WEDNESDAY, MAY 6
WEEK SEVEN PLAYLIST
This week in Volume 7, we’re all over the musical map! From the The Beatles and Annie Lennox, to SZA and Frank Ocean, there's literally something for everyone to enjoy in this week's musical roundup, whatever your taste may be! So cuddle up or get down, and let this week's playlist set the tone for the perfect evening at home together!
WEEK SEVEN COCKTAILS
This week's cocktail recipes are brought to you by Jamie Preuss - the face behind the incredible food and lifestyle blog So Happy You Liked It
Find her on Instagram - @sohappyyoulikedit
BLUEBERRY BAE-SIL COLLINS
This Blueberry BAE-sil Collins is a fresh update on the classic cocktail! Blueberry syrup and lemon juice is muddled with fresh basil and shaken with gin in this refreshing drink.
Makes 1 drink + 1 ½ cups Blueberry Simple Syrup
Prep: 10 minutes
Cook time: 5 minutes
Rest time: 30 minutes - 2 hours
INGREDIENTS
For the cocktail:
4 basil leaves, plus 1 small leaf for garnish
¾ oz. Blueberry simple syrup, recipe below
¾ oz lemon juice
1 ½ oz gin
For the Blueberry Simple Syrup:
1 cup water
¾ cup sugar
1 cup blueberries, washed
INSTRUCTIONS
For the cocktail:
In a cocktail shaker, add basil and lightly muddle. Add blueberry simple syrup and lemon juice, continuing to lightly muddle.
Add gin, and fill cocktail mixer with ice. Shake thoroughly to combine, until cocktail shaker is too cold to handle.
Pour into a Collins glass, garnishing with mint.
For the Blueberry Simple Syrup:
In a medium saucepan combine water and sugar. Set over medium heat, lightly swirling as mixture starts to simmer. Once the sugar is dissolved, promptly remove from heat.
Add prepared blueberries, cover saucepan, and allow blueberries to steep for at least 20 minutes. For a deeper blueberry flavor, lightly mash some blueberries with the back of a spoon and transfer mixture (with blueberries still steeping) to the refrigerator for 2 hours.
Remove blueberries, and store simple syrup in refrigerator until ready to use. Syrup will keep in refrigerator for up to 1 week.
THE AMOROUS IMMURED
The Amorous Immured is a spicy and sultry cocktail with your name on it. Fresh ginger and lime juice are combined to make a lip-smacking ginger lime concentrate, serving as the base. Choose vodka or whiskey as your liquor (both are delicious!).
Makes 1 drink + 2 cups of ginger lime concentrate
Prep: 10 minutes
Cook time: 5 minutes
Rest time: 30 minutes - 8 hours
INGREDIENTS
For the cocktail:
1 oz Ginger Lime concentrate, recipe below
1 ½ oz vodka or whiskey
⅕ oz simple syrup, optional (see note)
Sparkling water, optional to top
For the Ginger Lime Concentrate:
2 Tbsp fresh ginger, grated (see note)
⅓ cup sugar
1 cup freshly squeezed lime juice
2 cups water
INSTRUCTIONS
For the cocktail:
In an ice filled cocktail shaker, add Ginger Lime concentrate, vodka or whiskey, and simple syrup if using. Shake thoroughly to combine until cocktail shaker is too cold to handle.
Pour into a coup glass, garnish with lime slice.
For the Ginger Lime Concentrate:
Add sugar to blender or food processor, processing until super fine.
Add water, grated ginger, and lime juice. Process until combined.
Set a strainer lined with cheese cloth over a mason jar. Pour ginger mixture in to jar. Squeeze cheese cloth to release all liquid.
Refrigerate until ready to use. Concentrate will keep in refrigerator up to 2 weeks.
Notes:
If you like things extra spicy and gingery like I do, consider doubling the amount of ginger the original recipe calls for!
The cocktail is fairly tart as it's written. If you prefer things sweeter, consider adding ½ ounce of simple syrup.
To do so, mix equal parts water and sugar in a saucepan set over medium heat (1:1 cups will make plenty of syrup!).
Swirl pan until sugar is dissolved. Allow to cool and store in refrigerator until ready to use.
FEELING FRESH
without alcohol
This delicious mocktail includes the bright flavors of freshly squeezed blood orange juice and mint. Feel free to add vodka or gin if you want an extra kick!
Makes 1 drink + ~1 1/2 cups of mint simple syrup
Prep: 10 minutes
Cook time: 5 minutes
Rest time: 30 minutes - 2 hours
INGREDIENTS
For the cocktail:
2 oz freshly squeezed blood orange juice
1 oz mint simple syrup (recipe below)
Soda water (flavored options welcome!)
For the Mint Simple Syrup:
1 cup water
¾ cup sugar
4-5 sprigs mint (~20 mint leaves)
INSTRUCTIONS
For the cocktail:
Combine blood orange juice and mint simple syrup in an ice filled cocktail shaker. hake thoroughly to combine until cocktail shaker is too cold to handle.
Pour into an ice filled glass, top with soda water.
For the Mint Simple Syrup:
In a medium saucepan combine water and sugar. Set over medium heat, lightly swirling as mixture starts to simmer. Once the sugar is dissolved, promptly remove from heat.
Add mint, allowing to steep at room temperature for at least 20 minutes. For a deeper mint flavor, transfer mixture to the refrigerator for 2 hours before removing and discarding mint. Syrup will keep in refrigerator for 1 week.
PLAN AHEAD! NEXT WEEK'S SHOPPING LIST BELOW!
WEEK SEVEN GAME NIGHT
FULL MOON. FULLER HEARTS.
The Full Flower Moon of May is upon us! Full moons represent the culmination of energy: fruition, completion and celebration, as well as releasing and shedding of the old to pave way for a new cycle. Whatever you believe, making space for a little introspection and manifestation-setting in our lives is never a bad thing. This week's activity invites you to do just that, with the added bonus of a little stargazing and self-care with your sweetheart.
GIVEAWAY - WEEK SEVEN
IN-HOME PHOTOGRAPHY SESSION WITH NICOLE ASHLEY PHOTOGRAPHY
How to Enter via Instagram:
1. Make sure to follow @mavenevents, @neuneumpls and @nicoleashleyphoto if you don't already.
2. Post a photo on your feed or your story of you and your partner enjoying Club Date Night activities!
3. Tag @mavenevents, @neuneumpls and @nicoleashleyphoto
4. Post your unlimited entries by WEDNESDAY, May 6th at 11:59 CST.
When are winners announced and how?
The giveaway ends at 11:59 p.m. CST on WEDNESDAY, May 6th. Winners will be announced via Instagram the following week. Winners will be contacted by email directly by Nicole Ashley Photography. Winners will have 24 hours to respond to the email or their prize will be forfeited.
Am I eligible?
No purchase necessary. Must be 18 years or older to enter. Winners must be located within 40 miles of Downtown Minneapolis. Your Instagram account must be public! This contest is NOT sponsored by Instagram, we just want you all to enjoy a fun date night while staying safe and staying home!
After the conclusion of the contest period, the photographer, MAVEN and The Neu Neu will select the winner from among the weekly submissions using the following judging criteria: Photo demonstrates a fun, humorous, inspirational, safe and otherwise creatively evocative photo or video.