No Day But Today


It's been SO long since I posted last, but I figure there's no day like today to start back on the road to blogging fun!


In the spirit (so punny) of my attempt at a comeback, I have decided that today's feature will be my newest favorite libation. It's an homage to a P(retty) F(amous) CH(inese) restaurant's deliciousness I had back in March. Can you guess which restaurant chain I speak of?  I call it an homage because their recipe calls for lemon juice, and I prefer limes... so lime juice it will have! Give it a try - it's perfect any time of the year, and is especially delicious when it's nice and warm out!


Coconut Lime Sour


2.5oz coconut water * 
1.5oz coconut vodka +
.75oz fresh lime juice ^
.75oz bottled bar syrup or [preferably] simple syrup (recipe to follow)


Shake all ingredients together with ice.
Strain into a rocks glass with fresh ice.
Garnish with a lime wedge and a sprinkling of shredded coconut.


* I like Zico best, but so many are good!
+ Any coconut vodka can work, but Ciroc is by far the best. You get what you pay for!
^ Use fresh limes, or in a pinch non-sweetened lime juice - do not use Rose's Sweetened!


Simple Syrup


2 cups brown sugar
1 cup water


Combine sugar and water in a saucepan.
Bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring constantly.
Once all sugar is dissolved, remove from heat and let cool.
Once it's cool, put it in an airtight container and keep refrigerated.


You can use regular white sugar, but I think brown sugar gives drinks a little more of a smooth sweetness.

1/8/11: Happy Birthday, Elvis!

Elvis would have been 76 years old today. And in honor of the King of Rock 'n Roll.....the tradition will continue! Pickle soup for dinner, followed by pink piña coladas and a viewing of "Blue Hawaii"! Happy Birthday, Elvis!


Piña Colada
2 oz pineapple juice
2 oz cream of coconut (goya's is pretty good. coco lopez is what i usually use.)
1 1/2 oz light vodka (I used Bacardi)
1 cup of ice
Grenadine


Throw it in a smoothie maker (trust me, it's better than a regular blender....unless it has a smoothie setting) without the grenadine. As it's blending, add the grenadine until it's the pink color you want!!!


Use a fat straw...and don't forget the paper parasol!

1/3/11: A little Feng Shui or whatever it's called

This one is for my friend...Heather F.... because she's at the melting pot RIGHT NOW enjoying my favorite* cocktail!

Yin Yang Martini
Ingredients

• ½ ounce Godiva white chocolate liqueur
• 1 ounce Stoli Vanilla vodka
• ½ ounce White crème de cacao
• 3 ounces Vanilla ice cream
• crushed ice as needed

Directions
Blend these ingredients in a blender and pour into a 10–ounce chilled martini glass. Garnish with dark chocolate shavings in a yin yang shape and add dark and white chocolate wafers for the dots of the yin yang.

* one of my favorites from the melting pot. i mean, really, how can you pick one??? And credit for the photo belongs to Heather, too!!!!!!

1/2/11: And it begins...

So much for 2011 being off to a great start!
So, hubby & daddy tried fixing the roof today. Yes, it  has stopped leaking, but after taking a bunch of shingles off, finding the area that's soaked, buying a [cut] sheet of plywood, and new shingles (they had everything else) they discovered that there is NO hole in the roof! The blizz-izzard we had caused ice build up - or as my dad called it, an ice dam - and the snow that was melting had nowhere to go but into the wood and seeped in! I guess it's good news that there's no hole, but the time spent and money on supplies will be missed. And when it gets warmer, the ceiling in the master bedroom will need to be replaced.....since those water spots on the ceiling are what made us discover this problem to begin with!!!


Until then, though, I will continue to forge ahead with my cocktail adventure. Today's cocktail is called a Money Shot, and so I have included an image for you as well as the recipe!


Money Shot
1/2 oz vodka (Svedka, thank you)
1/2 oz Irish Cream (today I used Bailey's)
1/4 oz coffee liqueur (yup, still Kamora)
Splash of cream (or, in my case, fat free 1/2 & 1/2)


Mix in a shaker with ice. Strain into a shot glass.
Or, if you aren't in a shooter move, like me, pour into a glass - ice and all, sip & enjoy!

1/1/11 - HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!!!!!

So, here I sit with my hubby, our puppy....and my mom and dad. They are here to help us fix our 1st headache of the new year. There's a hole in the roof! Weirdly, since we bought the house in August, there have been a number of rainstorms - and some were pretty bad. But we never had a problem with a lea in the roof until this week. Thank you blizzard of 2010....you really but the icing on the rancid cake that was 2010. Maybe this will be the only big issue that we have to deal with this year, so that we can get on with getting all of our "wants" done and not all of the "needs."

Know what I needed? Something to relieve the major headache that was born in my brain this morning when Jason found that leak....

Spiked Mocha

1oz coffee liqueur (again....Kamora....)
1oz creme de cacao (i used clear, but brown is cool, too)
Espresso or strong brewed coffee
Whipped Cream
Brown Sugar

Mix liqueurs in a coffee mug (I used a clear glass Irish Coffee mug for aesthetic pleasure). Add coffee....as much as you'd like...but leave a little bit of room at the top! I don't have my espresso brewer/maker available (he has the week off - ha ha ha!) so I just used french roast coffee in my Keurig on the smallest setting. Top with whipped cream and sprinkle a little brown sugar on top. Use a chocolate candy stick or a chocolate peppermint candy cane as a stirrer.

Be wary: this thing will knock you out - even if you use regular coffee! Or, maybe I'm just a lightweight.....

12/31/10: Goodbye 2010....on to bigger & better things!!!!

Happy New Year's Eve!!!!
So, I haven't posted in 6 weeks. So much for making a blog a daily part of my life!!!! But now that 2010 is over and 2011 is just around the corner, I'm going to make a go of it again! Also, thanks to my "Secret Sister" (thanks Liz!) I have a new cocktail book - and appropriately, it's 365 cocktails long!!! I will, of course, still create new cocktails and revisit old favorites, but that book sure is tempting! As a matter of fact, I've already picked out about a dozen I'd like to try ASAP!


So, for my last post of 2010...I opt NOT to use the new book, but revisit and old favorite.


Peach Bellini
OK, this one is a little more detailed than normal - more steps. BUT it makes a pitcher to share with friends (don't be greedy!) and it's so delicious! Oh, and thanks http://www.foodnetwork.com ....since I lost the recipe but found it on your site!!!

• 6 peaches, (about 1 pound, 8 ounces), halved and pitted
• 1/4 cup superfine sugar, plus more for garnish
• 1/4 cup water
• 1 bottle Prosecco (750 ml or 3 1/3 cups), chilled

With a box grater grate peaches into a pitcher. Add the sugar and water to the peaches and place pitcher in refrigerator until chilled and sugar has dissolved, or until needed.

When ready to serve pour the superfine sugar on a plate and invert a chilled Champagne glass in the sugar to coat rim. Pour about a 1/8th of the peach mixture into the prepared glass and top off with Prosecco. Stir gently and serve.

Day 15: Anchored for Life

This one's quick and easy..... too tired for elaborating...


LONG day today. Luckily, although I drove to the ER, it was Jason who got the stitches and tetanus shot this time around. After that and workingworkingworking, it was time for sorority initiation!  I am sure the girls are partying it up. I do hope they have fun, but of course I hope they are careful, too.

AST girls....this one's for you!

Yellow Rose


Pour 1 1/2 oz pineapple juice and 1/2 oz ice-cold tequila in a shot glass.
DRINK!