Lillet Rose Cocktail

This might be the best cocktail ... ever.

Lillet Rose Cocktail
(recipe based on one from Martha Stewart Living magazine April 2012)

2 parts Lillet Rose aperitif
2 parts Ruby Red grapefruit juice
1 part gin

Shake in a cocktail shaker with some ice and serve up (picture above)
... or ...
Muddle some fresh basil leaves in a rocks glass, add ice, shake ingredients in a cocktail shaker with some ice and pour over ice and basil (picture below) (optional: add some seltzer on top)

The Perfect Limeade

I don't have a big sweet tooth and I much prefer savory treats, but this is quite yummy when you are craving something sweet and refreshing ... as long as you're not diabetic. ;)

The Perfect Limeade

2 cups simple syrup (2 cups vegan sugar, 2 cups water)
2 cups fresh squeezed lime juice
1 cup water
1/2 teaspoon salt

This recipe makes a half pitcher. *Just substitute lemon juice for lime juice for the perfect lemonade.

First, make your simple syrup. Pour two cups water and two cups sugar into a saucepan and heat until the sugar is dissolved. Chill in fridge. Pour two cups fresh squeezed lime juice into pitcher. Stir in 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1 cup water. Add 2 cups of the simple syrup once it's chilled and stir well. Add some thin slices of lime to make it look pretty.
Serve over ice.

This also makes a great margarita base; just add tequila and a smidge of orange liqueur to your glass and stir. Mmmm.

Vegan Chocolate Eggnog Martini

My doggie Jacques knows a good martini when he sees one!

Ingredients:
1 shot vodka
3 shots Silk brand vegan eggnog
1 spoonful of cocoa powder
1 cinnamon stick

Shake ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice. Strain into a martini glass and garnish with a cinnamon stick. Mmm mmm. Good.

Jacques continues to be too cute for words. <3


I went to Arizona for Christmas. It was warm and I was very, very happy. :)


More pictures from our trip to Arizona and the insane effects of the recent snowstorm in NYC here:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=312770&id=514802173&l=0189fd10b0

The Martini Series

The Cosmopolitan


Fa la la, la la, la la, la la ... I'm on vacation!

Thus, there will be a martini series! I'm working on perfecting a cosmo recipe.
Today's try was too tart, perhaps too much lime juice this time.
I'll post an update when I get it just right. ;)

EDIT: Cosmopolitan Martini success ...

Ingredients:
1-2 shots vodka
2 shots cranberry
1/2 shot fresh lime juice
1/2 shot Patron brand Citronge liqueur

Shake all ingredients in a cocktail shaker over ice. Strain into a martini glass. Enjoy!

Stay tuned for a vegan chocolate martini and a sangria-tini.
Oh la la!

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Manhattan Cocktail

Ingredients:
2 shots bourbon
1/2 shot sweet vermouth
2 splashes bitters
1 splash maraschino cherry juice (optional)
1 squeeze fresh lemon juice (optional)
1 maraschino cherry

How to:
Shake all above ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice, strain into glass.
Garnish with 1 maraschino cherry.
Enjoy!

Rise n Shine Cocktail

I got creative last night with whatever booze we had in the house. ;)
I used a shot glass to measure this ... which is about 1 oz each shot.

2 shots of orange juice
1 shot of simple syrup
1 shot of tequila
1/2 shot of amaretto
1 shot of vodka (optional)

1. Pour all ingredients into a cocktail shaker with ice.
2. Shake and strain into a rocks glass over ice.
3. Enjoy. ;)

Amaretto Sour and Matter Tofu

Made these last night to have while we watched the Grammy Awards. :)



MATTER TOFU
(vegan ... if you use vegan sour cream or just omit it)

INGREDIENTS
1 large onion, quartered
1 1/2 Tbs. vegetable oil
1/2 tsp. whole brown mustard seeds
1/2 tsp. ground cumin
1 bay leaf
1 clove garlic, minced (about 1 tsp.)
1 15-oz. can tomato sauce
2 tsp. ground coriander
1 tsp. garam masala
1/2 tsp. ground turmeric
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. paprika
1 10-oz. pkg. frozen peas, thawed
3 Tbs. reduced-fat sour cream
1/4 tsp. sugar
1 pkg. firm or extra firm tofu, drained and cut into 1-inch cubes

DIRECTIONS
1. Purée onion in food processor.
2. Heat oil in pot over medium heat. Add mustard seeds, cumin, and bay leaf.
Cook 1 minute, or until fragrant.
3. Add onion and garlic, and sauté 5 to 7 minutes, or until browned. Stir in tomato
sauce, coriander, garam masala, turmeric, salt, and paprika. Simmer 10 minutes,
or until sauce thickens, stirring occasionally. Add up to 1/2 cup water if sauce is
too thick.
4. Stir in peas, tofu, sour cream, and sugar. Simmer 5 minutes, or until peas and tofu are heated through.
5. Remove bay leaf, and serve hot with
basmati rice or naan bread.

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AMARETTO SOUR

INGREDIENTS
1 1/2 oz Amaretto
1 oz simple syrup
3/4 oz fresh lemon juice

DIRECTIONS
1. To make simple syrup: boil 1 cup water with one cup sugar just until sugar dissolves. Chill.
2. Squeeze fresh lemons to get the lemon juice. It does make a difference.
3. Combine ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake.
4. Pour into rocks glass over ice. Garnish with cherry and/or an orange slice.

Lychee Martini

Photo source: Flickr

Ingredients:
1 can of lychees in heavy syrup
Your favorite vodka (mine is VOX)
Some ice

Method:
Put ice in a martini shaker, add 2.5 oz vodka, 2 oz of the syrup from the can of lychees, and shake. Pour into a martini glass and garnish with a lychee on a cocktail stick.

These are trouble. Delicious and easy to make.