All posts filed under: cocktails

Cocktail of the Week: The Lusty Lady, plus Deviled Eggs

Published by

I’m pretty excited to share this cocktail with you because, well, it’s delicious and it’s pretty, but also because it’s one of those recipes that just came together perfectly just the way I imagined it!  Last week, I attended an amazing cocktail party benefitting the Helen David Relief Fund for Bartenders Affected by Breast Cancer.  The event featured 12 specialty cocktails prepared by some of Las Vegas’ most esteemed mixologists!  I only made it through 5 cocktails that night (and that was an amazing feat all it’s own) but I left there with a fuzzy memory of  a pretty, frothy cocktail garnished with a sprig of fresh lavender.  And with that vague memory, came the inspiration for this cocktail. Now, if last week’s cocktail, the Martinez, could be considered a man’s drink, then this one is for the ladies!  And by that I mean in a “strong enough for a man but made for by a woman” kind of way!  Like the Martinez, it’s a gin-based cocktail, but lightened up with an egg white froth, an herbes …

Cocktail of the Week: Classic Gin Martinez

Published by

For this week’s cocktail, we are going old school.  The Martinez is a classic 19th century cocktail comprised of four ingredients that should be included in any well-stocked home bar:  gin, sweet vermouth, maraschino liqueur and orange bitters.  The Martinez is a drink that begs to be savored, preferably in a darkened room festooned with lots of velvet and with a bluesy refrain playing in the background.  There are no frills here–no sugared rims, no floating flowers, just refinement and simplicity in a glass!  I was inspired to make this drink after seeing the recipe on Food52 and it is remarkably simple. I used Hayman’s Old Tom gin, Martini & Rossi sweet vermouth, Christiani Maraschino and Scrappy’s Orange Bitters. Now, go put on some good music and put your feet up for a while!  Cheers!

Downtown Las Vegas Pub Crawl!

Published by

My stove has been broken since Saturday and according to the repairman, it’s going to remain broken for the remainder of the week!  I had the faintest glimmer of hope that it would be fixed today, but of course, there were parts that had to be ordered from Timbuktu.  I suppose I should be grateful that Timbuktu has rush delivery; and really I am…but I’m honestly feeling very out-of-sorts right now!  I tell you, nothing irks me more than things being broken, undone or under construction at home–not to mention being really tired of getting takeout! So, in lieu of a recipe, I wanted to show you what I got up to this past weekend: I went on my first Downtown Pub Crawl! I will be the first person to confess that I have not spent nearly enough time exploring the revitalization projects going on in Downtown Las Vegas!   I’ve been to the Smith Center for the Performing Arts, which is an awesome and wonderful addition to our city.  I’ve also spent time in …

Spicy Blood Orange Margarita

Published by

You might be wondering why I’m having a margarita on National Pie Day.  Well, other than that fact that any day is a good day for a margarita, it’s mainly because my attempt at making pie crust this week drove me to drink.  Fresh from my stellar artisan bread success over the weekend, my starry-eyed self ran to Homegoods on Monday and bought a bundt cake pan and a tart pan (the two piece type that has a removable bottom).   I planned to break in that tart pan by making an amazing quiche from scratch with a blind-baked homemade crust.   I raced home from work and immediately began making a series of rookie mistakes.  First off, I didn’t thoroughly read the recipe all the way through.  I had assumed that the pie crust dough would be the same as a dough I had experimented with over the summer, so I didn’t notice that the recipe I had chosen required a two hour rest period in the refrigerator!  No matter, I thought, I’ll just …

A Very Spicy Cocktail and Getting Back to Normal

Published by

It has been two weeks since my surgery and I’m finally beginning to climb out of the foggy tiredness that characterized my first week home.  I’m still living in my baggy sweats, but it’s so great to be able to cook breakfast (or shower, or walk 10 feet) without having to take a nap afterwards!  It’s also great to have my normal appetite back–I lost ten pounds that first week and trust me, that’s no kind of diet plan!  I could only manage to eat the tiniest portions of very bland food. Oh, how I’ve missed eating yummy, spicy food! Now that I can eat (and drink!) again, the Man of the House developed this amazing cocktail inspired by a drink called The Crisp that he enjoyed at Bar Chloe in Santa Monica, California.  This cocktail is not for the faint of heart as it packs a spicy punch that lingers long after you’ve finished that last tantalizing sip–seriously, it makes your lips burn, but it’s a good burn! For each drink you’ll need: 2 …

Happy Independence Day! America-tini!

Published by

It’s been a while since I posted a cocktail and since there’s no time like the present, Ladies and Gentlemen, I present to you my latest creation:  The America-tini! To make this summery drink, scoop out the flesh of a small seedless watermelon and gently pulse it in a food processor of blender.  Place the pulp and juice in the freezer for a few hours until frozen, then remove it and with a fork, break it up into a slush. For each drink add 1/2 cup of the slushy watermelon mixture to a cocktail shaker along with: 1 1/2 ounce good vodka, like Grey Goose1 ounce simple syrup (or less if you prefer it less sweet)1/2 ounce creme de cassis (currant liqueur) This is optional, but very tasty1 ounce lime juice1 tablespoon of frozen blueberries The frozen watermelon and frozen blueberries keep it nice and cold so there’s no need to add additional ice unless you prefer it. Give it a few quick shakes and pour into a glass that has been rimmed with sugar. …

Blueberry Mojito

Published by

I’m kind of a chronic over-purchaser of certain items, and the item varies from week to week.  This week, I overbought limes.  Every time I went to the grocery store (which is often) I bought 8 to 12 more limes.  I guess in my mind, a home without limes is just not the place to be!  So, in an effort to utilize all these limes, I decided to make mojitos!  Earlier this week, I had some friends over and made a pitcher of traditional mojitos.  They were good, but they just weren’t minty enough in my opinion.  So, I changed it up a bit and made this one with mint-infused simple syrup, and that seemed to correct that missing element.  I also added some frozen blueberries, because I had them on hand and it’s always great to be able to make a cocktail with ingredients at your fingertips!  Plus, it keeps me out of the grocery store, where I might buy more limes.  As an added bonus, the frozen blueberries help keep the drink cold!