The Lush Chef

As you're reading this, the Lush Chef is currently galavanting across Italy with her family and picking up all sorts of inspirations for tasty dishes and cocktails to share with all of you.  In preparation for that trip, I did a lot of cooking and cocktail shaking, so all of you wouldn't go through any kind of Lush Chef withdrawal.  This Italian Greyhound with Rosemary Sugar from the Family Style Food blog was the perfect libation to get me in the mood.  Yes, I've been doing a lot of gin cocktails lately, so bear with me.  I had a bunch of leftover grapefruit juice from making these Grapefruit Sparklers and used some of the fresh rosemary growing in my little herb pots outside.  I went and bought a bottle of Aperol, an Italian amaro, as I had a feeling I'd be craving Aperol Spritzs upon my return.  This cocktail is incredibly refreshing for the spring and summer, and it looks so pretty with the rosemary sugar.  It's perfect to serve at brunches or at daytime parties.  The combination reminds me of this Campari and Grapefruit Cocktail that I like to make, but a lot less bitter.  Saluté!

Italian Greyhound
Ingredients:

• 1 Tbs fresh chopped rosemary
• 2 Tbs sugar
• Grapefruit wedge
• 2 oz gin (I used No. 3 London Dry Gin)
• 4 oz freshly squeezed pink grapefruit juice
• 2 splashes of Aperol
• Rosemary sprig for garnish

- On a small plate or ramekin, combine the chopped rosemary and sugar.
- Run a wedge of grapefruit around the rim of a glass.
- Dip the rim of the glass into the rosemary sugar.
- In a shaker filled with ice, add the gin, grapefruit juice and a splash or two of Aperol.
- Shake and pour into your prepared glass.
- Garnish with a sprig of rosemary.