Deep fried Oreos move over. If you can get to a local Trader Joe's an locate Macarons in the freezer section, this is an easy recipe for Deep Fried Macarons. It's also more affordable as you can pick up a dozen macarons at Trader Joes for about $5. Some places charge something close to that for one macaron. The principles apply here as in deep fried oreos. Yes, I know I posted a macaron recipe on this site already. If you don't have hours worth of time or don't want to deep fry your hard work it is totally a Bettyfied way of going about things. Judgement free zone here, short cuts are absolutely acceptable. Trader Joe's has a variety of flavors ready to go: Vanilla and Chocolate, Mango, the six variety pack, or molten chocolate. For this experiment I used the Vanilla and Chocolate variety....
I'm Feeling Blue Martini Recipe
Maybe it's the middle of the week, maybe you just want to feel special. Who doesn't find a blue drink intriguing? So why not make yourself an I'm Feeling Blue Martini. It's a take on the classic martini, but to make it a little bit more special we are adding some Blue Curacao. Admit it, haven't you stared at someone else's drink (especially the colorful ones) and said, "Wow...what is that?" If you've ever said that to yourself you also thought to yourself "Wow. I want one of those." So here is the recipe for one of those I'm Feeling Blue Martini drinks. It will make you want to sit back, relax and turn on Eiffel 65 and listen to "I'm blue."...
Caipirinha (Brazil’s National Cocktail)
If you've ever sipped a mojito and thought, "This could use a little more kick," then meet Brazil's national cocktail: the Caipirinha. This drink is bright, refreshing, and just sweet enough to balance out the tartness of fresh lime. It's made with cachaça, a Brazilian spirit distilled from fermented sugarcane juice, which gives the cocktail its distinctive tropical character.
[feast_advanced_jump_to]What is a Caipirinha?
The Caipirinha (pronounced kai-pee-reen-ya) is the national cocktail of Brazil, traditionally made with cachaça, a distilled spirit made from fermented sugarcane juice. While rum comes from molasses, cachaça has a lighter, fresher, and slightly grassy flavor that pairs beautifully with lime.
This drink is as easy to make as it is to drink. Whether you're lounging by the pool, hosting a BBQ, or just pretending you're on a Rio beach, this Caipirinha recipe delivers tropical vibes in every sip.
Caipirinha Recipe Ingredients
To make one cocktail, you'll need:
- 2 oz good-quality cachaça (Leblon, Novo Fogo, or Ypióca are great picks)
- ½ fresh lime, cut into wedges
- 1 oz simple syrup (or 2 teaspoons granulated sugar for the traditional method)
- Ice cubes
Optional garnish: lime wheel or slice for a pop of color.
How to Make a Caipirinha
- Cut and muddle.
Cut half a lime into wedges and place them in a sturdy glass. Gently muddle to release the juice and oils. - Sweeten it.
Add 1 oz simple syrup (or sugar if using the classic style). Muddle lightly again to mix. - Add the cachaça.
Pour in 2 oz cachaça and fill the glass with ice cubes. - Stir and serve.
Stir well to combine. Garnish with a lime wheel and serve immediately.
It's that simple and the result is pure refreshment.
Why You'll Love This Caipirinha Recipe
- Only 3 ingredients.
- Refreshing, tangy, and slightly sweet.
- Ready in under 5 minutes.
- Perfect for summer parties or any time you need a little tropical escape.
Top Tips for the Best Caipirinha
- Use fresh limes. Bottled lime juice won't cut it. Fresh limes bring that authentic zing.
- Don't over-muddle. Crushing the lime peel too much releases bitterness. A gentle press is all you need.
- Adjust sweetness. Start with less sugar or syrup and add more if you prefer it sweeter.
- Use quality cachaça. The spirit makes or breaks this drink. Look for bottles labeled "aged" or "premium."
- Add a twist. Try flavor variations with passion fruit, mango, or strawberries for a fruity spin.
Caipirinha
Equipment
- Boston Shaker
- Muddler
Ingredients
- 2 ounces cachaca
- ½ fresh lime cut into wedges
- 1 ounce simple syrup or 2 teaspoon sugar
- 1 cup ice
Instructions
- Cut and muddle.Cut half a lime into wedges and place them in a shaker. Gently muddle to release the juice and oils.
- Sweeten it.Add 1 oz simple syrup (or sugar if using the classic style). Muddle lightly again to mix.
- Add the cachaça.Pour in 2 oz cachaça and fill the shaker with ice cubes.
- Shake and serve. Shake well to combine. Strain and pour into glass with ice. Optional: Garnish with a lime wheel and serve immediately.
Nutrition
Dates Stuffed with Goat Cheese and Wrapped in Prosciutto
Need a quick appetizer or want a really filling snack? Dates Stuffed with Goat Cheese and Wrapped in Prosciutto is a great one. If you are at Trader Joe's the ingredient list is short. If you only want to make one batch, then only use half the ingredient list. You'll have dates left over.
1-Package of Medjool Dates
2- Packages of Prosciutto
2- Packages of goat cheese (if cheese is too thick, a few drops of milk can be added to make it easier to work with).
Betty Twist: There are certain herbs that you can mix into the goat cheese to make it tastier: thyme, chervil, or tarragon. You could also finely chop almonds and mix it with the cheese if you really need some crunch.
Procedure:
- Remove pit from dates. Set aside

- Allow goat cheese to warm to room temperature (if time is a problem, then add a bit of milk to thin out the cheese)

- Stuff the cheese into the date.

- Cut prosciutto in half the long way

- Wrap date in prosciutto

- Broil for 3-4 minutes.
- Serve and enjoy. Don't have the time to make these? Trader Joe's Bacon Wrapped Dates Stuffed with Goat Cheese are good, just be ready for appetizers that are much smaller.

Dates Stuffed with Goat Cheese and Wrapped in Prosciutto
Ingredients
- 1 1 lb Medjool Dates
- 2 4 ounce Thinly Sliced Prosciutto
- 1 10 ounce Goat Cheese
Instructions
- Remove pit from dates. Set aside

- Allow goat cheese to warm to room temperature (if time is a problem, then add a bit of milk to thin out the cheese)

- Use spoon to stuff the cheese into the date.

- Cut prosciutto in half the long way. If it's too hard to peel off of its paper, allow to warm up to room temperature.

- Wrap date in prosciutto

- Broil for 3-4 minutes.

- Serve and enjoy.
Notes
A Brazilian Margarita
Looking to change up a traditional Margarita? Here is a recipe using Cachaca instead of Taquila. If you haven't had Cachaca, it tastes somewhere between Taquila and Rum. Use a middle brand or better Cachaca (same reason as tequila, the cheap stuff will punish you later). I prefer (and can only seem to find LeBlon)...




















