Refreshing Summer Drink: Blood Orange and Thyme Champagne Gin Cocktail

I'm in dire need of a mid-week pick-me-up. You know, the alcoholic kind. Case of the Mondays? Ummm....how about, case of the Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays? Yeah....getting back in the "real world" swing of things isn't the easiest life chore. Especially when "working" from home became quite cozy over the last few months. With a small work load of freelance article writing and social media posting, I had it good. Like real good. I never woke up before 8, made killer breakfasts every morning, worked out whenever I wanted, and went on errands whenever I needed too. Oh, life was grand alright.

I'll admit, it got a little boring. An independent gal who gets stir crazy with too much free time, I needed that over-hyped full-time gig. So with much searching for the job that'd make sacrificing that lackadaisical lifestyle worthwhile, I landed a position at Glamour magazine where I began work a few weeks ago. And now, I'm here to tell you, the damn grass is always greener...

Back to that mood changer. The cure-all cocktail. A refreshing way to put a smile on my face. I think sometimes my fiancé hopes I'll have a glass of wine or libation to cure my post work mood. I think this week, he'll be around a happier Leslie, even if it means adding a few hundred calories to my day.

The cocktail that I'm currently craving? Well, it's one that I made just a couple of weeks ago for the first time. To my luck, I have every ingredient in my possession to make it again. So I think I'll do just that tonight.

It's fruity without being generic and sugary. It's tangy but won't leave you making that cringe face after too much tang. It's got an earthy component but doesn't take like grass. And it's the perfect amount of bubbly from a splash of champagne. It's my Blood Orange and Thyme Champagne Gin Cocktail. Yeah, I tell it like it is. Pretty much every ingredient listed right there, in the very name of the drink. Because that's what all the cool culinary kids are doing these days...

Blood Orange and Thyme Champagne Gin Cocktail

Ingredients:

1 cup blood orange juice- takes 3-4 blood oranges (Use grapefruit if you can't find blood oranges)

1/2 cup sugar

1/2 cup water

4 sprigs Thyme (plus 2 more for garnish)

4 ounces gin

2 ounces champagne

Ice (optional)

Directions:

1) Make the simple syrup in advance. In a small pot, combine water and sugar and bring to light boil. Stir until all of the sugar is dissolved. Take pot off the burner and add the thyme sprigs. Let steep for 5-10 minutes. Then, transfer the simple syrup to a bowl and place in the fridge to cool for at least 30 minutes.

2) Using a strainer to catch the seeds and pulp, squeeze the juice from blood oranges into a bowl. Reserve 1/2 blood orange to slice for garnish.

3) Using a bar shaker or small pitcher, combine the blood orange juice and gin. Add only 1/4 cup Thyme simple syrup. Reserve the rest for later use. Mix well. Shake with ice if you want a martini or without ice if you want a rocks cocktail like I made.

4) Pour half the mixture into each martini or rocks glass. Top off each glass with 1 ounce champagne. Add blood orange slices and Thyme sprigs for garnish.

5) ENJOY!

***Makes 2 cocktails