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Not S.A.D. After All & A Super Sexy Tequila and Patron Café XO Cocktail

How was your Valentine’s!? Did you indulge yourself in all the best chocolate and bubbly there was to enjoy? Did you eat glamorous food you don’t usually attempt to cook or go out to eat really pricey but worth it cuisine?

Or did you simply relish in the beauty of loving those around you and being loved in return?

I did a bit of both, honestly. In anticipation of the most red and pink decorated day, I mentioned what V’day means for me: A day of self-awareness and appreciation. It’s all about loving me and knowing my worth (and dropping hints to certain people here and there). Nothing selfish or too self-absored; just a bit of super love. That’s all.

And this year was no different. Well, not really.  A good friend took me to see Eric Benet (gasp and faint & wonder what Halle did wrong to end that marriage) and Babyface, who at 52 puts on a hell of a performance! Do you remember Whip Appeal? Ladies, ladies, ladies…this is one artist you must see live. If you’re a fan of his work, and lawd does he have a lot of work out there (Bobby Brown, After 7, Boyz II Men, Whitney Houston, Toni Braxton, Charlie Wilson, Johnny Gill, etc…), you’ll have a complete new outlook on this soulful crooner. I’m totally dating myself here, but I’m starting to embrace my age more and more. Okay, I digress. Either way, the concert which was a categorical “hot mess” kicked off my love-y dove-y weekend.

Here’s a clip of Babyface singing Whip Appeal.

Let it take you way back!

But everything resumed to the regularly scheduled programming around here yesterday. I woke up, did some work, went for a great walk (took pic of the bush above during the stroll) and then decided to invite some of my single friends over for dinner. It was very whimsical and unplanned and very last minute, but since I couldn’t be with my family, 2nd best was to cook for some dear friends.

The menu was uncomplicated but highly tasty. I braised flank steak and sirloin and made what has to be one of the best and heat-driven sauces I’ve ever whipped up…tamarind and ginger with rosé wine. OM! I won’t lie, I swear. The sauce was something you’d want to thin out and make a drink out of it was so good. I don’t have a recipe for it since it just kinda happened, but I think I’ll play with it again and share later. Starch came in the form of yuca con mojo and veggies were Swiss chard in a light champagne butter sauce. We sipped on honey wine (dreamy stuff) and finished off our sena with cheesecake—from Costco—but it was darn good (okay, you know that was not my doing. just had to put that out there!).

The S.A.D. evening was quaint and soulfully delicious with intermittent recounts of past love affairs and broken hearts until my best friend and right-hand man, “A” showed up with a cute little pink bag. And then my evening got better. “A” usually gives me a life-size balloon which lives on steroids and lasts 8 months! It’s kind of scary, actually.  I’ve, nor anyone that’s been to my place has ever  seen such a thing. We’ve all questioned the internal contents of these lovely, but blown out balloons. Surely, whatever it is can’t be too safe, right! And, with that a balloon, he’s always given me the most gorgeous and exotic flowers. So, while this year was no different in the way I celebrate lover’s day, those two annual staples were absent.

(pictures from V-day last year!)

But, when I opened up my little pink bag, I  slid right into my chair and curled my knees up. The scary balloon and flowers were replaced with the most romantic card, pink Moscato (which I LOOOOVE!) and my new perfume obsession–Womanity by Thierry Mugler (you know the French designer that gave us Angel and then designed all of Beyonce’s tour costuming). Ooh, he tickled me red when the little pink bag revealed the chic bottle I’d been lusting over! I had to celebrate–something I never do on V’day. I mean really, perfume! It’s such a common cliché, but I’m a hopeless romantic and I love me some perfume. Just love it! I get that from Mami, who’s a bottle collector.

For a moment, S.A.D ended and we all celebrated Valentine’s Day! I went to my bar and made this for the single crew…. a drink that says “I love you, friend, or part-time lover, or girlfriend or dad (who sent me a text message bright and early to apologize for not sending me flowers this year but that I’m the 2nd & 3rd love of his life..awwww) or mom” (who sent me a box of new glittery earrings she made  me).

This oh-so-luscious and semi-creamy concoction which made me smile from shiny ear to shiny ear, is mixed with Sauza silver tequila which  the brand sent me to taste, Gold Schlagger, café liquor and Bailey’s caramel. Doesn’t it just sound fluffy and insanely sneaky? This was single-handedly inspired by the thought that if I wanted a friend to loosen up a bit, lose their inhibitions and still manage to gracefully embrace tickles of love, this would do the job.

Thanks to the shot(s) of tequila, it has enough punch to knock you right into bedroom…. you know, for the grown and sexy!

Hope you had a romantic, delicious, sexy and love-affair kind of day! No matter who you spent it with. Love is love!

Smooches!

Eat well, love unapologetically, pray with true intention, and take care of yourself.

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Enjoy

B’s S.A.D. AFFAIR

Ingredients:

  • 1 oz. Sauza Silver tequila
  • 1/2 oz. Gold Schlagger
  • 1/2 oz. Patron Café XO
  • 1/3 oz. Bailey’s Caramel
  • 1 oz. half & half ( I used 2% milk for foam)
  • ice

Method:

Add all spirits to martini shaker and shake well. Garnish your glass’s rim with ground coffee. Strain drink into glass. Add more ice if desired.

29 thoughts on “Not S.A.D. After All & A Super Sexy Tequila and Patron Café XO Cocktail

  1. Girl, i know I’m not single but I’m so jealous! Love yah…. I guess at the end “A” knows how to close it out. Just tell him Mone says you are a known “closer”. Lmao

  2. Jenn: thanks. It was quite fun for sure. Hope you had a lovely time, too.

    Simone: hahahahah. Wait til he reads this! He did sneak up in here with that! Besitos.

    Bridgett: I did! I hope you did, too!

    Rosa: well I just went against everything I wrote on Friday, right?!

    Paula: it is hun, hope you try it. It is strong though!

  3. It was beyond! I loved the entire meal especially the tamarind/ginger sauce and the swiss chard, wow! Thank you so much as always for your gracious hospitality B!

    j

  4. Your dinner sounds amazing, Bren! Don’t feel bad, I think a lot of us ladies are romantics at heart-and a bottle of perfume is just the thing to make us go all mushy. As for that drink you made? Yes, please!

  5. For all who weren’t there, she wasn’t kidding about the sauce that went with the braised flank steak. I had to go back for a second round. The yuca con mojo was a nice departure from the usual way I’ve had casava (which is what we Jamaicans call it). Everything was a nice spread!

    Glad you enjoyed the mead (honey wine). Thanks for inviting me out to join you guys.

  6. Ahhh it sounds like a perfect Vday!! how thoughtful, perfume and pink moscato(swoon) and perfect creamy connection to celebrate!! Love it!!

    sweetlife

  7. Thanks for visiting my blog Bren! I’m glad you did because I really enjoyed checking out your blog. I can relate to the 4 shots of Cuban espresso to jump start the day but the super high heeled mules look like an instrument of torture to me. I like your special Valentine’s day cocktail, I think it embodies the energy and spirit of your blog;-)

  8. 3Piece: aww, thanks luvie! So glad you and Wonder Boy made it! It was so much fun! Remember the strawberry cake last year! Oh boy!

    Elle: It was laid-back but good! Grt. company and topped off with that perfume, so yeah, an all around fab evening. Let me know if you make the drink cuz it was truly worth the buzz!

    Eliana: Ay mija, fue espectacular en todo sentido!

    Rohan: heehee, thanks Ro! Glad you came! And, thanks for honey wine. I need to sip on some tonight!

    Sweetlife: it was my dear. How was yours?!?! 🙂

    PachecoPatty: Well thanks for coming back and saying hello. I love meeting new bloggers! And YES! someone else that likes Cuban espresso like I do! And thanks for catching the vibe to my blog! I tried to reflect my real personality with this new design. Hope you’ll be back! <3

  9. First of all.. I want recognition. LOL!!

    Everything looks and sounds like it went awesome! Yay for SAD!!

    Glad you and your amigos had a wonderful celebration! Nothing like the love of family and friends to make your day that much more special!

    🙂

  10. Your blog is very nice!
    Hope you had a good valentines day though it seems you had a great one! Too bad I can’t make myself one of those super sexy cocktails. ):

    -Bonnie

  11. “Thanks to the shot(s) of tequila, it has enough punch to knock you right into bedroom…. you know, for the grown and sexy!” HAHAHA Oh Bren. Looks like you had a great time with friends, and that’s a perfect way to roll in any Monday…Vday or NOT!

  12. Lil B: S.A.D. was all YOUR idea, little sis, I know this! If you read my blog more, you’d know when I first mentioned it last year! Now!?!? And, yes, it was all great. Wish you would have been here to enjoy!

    Bonnie: Hi! Nice to *meet * you. V-day was great, but I look forward to them getting better!

    Carolyn: Ha! Knocks you right on out! 😉

    DD: girl, you know me! all day long— I like to have fun no matter what. Vday is so over-rated anyway….

    Merari: Thanks!

    Lisa: It is and hope you’ll try it!

    Barabara: Thanks for coming by and use that pressure cooker! I’d love to know how you play with yours. I love all 8 of mine! Best tool in the kitchen, hands down!

  13. I absolutely HEART this website! Go Bren! Girl, looking at the pictures of the delcious foods and menus is clearly making me inner “fat girl” come out. lol. Keep up the good work and continued much success to you. xoxo

  14. Yet again we are marveled by the incredibly talented Ms. Herrera. She offers us hope and optimism that love is possible and that we all are worthy of it!! Thank you Thank You Thank You (It was alright!!)

  15. 949856 890169This really is a exceptional weblog, would you be involved in doing an interview about just how you designed it? If so e-mail me! 845110

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