Festive Cocktail Recipes for Entertaining

Out of office on. Four favourite words this time of year right? I am usually so organised with gifts and my wrapping, but this year it’s been a little different! I left it until the weekend before. I’ve been getting my head stuck into work, decking out my apartment before Christmas, and obviously filling my fridge before the Christmas festivities start. After all, I will be heading back to the Australian sun in January so it’s the perfect time to get friends and family over to enjoy some much needed quality time for my favourite time of the year.

I feel most peoples head are a pickle in December, and by pickle I mean rushing around not planning the small details as you hoped. So this is where I step in. After all, Tis the season to be jolly, so I’ve listed my four favourite cocktails below for the holiday season. Thank you Samsung for always making hosting so much easier. 

Winter Sidecar 

Ingredients: 

50ml Grand Marnier 

15ml Clementine Juice 

30ml Martini Bianco 

Ground Cinnamon 

Cinnamon Sticks for garnish

Method: Moisten the rim of a cocktail glass with clementine juice. Sprinkle cinnamon powder onto a small plate and dip the rim of the glass into the powder. Shake all remaining ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice and strain. 

Christmas Noel 

Ingredients: 

40ml Grand Marnier 

30ml Creme Brûlée Liquor (I picked up mine from Marks and Spencer) 

30ml almond milk 

15ml double cream 

1 tsp peeled pistachios

Method: Shake all ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice, and strain over a stemmed cocktail glass. Grate pistachios as a garnish. 

Kir Royale 

Ingredients: 

1 tbsp Creme De Cassis 

Champagne 

2 Fresh blackberries

Method: Pour the Creme De Cassis into a champagne flute. Top with chilled Champagne and garnish with the blackberries.

Cranberry Spice Mocktail 

Ingredients: 

50ml sparkling water 

50ml cranberry juice 

4 dashes of bitters 

75ml apple cider 

10 cranberries 

orange wedge

Method: Muddle cranberries and orange wedge in the cranberry juice, and then pour the rest of the ingredients and stir with a spoon. Garnish with cranberries and orange peel and serve on ice. 

So get your fridge stocked, the festive playlist on, and your finest threads on to entertain at home. There is no better way to commemorate Christmas time than through some family photography. Gather up your beautiful family and clink glasses in front of the camera. Have a wonderful Christmas and New year! 

Photography and Creative Direction by yours truly 

Collaboration in partnership with Samsung Home Appliances

Relocating: Four Months On

After seeing the response from my post in April about moving back to the UK, it only felt right to update you on how things have been going so far. I left my full-time social media job in Sydney to put all my energy into Style Structure. I’m settled in my new apartment, styling and designing my space exactly how I want it. I signed the lease on my place for the high ceilings and natural light - both important when you work in the creative industry. Working from home has it’s highs and lows (I miss being the office chatterbox!) but one thing I have really gotten back into is cooking more. I live in the centre of Cardiff, and it’s all too easy to fall off the bandwagon eating out and opting for the quick and unhealthy option. If I’m not travelling or photographing, I spend the rest of my time in my office, my home. So chef Helen needed to up her game going from office lunches in Sydney to healthy quick and easy solutions back in Cardiff!

I have literally gone from a fridge shelf in a shared house in Sydney, to a nice big Samsung fridge Freezer here! It’s surprising how living alone and working in the same space fills the fridge more than I could imagine. I tend to do my weekly food shop with my mum, but get fresh produce in every few days. Go to meals include Spaghetti Bolognese and homemade Chilli Con Carne because these dishes last a bit longer and can be frozen. Also great if I have a last minute meeting in London I need to attend. Fresh salads like spinach with poached chicken is usually what I am preparing for lunches, but I also love putting together a super quick charcuterie board with olives, cous cous and peppers. I’m getting back into green smoothies, and trying to include more protein into my breakfasts to stay focused (eggs and fish). After all, food is the fuel to creativity so it’s important to take breaks throughout the day.

The one thing I tried to practice the moment I stepped off that plane is stick to a ROUTINE. I’m still without a coffee machine, so try and make an effort to go for a walk to get one each day. It also gives your mind the mentality you are ‘on your way to work’. I am making an effort to cook three meals a day, attending gym classes in the evenings and trying my hardest adhering to a 9-5 schedule. The latter is always difficult as social media doesn’t sleep, but I have found doing these 3 things help a lot. 

I can’t wait to share more about my move back to the UK, and photograph creative projects at home. I know it will be happening a lot more come winter! 

This post was brought to you in partnership with Samsung Home Appliances. 

Photography and creative direction by yours truly.