There are a lot of things I love about my husband, but one of the things I love the most, is how he has embraced this healthy lifestyle with me.  Since I have an incurable disease, Type 1 diabetes, the way I eat is something I will do for the rest of my life and I must say it is so much easier having him to constantly encourage me.  My disease has given us both a passion for cooking and creating and it is something that usually fills our free time.  On the weekends we love to smoke ribs together and on the weeknights we usually grill steaks or hamburgers.  Many of the recipes in my upcoming cookbook, All American Paleo Table, are filled with memories of us cooking together.

That being said, we went to this fabulous restaurant the other week and they had this cocktail on the menu that was a sort of grapefruit spritzer.  I usually only drink my husband’s sugar free margaritas (recipe will be in my cookbook), because most are always too sweet for me, but this cocktail wasn’t sweet at all and entirely fresh! I think watching people craft cocktails or any food for that matter is truly fascinating and its such an art when someone takes the time to do everything from fresh squeezed juices to fancy garnishes.

Well, the next morning over breakfast, my husband and I just relaxing and making food together, he said, I want to try to figure out how to make that drink for you.  My absolute favorite liqueur is St Germain, an elderflower liqueur that is harvested in France, yes my French major is coming out! The story of St Germain is fascinating to me, as the flowers are harvested and transported by bicycle to a collection depot to be extracted—hence the little bike on the bottle!  It truly is an artisan affair!

With endless house guests in our home these past few weeks, it has showed me that eating grain free and Paleo with guests isn’t entirely that difficult even with house guests.  I am going to be righting a post on this for you all, about entertaining grain and gluten free, so stay tuned!  Just make the food taste good, have a good time, make some fun drinks and enjoy!

This light and refreshing cocktail is perfect for the warming weather and a great addition to your weekend brunch.  Part 1 of my grain-free brunch menu was grain free banana bread with maple nut butter, and part 3 is coming soon next week.  Drinks—cocktails, coffee or tea—are something that immediately bring people together and make them feel at home.  Life to me is celebrated in the little moments—just the average everyday moments and accomplishments that deserve to be celebrated.  So go ahead, squeeze away and enjoy just being with your friends and loved ones this weekend!

Glassware: Horta Champagne Glass from Anthropologie

Grapefruit Sunrise Squeeze

A colorful, tart and refreshing cocktail made entirely with fresh juices for the perfect sunrise brunch style sip.

makes 1 drink

• 3 oz fresh grapefruit juice
• 1 oz fresh orange juice*
• 1/2 lime juiced
• 1 oz St. Germain Elderflower liqueur
• 1/2 oz gin
• pinch of sea salt flakes, for garnish
• ice

*I actually prefer mine without the orange juice for something a little more tart and less sweet, but for guests we always serve with the orange juice.

Directions

• Freshly squeeze all juices.  Strain through a fine mesh strainer and discard any pulp or seeds.
• Measure the juices and add to a cocktail shaker.  Add the elderflower and gin.  Add 2 large handful so ice and shake for a good 10 seconds.
• Pour the drink into a champagne flutes or cocktail glasses.  Garnish with a slice of lime, sprig of mint and pinch of sea salt flakes.