Posts Tagged ‘beverages’

• Tequila Cosmo

  Date: 2010.08.30 | Category: Beverages | Response: 0

  What could be a cooler way to have a Cosmo than to add tequila?  I had a particularly hectic and, at times, frustrating weekend (frustrated at my own mistakes BTW) so I woke this morning thinking today I should skip school (by school, I mean work) and lounge on my deck (by which I mean the park) and drink these!

  Ingredients:

  1 1/2 oz. silver tequila
  1 oz. Cointreau or triple sec
  1 oz. fresh lime juice
  1 oz. cranberry juice
  1 lime wedge

  Shake ingredients together with ice.  Strain into glass and squeeze lime wedge on top.  Discard lime and relax.

  I am heading off to the office but perhaps you will be stronger than I and skip to the deck, porch, patio or simply the park.  Enjoy!

  xo–me

• Daiquiri

  Date: 2010.08.28 | Category: Beverages | Response: 0

  I can’t believe the summer is almost over.  I am trying to understand what that means to me as a new New Yorker.  Summer is year round in Los Angeles so I am certain I am about to have the shock of my life when Labor Day comes and goes and suddenly I have to wear tights and coats!  Regardless, I am hoping to have a nice Labor Day weekend and celebrate the end of the season with some adult beverages.  Today I am sharing some flavorful ways to make daiquiri’s.  You can substitute any fruit puree for the mango to create your custom daiquiri.

  Mango

  1 1/2 oz. light rum
  1 Tbsp. triple sec
  1  1/2 oz. lime juice
  1 tsp. sugar
  2 oz. pureed mango

  Combine ingredients in a blender with 1 c. crushed ice.  Blend until smooth and enjoy!

  Banana Daiquiri

  1 1/2 oz. light rum
  1 Tbsp. triple sec
  1 1/2 oz. lime juice
  1 tsp. sugar
  1 ripe banana sliced

  Combine all ingredients plus 1 c. crushed ice in a blender.  Blend and serve.

  Classic

  2 oz. light rum
  1 oz. lime juice
  1 tsp. sugar

  Combine all ingredients plus 1 c. crushed ice in a blender.  Blend and serve.

  Let me know what kinds of flavors you create!  I would enjoy a strawberry/banana or a blueberry/raspberry.

  xo–me

• Creamsicle Margarita

  Date: 2010.08.26 | Category: Beverages | Response: 0

  I have always loved creamsicles. Recently I discovered a bakery with creamsicle cheesecake! It was heavenly, very rich and almost too much but I loved every last bite. When I stumbled on this recipe for a creamsicle margarita, I knew I had to give it a try. It did not disappoint and if you drink it with a straw, it is like a creamsicle slurpee. Oh thank heaven…

  Ingredients:

  sugar rim
  1 1/2 oz. gold tequila
  3/4 oz. Tuaca liqueur
  1 1/2 oz. sweet & sour
  1 oz. fresh orange juice
  1 oz. half and half
  1/2 c. orange sorbet
  1 1/2 c. crushed ice

  Sugar the rims of two margarita or large cocktail glasses. Chill the glasses. In a blender, whirl the tequila, Tiaca, sweet & sour, orange juice and half and half for a few seconds, just enough to combine. Add the orange sorbet and ice. Blend until thick, slushy, and frothy. Divide the mixture evenly between the prepared glasses. Garnish with fresh orange slices, if desired.

  As we head into the last holiday weekend of the summer, I am thinking these must be served. Enjoy!

  xo–me

• Power Punch

  Date: 2010.08.23 | Category: Beverages | Response: 0

  It sure seems to be shower season and I am not discussing the stuff from the clouds. I have been invited to shower after shower lately (and am grateful for being included!) so I thought I would share this delicious punch that is perfect for a shower or a family gathering. Any soiree that requires a fruit punch for celebrating should be featuring this punch.

  Ingredients:

  6 oz. fresh lime juice
  8 oz. fresh lemon juice
  10 oz. fresh tangerine juice (orange will work as well)
  4 oz. sugar syrup
  20 oz. pineapple juice
  10 oz. brandy
  10 oz. creme de cassis
  2 oz. Amaretto
  2 bottles chilled champagne

  In your loveliest punchbowl combine all ingredients except the champagne. Refrigerate at least an hour. When guests arrive, remove punch bowl and slowly add the champagne. If you want to add texture, cut up some fruit into slices to float on top.
  

  I love using my punchbowl as you all know, so why wait for a party to bring it out? Surprise your loved ones next time you’re having a casual gathering with the use of the punchbowl. You can make margaritas, daiquiris or just about any beverage to put in there. My girlfriend Lisa would make a giant bowl of Jack & Coke. I promise your merry occasion will be more merry with that pretty punchbowl.

  xo–me

• Cool Cubes

  Date: 2010.08.22 | Category: Beverages | Response: 0

  My girlfriend Robin got me a fabulous book a few years ago called Highballs High Heels.  It says it’s a girls guide to the art of cocktails.  It has plenty of recipes that I will share with you here.  Today I am going to share a great idea for your next cocktail party–make creative and sassy ice cubes.  The book lists several variations on cubes that you pick according to what cocktails you are serving.  I love these suggestions and best of all, I can make them days in advance so I have one less thing to do the day of the big event!

  Ingredients:

  quality water
  your choice of the ingredient to float in the center (see below)

  Fill each cubicle of the tray half full of water.  Place in freezer until partially frozen, about 1 1/2 hours.  Remove from freezer and place chosen ingredient in the center of each cube.  Cover the cubes with enough water to fill the tray.  Freeze for at least 7 hours or overnight.

  Options:

  Berry–blueberries, raspberries, or blackberries are delicious in daiquiris, lemonade or iced tea.
  Cherry–pit cherries before using.  If they are enormous, half.
  Chili Pepper–dried red or green pepper add a kick to coke based drinks.
  Citrus–a slice of lemon, orange, lime peel is perfect for any citrus, soda or tonic drink.
  Coffee–substitute coffee for water in the cube preparation.  Add a chocolate covered espresso bean in the center.
  Cucumber–a quarter slice of cucumber inside the cube is perfect for both alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks.

  Use your imagination when makiing your ice.  And let me know what you create!

  xo–me

• Apple Orange Punch

  Date: 2010.08.11 | Category: Beverages, Entertaining | Response: 0

  I am busy unpacking (yes, still) and am discovering some treasures I had forgotten I owned, namely my punch bowl collection.  To many of you, punch bowls are an entertaining tool of the past but I love them.  I have three–two vintage and one modern–as well as a box of mix and match cups that I picked up in Philadelphia at a church rummage sale for a dollar.  I suppose three doesn’t very well a collection make but I am just beginning!  When I am entertaining, they make a lovely centerpiece of the drink area particularly if you fill it with a colorful punch.  This recipe I share today is a lovely color for a muted decor.  The bright orange is slightly toned down with the addition of the apple juice and lemonade.  The flavor is divine.

  Ingredients:

  1-6 oz. can frozen concentrate orange juice
  1-6 oz. can frozen concentrate lemonade
  36 oz. apple juice
  72 oz. ginger ale

  Mix concentrates and apple juice in large punch bowl.  Just before serving, stir in ginger ale.  Make sure everything is very cold before assembly.

  Aunt Barb always freezes some of the punch in a jell-o mold so she doesn’t dilute the punch but is able to keep it chilled throughout the evening.  Enjoy!

  xo–me

• Ginger Fizz

  Date: 2010.07.12 | Category: Beverages | Response: 0

  I have recently rediscovered ginger ale.  Am not really certain what led me back to it.  As a child, it was poured over ice (always over ice) to drink when I had an upset stomach.  Mom would seem to have it always in the house, although I have no memories of anyone actually drinking it.  As an adult, my best girl, Peach, would order it almost every time we would have a meal together.  Ginger Ale–always around my life but never really in it, until recently.

  This recipe helps ease the drink into my life as an adult.  It is almost genteel of sorts, as I have visions of my southern readers sitting on those gorgeous porches, sipping this while fanning themselves.

  Ingredients:

  ginger ale
  fresh mint sprigs
  cracked ice
  raspberries and a sprig of mint for garnish

  Put ginger ale and several mint leaves into a blender and blend for a few minutes to chop the mint.  Strain into a chilled glass filled with ice.  Make it gorgeous with the floating raspberries and mint sprig.  Enjoy!

  This recipe is a solo serving so add as much as you need to share with your girlfriends out there on that front porch!  Don’t forget your fan.

  xo–me