2 Year Blogiversary + Cherry Berry Bramble Smash and a Giveaway!

     Wow!  I can't believe I've now been blogging for 2 years!  The time has absolutely flown by this past year.  When I first started blogging I posted about 3 times a week.  In the past year, I've been posting recipes 4-5 days a week and a book review every week.  Over the past 2 years I've written over 500 posts, gained over 700 blog followers (thank you!), added a Twitter account for my blog, and added a Facebook page.  I've joined many amazing groups of food bloggers and I love the community that we share together.

     In honor of my blogiversary I'm going to have 3 giveaways this week.  I wanted to do something for my fabulous readers so I'm having a cooking giveaway, a book giveaway, and one combination giveaway!  See the end of this post for details on how to enter.

     Also in honor of my blogiversary I thought I'd post my new favorite summer beverage to celebrate!  It's a Cherry Berry Bramble Smash and it is delicious and refreshing in this hot summer heat.  It combines the juices of cherries, strawberries, lemons, and limes and then mixes them with run and simple sugar.  It not only tastes great but it has a beautiful pink color as well!

Cherry Berry Bramble Smash (adapted from Bon Appetit)
6 strawberries, stem removed and cut into quarters
6 cherries, stems and pit removed
2 lemon wedges
2 lime wedges
1 T. simple syrup
2 oz. Bicardi rum
carbonated water

1.  Combine the strawberries, cherries, lemon, lime, and simple syrup in a large cocktail shaker.  Use the handle of a wooden spoon and mash the fruit together, releasing the juices.

2.  Add in the Bicardi rum.  Place the lid on the shaker and shake vigorously for 30 seconds.  

3.  Strain into a short glass filled with ice.  Top with enough carbonated water to fill the glass.  Garnish with a cherry and a strawberry.   

      My first Blogiversary giveaway is an I love to bake giveaway. As my readers know, while I enjoy cooking I really love to bake.  I'd like to give one of my readers a few things to help them get baking in the kitchen! Included in this giveaway are :

-75 cupcake liners
-25 cupcake picks
-Pink candy melts
-1 lb. dry fondant mix
-2 cookie cutters (an ice cream cone and a dragonfly)
-a "Gourmet is my middle name" apron
-a Jumbo donut pan

    One of my readers will win all the items listed above!  The giveaway is open to US readers only and will run through August 7 at midnight.  I will contact the winner via e-mail on August 8 so please leave your e-mail!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

This post linked to:
Cast Party Wednesday,  What's Cooking Wednesdays, Whatcha Whipped Up,