Cilantro Mojito: Happy Weekend

I purchased a beautiful bunch of cilantro this week.  It added wonderful flavor to a black bean and corn salad but I was curious as to how to use this pungent herb to flavor a cocktail

I found a cilantro mojito recipe here.  Cilantro takes the place of mint in this refreshing drink.

Place 1/4 cup of fresh cilantro leaves in a cocktail shaker along with one lime cut into eight pieces.  

Muddle the herb and lime in a cocktail shaker and then remove the lime and add 1 teaspoon sugar and 1/2 ounce of simple syrup.  Add 2 ounces of white rum and 1/2 ice and shake well.  Strain into a glass and add ice, a slice of lime and a sprig of cilantro.  

Enjoy and Happy Weekend!

Quince and Apple: Tart Cherry Grenadine and Rhubarb Hops

Quince & Apple is a small batch, artisanal company specializing in preserving fruit. The preserved fruit is of two varieties, spreadable and syrups.  

I purchased two of the syrups from the Madison, WI producers.  My order was delivered via Fed Ex within two days of my order.  The packaging was cleverly done in a little wooden crate and nestled in a box filled with crinkle-cut shredded paper filler.  

One of my syrups was Rhubarb Hops.  This syrup of sour rhubarb and and hops was delightful in a drink with orange juice, bitters and prosecco.  You can read about it here. 

The other syrup was Tart Cherry Grenadine.  This syrup is so easy to use.  It would be great with club soda or champagne, mixed with lemonade or drizzled over ice cream.  I tried two cocktails suggested on the website. 

Gin Daisy Cocktail

This light drink is composed of 2 oz gin, juice of 1/2 lemon and 1/2 oz Tart Cherry Grenadine.  Add all to glass and fill half full with crushed ice then fill glass with seltzer.  

Wisconsin Old Fashioned

Rather than whiskey, this old Fashioned uses brandy.  Muddle 1 wheel of orange with 1/2 oz tart cherry grenadine, two dashes bitters and then add the brandy.  Fill glass 1/2 full with ice and then top off glass with seltzer.  This drink is very "rich" but the seltzer lightens it and makes is more refreshing and highlights the fruit than tasting like liquor. 

I really like the syrups from Quince & Apple.  They add a new dimension to mixing cocktails.  Wouldn't they make a perfect hostess gift?  Much more clever than the standard bottle of wine.  Order online here.

TGIF Cocktail: Moscow Mule

Ready for the weekend?  

I love a cocktail that is only three ingredients.  The Moscow Mule fits my requirements and it a very refreshing, spicy drink.

Be sure to get authentic ginger beer and not ginger ale.  Ginger "beer" is non-alcoholic and has a more peppery-ginger taste than sweeter ginger ale.

Traditionally, a Moscow Mule is served in a copper mug.

Enjoy! and have a wonderful weekend.

TGIF Cocktail: The Aviation

This is for everyone who had to travel by plane this week, for business or pleasure.

Let's face it, flying isn't much fun.  

Will  my bag fit in the overhead bin?  Take off your shoes.  Flight delays.  Not enough leg room.  Ugh!   Well there's a drink for that.  It's called The Aviation.

This classic gin drink was created in 1917 when flying was glamorous and people dressed up to fly.  Wow, what a concept!  Three simple ingredients make up The Aviation.

• 2 ounces of gin
• 3/4 ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
• 2 teaspoons maraschino cherry juice

1 teaspoon crème de violette is classic but not necessary

Pour ingredients into a cocktail shaker with ice, shake for 10 seconds and strain into cocktail glass.  Garnish with cherry or lemon slice.

Hubby is strictly a beer and wine guy but gave this a try.  His comment, "this is not a girlie  drink".  So there you have it.  Don't wait for a layover at the airport to try this drink, why not try The Aviation tonight?

Apple Sidecar Cocktail

Happy Weekend

I thought a winter cocktail would be a great idea for today.

Apple Sidecar

This variation of a Sidecar cocktail uses Calvados which is apple brandy.  A traditional Sidecar calls for brandy, cognac, armagnac or bourbon.  The other Sidecar ingredients remain the same, Cointreau (or Triple Sec) and lemon juice.  A sugared rim is a nice contrast to the sour lemon in the drink.  

1 1/2 oz Calvados

1 oz Cointreau or Triple Sec

1 oz lemon juice

Shake with ice and strain into a sugar rimmed martini glass or coupe.

The Sidecar was created in Paris during World War I.  Calvados is distilled from fermented apple cider.  It is a drink from Normandy, France and pairs well with pork and mussels.  

image

I think an Apple Sidecar would be a lovely drink with comte cheese and walnuts.  If the setting is in front of a fireplace on a chilly evening...all the better.  

Have a lovely weekend.

Key Lime Martini

Ah, the weekend.  Time to relax a bit, and indulge a bit.  

How about a Key Lime Pie Martini?  

I had my first key lime pie martini at the Abaco Inn (Bahamas) earlier this month.  I promised I would share a recipe for this flavorful rich drink.

Ke Ke is a key lime flavored cream liqueur and "key" to making this martini.  Rimming the glass with crushed graham cracker gives an even more authentic taste to the drink.  Just rub a cut lemon around the rim of the glass and then dip the edge in the crumbs.

Combine 

• 1 1/2 oz Ke Ke key lime liqueur
• 1 1/2 oz vanilla vodka
• 1/3 oz Rose's lime juice
• 1/3 oz fresh lime juice
• 1 1/2 oz half 'n half 

Shake with ice in a cocktail shaker, strain and pour into graham cracker rimmed glass.

A Key Lime Pie Martini is a rich, dessert-like drink.  It is something you sip, not gulp.  I prefer it as an after dinner treat.

A tray of these martini shots would be fun for a holiday party.  

Have a wonderful weekend and see you on Monday.

Happy Weekend

Last weekend hubby and I hosted our book club.  I served this cocktail, Blackberry-gin fizz.  It was fresh and delicious and very refreshing.  See this recipe and other great summer cocktails at Bon Appetit. 

As a starter I served fresh gazpacho.  I posted this recipe here in 2009.

                                               Source: apartmenttherapy.com via Sara on Pinterest

Have a wonderful weekend.  

Weekend Libation

Jasmine

I am usually a wine drinker.  I don't care for beer at all.  However, in the summer, sometimes a cocktail is very appealing.  The NY Times published an article with summer drinks and there is an interactive component that allows you to choose your favorite drink ingredients and they will supply a recipe for a cocktail.

I started with Campari, then selected gin and added cointreau.  The result was Jasmine.

This drink had a very nice orange flavor that wasn't too sweet and very refreshing for a hot evening.  

Click here to give the interactive generator a try.  You may come up with a Negroni, a Hemingway daiquiri, or an Enchantress.  Have fun and happy weekend.

Italia Libera: A Grownup Rum & Coke

The NY Times ran an article with recipes for three-ingredient cocktails.  Seltzer, simple syrup and garnishes do not count in the three ingredient tally.  

I decided to try the Italia Libera.  This is a grown up version of a rum and coke.  I happened to have the rum on hand and I was given a gift of the Amara from a friend. 

The drink uses white/silver rum which imparts a hint of vanilla  and Amaro, an Italian, herbal liqueur that is bittersweet.  A touch of simple syrup and lemon juice are added and the drink is topped off with a generous portion of seltzer.

Recipe to serve 1.

1 oz white rum

1 oz amaro

1/4 oz lemon juice

3/4 oz simple syrup

chilled seltzer

1 slice lime

Combine the rum, amaro, lemon juice and simple syrup in a cocktail shaker, fill with ice and shake vigorously. Strain into a highball glass over fresh ice, top with seltzer and garnish with the lime wedge.

The Italia Libera is a sweet drink with interesting flavors.  Some salted nuts or chips would be a great nosh on a hot day.  Break the rum&coke habit and try an Italia Libera.

Happy Weekend.

Summer Drink: Cilantro Negroni

On hot day, a sweet drink isn't as refreshing as something a bit more tart or dry.  I really like the taste of Campari, a bitter orange aperitif.  In this drink, cilantro is muddled with some sugar and club soda gives the drink some fizz and dilutes the 21% alcohol content of the Campari.  Be generous with the cilantro, it is very subtle in this drink.  

photo by D. Flanagan

Recipe:

Muddle 3 cilantro sprigs with 1/2 teaspoon superfine sugar and 1 orange wedge in a glass.  Add 2 oz Campari and ice.  Add 4 oz club soda.  Stir.  Makes 1

Martha Stewart recipe

Celebrate the Weekend with a Gin Rickey

I was looking for a new drink to serve at my dinner party last week.  I came upon this recipe which is a new take on a vodka rickey. 

A vodka rickey is simply vodka with lime juice and soda water.  

 This version is a refreshing drink, perfect for summer.  Gin replaces vodka and dried cranberries and pomegranate juice add a touch of sweetness.

Gather the ingredients; gin, pomegranate juice, lime and dried cranberries.

Soak 2 tablespoons of dried cranberries in 45ml of gin.  Add to the glass, 45 ml of pomegranate juice, 30 ml of lime juice, 10 ml of simple syrup*, and 60-90 ml of soda water.  Add ice, give it a stir and garnish with lime and a mint leaf or two.  

*simple syrup is equal parts sugar and water. Stir to dissolve and bring to a boil and then cool.

Can you believe it is the end of the week and the end of March?

Cheers!

Have a fantastic weekend.