Blogging can be a lonely endeavor. A lot of it is done in the privacy of your home- experimenting in your kitchen, making a mess trying to get something to drip just so in the name of food styling, editing photos that after a while all start looking the same, and wracking your brain trying to think of something clever to say. By the time you hit publish you may have spent 5-6 hours on your own working on a post that may take a reader 30 seconds to scan. It can be lonely but we do it because we love it.
But this past weekend I had some company as I worked on this recipe with the lovely Maria, who I hope will join me soon by publishing a blog of her own (she makes gorgeous sugar flowers that are stunning). Maria is engaged to one of my best friends (hi buddy!) and it’s been great getting to know her better. I attempted to teach her the little I know about taking photos of food and it was so fun! I forgot how much I like to teach (I was a teacher for five years) and it was such a pleasure to have someone there to bounce ideas off of and just chat with while I arranged and rearranged lime wedges for the sake of a photo. I can’t wait for future food and photography adventures with her.
I took the best looking fruit at the market, peaches and blackberries, puréed them together and strained the juice. A simple syrup with the anise like flavor of Thai basil adds sweetness and a mild herbaceous aroma. My favorite part of drinking a margarita is tasting the sour sweet concoction in contrast to the salty rim and so I added a bit of my favorite spice, gochugaru or Korean chili powder to the salt.
Lucky for me sometimes we bloggers can get together virtually and share our ideas like this one. Summer is ending so I’m trying to drink up what’s left of it. The peaches and berries will never be better than they are right now… until next summer.
And if you need more ideas for refreshing summer beverages please check out all the other ways these insanely talented people below are trying to #DRINKTHESUMMER.
Fix, Feast, Flair | Berry Peachy Kentucky Mules
Salt & Wind | Watermelon Aperol Spritzes
- 1 large white or yellow peach chopped into 1 inch pieces
- 1 cup blackberries
- 2 oz tequila
- 1/4 cup kosher salt
- 2 teaspoons of gochugaru Korean chili flakes
- lime wedges
- ice
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1/2 cup water
- about 20 leaves of Thai basil bruised
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Simmer the water and sugar together over medium heat until the sugar has completely dissolved. Take off the heat and add the basil leaves. Cool completely and strain through a fine mesh strainer, pressing on the leaves.
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In a food processor blend together the peach and blackberries until smooth. Strain through a fine mesh strainer, pressing on the pulp to extract all the juice.
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Mix together the salt and gochugaru. Run a wedge of lime along the rim of two glasses, dip in the salt mixture, coating evenly.
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Fill each glass with ice, add an ounce of tequila to each glass, a tablespoon of thai basil simple syrup, top with juice and squeeze a lime wedge into each glass. Stir until well mixed.
Sonja this looks so good. And welcome to your friend too!! Working with a fellow blogger definitely makes the process more fun – your first paragraph really hit home for me, haha!! It’s so true, and I’m glad you found someone to style with!!!! This seriously sounds amazing – yum!
Thanks, Betty! It was so fun to go through the whole process of shooting and drinking with someone else. I hope that I get to do it more regularly in the future!
Wow, this looks amazing! If I can ever find decent blackberries, I’m totally trying this.
Also totally agree re: blogging. It can be lonely but, like you said, ultimately rewarding since we’re doing what we love 🙂
Yes, it is so rewarding and when you connect with others it’s even more so!
Oh my gosh, it can be totally lonely sometimes! But I guess when there are virtual #drinkthesummer parties it makes it all worth it. Love the idea of berries and peaches + margs, lady!
That’s why I love doing these virtual parties so that I can “meet” new people and get inspired by their ideas. That’s how I found you! 🙂
Sonja, this is amazing! I totally love finding new bloggers who are rocking it, thank goodness for this summer cocktail shindig! Blackberries and gochugaru, so amazing. You have my head spinning!
Thanks, Shanna! And now I’ve found you 🙂
Such a great idea to include the Korean chili flakes in this drink!
Thanks, Aida! I kind of include it in everything… I love the play of sweet with spicy.
I loooove a margarita (or two).
Blogging is such an interesting….THING. We can pour so much time and effort into – you’re right – a post that someone skims over in 30 seconds. I LOVE reading your blog, and am always looking forward to new posts. I hope to get a DSLR this month, which I think will help me feel happier with my blog. Your pictures are always so awesome!!
Your sentiments about blogging being lonely are SO spot-on — and yet, you’re right. Here we all are having a ball! I love blackberry anything, tequila anything, and SPICY SALT EVERYTHING, so of course these sound delicious as all heck. So glad I found ya through the #drinkthesummer bash, girleh. Cheers!
The loneliness is offset by the connection we can feel to each other with this kind of virtual gathering! I’m so happy to have found your blog too ^^
Yep — that first paragraph really hits home! Love that we have found you through this #drinkthesummer gathering. Looking forward to visiting your blog and keeping in touch.
Yes, I can’t wait to have a moment to sit and really read through your blog!
So creative! Love the spicy salt which looks like the icing on a very yummy cake 🙂 Plus I love tequila, so this is a winner! Happy #drinkthesummer!
Thanks, Kelsey! I’m a big fan of the salt rim on a tequila and it only seemed natural to add a little spice to the mix 🙂
This sounds delicious–I love an herbal addition to my cocktails!
Side note, I was born near Seoul! My mom is Korean. We’ve lived in the US since I was almost 2, though, and I haven’t been to South Korea since I was 10…but, Korean food is near and dear to my heart.
Another halfie blogger! <3 So glad to have connected with you.
Korean food is my comfort food. I also lived there as a little kid so I consider Seoul my other hometown.
Hi Sonja! I’m slowly making my way through all of these posts, and I just LOVE THIS SALTED RIM!!! Thanks for hanging with us yesterday, xx.
Thank you for organizing! I’m loving all the summery drink recipes and the new blogs I’ve discovered.
Can’t wait to try this! I love a new margarita recipe, especially one that incorporates some heat.
Hi! I see you’re a resident of my favorite neighborhood in RVA! Thanks for stopping by 🙂
Sonja, this is one gorgeous drink! It looks like a gem stone! Also how lovely to find a kindred food spirit in Maria. Food people are always the best.
Thanks, Amy 🙂 Yes, food people ARE always the best!
Hi Sonja,
I loved how you opened up this post. It is so true. We can spend hours alone working on what we love and sometimes have no idea how our audience (or lack of audience) is receiving it. But, like you said, we do it because we love it. For me it is a way for me to express myself and learn more about who I am and who I want to be. Why does the painter paint? The sculptor sculpt? I see food blogging the same way. It’s nice to have a thriving audience, but even without it we are doing what we love and that matters. And now about that drink! The photos and recipe, perfection!
P.S. I am happy to have found you through the #drinkthesummer event. It has taken me a while to work through the list of everyone I didn’t already know. You all did such a beautiful job.