From time to time, I'll be doing a blog feature called "Best of Nigella".  They say to write what you know, and I know Nigella's recipes; over the past decade, I've cooked so much from her books that I've built up a repertoire of personal favourites from her oeuvre.  Let's start with a drink - because hey, we're on summer vacation!  

Meet  the "Fresh Green Gimlet" from Forever Summer.  Nigella writes: "This takes inspiration in part from a mojito ... and in part from a gimlet.  ... And frankly, this child outstrips either of its parents".  My note in the cookbook simply reads "the best drink ever".       

1 tbsp sugar
juice of 1 lime (approx 2 tbsp)
small handful mint leaves
3 tbsp (50 mL) vodka
5-6 ice cubes
splash or two of sparkling mineral water

Mix sugar and lime juice in a glass; stir to dissolve the sugar.  Add mint leaves and muddle.  Add vodka and ice, stir, and top up with sparkling water to taste.

Cheers!

Earlier in the summer, I found that elusive and coveted thing that is the perfect Anthropologie sale item.  I picked up this skirt for $30, knowing that it would immediately go into high rotation in the wardrobe.  As someone who has always struggled with what to wear in warmer months, I've finally nailed down summer dressing: comfortable flats, a lightweight skirt, bare legs, a colourful patterned handbag, and a comfortable sleeveless or short-sleeve top.  This is not exactly a hard code to crack, yet it took me until 2012 to get there.

This skirt has a pleated lace overlay (4 pleats in the front and  4 in the back), a white slip underneath, an elasticized waistband, and pockets.  It seemed like an easy enough style to replicate.

Here's my first attempt (why am I striking an embarrasing pose?  I don't know).  There's a contrasting trim at the bottom, and it's just one layer of pleated fabric.  No pockets, and no curvature to the front and back pieces (they started out life as large rectangular pieces).  I'm not entirely satisfied with how my elastic waistband turned out (and those two words sound so bad, even though I do think there can be a time and a place for elasticized waistbands on skirts).  And because I used quilting cotton, it's slightly heavier and bulkier and means that I will be committed to ironing this skirt with a frequency that does not normally apply to me and skirts and my iron.  I may do a tutorial next time; it really is an easy skirt to make and shouldn't take 3 weeks (yet somehow I managed to stretch out the sewing on this one; I am nothing if not slow). 

What's up next?  Perhaps it's time to get back on the sewing-with-knits train..  (And get over my fear of necklines on knits.  Here is a very cute way to go about finishing a neckline.)