Living in an area where thousands of apples are growing and now being harvested, makes one think that a special drink should be posted. Maybe this is it….
- 1 part Grey Goose Vodka
- 1 part sour apple schnapps
- 1 part pomegranate juice
Pour all ingredients into shaker filled with crushed ice and shake well. Pour into chilled martini glasses and add a slice of apple to garnish.
This drink should smell like a red delicious apple.
Yummmmmm………….
Cosmopolitan Degree
This will make everyone who sips this, think you are really an excellent bartender and smart to boot.
- 4 parts Grey Goose Vodka
- 1 part Triple Sec
- 1 part freshly squeezed lime juice
- 2 parts cranberry juice
- 1 part Cassis liqueur
Pour all the ingredients in a shaker filled with crushed ice and really shake well.
Strain into well-chilled martini glasses and garnish a fresh fig wedge.
Wait for it…….all the oohs and ahhs will warm your heart for sure.
Iced Coffee
Okay Tim Hortons and Starbucks….move over. Now you can make this luscious coffee at home. Doesn’t cost $5.00 to make and is, and excuse the pun, too cool! Just watch the brain freeze though. You can also make it “adult” coffee by adding a shot of white chocolate liqueur…..just sayin’.
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 1/2 cup whole milk
- 1 vanilla pod
- 1 1/2 cup cold coffee
- 3/4 cup whipping cream (unsweetened)
Combine the sugar, milk and vanilla pod in a saucepan and boil to dissolve sugar.
Remove from heat and let stand until cold. Remove the pod and wash it off and let completely dry.
Combine the milk mixture, coffee and cream and mix well. Pour into fridge trays, and freeze until partially frozen. (not ice cube trays, freezer trays)
Pour into chilled glasses 2/3 full and now top with a sweetened whipping cream and drizzle either chocolate or caramel over this.
Now sit down, get a book or invite a friend over to also enjoy and simply…sip…..ummmmmmm.
Yummy.
Alphabet Martini
This just about has the kitchen sink in it. It is rather tasty for sure and your guests might try to sneak a way to lick the glass, trust me!
- 1 part Grey Goose Vodka
- 1 part Bailey’s
- 1 part Chambord
- 1 part Strawberry Schnapps
- 1 part cream
- strawberry/raspberry on a pick for garnish
Pour all the ingredients into a shaker filled with crushed ice. Shake for a few seconds then strain into well chilled martini glasses.
To garnish, lay a cocktail pick with a fresh strawberry and raspberry on top.
Spicy Martini
It has been awhile since I posted yet another martini recipe, but seeing as this is the Wine Festival week here in the Okanagan (and we were at a Chef Cooking Class Dinner last night) and are attending a Crush Club luncheon today, a martini would be a break in the wine (or is that whine) run we are having.
- 6 parts Grey Goose Vodka
- 1 part Cinnamon Schnapps
- 1 part Creme de Framboise or Chambord
- Dark chocolate shavings
Pour all the ingredients (except shavings) into a shaker filled with crushed ice. Shake well and strain into well chilled martini glasses, and top with the chocolate shavings.
Now, isn’t that a great way to greet guests? Hon….are we expecting company?
Winter Warm-Up Martini
I couldn’t resist this one. I keep thinking of where I came from and in the winter you would have to plug in your car and make sure it was filled with anti-freeze. This will do the same thing, only from inside the house, looking out!
- 6 parts Vodka
- 2 parts Blue Curacao
- 2 parts Midori Melon liqueur
- 1 part pinepple juice
Pour all the ingredients into a shaker filled with crushed ice and shake for a few seconds.
Strain into chilled martini glasses and garnish with a lime twist.
Now, don’t you feel all warm and fuzzy? That’s enough for now!
Sweet Chocolate Martini
It’s been a while since we shared a drink, so I thought we could start up again with this one. I mean, who doesn’t like chocolate?
- 1 part Grey Goose Vodka
- 1 part Amaretto
- 1 part Kahlua
- 1 part Bailey’s (read procedure first)
Pour all ingredients in a shaker filled with cruhed ice and shake well for a couple of seconds. Strain. Pour into chilled martini glasses. Top with 1 part Bailey’s.
Now, wasn’t that worth the wait? Enjoy!
Limoncello Sparkling Wine Cocktails
Use homemade Limoncello (I made ours and it is better than I ever imagined….yummy, yummy. Give it a whirl, it is sooooooo easy.
Now with that in mind and the Limoncello already made up, here you go:
- 1/4 cup of fresh mint leaves
- 1/4 cup Limoncello
- 2 tbsp. sugar, plus more for dipping flutes
- Lemon peel strips from a fresh lemon
- 4 tsp. fresh lemon juice plus 1 lemon wedge
- 1 cup chilled sparkling wine.
Place the mint, limoncello, sugar and lemon strips in the blender. Blend until the mint is finely chopped. The lemon will be coarsely chopped. Strain into a small bowl.
Run the lemon wedge around the rims of two champagne flutes. Dip into sugar to coat. Equally pour in the lemon mixture and top with the sparkling wine. Hang a couple of lemon strips off the rim.
Toast the night away. Warning: Be careful, as it CAN hit with avengence if you have too many. Just sayin’.
YUMMMMY.
Non-alcoholic Drinks Called “Mock-tinis”
Not everyone drinks – for whatever the reason – but having your dd (designated driver) be part of the evening is in your planning to ensure he/she doesn’t look like an outsider at the party.
I will list a few here, take it in the spirit (no pun) it is given.
1. Cosmopolitan look-a-like
- 5 parts alcohol free white wine (one brand is Fre)
- 1 splash of soda
- 1 splash of cranberry juice (I prefer the white cranberry over the red – you choose)
Put the ingredients, except the soda, in a shaker filled with cracked ice and shake really well. Strain into well chilled martini glasses and top with the soda. Garnish with cranberries or even raspberries.
2. Dusktime-tini
- 8 parts Cranberry juice (red)
- 5 parts orange juice
- 1 splash of lime juice
- 1 splash of gingerale
Pour all the ingredients, except the gingerale, in a shaker with cracked ice and shake for a few seconds. Strain into well chilled martini glasses and add a splash of gingerale to each glass. Garnish with an orange wedge.
3. Mock Sangria
If you are making sangria for your guests, here is one that the non-drinker can have . Appearance is everything – always consider your guests.
- 4 parts white cranberry juice
- 1 part raspberry juice
- 1 plash of lime juice
- 1 splash club soda
Put all ingredients, except the soda, into a shaker with cracked ice and shake well. Strain into well chilled martini glasses. Top with club soda. Garnish with a lime wedge, orange wedge, raspberry on a fancy pick.
4. Blue Heaven
This was a favourite to serve friends of ours.
- Blueberry juice (really yummy on its own, as well)
- gingerale
- blueberries
Mix together in a shaker of crushed ice (just stir), then strain into chilled glasses, add some fresh blueberries in the glass. Voila! It works everytime.
The Devil’s Brew
I know, I know you thought I had given up on my signature drinks. This is a different drink but definitely one for summer evenings on the deck, at the lake…wherever!
- 1 cup crushed ice
- 2 cups chilled white wine
- 1/4 cup honey (more if needed)
- 1 cup sliced strawberries (fresh)
- 1 cup fresh papaya
- 1 cup cut up cantaloupe
- 1/2 cup gold kiwi, sliced
In a blender, combine half of all the ingredients and puree until smooth. Pour into a chilled pitcher.
Blend the remainder of the indredients and add to the pitcher. To serve, pour into chilled glasses. Umm…if you wish add the usual mint leaf or get clever and put a strawberry, cubes of papaya , kiwi and cantaloupe on a fancy pick and place across the glass.
Chocolate Cake Martini
I have generally (translates to always) given our guests a martini as our signature drink. A friend sent me this one that was posted in the paper over a year ago and, going through a box of ‘treasures’, I re-read it and thought you would like to try it.
- 1 1/2 oz. Citron Vodka
- 1/2 oz. Creme de Cacao
- berry sugar
- 1 lime
Okay, I know it has only 2 ingredients, but when you finish the martini glass as below noted, you will see that finishing the drink makes it so special.
Place the martini glass in the freezer while mixing the vodka and liqueur over crushed ice. Discard the ice.
Wipe the entire rim of the glass with a wedge of the lime and then only drip one half of the glass into the sugar.
The tartness of the bare lime side will counter the sweetness of the drink and, if you desire, sip from the sugar side as well.
It has been a while since I posted a martooni, so try it. Hmmmm…tastes like two.
Chocolate and Peanut Butter Drink
This is one recipe you can take to the lake and leave it in a cupboard for when the rainy, chilly days happen. Anyone who loves chocolate and peanut butter will think this drink is totally divine.
- 2 cups whole milk
- 1 cup whipping cream
- 1 cup milk chocolate, chopped
- 1/4 cup creamy peanut butter
Warm milk and cream in a saucepan, over medium heat. Add the chocolate pieces and whisk until melted.
Continue to warm the mixture until it thickens up at little. Add the peanut butter and whisk until smooth.
This will serve 2