Why not celebrate with a cheesecake inspired drink at Happy Hour?
Below is the link to a number of my original cheesecake inspired cocktails from all the chocolate types to the most popular fruit flavors:
20110630
IT'S NATIONAL CHEESECAKE DAY!
Why not celebrate with a cheesecake inspired drink at Happy Hour?
Below is the link to a number of my original cheesecake inspired cocktails from all the chocolate types to the most popular fruit flavors:
20110624
HAPPY NATIONAL PRALINE DAY
Happy
NATIONAL PRALINE DAY
It's Peach Praline Martini Time
It's Peach Praline Martini Time
Peaches and pecans go darned well together if this cocktail is anything to go by. This recipe reminded me of those great pralines we used to get at Stuckey's once upon a vacation when I was a kid, only with a little peach flavor added. If anything can make a praline better it's peaches & booze.
PEACH PRALINE MARTINIS
(Makes 2 cocktails)
INGREDIENTS:
2 Oz. Candied Pecan Liqueur
1 Oz. Peachtree Schnapps
1 Fresh (or frozen)Peach, Diced
1 Oz. Half & Half
Ice
Garnish: Cinnamon & Nutmeg Spiced Sugar Rim, Peach Slice
Tools: Blender
Glass: Cocktail
DIRECTIONS:
Mix some cinnamon and nutmeg with some sugar crystals and rim the glasses. Chill glasses in freezer.
Add all the ingredients to the blender and pulse until smooth and chilled, pour into the chilled glass, garnish and serve.
Updated 6-2020
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20110623
The CHERRIES JUBILEE MARTINI Cocktail Recipe
Cherries Jubilee is a classic dessert that was very popular in the 1950s. Made with cherries and brandy or Kirschwasser (aka Kirsch, a clear German cherry brandy) that is flambéed and served as a sauce, usually over ice cream.
The recipe is the creation of famed French chef, Auguste Escoffier, who prepared the dish for Queen Victoria's Jubilee celebrations for her 50th year as Queen on the Golden Jubilee of 1887. If you can find a copy of Escoffier's book, Le Guide Culinaire, published in 1903, you will find the recipe as "Jubilee Cherries."
Escoffier's original recipe, which wasn't all that detailed, was basically pitted cherries poached in syrup with warmed kirsch "set a light", no mention is made of ice cream. The Escoffier Culinary Academy's recipe uses bing cherries, orange juice, corn starch and sugar then flambées this fruit reduction with brandy just before spooning it over vanilla ice cream.
Inspired by both, my recipe uses two cherry brandies, Kirschwasser (Morello cherries) and a Marasca Cherry Brandy, orange juice and agave syrup as sweetener. Then I added cherry rum and topped it with whipped cream in place of the ice cream.
The
CHERRIES JUBILEE
MARTINI
INGREDIENTS
1/2 Cup of Fresh Cherry Puree
1 Oz. Cherry Rum
1/4 Oz. Kirschwasser
1/4 Oz. Cherry Brandy
1/2 Oz. Orange Juice
1 Tbsp. Agave Syrup
Garnish: 1 Cocktail Cherry, Whipped Cream
CHERRIES JUBILEE
MARTINI
INGREDIENTS
1/2 Cup of Fresh Cherry Puree
1 Oz. Cherry Rum
1/4 Oz. Kirschwasser
1/4 Oz. Cherry Brandy
1/2 Oz. Orange Juice
1 Tbsp. Agave Syrup
Garnish: 1 Cocktail Cherry, Whipped Cream
Tools: Blender
DIRECTIONS
Puree your cherries. Chill your glass in the freezer.
Fill a blender with 1/2 cup of ice then add the ingredients and blend until slushy.
Pour into a chilled glass, top off with whipped cream and garnish with the fresh cherry.
VOICEOVER VIDEO WITH INGREDIENTS AND DIRECTIONS:
EASY CHERRIES JUBILEE RECIPE:
Melt a stick of butter, then add ½ cup of sugar, caramelize to a nice light golden color then quickly add the cherries and sauté until warmed through. Then, just before you serve, add a splash of Kirsch and cautiously set it aflame with a kitchen match and spoon this over your ice cream, pound cake or whatever!
National Cherries Jubilee Day is September 24th.
GET THIS COCKTAIL RECIPE DESIGN ON TEES & CLOTHING, POSTERS, PARTY ACCESSORIES, STICKERS & CARDS:
Updated 9-2021
20110621
The PEACHES & CREAM MARTINI
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20110619
Happy National Martini Day!!
Cheers and Happy National Martini Day
from The Martini Diva!
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20110618
A Father's Day Cocktail & Quote to Share with Your Dad
Tomorrow is Father's Day and what better way to celebrate with your Dad than sit down and have a few cocktails with him and listen to his stories? Shake up a few of these Father's Day Martinis (aka Whiskey Sours) and sit down and talk to your father like a person and not a parent. You might be surprised at some of the things you learn and you'll be glad you spent the time getting to know the man inside the father costume!
FATHER'S DAY COCKTAILS
"When I was a boy of fourteen, my father was so ignorant I could hardly stand to have the old man around. But when I got to be twenty-one, I was astonished at how much he had learned in seven years." ~ Mark Twain
FATHER'S DAY COCKTAILS
"When I was a boy of fourteen, my father was so ignorant I could hardly stand to have the old man around. But when I got to be twenty-one, I was astonished at how much he had learned in seven years." ~ Mark Twain
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20110617
RASPBERRY AND BLACKBERRY MARTINI - Razzed Up
This is another great fresh blackberry martini. I did one last week - The Blackberry Bramble Martini - with strawberries and a pinch of tarragon. Today's Razzed Blackberry Martini combines fresh blackberries with equally fresh raspberries and just a tad of rosemary for a win/win cocktail / health scenario.
Fresh blackberries rival blueberries for health benefits. Raspberries bring their own goodies to the party as well so it's kind of a guilt free party you're attending here.
Take note of the fun I had with the sugar rim - half pink and half black. Just because.
Take note of the fun I had with the sugar rim - half pink and half black. Just because.
1-1/2 Oz. Vodka
1/2 C. Fresh Blackberries
1/2 C. Fresh Raspberries
1 Tbsp. Lime Juice
1 Tbsp. Agave Syrup
Pinch of Fresh Rosemary
1/2 Oz. Club Soda
DIRECTIONS
Dip the glass rim into lime juice then into the sugar to rim.
Chill glass in freezer.
Muddle the blackberries, raspberries, lime juice, agave syrup and rosemary in the bottom of your cocktail shaker.
Fill the shaker with ice then pour in the vodka and shake until well blended.
Strain into your martini glass, leaving room for the soda.
Top off with the soda then garnish.
RAZZED BLACKBERRY MARTINI HERE
20110614
STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKE MARTINI Cocktail Recipe
Put
down your fork and grab a martini glass and enjoy your strawberry
shortcake in true martini style with my recipe for The Strawberry
Shortcake Martini.
A LITTLE SHORTCAKE HISTORY
Strawberry shortcake* dates back as least as far as the 1850s but shortcake itself is a European treat that goes back to the 1500s. Shortcake got it's name from the shortening used to make dough tender. Shortening is a term that means "to shorten" a 15th century term which meant, "easily crumbled" so a traditional shortcake was originally a crumbly biscuit. Shakespeare even mentioned shortcake in his play, The Merry Wives of Windsor.
Strawberry shortcake* dates back as least as far as the 1850s but shortcake itself is a European treat that goes back to the 1500s. Shortcake got it's name from the shortening used to make dough tender. Shortening is a term that means "to shorten" a 15th century term which meant, "easily crumbled" so a traditional shortcake was originally a crumbly biscuit. Shakespeare even mentioned shortcake in his play, The Merry Wives of Windsor.
The
STRAWBERRY
SHORTCAKE
MARTINI
INGREDIENTS
1 Oz. Cake Vodka
1 Oz. Strawberry Vodka
1/2 C. Fresh Strawberry Puree
STRAWBERRY
SHORTCAKE
MARTINI
INGREDIENTS
1 Oz. Cake Vodka
1 Oz. Strawberry Vodka
1/2 C. Fresh Strawberry Puree
Pinch of Sea Salt
Garnish: Crushed Shortbread Cookies*, Whipped Cream, Strawberry
Tools: Cocktail Shaker
Glass: Cocktail (Martini) or Coupe
DIRECTIONS
Prep:
Garnish: Crushed Shortbread Cookies*, Whipped Cream, Strawberry
Tools: Cocktail Shaker
Glass: Cocktail (Martini) or Coupe
DIRECTIONS
Prep:
Puree enough fresh strawberries for 1/2 cup of strawberry puree. Refrigerate.
Crush up about 1/2 cup of shortbread cookies, then pour into a small plate.
Pour some of the cake vodka into another plate, dip your glass rim in the vodka and
then into the crushed cookies, then chill glass in the freezer.
Crush up about 1/2 cup of shortbread cookies, then pour into a small plate.
Pour some of the cake vodka into another plate, dip your glass rim in the vodka and
then into the crushed cookies, then chill glass in the freezer.
For the cocktail:
Put 1 cup of ice into your cocktail shaker then add both vodkas and the cold strawberry puree and shake until chilled.
Pour into your martini glass, top with whipped cream, add a fresh strawberry, serve.
Pour into your martini glass, top with whipped cream, add a fresh strawberry, serve.
* HOMEMADE SHORTCAKES RECIPE
I've used shortbread cookies as the rimming element here to make it easier for you to bring the shortcake element in, however if you would like to bring a little more historical authenticity to this cocktail try making some real shortcakes instead! Here is my favorite Strawberry Shortcake recipe using Bisquick® from Betty Crocker:
2-1/3 C. Bisquick® Mix
1/2 C. Milk
3 Tbsp. Sugar
3 Tbsp. Butter
Heat oven to 425°F. In a medium bowl mix together the Bisquick, milk, sugar and butter until a dough forms. On an ungreased cookie sheet drop the dough with a spoon into six separate rounds and bake 10 to 12 minutes or until golden brown. You can split the shortcakes and fill and top with sugared strawberries then top with whipped cream, or pour on half & half.
I've used shortbread cookies as the rimming element here to make it easier for you to bring the shortcake element in, however if you would like to bring a little more historical authenticity to this cocktail try making some real shortcakes instead! Here is my favorite Strawberry Shortcake recipe using Bisquick® from Betty Crocker:
2-1/3 C. Bisquick® Mix
1/2 C. Milk
3 Tbsp. Sugar
3 Tbsp. Butter
Heat oven to 425°F. In a medium bowl mix together the Bisquick, milk, sugar and butter until a dough forms. On an ungreased cookie sheet drop the dough with a spoon into six separate rounds and bake 10 to 12 minutes or until golden brown. You can split the shortcakes and fill and top with sugared strawberries then top with whipped cream, or pour on half & half.
VOICEOVER VIDEO WITH INGREDIENTS AND DIRECTIONS:
National Strawberry Shortcake Day is June 14th
20110612
Happy National Peanut Butter Cookie Day
Why eat your peanut butter cookie when you can drink it in a martini glass? The added benefit of drinking your peanut butter cookie? It won't stick to the roof of your mouth!
You also won't have to press a criss-cross pattern across the top, and, just in case you were wondering why it's traditional to put those criss-cross fork marks on a peanut butter cookie, here's two possible explanations:
- They were put there to distinguish the cookie from others for those with peanut allergies
- They were simply done in the beginning as an aid to make the cookie bake crisper as well as hold the dough together during baking.
Not that that matters with my Peanut Butter Cookie Martini - unless you're serving it up with peanut butter cookies.
So, go ahead and indulge, not every day is a peanut butter cookie holiday.
June 12th is
NATIONAL PEANUT BUTTER COOKIE DAY
Updated 4-2021
20110611
Happy WORLD GIN DAY!
World Gin Day is celebrated the 2nd Saturday in June.
20110610
LONG ISLAND ICED TEA Cocktail Recipe
June 10th is
NATIONAL ICED TEA DAY
and no one said you couldn't add a little spirit!
It's a perfect time of year for iced tea. It's summer, it's hot and iced tea is refreshing on a sultry day. You just want to sit out on the porch in a rocking chair with a tall glass while you contemplate the birds and the bees.
But maybe not this particular recipe for "iced tea".
It does taste like iced tea and therein lies the danger. It tastes like iced tea, it looks like iced tea, but you are swilling down a big honking glass of almost pure booze.
Very sneaky and very dangerous and a cocktail to be very cautious with, but as long as you stay safely on your porch just contemplating the birds and bees you might be safe.
Very sneaky and very dangerous and a cocktail to be very cautious with, but as long as you stay safely on your porch just contemplating the birds and bees you might be safe.
LONG ISLAND
ICED TEA
INGREDIENTS
1/2 Oz. Gin
1/2 Oz. Light Rum
1/2 Oz. Vodka
1/2 Oz. Blanco Tequila
1/2 Oz. Triple Sec
1 Oz. FRESH Sour Mix
2 Oz. Cola
Garnish:
Lemon Wedge
DIRECTIONS
Add all ingredients to a highball glass filled with ice, stir, garnish and serve.
VOICEOVER VIDEO WITH INGREDIENTS AND DIRECTIONS:
Updated 6-2021
20110607
HAPPY NATIONAL CHOCOLATE ICE CREAM DAY!
June 7th is
NATIONAL CHOCOLATE ICE CREAM DAY
Oh, come on, you can't just throw some chocolate ice cream into a cocktail shaker, add booze and call it a day! Uh uh, no way, nope. Let's take National Chocolate Ice Cream Day up a notch and celebrate with my Chocolate Malt Martini!
Get the full sized 5x3 recipe card for the
CHOCOLATE MALT MARTINI HERE
It's a good day when you get to celebrate chocolate and ice cream . . . and martinis!
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20110605
Happy NATIONAL GINGERBREAD DAY
June 5th is
NATIONAL GINGERBREAD DAY
I think it's a little odd that someone picked a day in June for National Gingerbread Day. Someone else, more seasonally minded, picked November 21st as Gingerbread Day. Gingerbread is something I associate with Christmas but, there you have it, National Gingerbread Day is commemorated on June 5th, while Gingerbread Day is celebrated in November.
I think it's a little odd that someone picked a day in June for National Gingerbread Day. Someone else, more seasonally minded, picked November 21st as Gingerbread Day. Gingerbread is something I associate with Christmas but, there you have it, National Gingerbread Day is commemorated on June 5th, while Gingerbread Day is celebrated in November.
Here's all my
Serve up any of these drinks with my favorite cookie of all time - my Mom's Gingersnaps.
HAPPY NATIONAL GINGERBREAD DAY!
Updated 11-2017
HAPPY NATIONAL GINGERBREAD DAY!
Updated 11-2017
20110602
Watermelon Grape Martini
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For those long, hot summer days when your throat is dry and your mouth is parched, here's a refreshing watermelon cooler in a martini glass. With a little bit of muddled grapes, basil and a little zest of lemon for some sweet tang.
A very enjoyable libation for the dog days of summer.
A very enjoyable libation for the dog days of summer.