegar-enhanced bloody Mary — I knew that I had found my be-all-and-end-all bloody Mary recipe. Spicy (tone down the horseradish a notch if your heat tolerance isn't particularly high), slightly sweet, salty, and perfectly balanced, this weekend morning staple — with a twist — is so perfect that I've already planned a brunch date to share it with my girlfriends.

A quick note on garnishes: unless you have a strong aversion to celery salt, don't leave the salted rim off. If you're not on speaking terms with the stuff, sub out kosher salt; either way the saline punch is crucial. Likewise, a celery stalk is a classic aromatic addition, but bloody Marys are by nature customizable, so try one of these garnishes if you're looking to change things up.

Keep reading for the superlative recipe.