My perfect summer cocktail

On my recent trip to Chicago, after a day of bouncing in and out of restaurants and bars in Logan Square, we headed to a little street festival in the Wicker Park area (which also happened to be right next to Big Star - not a coincidence). It was hot, we were thirsty, and beer just wasn't going to cut it. One booth offered a simple cocktail - the vodka soda. Made with Prairie Organic Cucumber Vodka, it was refreshing and just perfect.  To say my friend and I fell a little in love with it might be an understatement.  Seriously, we've texted about it on more than one occasion (Including her photo below).

And while I've certainly had my share of cucumber infused cocktails over the years, the simplicity of this one is what made is so perfectly refreshing. Of course, over the long holiday weekend, the mood for a cocktail struck me, and all I could think about was that vodka soda. So I chopped up a cucumber from the CSA pick up, dumped it in a quart size mason jar, and filled the jar with vodka.  And after a short afternoon of steeping, I enjoyed a delicious cucumber vodka soda on the patio. And then another one.  And just maybe another one after that.  You can change it up by muddling in a bit of mint it or adding a squeeze of lime, but it doesn't need it.  I may never drink regular vodka again.  So, if you're sitting on a crop of cucumber (and if you're not, buy some), go make yourself a cocktail. 

What's in the bag this week?







































Pretty straightforward stuff, no?  I tend to get pretty bored with zucchini after a while, but I'm sure, like me, you've noticed that zucchini is joining cauliflower as the new stand-in for grains.  While I personally don't follow a grain-free diet (and although I like cauliflower, you will never fool my tastebuds into thinking it's pizza crust), I'm always up for trying old things new ways.  Try turning zucchini into noodles with a spiralizer  or mandolin and using it your favorite pasta recipe like this Zucchini Noodles with Roasted Tomatoes recipe or shredding it and using it as a pizza crust.  Slice it lengthwise and use it as lasagna noodles. Need something sweet? Try these Zucchini Coconut Chocolate Chip Cookies.  Or, try the only way I've been able to get my oldest to actually like zucchini with these Parmesan Crisps.  You can head over to my pinterest boards for more inspiration.

I'm sure we have more beets and kohlrabi coming our way in future weeks, so I have a revamped recipe to share when we do.  If you still have beets from last week and aren't the biggest fan, I ran across this Beet Lemonade from Joy the Baker that might help convert you.  If it doesn't, just add some vodka. Pin It