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A Little Holiday Cheer

BB — Mon, 13 Dec 2010 20:36:16 +0000

Scotch Holiday Sour

11/2 oz. Scotch
1 oz Cherry Brandy
½ oz. Sweet Vermouth
1oz. Lemon Juice
1 slice Lemon

Shake all ingredients (except lemon slice) with ice and strain into an old-fashioned glass over ice cubes. Add the slice of lemon and serve.

Rudolph The Red Nose Reindeer

11/4oz. Light Rum
11/2oz. Lemon Juice
1/2 oz. Grenadine
Mix the Light Rum, Lemon Juice, and Grenadine. Add the ice cubes and fill to your own taste with Cranberry juice. Add a wedge of lemon on your glass and voila! Enjoy!

An Angel’s Kiss

1/4 oz. White Crème de Cacao.
1/4 oz. Sloe Gin
1/4 oz. Brandy
1/4 oz Light Cream

Pour ingredients carefully, in order given, into a pousse-café glass so that they do not mix.

Preparing for that Holiday Party

BB — Mon, 13 Dec 2010 20:33:36 +0000

‘Tis the Season.... Love to entertain? I do! I figured out that it doesn’t have to cost and arm and a leg when it comes to decorating, if you just have a few essentials on hand at all times. The foundation should be simple and basic, but stylish. By using this method, you will be able to create any party design you want in the future without worrying about a big expense. Just add accessories to change the look.
Purchase a basic white dinnerware, something sleek and simple. This will give you the opportunity for creativity for every theme you’d like to create and let your food be the star of your party. You can accent your dishes with any type, color, shape or accent plate, table linen, centerpiece, or color palette. Always mix in a decorative tray, but sticking to a foundation of white as the staple of your collection will give you the most flexibility for any occasion.
For your beverage barware, think basic. Stick to a simple clear design. It will work with any type of tabletop theme or drink display. This will include red and white wine and champagne glasses. Also, have a glass punch bowl as your “must have” as you will find it will come in handy for those baby or wedding showers. Since wine is usually served at one’s party, make sure you have something to open it with. An ice bucket is a nice addition and it looks classier than that bag of ice in the sink. Try to find a stainless steel ice bucket or maybe a glass one.
Something that is fun and reduces a need for a search party is a drink tag. Not necessary, but a nice addition for your guests. Set the tags out at the drink table and have each guest take one to identify their drink. You will hear them commenting on how unique this tradition is.
Don’t forget the serving pieces. A great set of serving utensils is an often-overlooked entertaining must-have, until you set out the food at your soiree and oops, the food is too much to get out of the dish with the silverware you are using.

Leftovers from that Thanksgiving Dinner

BB — Thu, 11 Nov 2010 02:12:53 +0000

Anticipating leftover turkey from that Thanksgiving dinner? Below is a recipe that is easy and delicious and it will help you make the most of leftover turkey.

Layered casserole Ingredients:

1 box of cornbread stuffing mix

1 stick of melted butter or margarine

1 can of cream of chicken soup

1 can of cream of mushroom soup

3 cups of diced turkey (chicken can also be used)

2 cups of chicken broth

Salt and pepper to taste

Melt butter and add in stuffing mix. Blend together the soups and the broth in a separate mixing bowl. Place the stuffing mixture in the bottom of a 2 quart casserole dish, buttered or coated with cooking spray, and layer with half of the stuffing mix, then half of the turkey, then half of soup mixture. Repeat layers. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. Serves 6.

Virtual Bartender – Summer Drinks

BB — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 18:21:40 +0000

Just What Is A Mojito?

Mojito As Defined By Wikipedia

A mojito is a traditional Cuban cocktail which became popular in the United States during the late 1980s, and has recently seen a resurgence in popularity.

A mojito is traditionally made of five ingredients: rum, sugar (traditionally sugar cane juice), lime, carbonated water and mint. Its combination of sweetness and refreshing citrus and mint flavors are intended to mask the potent kick of the rum, and have made this clear cocktail a popular summer drink. Many hotels in Havana also add Angostura bitters to cut the sweetness of the mojito; while a popular variation, it is not the original version created in La Bodeguita del Medio.

The Original Recipe From La Bodeguita del Medio

1 teaspoon powdered sugar
Juice from 1 lime (2 ounces)
4 mint leaves
1 sprig of mint
Havana Club white Rum (2 ounces)
2 ounces club soda

Place the mint leaves into a long mojito glass (often called a "collins" glass) and squeeze the juice from a cut lime over it. You'll want about two ounces of lime juice, so it may not require all of the juice from a single lime. Add the powdered sugar, then gently smash the mint into the lime juice and sugar with a muddler, although you can also use the back of a fork or spoon. Add ice (preferably crushed) then add the rum and stir, and top off with the club soda (you can also stir the club soda in as per your taste). Garnish with a mint sprig.

(from Taste Of Cuba)

Summer Cocktail Recipes

A.M. Cocktail

1 part ABSOLUT® MANGO
Fresh apple juice
Build over ice in a tall glass. Garnish with a fresh mango wedge.

Fresh Mint Margaritas
• 1/2 cup chopped mint leaves
• 1/2 tsp. kosher salt
• 4 cups crushed ice
• 1 1/2 cups good-quality tequila
• 1 cup freshly squeezed lime juice (from about 8 limes)
• 1 cup Triple Sec

Directions:

In the bottom of a large (2-quart) pitcher, crush together mint and salt, pressing with the back of a wooden spoon. Add ice. Add tequila, lime juice, and Triple Sec, stirring vigorously. Serve in short tumblers or wineglasses.

Cosmopolitan Martini Cocktail

1/2 oz Cointreau
1 oz Vodka
Juice of 1/2 Lime
1 splash Cranberry juice

Pour all ingredients in mixing glass half filled with ice, shake and strain into chilled Martini glass.

Virtual Bartender – Love Potion

BB — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 06:10:12 +0000

Love Potion #159

1 oz Vodka (Absolut)
1 oz Amaretto
1 oz Peach Schnapps
1 oz Orange juice
1 oz Cranberry juice
Ice Cubes

Pour ingredients into shaker with ice, shake and serve on the rocks.

This Week’s Dish

BB — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 14:15:48 +0000

Angel Shrimp Scampi

1 small clov garlic -- minced
2 tablespoons minced parsley stems
1/2 large white onion -- minced
1 dash Tabasco sauce
1/2 cup bland cooking oil
1/4 cup lemon juice
1/2 cup dry Chenin Blanc
12 large green shrimp -- peeled with tails

-- on Unflavored breadcrumbs Melt Butter

Combine first 7 ingredients. Marinate shrimp overnight in mixture. Remove shrimp from marinade. Immediately roll, undrained, in breadcrumbs. Place on combination broiling and serving platter. Dribble melted butter over shrimp. Add marinade to 1/8 in. in bottom of broiler pan. Broil slowly on low heat until done. Note: Use Tabasco sauce in place of pepper; it blends better with other ingredients. Use only white bread crumbs, brown crumbs or crusts will brown too fast during cooking. Alternative method of preparation: Saute shrimp in combination of half butter and half cooking oil. When done, remove from skillet. Reduce marinade in skillet, pour over shrimp and serve.