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 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.
savannah
So excited to win the pink candy melts!! 🙂
Donna George
I love to bake cupcakes. So easy and immediate. Or brownies. mmm
Donna George
Jumbo cupcake pan would be my favorite
Barbara
I like to bake a variety of things my favorite right now is cake pops 🙂
bblanto4@hotmail.com
Barbara
Jumbo donut pan is what I would love 🙂
bblanto4@hotmail.com
aaltw_515
Cookies and cakes and candies
aaltw_515
I like the cookie cutters
Karen Propes
Love to bake cakes and cupcakes, so much fun to decorate!
ncjeepster@aol.com
Karen Propes
I am most excited about the fondant, never tried before only iced my cakes. Thanks great giveaway!!
ncjeepster@aol.com
Joshua and Mikenzie Wade
I love to bake anything sweet, but my favorite is definitely snickerdoodle cookies!!!! mikenzie9@gmail.com
Joshua and Mikenzie Wade
What a fun giveaway! I am most excited about the jumbo donut pan!!! I love donuts! mikenzie9@gmail.com
Declan Cash's Mom
My favorite thing to bake is good old fashioned chocolate chip cookies
Declan Cash's Mom
I would like the jumbo donut pan the best
Shadow
i like to make all kinds of things. new things are my favorite. i never know how the recipe will turn out and its always a challenge! 🙂
Shadow
oops. forgot email: shadowluvs2read(at)gmail(dot)com
Shadow
I would love to have the jumbo donut pan
Darlene
I love to make blueberry crumb cake.
owen.darlene@gmail.com
Darlene
I would love the -Pink candy melts
owen.darlene@gmail.com
Danielle
I love baking cookies
The Happy Wife/Danielle Garcia
Ldsmom2201 (at) yahoo (dot) com
http://juanshappywife.blogspot.com
Twitter: The_Happy_Wife
Danielle
I am most interested in the donut pan
The Happy Wife/Danielle Garcia
Ldsmom2201 (at) yahoo (dot) com
http://juanshappywife.blogspot.com
Twitter: The_Happy_Wife
1porkchop
My favorite thing to bake is homemade pizza. I can put as much cheese as I want.
1porkchop
I am most interested in the large donut pan
[Whatever U are, be a good one!]
I always love baking cheesecakes!
Thank You So Much for the giveaway!
Fiona N
[Whatever U are, be a good one!]
I love the “Gourmet is my middle name” apron!
Thank You!
Fiona N
Laurie
would love the donut pan and the apron!
Laurie
love to bake brownies
laurie1993@verizon.net
cupcake mama
My fave thing to bake is cupcakes!
Rafflecopter:Mechele JOhnson
cupcake mama
I have always wanted to try Dry Fondant! I am excited about that! I also love the cookie cutters!
mmjohnson555(at)gmail(dot)com
Rafflecopter:Mechele JOhnson
Mandy
Cupcake liners!
Andrea
cookie cutters, doughnut pan sounds awesome! andreahutch79 at aol dot com
Andrea
I love to bake breads!
Andrea
cookie cutters, doughnut pan sounds awesome! andreahutch79 at aol dot com
eclairre
I love baking muffins. 🙂 eclairre(at)ymail(dot)com
eclairre
eclairre(at)ymail(dot)com
I’m most excited for the donut pan
amanda hoffman
pink candy melts
Fields Family Zoo
I love to bake pumpkin pies !
Fields Family Zoo
Any of it i absolutely love baking !
Lynette Paige
I love to bake breads and cakes. Love trying out new things and mixes to surprise my family!
Lynette Paige
The donut pan!
Aunt Maggie Rocks
cake and cupcakes! i have a huge sweet tooth.
maggie ann true armstrong
maggie at pdclarion dot com
Aunt Maggie Rocks
I’m most excited about the cookie cutters!
maggie ann true armstrong
maggie at pdclarion dot com
Diana
I love baking cinnamon rolls
hrddiana556@gmail.com
Diana
I would love the jumbo doughnut pan
hrddiana556@gmail.com
Jennifer
cookies and cakes
jenniferwinchester@ymail.com
Jennifer
jumbo donut pan
jenniferwinchester@ymail.com
jayedee
i love love love to bake yeast breads and most days you’ll find a loaf or two rising in my kitchen! kneading bread is a wonderful way to work out your frustrations, don’t you think?
jayedee.dewitt@gmail.com
jayedee
i’ve never used a donut pan…i’d love to try one instead of the deep fry method that i’ve always used! thank you for the lovely giveaway!
jayedee.dewitt@gmail.com
BethElderton
I like to bake pies.
bethelderton59 at gmail dot com
BethElderton
I’m excited about the jumbo donut pan. I am also excited about the fondant mix–I’ve been wanting to try.
bethelderton59 at gmail dot com
Amy W.
I like baking chocolate chip cookies. cwitherstine at zoominternet dot net
longsgl
I am excited about the 2 cookie cutters, I love different shapes of cookie cutters.
Amy W.
I would be excited about the apron. cwitherstine at zoominternet dot net
dispatcher_kristy
I love baking cakes to decorate
dispatcher_kristy
I would be excited to get the “Gourmet is my middle name” apron. Congrats on your blogversary
1froglegs
I like to bake bread. I particularly like the smell of rising dough
1froglegs
I am most interested in the jumbo donut pan
Sarah
I love baking muffins with my son!
mugsymcg46 at yahoo dot com
Sarah
Cupcake liners, we use like 60 a week!
Iliana R
I love to bake cupcakes!
rocky.mart@yahoo.com
Iliana R
I would be most excited to get the Jumbo donut pan!
rocky.mart@yahoo.com
Emily
I LOVE to bake cupcakes!
Emily
I’d be excited about the donut pan! 🙂
MerMarty
My favorite thing to bake is my great grandmother’s yeast rolls. Happy blogiversary!
MerMarty
I’ve never used a donut pan before, so I would be excited to try that!
Sara Wood
I love to bake cupcakes.
Sara Wood
Jumbo donut pan
Amy Dalrymple
My favorite thing to bake is pie 🙂
Amy Dalrymple
The fondant mix!!
– Amy Lee
Renee G
I love baking cheesecakes.
rsgrandinetti@yahoo(DOT)com
Renee G
I would be most excited about the cupcake liners.
rsgrandinetti@yahoo(DOT)com
Meghan
I love to bake cupcakes. Then decorate. Yum.
Meghan
The Jumbo Donut Pan…would be so cool. Thank you for the chance to win!
Anonymous
I do a mean banana cupcake filled with vanilla cream topped with Buttercream.
rierie11booger (@) yahoo.com
Anonymous
1 lb. dry fondant mix
I’ve been looking forward to working with fondant.
rierie11booger (@) yahoo.com
Anne @ Green Eggs and Moms
Congratulations dear!! May you have more blogs posts to come 😀
amy beth marantino
My favorite thing to bake is oatmeal cookies
amy beth marantino
i like the Jumbo donut pan
prototype mama
Congratulations on your blogiversary!!!! This looks so good–I might have to try!
Tamra
I’d like to try the dry fondant mix, sounds like an adventure! 🙂
Jess
Congrats on the blogiversary!!
I also love baking!
kellyr78
I like to bake brownies
kellywcuATyahooDOTcom
kellyr78
I am excited about the Jumbo Donut pan
kellywcuATyahooDOTcom
Rachel M
I love baking bread 🙂
-rachelm59@yahoo.com
Rachel M
I’d love the jumbo donut pan 🙂
-rachelm59@yahoo.com
Dana
and my email is danasquare3@aol.com
Dana
I love making cupcakes or cookies!
Dana
The apron it is so cute!
pauline15
My bucket list includes how to make the fun cakes and cupcakes. I would love to work with the fondant and learn how to make it sparkle!
pauline15_01(at)hotmail(dot)com
Tiffany
I would love to win! Cupcakes are my favorite thing to bake. Happy blogiversary to you!
Family Travels on a Budget
By the way, my email — because I know I’m going to win…. well, I’m practicing wishful thinking anyway — is familytravelsonabudget @ gmail dot com.
THANKS!
Family Travels on a Budget
My favorite thing to bake? Not sure… right now we’re in ice cream making mode. BUT, I do enjoy a cornbread/spoonbread recipe. We bake it on the grill in summertime to keep the house cool. 🙂
Family Travels on a Budget
Oh… the apron. So fun!
Melissa
I love to bake anything, but cookies are probably my favorite because there are so many variations!
Melissa
Congratulations on your 2 years! This drink looks so refreshing 🙂 I could defintitely use a new apron!
Dawn
The cupcake liners would be so useful!
Dawn
I love to bake too and all those items would make it easier and more fun!
kathy f
I love to bake too! I would like the apron.
The Home Cook
I like baking cookies.
The Home Cook
I would love the jumbo donut pan!