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.
Rhubarb Coffee Cake
What a wonderful time of year – Spring….when all things are new again. With Spring, comes rhubarb and this is a great way to use it.
- 1 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 3/4 cup Crisco Oil
- 1 large egg
- 2 1/2 cups flour
- 1 cup buttermilk
- pinch of salt
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1 tsp. vanilla
- 1 tsp. ground cinnamon
- 2 1/2 cups rhubarb, cleaned and chopped
- 1/2 cup pecans, coarsely chopped
- 1/2 cup berry sugar
- 1 tbsp. butter
Preheat oven to 325 degrees. In a medium bowl, mix brown sugar, oil and egg together.
Blend flour, buttermilk, salt, baking soda, cinnamon and vanilla. Blend with the egg mixture. Fold in the rhubarb and nuts.
Place in 2 greased 9 x 5 loaf pans. Combine sugar and butter brush over the top of the loaves. Bake for 1 hour. Remove to rack and cool for 10 minutes before removing. Cool completely.
Either ask all your friends over for coffee and freeze one wrapped in parchment paper and tin foil over that to seal in, or you will eat it all up.
Lemon Shortbread Cookies
One of the recipes I make each year for my ‘give away’ trays. To start, go put on a Christmas CD and go for it.
It makes 48 cookies
You will need:
- 1 1/4 cups flour
- 1/2 cup cornstarch
- 1/3 cup icing sugar
- 3/4 cup room temperature butter
- 2 tbsp. white Berry sugar
- 1 tsp, grated lemon peel
- 1 tbsp. fresh lemon juice
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
In a mixing bowl combine flour, cornstarch, icing sugar, butter, sugar, lemon peel and juice. Beat at low speed until really well mixed, about 5 minutes. Shape the dough into a 14″ x 1″ roll. Spread more Berry sugar on a flat surface and roll the dough in it to cover. You could use red or green powdered food colouring to make it festive. Wrap up and refrigerate for about 2 hours.
With a sharp knife, cut into 1/4″ pieces and place on cookie sheets covered with parchment paper. Bake 10-12 minutes. These cookies do not brown. Cool, then store in an airtight container. I now freeze mine until the day of the party.
Superb flavour and it is another melt-in-your-mouth shortbread. Aren’t they all?
Enjoy, if you sample, you just may have to double this one.