cheers and cherries and tiny news.

December 30, 2013

mock cherry After having spent the last week loafing in front of the fire and squatting on my haunches under the Christmas tree, rifling through unwrapped presents for chocolates, I’m back in Brooklyn, ready to start a new year.

And what a year it will be.

For those of you who might not follow my exploits on Instagram, you may not have heard through the internet grapevine that we’re expecting a very tiny addition to our very tiny apartment.

Yes, indeed. Coming to a New York City apartment near you there with be, god-willing, another tiny beating heart, not to mention a pair of itty hands and feet and a big ol’ brain. We’re having a real live baby. No cheap thrills around these tea leaves.

And oh, how we’ve been celebrating.
mock cherry Except celebrating without popping a bottle of bubbly is, admittedly, just a bit of a let down. Mocktails is a hateful word for anyone with a brain in her head, so let’s agree to call this a non-alcoholic cocktail and get on with it.

My sister Cait and I worked out the proportions for a drink that’s graciously free of any of the cloying sweet stuff that’s usually served in the place of alcohol. (We’ll talk another time about the cruelty that is Christmas when one can neither indulge in a spirited drink, nor a creamy glass of egg nog).

Cait and I made a batch of rosemary infused simple syrup and used tart cherry juice and lime to cut the sweetness. This is a drink that’s perfect for sipping. We’re calling it the Cherry Tree (here’s Joanie singing, in case you need a musical interlude after all this good news).
mock cherry Cherry Tree Cocktail (non-alcoholic for the abstainers among us)

1 ounce tart cherry juice
juice of 1/2 a lime (roughly 1 teaspoon)
1 teaspoon rosemary simple syrup
club soda (enough to fill the glass)

Rosemary syrup:

3 large sprigs rosemary, destemmed
1/2 cup water
3 tablespoons sugar

The amount you make depends on the number of drinks you plan to serve. I used roughly 1/2 cup of water (enough for about three cocktails). Combine the leaves of at least 3 large stalks of rosemary with water in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil and add three tablespoons sugar (most simple syrup recipes call for equal parts water and sugar. I find this makes a syrup that’s too sweet, but…chacun Γ  son goΓ»t. Lower the heat and stir until sugar is dissolved. Let simmer until the syrup has a strong rosemary flavor.

For the cocktail:  
Combine tart cherry juice, lime juice, and simple syrup in a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake until cool, then strain into a glass, top off with club soda and garnish with a rosemary sprig. If you’re not “with child” add equal parts tequila and cherry juice before topping with soda water. The tequila brings out the woodsy notes of the rosemary… or so I’m told.

For the curious: I can’t find the exact flutes, but these champagne flutes are similar to the ones that we have (a wedding gift). I used R.W. Knudsen’s ‘Just Tart Cherry‘ juice and Q Club Soda to make the cocktails. Here’s a cocktail shaker that’s similar to the one we use, in case you’re in the market (though a good swirl in a glass with ice would also do the trick). This bottle opener/sealer is perfect for preserving bubbly things after single-serving pours.

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42 Comments

  • Reply Alice December 30, 2013 at 1:58 pm

    Amazing news!!! Congrats to you and James!

    1
  • Reply Lisa December 30, 2013 at 2:01 pm

    Congratulations to both of you! What exciting news! Thanks so much for sharing with all of us.

    1
  • Reply J and H from Beyond The Stoop December 30, 2013 at 2:04 pm

    congratulations!! so happy for you guys! can't wait to see what your tiny apartment turns into (whether it turns to someone else's home or it turns into a tiny home for a family of 3, either way i'm excited to read!)

    cheers.

    1
  • Reply Olivia James December 30, 2013 at 2:05 pm

    oh my goodness!!! YAY! so excited for you guys!! xoxoxo

    1
  • Reply Mrs. White December 30, 2013 at 2:14 pm

    Such exciting news-congratulations!

    1
  • Reply My Little Bungalow December 30, 2013 at 2:45 pm

    Congratulations! When is your little one due?

    0
  • Reply Amanda December 30, 2013 at 5:23 pm

    Many many congratulations! So incredibly exciting!

    1
  • Reply kristyn December 30, 2013 at 5:31 pm

    Congrats to you both!! That's wonderful πŸ™‚

    2
  • Reply Kari December 30, 2013 at 5:32 pm

    Wow! Yay! Yippee!

    2
  • Reply Lauren Ashley December 30, 2013 at 6:04 pm

    Yay! Congrats, what a special christmas gift. My hubs and I are expecting too – a sober family christmas was definitely an interesting experience. πŸ™‚

    1
  • Reply annton beate Schmidt December 30, 2013 at 6:08 pm

    how much greater can a year end; congratulations on this sweet and exciting news. happy new year from berlin!

    1
  • Reply dervla December 30, 2013 at 6:24 pm

    super congratulations!!! What an adventure you'll have in 2014 πŸ™‚

    2
  • Reply Lost In Cheeseland December 30, 2013 at 6:36 pm

    Such exciting news – and don't worry, you'll be back to real cocktails soon enough. For now, enjoy this experience!

    2
  • Reply Cara of Big Girls, Small Kitchen December 30, 2013 at 6:46 pm

    Such sweetness! Congrats Erin!

    2
  • Reply Diana December 30, 2013 at 10:31 pm

    Congratulations! What exciting news — looking forward to seeing more of your adventures in the new year!

    2
  • Reply Anonymous December 30, 2013 at 11:28 pm

    Congratulations!

    2
  • Reply Linda December 30, 2013 at 11:52 pm

    yay! congrats Erin. =)

    2
  • Reply Elizabeth Duvivier December 31, 2013 at 1:20 am

    oh Erin!!!! happy happy happy!!! best news ever! congratulations and HAPPINESS!! xoox, e

    2
  • Reply Erin December 31, 2013 at 1:30 am

    thank you, thank you, sweet friends! xoxo.

    2
  • Reply Abby December 31, 2013 at 2:11 am

    Wonderful news! Congratulations!

    2
  • Reply Julia Barger December 31, 2013 at 3:09 am

    congratulations! that is fantastic news!! and this drink looks delicious!

    1
  • Reply astanoch December 31, 2013 at 6:04 am

    Congratulations!!! Such great news!

    2
  • Reply Georgie K. Buttons December 31, 2013 at 8:34 am

    YAY! πŸ˜€

    2
  • Reply Inge December 31, 2013 at 10:17 am

    Congratulations! So exciting πŸ™‚

    2
  • Reply Martie @ Spunkyrella December 31, 2013 at 1:38 pm

    I am a new reader. Found your blog via Blogmilk, since I was working with Ana on my new blog design.
    Congratulations on your news and obviously Happy New Year!

    2
  • Reply Amanda December 31, 2013 at 3:19 pm

    Hearty, hearty congratulations, good lady!

    1
  • Reply Becca - Rebecca Atwood Designs December 31, 2013 at 3:28 pm

    Congratulations! I'm so happy for you and your husband and family. I've recently had a bit of the babies on the brain…but so much to do with starting a new business that I don't think it's quite the right time (although I don't think there ever really is a 'right' time!). I can't wait to follow along on your new adventure.

    2
  • Reply amiechristo December 31, 2013 at 6:03 pm

    Congratulations! That's so exciting! I'm so excited for you and James and will be looking forward to reading about all the changes babies bring on your blog! Here's to you and yours and a very exciting New Year!

    2
  • Reply Lucy Ross December 31, 2013 at 6:47 pm

    Congratulations, Erin! So thrilled for you and James!

    2
  • Reply Cindy December 31, 2013 at 6:52 pm

    Congratulations you two! It is going to be a Happy New Year for sure!

    2
  • Reply Jessie Ammons January 2, 2014 at 3:24 pm

    Many, many congrats! I can't wait to follow along and see how you holistically approach pregnancy.

    2
  • Reply Evelyn @ Smallish January 2, 2014 at 3:41 pm

    Congratulations! You can't imagine how your tiny world is about to explode with wonder. πŸ™‚

    2
  • Reply Jessica Kleoppel January 2, 2014 at 4:48 pm

    such wonderful news! congrats!!

    2
  • Reply sweet harvest moon January 2, 2014 at 8:21 pm

    Congratulations! πŸ™‚

    2
  • Reply Lisa-Marie January 3, 2014 at 6:10 pm

    Congratulations!! Lovely, cheery news πŸ™‚

    2
  • Reply Anonymous January 3, 2014 at 9:19 pm

    FΓ©licitations Γ  tous les deux ! Thanks for sharing the news.
    Delphine

    2
  • Reply daniela tarelli January 4, 2014 at 3:53 am

    Congratulations to both of you! And thanks for sharing so much! Have an excellent year. I bet you will πŸ˜‰

    2
  • Reply daniela tarelli January 4, 2014 at 3:53 am

    Congratulations to both of you! And thanks for sharing so much! Have an excellent year. I bet you will πŸ˜‰

    2
  • Reply Margaret January 6, 2014 at 2:03 pm

    Congratulations! We're having baby #3 this year (June). And yes, celebrating without champagne is a bummer, but still! What a wonderful joy!

    2
  • Reply Sweet Love and Ginger January 6, 2014 at 4:06 pm

    Congradulations! I can't wait to see how your family grows in your tiny place!

    2
  • Reply Kristin January 10, 2014 at 2:24 pm

    What wonderful news!! Congratulations!!!

    2
  • Reply Lissa Snapp January 12, 2014 at 5:00 am

    Erin Congrats! I have gotten a bit behind on all my favorite blogs and just read your latest posts and was thrilled to find out your exciting news! I hope the 1st trimester was not to rough. Lots of happy thoughts to you and the little one! All the best and happy new year! – Lissa

    2
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