Green with Envy

Happy Monday! I'm starting the week off with a bang and getting rid of those Monday Blues, pronto! Did you see last night's episode of Game of Thrones? If not, it's cool. I'm not going to give away any spoilers but I am going to talk about one of my favorite characters on the show, however, and how she came to be the inspiration behind this drink!

When I think of dragons, and more so, the Mother of Dragons, the first color that comes to mind is green. You'd think I'd go with a red, an orange; anything fiery. Passionate. But there's something cold and earthy about Khaleesi. She is a force to be reckoned with. AND she makes mistakes, regardless of what and who she's made up of. That's real, and the color green, to me, has a tranquil feeling but at the same time, there's something powerful within the palette of green. And that she is. Tell me a woman who watches GoT that you know of who isn't a little envious of her life. She's got pet dragons, for Pete's sake!

Cocktail recipe + photos by © Suzanne Spiegoski

Green with Envy

Ingredients:

2 oz cucumber, roughly chopped
A sprig of basil
1.5 oz Korean Soju
.5 oz lemon juice
.5 oz Limoncello
Sprite or club soda
Extra cucumber for garnish

Directions:

In a juicer, press cucumber and basil.
Shake ingredients together (EXCEPT carbonated drinks) with ice and strain into a chilled martini glass.
Garnish with cucumber rose and top with limoncello and Sprite/club soda.

Mostly consisted of cucumber, then basil, lemon, Korean soju and a mixture of carbonated drinks, the Green with Envy cocktail is subtly sweet and refreshingly cool. Perfect for warmer weather. Have you heard of Secret Squirrel Food? She is an amazing food blogger based in Dubai who's been trendsetting the 'avocado rose' while also playing up on different fruits and vegetables incorporating the same style of plating like with the avocado. When I made my first avocado rose, it was so beautiful, that I didn't want to eat it! So as a final touch to my cucumber garnish, I recreated a miniature version of a cucumber rose Secret Squirrel Food did on her blog. At first, I thought it'd look super cute, like a water lily pad, within the drink, but then I figured it would be too big and in the way.

Which is why it's teeny-tiny and in my opinion, a nice modest touch to the cocktail. Especially when in a martini glass, the garnish should remain sleek and sophisticated just like the glass. What's your favorite drink in a martini glass? A classic martini? Gin or vodka? Maybe a Vesper like James Bond? I'd love to hear your favorites! Leave your comments down below. Thanks for reading! As always, you can download the recipe from the click-on button. And you can also find me on Yummly and foodgawker.

LOVE & XX'S

FOLLOW MAQ + SUZ

Like Mother, Like Daughter

WEARING: H&M OFF-THE-SHOULDER DRESS |
DKNY DENIM JACKET | GG BOSS OLIVE GREEN FRINGE HANDBAG | 
VIA SPIGA KAMALA ANKLE BOOTS | KENDRA SCOTT CARLA EARRINGS 

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What I would give to spend Mother's Day with my Ma. But I refuse to be sad because my mother would not want me to be this way. She made it clear to live life fully and to make time to enjoy it. Life is endured with its ebbs and flows but also remember that it's short. It goes fast. So, for this week's look, I'm dedicating it to my Ma, Sun-Hui, a.k.a. Sunny.

My outfit I styled (including hair and makeup), is in reflection toward what I'd actually wear this coming Sunday. If I could be with her, we'd definitely start Mother's Day with brunch! New York City style! And this casual chic look is not only something I'd be wearing, but it is also a twist on her style, which was fresh, light, and always feminine. But she was also cheeky. I remember her having a tank top with the words, 'slippery when wet' on the front. I admired her fashion sense and even when I was little, she'd dress me up in girly outfits and hair do's. But that all changed around the age of 6-7, when I started to develop my own individuality. I didn't want her to pick out my outfits anymore because I felt they were no longer my style! I knew it'd hurt her feelings, and when I had told her she did take it badly. I just wasn't a girly-girl and dresses were not really my thing. My favorite piece of clothing as a kid? Colored sweatpants! 😝

Fast forward some decades later and yes, now I like dresses (from time to time). No, I still don't prefer sweatpants, though pajamas are a close runner up especially when working from home. Ha, ha! I'm definitely a t-shirt and jeans kind of gal. Add in some sneakers and I'm good to go. But, lately, I, myself, have been feeling more feminine. Like a flower, in the process of blooming. I can't wait to share with you a brand new story in the next coming days! It has a lot to do with flowers and I've got the perfect gift idea for Mother's Day! A definite must-do if I were to spend Sunday with my Ma. Stay tuned.

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photos + videography by Gilles Decamps | director, editing, styling, hair + makeup by Suzanne Spiegoski

Mother's Day is this Sunday! My fourth 'Suz's Look' video is a play-up on what'd I'd be wearing if my Ma was still here and if I was lucky enough to spend the day with her. A twist on her style, if you will.

To shop the look, please continue below.

Music:

+ARTIST: Flume

+SONG: Never Be Like You Ft. Kai

LOVE & XX'S

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Fried Green Tomatoes

Happy Friday, everyone! I'm so delighted to finally share a recipe it took nearly 20 years in the making! Ever since I was a little girl and saw, 'Fried Green Tomatoes', the movie (the book is entirely something else!), I've been obsessed with the idea of trying to make them. I've tried several variations of this Southern comfort food dish, but never in a Korean-fusion way! So, of course, I had to create my own version!

The first secret to the perfect fried green tomato? Bacon drippings. You know all the grease you get after cooking bacon in the pan/oven? Save that for this recipe! I'm serious! You can even freeze it in the freezer should you want to use it in the distant future. I put mine in a Mason jar and it's seriously what gives the tomatoes it's ultimate flavor. Second? Cornmeal. And yellow. It gives a better color than white cornmeal, in my opinion.

Photos + recipe by © Suzanne Spiegoski

Fried Green Tomatoes

Serves 2-4

Ingredients:

1 medium green tomatoes (per person)

Batter:
3/4 c all-purpose flour
1/4 c yellow cornmeal
3/4 c buttermilk
salt & pepper
enough bacon drippings to fill 2" deep in a skillet /pan

Sauce:
2 TB coconut oil
1/4 c all-purpose flour
1 1/2 c milk
1/2 c buttermilk
1 TB ranch dressing
salt & pepper

Directions:
Slice tomatoes about 1/4 inch thick, season with salt and pepper and set aside. Combine batter then coat tomatoes on both sides. In a large skillet, heat enough bacon drippings to coat the bottom of the pan and fry tomatoes until lightly browned on both sides. (2-3 min per side) If oil sizzles or pops before you put the tomatoes in, it's too hot! Transfer to a colander or wire cooling rack to drain. To keep the tomatoes from getting soggy before they're served, the best way is to stand them up like wheels in a serving dish instead of stacking them. To make the sauce, add coconut oil in a saucepan until melted over medium heat. Whisk in flour, then milk & buttermilk until mixture is thickened and bubbly. Garnish with fresh dill, cucumber carrot kimchi & red pepper flakes. Serve immediately and enjoy! (You'll think you died and gone to heaven!)

They came out crisp and golden, a wonderful juxtaposition to the tart and juicy tomato. Added components to the dish were fresh dill, cucumber carrot kimchi, and red pepper flakes. I chose these ingredients because I felt it overall completed the entire dish. The combination of flavors was explosive to my palette! You got the acidity from the tomato (By the way, do you consider it to be a vegetable or a fruit?), the slight smoky bacon flavor, the refreshing balance from the dill, and the spiciness from the kimchi and flakes.

Lastly, the buttermilk sauce is creamy and tangy. The final finishing touch. I've been working on my style and plating, what do y'all think? How do you make fried green tomatoes? Perhaps next time, you'll give this recipe a try? It's great as an appetizer or for lunch. Or if you're just very, very, hungry. 😉 Until next time, feel free to comment down below and subscribe (to the right, in the side bar). Have a nice weekend!

LOVE & XX'S,

FOLLOW MAQ + SUZ

Soju Purple Rain

I know my post from Saturday was a Prince tribute through an outfit, and I really couldn't help but pay tribute again through a fancy schmancy cocktail! Hump Day calls for vibrantly, fresh drinks. And after last night's event at 80 Washington Place, a $31.5M townhouse I had the wonderful pleasure of attending Out of Office NY and Drink Lynk's influencer cocktail party! It was packed and it was poppin' (bottles).

And so, with inspiration from last evening's soiree, I leave you with Soju Purple Rain. The majority of this cocktail recipe is fresh fruit. Healthy, yummy and appealing, I used blackberries, blueberries, and pineapple. 2/3rd's of berries and the rest pineapple. But instead of the classic Purple Rain cocktail, I opted for Korean soju, as this is mostly the only liquor, besides scotch, that I have been experimenting with lately. 

I had to use vintage Playboy stirrers for the occasion. I think of Prince, the ultimate sex symbol, and what came to mind next? Bunnies, lots of Playboy bunnies. Ha ha ha! And how cute is it with some garnished fruit? Very sexy, fun, and cool. Just the way Prince would've liked it. 

Cocktail recipe + photos by © Suzanne Spiegoski

Soju Purple Rain

Serves 2

Ingredients:

4 oz Korean Soju
3 oz blueberry juice
3 oz blackberry juice
2 oz pineapple juice
1 squeeze of fresh lemon
2 Stirrers
Blackberry, pineapple and fresh mint to garnish.

Directions:
Shake all together with ice and strain into a chilled glass with ice.
Place a piece of pineapple and blackberry onto stirrers. Fresh mint to garnish.
Enjoy immediately!

I also added a squeeze of lemon to bring all the fruits together and to keep the color brightly alive. Can't forget the mint for extra garnish! I think it brings all the colors together nicely and makes for the perfect spring drink! I always like coming up with a healthier kind of cocktail, that way it's not as bad when I decide to have one (should that ever be more than a little prosecco or Korean vodka, because that's basically all I drink, and it's maybe only once a month.) 😉

LOVE & XX'S

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Just A Rolling Stone

WEARING: MOTO RIPPED OVERSIZED JACKET | MOTO RIPPED MOM SHORTS | 
ROLLING STONES TANK | BASIC MEDALLION BANDANA | 
CONVERSE - CHUCK TAYLOR ALL STAR SHOES IN CREAM

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Happy Weekend, everyone! I'm happy to finally share my most recent editorial shoot! And it's pure ROCK N ROLL! I don't know about y'all, but when I heard the news of Prince's passing, I cried like a little baby. A prolific, musical genius, his lyrics, and tunes were always something that made me want to sing, dance, f*ck, party, and just live in the moment. He was one of the first artists who showed me that it was completely effin' AWESOME to do you; to lead not follow. To not conform like most. That it was okay to really believe in yourself, even if it made you look like an egotistical diva at times.

I could have paid tribute by decking myself out in purple like everyone else. But instead, I figured I'd try and embody a feeling, a mood, a tone to what Prince always brought me. And even though he brought so many variated genres into his music, such as funk, r&b, pop... to me he will forever be rock n roll. Forever Young. So when you think of rock n roll, what comes to mind?

How can you not think of the Rolling Stones? And yeah, I do feel the Stones were an influence in Prince's music too. It all comes full circle. And rock n rollers, such as myself, are young at heart and I clearly wanted to incorporate this into my style. The perfect part was finding the Rolling Stones tank top at Topshop. You can find each piece from this look at the end of this post and instantly shop for it! And of course, feel free to check out our new style video for this look on YouTube, or below. Please subscribe to our YouTube Channel to stay up to date on all of MaQ and I's adventures! Until next time, let loose you deserve it! 

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photos + videography by Gilles Decamps | director, editing, styling, hair + makeup by Suzanne Spiegoski

Third 'Suz's Look' video, and it's pure ROCK N ROLL!

photos + videography by Gilles Decamps | director, editing, styling, hair + makeup by Suzanne Spiegoski

To shop the look, please continue below.

LOVE & XX'S, MaQ + Suz

Music: +ARTIST: The Rolling Stones +SONG: Sympathy For The Devil

LOVE & XX'S,

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