{happy hour}

Aren’t you excited?! Happy Hour is back. Finally. And I have a really amazing blogger, one of my favorite food bloggers, for you all to meet today.

blog :: the boot

age :: 26

location :: barletta, italy and boston, massachusetts

I made nectarine basil sangria recently on the blog and I’m officially obsessed! I’m a lover of crisp, refreshing cocktails, so this was right up my alley. The basil gave off a summery aroma towards the end of the sip and the rum-soaked nectarines were the perfect complement to the less sweet, bubbly prosecco! Drink this at sunset with a few people you love and you’ll be in heaven.

Nectarine Basil Sangria

1 bottle prosecco
2 nectarines
2 shots white rum
1 1/2 cups peach nectar
big handful fresh basil leaves

Quarter the nectarines, slice them and put them in a pitcher. Add the rum, peach nectar and basil and let sit in the fridge preferably overnight, but a few hours works as well. (The longer the better.) When you’re ready to serve, pour in the bottle of prosecco. Serve in a glass with ice, another little basil leaf and a few of the marinated nectarines. 

To be completely honest, I’d love to be home. I’m going in a week and can’t wait - ten months away seemed like a lifetime! I’m a bit spoiled living in Italy and getting to experience amazing beaches, ancient cathedrals, gorgeous architecture and drool-worthy food year-round, but there’s no place like home, people!

A perfect weekend for me would contain: a seasonal, homemade meal, preferably enjoyed outdoors with my friends, family and fiancè Manu, great music, a fire, and lots of laughter.

The food blogs Spoon Fork Bacon, Turntable Kitchen and Vanilla Bean Blog are my favorites right now.

Thank you Marissa! Make sure you go check out the Boot! You can also find Marissa on Twitter and Facebook.