Make this your signature drink for the summer.
- 1 Bottle of Bella Sparkling white wine *
- Cherry Syrup
Did you think I wouldn’t tell you the rest?
1 lb. dark sweet cherries, pitted, stems removed, cut in half
2 cups water
1 cup berry sugar
Put all the ingredients in a saucepan and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer for about 18-20 minutes. Pour through a sieve, reserving the liquid and discarding the skins. Refrigerate until ready to use.
In 6 champagne flutes, fill the glasses 3/4 full of the sparkling wine. Add 1-2 tsp. of cherry syrup and stir. Enjoy!
*Bella is the brand name of a new sparkling wine and really is very good. Make sure it is well chilled. Ask for it at the liquor store.
Very Special Coffee For A Very Special Dessert
Dinner is finished and everyone is sitting at the table, laughing, chatting and you bring in a fabulous dessert. To complement this rich dessert you need a very special coffee.
Perhaps you are a bachelor and want to impress that sweet young thing you just impressed with your culinary skills or ladies…you want to impress that good lookin’ gent across the table or….just want to finish the evening with a spectacular flair. Go for it…this will do it for you.
- 1 tbsp. grated chocolate
- 2 shots brewed espresso (1 1/4 oz. each one)
- 1/4 cup whipping cream, whipped to soft peaks
- 1/2 tsp. sugar
- dash of pure vanilla extract
- 2 dashes of white chocolate liqueur (you know what you think is a dash)
Spoon one half of the grated chocolate in the bottom of your 8 oz. serving glass (fancy, heat proof if you have them) or a mug.**
Pour the espresso over the chocolate and stir. Add the sugar and vanilla to the cream while whipping. Add the dash of liqueur and top with a dollop of whipped cream on top. Finish with a sprinkle of grated chocolate.
**You don’t have to add the liqueur if you don’t want it. If you really want to impress, put the mug on a small tray, place a pretty napkin on it, add a long stemmed rose. Am I a romantic or not…..
Now, is this good or what? More than that…it is YUMMY!
Berry Mash Cocktails
If you thought I had given up on my ‘signature drinks’, think again….here’s another one. It makes 2 drinks so be sure to add on when making more.
- 1/2 cup fresh raspberries or blackberries
- 3 tablespoons of Chambourd
- 2 tsp. sugar
- 1/2 bottle of any semi-dry sparkling wine of your choice
Gently stir the raspberries, sugar and Chambourd in a bowl, mascerate and let sit, covered, in the refrigerator at least 2 hours.
Spoon 2 tbsp. of the raspberries and some juice into champagne flutes, and slowly top up with the sparkling wine.
Toast each other and enjoy!
Malted Milk Shakes-Yum!
This isn’t something that should be consumed every day, but in all fairness, you will think you probably should. It is yummy! Maybe you have to be in our age bracket to even remember what malted milk shakes taste like. If that is the case, go for it.
- 3/4 whole milk (really cold) and not skim
- 1 vanilla bean, split lengthwise and seeds removed
- 2 1/2 cups Chapman’s or Tillamook vanilla ice cream
- 2 tbsp. malted milk powder (dry milk powder section of grocery stores)
- 1/4 cup malted milk balls like Maltesers, crushed
Place two 12 oz. glasses in the freezer and chill for 1-2 hours (or overnight).
Pour milk in the blender, add the vanilla seeds. Cover and blend for about 20 seconds. Add the ice cream and malted milk powder and blend until thick and creamy. Scrape the sides often to ensure a proper mix and that is is smooth.
Pour into glasses, add a straw and sprinkle the crushed balls over the top.
You can change the vanilla ice cream for chocolate. YUM! When I was a teenager and working after school, the store I worked at had “malted milk shakes”. Oh yeah
Plum Vodka Martini
Ha! You thought I had given up on martinis, didn’t you? Well, I haven’t. We haven’t had company that I could make any for. So it took me awhile and then I thought…..now’s the time.
It is simple but the inclusion of the whipped cream vodka makes it really tasty.
- 1 part spiced run
- 1 part Slivovitz (plum liqueur)
- 1 part whipped cream vodka (yes, they really do make it)
Rim martini glasses with coloured sugar (mauve to purple) and chill. Pour ingredients into shaker filled with crushed ice and shake.
Strain into the prepared glasses and garnish with a slice of red plum.
Yummmmmmmm.
Lunch on the Run Martini
My husband’s oldest son says I never put on a real martini. This one is for you and let me know how you like it. I promise this one won’t hurt….private joke, hey Trev.
- 4 partsGrey Goose Vodka
- 1 part Dry Vermouth
In a shaker filled with crushed ice, shake really well and strain into a chilled martini glass.
Now for the lunch part…..garnish with a Kalamata olive, a green olive, a cocktail onion and a cucumber slice. Who says I’m not looking after you.
Coconut Eggnog – Puerto Rico style
This is a great homemade drink to offer guests. The glasses are small and cold when serving and absolutely delicious.
- 4 cups unsweetened coconut milk
- 6 tbsp. sugar
- 8 large egg yolks
- 2 tsp. vanilla
- 6-8 tbsp. dark or spiced rum
- 1/2 tsp. freshly grated nutmeg
Combine the milk and sugar in a saucepan and bring to scalding.
In a medium bowl, beat the yolks with vanilla. beat 1/4 of the milk mixture into the yolks and whisk all the yolk mixture in the milk. Stirring constantly, cook over low heat until it coats the back of a spoon. Do not let this boil.
Strain in to a bowl and stir in the rum. Let stand to cool down to room temperature. Cover with plastic wrap and place in the refrigerator until completely chilled.
Chill the glasses as well. When serving sprinkle a whisper of nutmeg on top. Enjoy!
What a wonderful way to make friends.
At The Beach Mocktini
Not everyone consumes alcohol and for those who still wish to look trendy, make this one up. It is great for a hot, sunny day at the beach or patio…..
- 1 part cranberry juice
- 1 part grapefruit juice
- 1 part mango nectar
- 1 part club soda
Pour juices into a shaker filled with cracked ice and shake well.
Pour into chilled martini glass and carefully top with the club soda. Garnish with a mango slice. Looks good, tastes good….what more could you want?
The Glam Martini
Glam…glamourous…yummm!
- 6 parts Grey Goose Vodka
- 5 parts fresh Orange juice, no pulp
- 1 part mango nectar
- 6 parts grapefruit juice
- 1 part Grand Marnier
Pour ingredients into shaker filled with cracked ice and shake well. Strain into chilled martini glasses. Garnish with a thin orange slice.
Sounds good, tastes great. Try it!
Strong Winds Martini
Haven’t posted a good martini for awhile. Sorry, been busy baking. Here is one you will like. Makes a pretty drink.
- 4 parts Grey Goose Vodka
- 1 part Grapefruit Juice
- 1 part Mango Nectar
- 1 part lime juice
Pour all ingredients in a shaker filled with cracked ice and shake well. Strain into chilled martini glasses.
NOW, using the back of a spoon inserted into the martini glass side, slowly drizzle Cranberry Juice concentrate to create layers.( Like a Pousse Cafe, except it is a martini.)
Now that sounds so good, I am going now to make one for me. Enjoy!
Non Alcoholic “Life-line Martini”
When you have guests who do not drink, for whatever reason, make them some of these. This way, they still look like part of the party and will truly appreciate the effort put forth by you.
- 1 part White Cranberry juice
- 2 parts sparkling non-alcoholic white wine
- 1 splash of lime juice
Pour into a pitcher filled with cracked ice and gently stir. Strain into chilled martini glasses and garnish with a few frozen cranberries.
These are nice and look good as well.
Hot Chocolate Camping Martini
Don’t tell me you don’t have hot chocolate in your stash or even a bag of ice to keep your beer…oops…koolaid cool. This is fun and just a thing to keep the chilly evening air away.
- Dash of chocolate syrup
- 4 parts chocolate Vodka
- 2 parts Hot chocolate
- 1 part Irish Cream
- 1 part half and half cream
Drizzle a small amount of chocolate syrup around inside of martini glass. Mix all the ingredients except the hot chocolate, in a shaker filled with cracked ice. Shake really well and strain into chilled martini glasses.
Pour the hot chocolate over the top and add some whipped cream (yes, it does come in a spray can but make sure it is real cream). Also, out of the stash of yours, garnish with a bit of shaved chocolate. Okay, okay, tell the kids you are sorry you shaved some of their chocolate bar….in the morning, of course.
If the kids are still up around the campfire, make them S’mores and they will be just like the ‘big people’. Enjoy!