Drinking Organic

The first time I was ever introduced to organic alcohol was a few years ago when I was in college.  My best friend’s older sister is a bartender, health guru, workout queen, fitness model….let’s just be honest, she is a total babe. She introduced me to an organic vodka which I ended up buying because I thought the bottle was really pretty but I wasn’t actually a fan of the taste.  However, I never really thought much about drinking organic alcohol.  Eating organic produce is  a no-brainer for me, its something that almost comes as second nature.  Yet, it was not until my personal trainer started talking to me about drinking organic alcohols that I really became aware of what I was putting into my body.  After almost giving up on my quest to find an organic alcohol that I was a fan of, I just recently became introduced to TOPO Organic Spirits.

Coming straight out of my home state of North Carolina, TOPO spirits are the only fully local and USDA certified organic distillery in the South.  Created in Chapel Hill, they have whiskey, gin, and vodka.  In addition to having numerous awards, TOPO’s ingredients are are locally sourced in North Carolina! I mean WOW, talk about being 100% North Carolinian! On top of that, TOPO is also the only green distillery in the nation!

Because I am a gin girl, I figured why not share with you a few facts about this wonderful TOPO Piedmont Gin.  Not only does it have 6 different awards, including a double gold medal for the fifty best gins in 2014, but it is a gin that goes down very smoothly! Upon tasting, you will receive a note of cucumber along with other touches of citrus as well as cardamom.  It is a new twist on gin and is definitely worth trying!

Rather than coming up with my own craft cocktail, I kept it classy and opted for a gin and tonic.  However, rather than serving it with a lime wedge, I chose to pair the drink with a cucumber slice. If you want some creative recipes, check out their website and take a peak at their suggested recipes. I must say that while I am mainly a Hendrick Gin girl because of the cucumber notes, I have now become a TOPO girl that will keep her eye out for it when at a bar! Now go ahead and check this deliciously organic stuff out!

xoxo Sarah

September 30, 2015October 1, 2015 by Sarah Hoski Categories: Alcohol, Cocktails, Dinner, Gin, Gluten Free, Local, North Carolina, Organic, ReviewTags: Alcohol, Cocktails, Dinner, Gin, Gluten Free, Local, North Carolina, Organic, Review, Simple Leave a comment

Farmers Market Fresh : Locally Sourced Ingredients

It is that time of year when farmers markets are full of fresh wonderful produce that is grown locally from your surrounding area and is full of nutrients.  Just walking around the stalls of all different fruits and vegetables, one can get inspiration to create a wonderful dish for a summertime meal.  While I have an unbelievable vegetable garden at home, I still like to visit the market to see what kind of produce they are bringing in.  Because I am from the South, okra is a staple vegetable that I will always be guaranteed to see along with cucumbers, kale, cabbage and corn.  

Personally, I think that there is nothing better than fresh sweet corn on the cob grown at a local farm.  If you ever get a chance to try locally grown corn, definitely do because it has such a different taste than the corn you can find at your local grocery store.  It is sweeter, crispier and is the perfect vegetable for any summer salad.  Corn is nutritious vegetable, that provides fiber, which aids in digestion, plus folate, thiamin, phosphorus, vitamin C, and magnesium.

There is nothing like grilling corn on the cob and incorporating it into a fresh salad on a hot summer’s day.  With a little help from Bon Appetit, I was able to transform the corn that I bought from the farmers market and herbs from my mother’s herb garden into a summer salad that is to die for.  It is light, healthy, full of flavor and vegetarian! It can be found by clicking this link Corn and Fregola with Halloumi Cheese and below!

Corn and Fregola with Halloumi Cheese 

1 cup walnuts
1 cup fregola or Israeli couscous
Kosher salt
4 ears of corn, husked
2 tablespoons plus ¼ cup olive oil, divided
Freshly ground black pepper
8 ounces Halloumi cheese, sliced lengthwise ¾-inch thick
3 scallions, thinly sliced
½ cup coarsely chopped fresh parsley
¼ cup basil leaves
¼ cup mint leaves
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
2 tablespoons (or more) white wine vinegar

Preheat oven to 350°. Toast walnuts on a rimmed baking sheet, tossing once, until golden brown, 8–10 minutes. Let cool, then coarsely chop.
Cook fregola in a large pot of boiling salted water according to package directions. Drain (do not rinse) and spread out on a baking sheet to let cool.
Prepare a grill for medium-high heat. Rub corn with 1 Tbsp. oil; season with salt and pepper. Grill, turning occasionally, until lightly charred and tender, 8–10 minutes. Transfer to a platter and let cool.
Meanwhile, brush cheese with 1 Tbsp. oil and grill, turning once, until lightly charred in spots, about 5 minutes. Transfer to platter with corn; let cool.
Cut kernels from cobs and place in a large bowl. Add scallions, parsley, basil, mint, walnuts, and fregola. Using your hands, tear Halloumi into bite-size pieces; add to bowl and toss to combine. Add lemon juice, vinegar, and remaining ¼ cup oil. Toss to coat; season with salt, pepper, and more vinegar, if desired.

I made this for my family and allowed my father to grill the Halloumi cheese and corn on the Big Green Egg! It was a total hit at dinner and the left overs were even better the next day because the ingredients could meld together! I hope you enjoy this just as much as I did!

xoxo Sarah

July 2, 2015July 22, 2015 by Sarah Hoski Categories: Cheese, Corn, Dinner, Farmers Market, Garden, Grill, Healthy, Local, Meatless Monday, Recipes, Summer, Vegetables, VegetarianTags: Bon Appetite, Cheese, Corn, Dinner, Farm To Table, Farmers Market, Garden, Greek, Grill, Healthy, Local, Side Dish, Summer, Vegetables, Vegetarian Leave a comment