TASTY BITES // The Sophisticated Sno Cone

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Hey guys. Lindsay and John from Bird and Cleaver here. We have said before that we are really thrilled to be a part of M.K, right? Well, we really and truly are. This little site never ceases to amaze us with fantastic little snippets of things we had all but forgotten. Kind of funny how one picture can bring back a whole flood of memories. So, as kind of an homage to this idea, we whipped up a simple little recipe born from some of our favorite summers of the past.

Who doesn’t like a shave ice? Back then we called it a sno cone. Or was it a slushie….or slurpee? Well, whatever you call it, I am sure we all have at least one good memory about this sweet, icy little life saver. Whether it was a quick trip to 7-11, a post beach dessert, or something you only did with your “cool uncle”. If you were really lucky, you may have been blessed with a machine to create them at home. One awesome summer, my brother and I actually acquired the Snoopy Sno Cone Machine and proceeded to plow through our entire stockpile of Kool-Aid, trying to create the perfect sno cone flavor. Pretty sure we just ended up making a mess! Every once in a while, our mom would break down and buy us a bottle of  sno cone syrup to share. Mmmmmmm, artificial sugar syrup. Of course, we loved it! We were hot…it was cold. We were kids in the 80’s…it was neon. Match made in heaven!

These days, we still love a good shave ice. There is a little stand right around the corner where we are certainly not strangers. However, this is not the 80’s, and we cannot deny that anything made almost entirely of colors not found in nature should not really be ingested on a regular basis. So, as with most things in the Cheesebrew house, we err on the side of moderation. We used a few non-radioactive ingredients, and made our own syrup. And I have to say, I think we are onto something. Also, being at home means you can turn these into a slightly more adult treat. And that’s pretty great too! So here’s to summer memories, and to staying cool! Cheers!

boozy blackberry + lime sno cone {shave ice}

makes enough for 4 servings

( 1 cup each)

for the syrup :

  • 1 cup fresh blackberries
  • 1/4 cup sugar
  • 1/4 cup water
  • 1/4 cup lime juice
  • pinch of salt

additional ingredients:

  • vodka
  • blackberries for garnish
  • mint for garnish

special equipment:

  • shave ice maker (you can get an electric Shave Ice Machine for around $28….not too bad!)

Combine blackberries, sugar, water, lime juice and pinch of salt in small saucepan.  Cook over medium heat for about 5 minutes, or until mixture has cooked down into a syrup. Remove from heat and strain through a fine mesh sieve.  Allow to cool to room temperature.

Meanwhile shave your ice.  Place in bowls.

Combine syrup and vodka.  We used a 2 part syrup to 1 part vodka ratio, but feel free to adjust according to your personal taste preference.  Or of course you can leave the vodka out entirely for a more kid friendly treat!

Pour over shaved ice and garnish with a fresh blackberry and mint sprig.  Enjoy!

We’ll see you next week….


Want more Tasty Bites? Go here. If you are on Instagram, be sure to follow @birdandclever for more stunning photos.

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Retro Round Up :: Beach Time!

I don’t know about you, but with the sun shining like this, all I want to do is pack everything up and head for the beach! So, I’ve taken that as my inspiration for today’s Retro Round Up.  All things beach/pool/nautical inspired. ENJOY!

Even if you can’t enjoy the pool, I hope you can at least indulge your Barbie with this sweet vintage 1973 pool that can actually hold water so Babs can take a proper dip! From Etsy seller, Saturday Morning Matinee.

What is a trip to the beach without a sand bucket? Nothing!  And fortunately, there are quite a few darling vintage ones that add a nice bit of charm to any sand castle building fun.  I love the nursery rhymes around the edge of this one! From Etsy seller, Miss Chore Girl.

Look no further than here for the perfect beach robe. So cozy and made of absorbent terry cloth.  Plus the little duck print is too cute for words! From Etsy seller, Cindy’s Cozy Clutter.

OK, I’m going bananas over this little beach outfit for a 2-3 year old. Matching bloomers aren’t shown, but it is on sale and I’m sure it will go fast! From Etsy seller, Lulu’s Frou Frou.

These little plaid swim trunks are a great find! $20 each and in outstanding condition too. YEAH! From Etsy shop, Antiquesingmar.

This little hand-smocked sun hat is so darling for either a boy or a girl! From Etsy seller, InzeOdelia.

Miss Lish always has the cutest stuff! And this little bowtastic swimsuit is too cute not to share!  Especially thanks to the sweet modeling job by Miss Tova. LOVE!

Why not settle down at the beach with a good read, like this one? Oh, those Bobbsey twins! From Etsy seller, Greta’s Girl Den.

Or, you could just make your own with this wonderful pattern! I’d buy it just for the hat pattern!  Imagine a full matching outfit of amazingness! Yes, please! From Etsy seller,

This little sailor sun suit is a little cup of heaven if you ask me!  Sooo darling! From the gloriously named Etsy seller, Disco Divas.

Happy Monday!

Little Duck Organics // Healthy Noms

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Little Duck Organics snacks are made from 100% freeze-dried fruit, in small bite sized pieces—making them perfect for teeny hands to hold.  Created by an enterprising papa who wanted to give his kiddos something healthy and delicious to snack on, Tiny Fruits are organic, zero sugar added, gluten-free, non-GMO verified, kosher, sourced locally when possible and delivered by unicorns on a rainbow! OK, so maybe not that last part. But they ARE pretty unbelievable. They can be enjoyed by children as young as 6 months, but honestly I like ’em too! They come in yummy flavor combinations like Apple & Banana, Blueberry & Apple and Strawberry & Mango. The company itself is adorable with a fun sense of humor, just look at the package everything arrive in!

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Back in April, Little Duck Organics also launched Mighty Oats, a certified organic instant cereal for little ones that comes in first-of-its-kind plantable and compostable packaging. Yes friends, you can PLANT THE BOX! The biodegradable cardboard packaging is embedded with veggie seeds. Super duper fun—and a perfect summertime activity! You can order Little Duck yummies from Amazon here or pop by Whole Foods. They also list retailers on the Little Duck site. If you give ’em a try, let me know what you think!

This is NOT a sponsored post, although Little Duck did provide me with samples of their product to try out. I just thought it was adorable and tasty and wanted to share….

Retro Flashback // Tasty Vintage Recipe Cards

A while back at the thrift store I spied a yellow box. I thought it looked like a good lil storage container and when I went to pick it up, it weighed about 20 pounds. What the? I opened it up and saw that it was filled with vintage Betty Crocker recipe cards. OHMUGERD.

There are SO many crazy cards in here, I wasn’t sure which to share with you. I mean, so I go with “Salads for Every Occasion”? “Men’s Favorites”?? The intriging “Come for Coffee” ??? But I had to go with “Recipes Children Can Make” and “Children’s Parties” because they were just OH-SO festive! I really don’t think I need to explain, now, do I?? Take a gander at THIS:

And now let’s BRING ON THE PARTIES!

Oh who doesn’t love a balloon???

Oh woe to the poor kiddo who gets a “PATRIOTIC BIRTHDAY” with little George Washington LOG CAKES…..I love these wacky cards so much! Do you have a favorite??

Recently I went to a Midcentury BBQ where we all made dishes from cookbooks and recipe cards just like this. It was amazing! I’ll be sharing that next week….have you ever made anything from an old cook book?? Everything looked adorable/scary/fun/fabulous, but shockingly some things actually TASTED REALLY GREAT!

widdle wednesdays // letter lovin’

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Hello friends, it’s Ashley here. Today’s picks are inspired by the graphic cool of  Charly Harper & the crisp lines of letter forms. These would make a fantastic (and educational!) addition to any little kiddo’s room. Check it out!

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Shop it over here:  one + two + three + four + five + six + seven // Scott Weiland image

Thanks everyone… see you next week!

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For more of Ashley’s life with her sweet family, visit her over here!