FRIDAY COCKTAIL - CANDY CANE!

Hope everyone had a marvelous Thanksgiving. I certainly did! Now begins all of our Christmas Holiday cocktails...yum! This makes a great pre-dinner cocktail or a perfect after dinner sweet!

3/4 oz berry flavored vodka

3/4 oz peppermint schnapps

3/4 oz white creme de cacao

1/4 oz grenadine

half & half

soda water

candy cane for garnish

In a shaker with ice, combine vodka, schnapps, white creme de cacao and grenadine. You can either crush the candy cane and rim a martini glass with it or hang the cane on the side of the glass as a garnish. Pour the vodka mix into the martini glass, fill with cream and add a splash of soda water.

WELCOME DECEMBER!

ENJOY!

FRIDAY COCKTAIL - AUTUMN EVE MARTINI!

This one may just knock your socks off!!!! Wonderful combination of flavors. A perfect start to your Thanksgiving Day festivities.

Ingredients:

1/2 oz Amaretto

1/2 oz Raspberry liqueur

1/4 oz sour mix

1/2 oz Southern Comfort

1 oz Raspberry Vodka

garnish with a cherry or raspberry

Mix all ingredients in a shaker with ice and strain into a chilled martini glass and garnish with a cherry or raspberry.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO ALL!

ENJOY!

FRIDAY COCKTAIL - PUMPKIN CARVER!

As we all plan our pumpkin carving parties..keep this delicious cocktail in mind. It calls for pumpkin butter and if you have never tried it you are REALLY missing something...it is marvelous. You can also use it in baking cookies, pie and tons of Halloween treats.

1-1/2 parts good orange flavored vodka
3/4 parts maple syrup
1/2 part ginger liqueur
1 tsp pumpkin butter
1 part fresh lemon juice
garnish with apple chips

In a cocktail shaker with ice combine all ingredients. Shake vigorously so citrus is incorporated. Pour into a martini glass and garnish with apple chips.

HAPPY CARVING!
ENJOY!

FRIDAY COCKTAIL - JUICY FRUIT SHOT

I know I know......there are a few too many wonderful cocktails in this photo....lol....but IT'S FRIDAY!!!...



Our bartender friend made us one of these last week and it tastes EXACTLY like Juicy Fruit gum



1 part Three Olive Bubble Gum vodka

1 part Banana liquor

splash of ginger ale



Try this!

ENJOY!

FRIDAY COCKTAIL - 3 SHOT FRIDAY!

I have noticed a new trend in the bar scene lately..that in itself is scary...remember the peanut butter and jelly shot? Bartenders on their slow moments tend to look at "the inventory" and start mixing concoctions in shot glasses to try to come up with the flavors we all remember. So at one of our recent visits to a local joint...we got an Oatmeal Cookie shot, Green Tea shot and the best of all Key Lime Pie shot....here goes..pretty much the ingredients are equal amounts of each liquor unless listed, but adjust to your taste....

Oatmeal Cookie

1 oz Butter schnapps

1 oz Hot Dam cinnamon schnapps

1 oz Baileys

* tastes jut like an oatmeal cookie----seriously!

Green Tea

1 oz Jameson Whisky

hint of sour apple pucker

1 oz gingerale

* a little heavy but Rachel you would love this

Key Lime Pie

1 oz Midori

1 oz Vanilla Vodka

1 oz Malibu Rum

hint of Rose's lime juice

squirt of whipped cream (YES)

*My Favorite...tastes just like the pie...could drink a whole glass of this...maybe I did????

3 SHOT FRIDAY!
ENJOY!

FRIDAY COCKTAIL - PATRIOTS ABSOLUT PEAR-fect SEASON!

FOOTBALL IS ON!!!! This cocktail complete with New England blueberries is for all the New England Patriot fans!!! Can't wait for the season to begin!

Ingredients:

2 parts Absolut Pear Vodka

1/4 part lemon juice

10 blueberries

1/2 tbl simple syrup

lemon lime soda

garnish with blueberries, raspberries and a mint sprig

Muddle the blueberries and simple syrup in a glass. Add the vodka and lemon juice. Shake and strain into a tall glass with ice. Top with lemon lime soda and garnish with blueberries, raspberries and mint.

GO PATS!

ENJOY!

FRIDAY COCKTAIL - THE SUNBATHER

This delicious delight is also called Key West Lemonade, made famous at Sloppy Joe's in Key West.....been there...have the T-shirt! Considered one of the sexiest beach cocktails!!!!

2 oz sour mix

2 oz cranberry juice

1-1/2 oz (or more in my book) Absolut Citron Vodka

splash of 7Up

Lemon slice and cheery

In a cocktail shaker with ice, combine sour mix, cranberry juice and vodka. Shake and pour into glass filled with ice. Splash with 7 up and garnish with a lemon slice and cherry.

GET SEXY!

ENJOY!

FRIDAY COCKTAIL - THE AMARETTO!

This is not your mother's Amaretto! This is a vodka drink...YES VODKA....Now you could just go out and buy Amaretto if you like, but this seems a lot more fun and I already have all the ingredients.

Ingredients:

1 cup water

1 cup sugar

1/2 cup brown sugar

2 cups vodka

2 tbl almond extract

2 tsp vanilla extract

Combine water and the sugars in a sauce pan. Bring to a boil and heat until all sugars dissolve. Remove from heat and let cool about 10 minutes. Add the remaining ingredients. Stir and pour over ice!!!!

THE OTHER AMARETTO!

ENJOY!

FRIDAY COCKTAIL - CUCUMBER MO-TINI

Cucumbers are not for salads anymore. They have taken to bar crawling. If you search the "Al Gore World Wide Web" you will find hundreds of cucumber based drinks. Many use cucumber infused vodkas or gins. Since spring is just around the corner...we hope...try this very refreshing delight! This recipe makes 6 cocktails or one by my standards...haha



Ingredients:



6 limes

1 cup packed mint leaves (no stems) and some for garnish

3 unwaxed cucumbers

1/2 cup sugar

2 cups vodka

splash of champagne



Thinly slice 3 limes and add to a pitcher. Juice the other three and add juice to the pitcher. Add mint leaves and sugar. Slice 2 cucumbers an add to the mix. Muddle these ingredients. Add vodka and steep in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes.

Cut the remaining cucumber in very thick slices. Fill a shaker with ice and add mixture. Shake and strain into martini glasses. Top with a splash of champagne. Garnish with cucumber wedges and mint.



THINK SPRING!

ENJOY!

FRIDAY COCKTAIL - SHAMROCK SMOOTHIE

This is a margarita-style drink using melon flavored vodka. SKYY has a melon flavored vodka as do many other brands...you choose. This is a great option for a fruitier drink at your St. Patrick's Day party.

Ingredients:

2 oz good melon flavored vodka
1/2 oz triple sec
splash of orange liqueur
juice of 2 limes

Option #1:
Pour ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake until frothy and strain into a martini glass and garnish with lime wedge.

Option #2:
Blend ingredients in a mixer with 3/4 cup ice and serve in a salt-rimmed margarita glass and garnish with a lime wedge.


HAPPY FRIDAY!
ENJOY!

VALENTINE FRIDAY COCKTAIL - BLUSHING LADY

The sugar rimmed glass - YUM...a mix of sour and tart in the cocktail..YUM...this one can easily make you reach the "one too many" mark and blush as pink as the drink.

1 oz PAMA Pomegranate Liqueur

2 oz good vodka

1 oz pink grapefruit juice

lemon wedge

coarse sugar

mint sprig

Rub the lemon on the rim of a martini glass. Dip the rim of the glass into a plate with the sugar and coat the whole rim. Set aside.

Pour liqueur, vodka and juice in a cocktail shaker with ice and shake. Strain into martini glass and garnish with mint sprig!

HAPPY VALENTINE WEEKEND!

ENJOY!

SUPER BOWL PACKERS COCKTAIL - PACKERS PUNCH!

Apparently according to the internet world - this is the Packer's Lucky Charm ..... whatever!!!!!..

Just show up and play the game and you will win!!!! I will say..it's Green and Tasty!!!

2 oz Midori Melon Liqueur

1 oz vodka

orange juice

orange slice for garnish

Combine midori and vodka in a shaker with ice and pour into a glass. Top with a splash of orange juice and garnish with an orange slice...

GO PACKERS...maybe!

ENJOY!

SUPER BOWL STEELERS COCKTAIL - STEEL HELMET

Okay...Okay..all you Packer fans..tomorrow it will be your cocktail turn! This is a little twist on a classic!!! A classic, by the way, that I ADORE! The White Russian!!!!!
The twist is a little drizzle of Galliano Liqueur as a topper....get it... topper...like helmet...okay forget that.....

1 oz good vodka
1 oz Kahlua
milk or cream
Galliano Liqueur

Combine the vodka, Kahlua and cream with ice and stir well. Then float the Galliano by pouring it over the back of a spoon into the glass.

GO STEELERS!
ENJOY!

WEDNESDAY SNOW DAY COCKTAIL - WEST VIRGINIA GROUNDHOG SHOT

It is Groundhog Day and it is a snow day for over half the country....so it MUST be COCKTAIL DAY......

Now I read in the paper that appropriate drinks for Groundhog Day (per the movie) include....Green Apple Martinis..cheers to you my friend Paul...and sweet vermouth on the rocks for diehard fans....but the most outrageous of all is the West Virginia Groundhog Shot

Ingredients:

1 oz vodka

1 oz gin

1 oz rum

1 oz Southern Comfort

1 oz sloe gin

1 oz amaretto

1 oz Yukon Jack Canadian Liqueur

1 oz triple sec

2 splashes each orange juice

2 splashes of cranberry juice

Fill a shaker with ice and serve as shots...newspaper says serves 10....I am going with 5....!!!!!

You May Even Forget It's Still Winter!

ENJOY!

PLAYOFF COCKTAIL - THE KICKOFF!

So who will it be...Baltimore....Pittsburgh......Green Bay...Atlanta.....holding my breath.....only til the cocktail is ready silly!!!!!

Ingredients:

2-3 bags orange spice tea

Good cranberry infused vodka

splash of orange juice

splash of cranberry

splash of lemon-lime soda

1 tsp sugar (more as garnish)

orange slices

Cinnamon stick for garnish (optional)

The night before...steep the tea in a quart of boiling water for 5 minutes. Remove the tea bags and sweeten the tea with tsp of sugar. Refrigerate overnight. Game day--- Rim a glass with sugar and fill with ice. Pour in 2 oz of vodka leaving room for the splashes of orange juice, cranberry juice and lemon lime soda. Garnish with orange slice. Try this with your tailgate friends!

Playoff Weekend!

ENJOY!

FRIDAY COCKTAIL - SCREAM!

Halloween is fast approaching!!!!!!

Parties are in High Gear!!!

and



and


and

IT"S FRIDAY COCKTAIL TIME!!!!!

I love pina colada's and all their coconut goodness...but they are a bit heavy ..they drink more like a meal..so I LOVE this...and personally I like mine with a few ice cubes!!!

Ingredients:

3-1/2 parts good coconut rum, probably Malibu
1/2 part good vodka, I choose Kettle One sports fans
1/2 part triple sec
1/4 part lime juice


Shake ingredients in a shaker with ice. Strain in a glass and garnish with a lime.

Happy Friday!
ENJOY!

FRIDAY COCKTAIL - RED ZOMBIE

This is what I need today! A slight twist on the traditional bloody mary for the Halloween season. I have seen a few bartenders use a shot of barbecue sauce and even A-1 sauce in bloody mary's. A great addition!!!
Can't find lychee fruit??..use a small white "pearl-like" onion instead

Ingredients:

2 oz good vodka
3 oz tomato juice
1/2 tsp fresh horseradish
1 tsp barbecue sauce
3 dashes Worcestershire sauce
3 dashes Tabasco sauce
healthy shakes of salt, pepper and celery seed
big squeeze of lemon juice
garnish, celery, 2 green olives and 2 lychee fruits

Combine all the ingredients in a shaker with ice and shake vigorously. Strain into a martini glass. For the garnish, cut the end of a celery stalk every thin, about 5 inches long. Slide the green olives into the lychee fruit and push the celery stalk thru them and lay across the top of the glass....very EYE OPENING!

HAPPY FRIDAY!
ENJOY!

FRIDAY COCKTAIL - WICKED WITCH APPLE PUNCH

If you are having a Halloween party, this is a great drink and makes a great presentation if you can get your hands on a little dry ice. Make a trip to your local party store and buy a big black witch's cauldron too...they are super cheap..OMG am I sounding like Sandra Lee when she describes her "table-scapes"????? Yikes

Ingredients:

One 750ml bottle of SKYY Passion Fruit Vodka

One 750ml bottle of sparkling apple cider

One 64oz bottle of cranberry juice cocktail

One liter ginger ale

2 cups pineapple juice

Red Apples, cut in large slices

Combine all ingredients in a large black witch's cauldron with ice and stir. Garnish with the apple slices and the dry ice on top!

Very fun!

ENJOY!

FRIDAY COCKTAIL - BLACK WIDOW

It's OCTOBER

and that can only mean

HALLOWEEN

So let the planning begin. My daughter and her friends spend endless hours planning the perfect group costume ensemble...crazy....this year it went from Jersey Shore characters to Glee folks...quite a stretch!

I remember the days of ballerinas and Cinderellas and dressing my son up as a pumpkin ...year after year...he didn't care..IT IS ALL ABOUT THE CANDY anyway.

Well here is the first of several "adult" options for your Halloween parties

Black Widow

1 part good vodka (recipe called for 42 Below)

2 parts dark grape juice

1 tsp raw sugar

4 slices fresh ginger

4 blackberries

ice

2 blackberries for garnish

Muddle together the 4 blackberries, ginger and sugar, add the vodka (then add a smidge more). Shake well and strain into a well chilled martini glass. Garnish with 2 blackberries.

You can add the plastic black widow spider too!

ENJOY!

FRIDAY COCKTAIL - DUSK IN EDEN

Not that I am wishing summer away, but as they say in New England...The fact of the matter is, it is cooling down and clouding up!!!! So we all have to move on from the summer mojitos and fresh berry cocktails. Fall fruits are showing up in the markets so let's take advantage.

Combining fresh pomegranate with the freshest apple juice you can get, creates a unique drink. The Dusk in Eden is a great alternative to the popular Appletini and you don't have the overly sweet apple flavor. The apple is offset by the fresh pomegranate resulting in a SPECTACULAR Martini!

1-1/2 parts "really good" vodka
1 large slice of pomegranate skin before the seeds
1 part apple juice
dash of simple syrup (water and sugar heated to boiling and cooled)
pomegranate seeds for garnish

Muddle together the pomegranate and syrup in a mixing glass or martini shaker
Add the vodka and apple juice and fill with ice
Shake well and strain into a chilled martini glass
Garnish with pomegranate seeds

Wonderful on a nice cool evening wrapped in a blanket!
ENJOY!