GOLDEN BUBBLES

Vast and unrelenting.

Expansive and barren.

A dangerous and unforgiving beauty.

The desert calls my name.

Again, and again.

I was 23. He was 32. And despite our nine year age gap we had a few things in common. Really though, just a few. When I met Chris in Denver in 2006 I kinda new right from the beginning that he was going to be my husband. We were both originally from New York. Lost in our own free-spirited worlds, feeling deeply.

And, we both loved the desert.

I’ve traveled through the desert a lot. Each trip is equally memorable but a few have been life-changing. And I don’t use this term, loosely. The first was our trek through Joshua Tree. And then our last, through the Sonoran Desert. An unearthly slice of heaven in the southern corner of Arizona. The land of the saguaro. The tall, gentle, ancient, wise one.

If you love the desert, travel there.

If you’ve never been to the desert, start there.

But either way definitely make this champagne cocktail. Like the desert, it’s bright and earthy. It starts with a simple simmer of turmeric, ginger, cinnamon and black pepper. Lightly sweetened with maple syrup {or honey}. And then topped off with bubbles. The mellow, golden elixir grounds the airy, tart effervescence. It’s a glass of sunshine. A wonderful winter pick-me-up and holiday imbibe.

Also, there are airplanes in this desert. Giant, unoccupied, shells of past lives. If your partner in life eats/sleeps/breathes airplanes, then you probably already have this destination on your short list. Take water. Take snacks. Wear sunscreen. Enjoy.

It often occurs that pride and selfishness are muddled with strength and independence.
They are neither equal nor similar.
In fact, they are polar opposites.
A coward may be so cowardly that they mask their weakness with false personification of power.
They are afraid to love and to be loved.
Because love strips bare all emotional barricades.
Without love, strength and independence are prone to losing every bit of their worth.
They become fearful, and intimidated.
An empty tent lost somewhere in the desert of one’s self.

– Criss Jami

Yield: 1 1/2 cups golden concentrate + 12 cocktails

Golden Bubbles

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Golden bubbles is a turmeric, ginger, cinnamon, black pepper spiced, maple sweetened champagne cocktail.

Prep Time 5 minutes

Cook Time 25 minutes

Total Time 30 minutes

Ingredients

Concentrate Ingredients

• 2 cups filtered water
• 1/2 cup fresh turmeric, sliced thin
• 1/2 cup fresh ginger, sliced thin
• 4 sticks cinnamon
• 1 tablespoon black peppercorns
• 1/4 cup maple syrup (see notes)

Cocktail Ingredients

• champagne or prosecco
• cinnamon sticks (to garnish)

Instructions

1. Combine the water, turmeric, ginger, cinnamon sticks and black peppercorns in a small sauce pot over medium heat. Bring to a gentle simmer, reduce the heat to low and cook for 25 minutes.
2. Remove from the heat and cool. Stir in the maple syrup.
3. Pour 1 ounce concentrate into the bottom of a glass or champagne flute. Top with 5 ounces of champagne. Garnish with a cinnamon stick.
4. Enjoy responsibly.

Notes

If you'd like the concentrate to be sweeter, add up to 1/2 cup maple syrup.