Hey Amy! » beverages

Wallis Simpson

Amy — Sun, 17 Apr 2011 11:53:13 +0000

It’s Sunday morning and perhaps you are thinking about brunch. I am thinking of drinking an entire sea of water minus the salt. It’s dry here and I need some liquid. If you had a rough night, uh hem, this is the perfect drink to ease your pain. It’s called a Wallis Simpson.

Ms. Simpson was an American socialite that turned the head of Edward, Prince of Wales. Having two living ex-husbands the then King Edward caused a constitutional crisis in the UK which lead to him abdicating the throng to marry the woman he loved. He then was known as the Duke of Windsor and they lived happily ever after.

If you are looking for a fairy tale today, this drink may just bring you to it.

Ingredients:

1 shot Southern Comfort
1 tsp. 10x sugar
dash of bitters
chilled champagne

Pour the Southern Comfort into a chilled champagne flute, add sugar and stir well until dissolved. Add a dash of bitter and fill with chilled champagne.

I need a fairy tale today. And it looks something like a designer shoe sale. Enjoy!

xo–me

Zipper

Amy — Fri, 15 Apr 2011 13:09:38 +0000

This drink is meant to be shot but I enjoy sipping it. It makes for a nice after dinner drink that I can savor while lounging in my PJ’s.

I know it’s going to be a long day for me and since it’s Friday, it may just be along day for you as well. When you get home tonight, make a few of these, slip into your evening wear (and I don’t mean that evening gown) and put your feet up. I will be over here joining you.

Ingredients:

crushed ice
1 shot tequila
1/2 shot Grand Marnier
1/2 shot light cream

Pour all ingredients over crushed ice in a cocktail shaker. Close and shake vigorously for 10-20 seconds, until the outside of the shaker is frosty. Strain into (shot) glass.

Like the other drink recipes I have shared this week, multiplying this recipe is very simple and it will allow you to make a pitcher so you don’t have to leave the sofa. Enjoy!

xo–me

Dry Smile

Amy — Thu, 14 Apr 2011 13:21:15 +0000

I am on a plane heading to a very dry place. Some of you may be in the same boat, er I mean, plane. Every April I make my annual pilgrimage to the desert to enjoy the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival. Three days of heat, smiles and dry weather. When I stumbled onto this recipe a few months back, I knew I had to try it for the purpose of sharing this week. With a name like Dry Smile, it just seems right to be making while I am getting ready for the show or when I get back from the show or while I am at the show. (Yes, I am known for smuggling contraband.)

This is a dry drink (the title says so) but if you want a really dry drink, edit your pineapple pouring.

Ingredients:

1 shot Cinzano extra dry
1 shot mandarin vodka
I shot orange curacao
juice of 1/2 lemon
1 Tbsp. strawberry syrup (I have used juice and it’s almost as good)
ice
pineapple juice

Shake the first five ingredients well over ice. Pour into a tall glass and fill with pineapple juice to taste.

Like most of my grown-up recipes, this one can be made in multiples and tossed into a pitcher for sharing. Or a jug so you can travel with the contraband easily. I am not talking about drinking and driving people. I am talking about making it, putting in the trunk and smuggling into the nearest party destination. Enjoy!

xo–me

Gin & Juice

Amy — Tue, 12 Apr 2011 13:20:37 +0000

Summer is right around the corner and in some parts of the country, it has already arrived (like Indio, CA for example). For those heading to this warmer destination, this is a great recipe that travels well (meaning your walk from your campsite to the concert) and is very refreshing in the hot desert sun.

Snoop made the saying gin & juice famous years ago. This is my interpretation of his infamous drink.

Ingredients:

3 shots gin
1/2 tsp. grenadine
1 shot orange juice
1 shot lemon juice
splash of club soda

Shake the first four ingredients together ofver ice until frosted. Strain into a chilled tall glass (or your water bottle) and fill with club soda. Enjoy!

This is also a great ‘hair of the dog’ morning pick-me-up. Not that I have had that problem before. I have just heard of it.

xo–me

Raspberry Pineapple Punch

Amy — Tue, 15 Feb 2011 11:41:58 +0000

I am feeling like having a get together. My intentions are not to have too many people with too many dishes but I know who I am and that will certainly change. Every list will grow. My guest list, my menu and my plans will get larger with each passing day so I might as well own the fact that I will get out the punch bowl. Or three of them.

This recipe is very pretty and refreshing. I love how it looks on the table with the colors dancing with the colors of our feast.

Ingredients:

5 c. crushed pineapple, chilled
2 qts. raspberry sherbet
4 c. raspberries (if you are using frozen, no need to thaw)
2 2-liter bottles sparkling water
1 lime, thinly sliced

Place pineapple and sherbet in chilled punch bowl. Arrange berries around it. Pour on sparkling water, garnish with lime.

You can substitute other flavors of sherbet as your palate requires. Enjoy!

xo–me

Bloody Mary

Amy — Mon, 07 Feb 2011 11:55:48 +0000

Hands up, who is slightly hungover from last night’s football festivities? What a game! Whether you were celebrating or nursing your broken heart, many of you have a hangover this morning. I support a run to McDonald’s, right Lisa?, or make this Bloody Mary before you head out today. Even if you are going to work. Hee hee.

Ingredients:

dash Worcestershire sauce
dash Tabasco sauce
cracked ice
2 shots vodka
slash dry sherry
6 shots tomato juice
juice 1/2 lemon
pinch celery salt
pinch cayenne pepper
celery stalk with leaves and olives

Sash the Worcestershire sauce and Tabasco sauce over ice in a shaker and add the vodka, dry sherry, tomato juice and lemon juice. Shake vigorously until frosted. Strain into a tall chilled glass, add celery salt and cayenne and decorate with celery and olives.

Nothing beats the hair of the dog. Congrats Green Bay! Glad you got it and Brett didn’t.

xo–me

Sober Sunday

Amy — Wed, 02 Feb 2011 11:32:43 +0000

I realize it’s only Wednesday but I am thinking about Super Bowl Sunday. I try not to drink (much) when I am entertaining so this recipe caught my eye for the Sunday festivities. I think my friend Thirsty Pete may even enjoy serving this one.

Ingredients:

1 shot grenadine
1 shot fresh lemon juice
ice
lemon flavored soda

Pour the grenadine and fruit juice into an ice-filled highball glass. Fill with the soda pop and dress with slices of fresh lemon or lime.

It’s pretty, sexy and perfect for the ladies of Super Bowl Sunday. And if you must, Thirsty Pete will add a shot of vodka for you. Enjoy!

xo–me

The Champion

Amy — Sun, 30 Jan 2011 12:57:14 +0000

This week I am sharing all sorts of recipes you will surely want to share at your giant Super Bowl Party on Sunday. Today’s recipe I came upon in my favorite cocktail cookbook and it really seemed appropriate–the Champion! I made a jug of the Champion once for a party and the men loved it.

Ingredients:

1/2 shot dry vermouth
1/2 shot whiskey
1/4 shot Benedictine
1/4 shot white curacao
ice
club soda

Shake the first four ingredients over ice until well frosted. Strain into a small tumbler filled with ice and top off with club soda.

When I made the jug, I multiplied the recipe by 10 and put it into a stainless jug pushed into a tub of ice. Enjoy!

xo–me

Ixtapa…the drink

Amy — Tue, 18 Jan 2011 11:02:03 +0000

It’s bitter cold in NYC this morning and I am dreaming of far, far away warm destinations. Ixtapa comes to mind so I thought I would make this (tonight after work of course!) and dream of a tropical paradise.

It may sound like an odd combination of lime juice, tequila and Kahlua but it actually comes up with a familiar taste of coffee. I find it quite delicious.

Ingredients:

2 oz. Kahlua
1/2 oz. tequila
2 to 3 dashes of lime juice

Stir with ice and strain into a cocktail glass.

If you really want to pretend it’s summer, put all ingredients in blender with some ice and sit in front of your fireplace pretending it’s the beach. That’s where you will find me. Enjoy!

xo–me

Good and Plenty

Amy — Sun, 02 Jan 2011 12:56:17 +0000

I have read about this infamous Good and Plenty cocktail that emulates the flavors of that delicious movie theatre licorice candy but never tried one. Finding bottles of liquor in your cabinet will change that for a girl. Perhaps you should go hunting in your bar and see what is in there?

Ingredients:

1 oz. brandy
1 oz. Sambuca
1 oz. spiced rum
1 oz. vodka
splash lemon juice
1 oz. orange juice

Pour brandy, Sambuca, rum, vodka and lemon juice into a cocktail shaker over ice. Add orange juice, shake and strain into a chilled glass.

Enjoy it with some popcorn and sno-caps. Kidding…

xo–me