THE OLYMPIC TORCH MARTINI - Going For The Gold!

Photo By Nik Frey (niksan) [CC-BY-2.5 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.5)], via Wikimedia Commons 

INGREDIENTS for the
OLYMPIC TORCH MARTINI

1 Oz. Bacardi® Torched Cherry
1 Oz. Bacardi® Spiced Rum
Edible Gold Flakes
1/4 oz Bacardi® 151 rum

DIRECTIONS
Shake a few of the edible gold flakes into your martini glass. Pour the Bacardi® Torched Cherry and the Bacardi® Spiced Rum over the gold flakes.  Carefully layer the Bacardi® 151 rum on top by pouring it very carefully over the back of a spoon into the martini glass. Carefully* ignite the 151 rum (a barbecue lighter is a good tool here).

It is best to assemble the Olympic Torch Martini at the table or serving location instead of moving it once it's lit!

FLAMING DRINK PRECAUTIONS!*

• Do NOT drink this while the cocktail is still on fire! Extinguish all flames before consumption!
• Cap off all liquor bottles and move away from the area before lighting any cocktail on fire. Remove any other flammable items and watch out for your clothing and hair.
• Do not use a delicate or crystal glass because they are more prone to shattering from the heat and flame. Use a cheaper and heavier glass instead.
• Keep a fire extinguisher, glass of water or some other fire suppression method at hand.  Should the glass explode the flaming alcohol could run all over and start a very bad fire, remember, alcohol IS a fire accelerant!
• Do NOT stick any part of your body in or near the drink until you are positive the flames are extinguished. If it's too light outside you may not see the flames clearly as alcohol flames burn blue.
• Do not serve this to someone who has clearly had too much to drink. 
• Do not do this in the presence of children.  Don't give them any more dangerous ideas!

Tweet
Follow me on Twitter as PopArtDiva
Follow me on Twitter as TheMartiniDiva
Friend me on Facebook
PLEASE DRINK RESPONSIBLY

CHOCOLATE CAKE MARTINI & HOMEMADE CHOCOLATE CAKE LIQUEUR RECIPE

Since I have made several versions of Chocolate Vodka and Chocolate Liqueurs, I decided it might be fun to try a Chocolate Cake Vodka.

This was perfect because my birthday was coming up in a few weeks and I just had enough time for the chocolate to infuse in the booze and make myself a Chocolate (Birthday) Cake Martini.

I started with Pinnacle Cake Vodka because it tastes and smells just like yellow cake batter so if I could get chocolate into that I was in good shape. I decided to use one of my chocolate candy liqueur recipe techniques because they are easy and all I needed to do was add that chocolate. The Chocolate Cake Liqueur recipe and steps are below the cocktail recipe.

As for the cocktail, you'll see that I had a birthday candle attached to my martini glass. That was a simple enough procedure, I took chocolate chips, melted them in the microwave for about a minute and a half, poured a little into a plate to rim the glass and the rest into a star shaped candy mold. I stuck the candle into the chocolate star and let that cool in the fridge along with the rimmed glass. Then I melted a bit more chocolate and used that as the "glue" to stick the star to the glass rim!

The
CHOCOLATE (BIRTHDAY) CAKE MARTINI

INGREDIENTS:

1 Oz. Homemade Chocolate Cake Vodka

1 Oz. Godiva Chocolate Liqueur

1 Oz. Cream

Garnish: 1 C. Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips, melted to rim glass

Optional - if it's your birthday: Molded Chocolate Star with a Birthday Candle

DIRECTIONS:

Melt the chocolate chips in a saucer large enough for the glass rim to fit. Dip the rim into the melted chocolate and let cool.

Make your chocolate star candle holder and attach to rim.

Pour your homemade Chocolate Cake Vodka, the Godiva Liqueur and cream into a cocktail shaker filled with ice and shake until chilled.

Pour into your glass, light the candle and serve.

HOW TO MAKE CHOCOLATE CAKE LIQUEUR

Take 12 ounces of very dark, bittersweet chocolate and chop up into small pieces with a knife. The darker and less sweet chocolate is better because Cake Vodka has enough sweetness on it's on.

Put the chopped chocolate into a blender with a 750 milliliter bottle of cake vodka and rough blend this. Don't get it too blended or you'll end up with a syrup.

Pour this all into a quart glass jar that has a sealable lid and place in the refrigerator for two weeks or up to a month. Shake at least once a day.

When your cake vodka has absorbed enough of the chocolate flavor for you, strain it first through a large metal strainer and then, little by little, through a coffee filter lined strainer.  Use a new coffee filter each time you fill the strainer and be patient as this takes time. The coffee filter is straining out all the solids which can make your liqueur grainy.

Once your Chocolate Cake Liqueur is completely strained you can pour it into a decorative bottle, label it and enjoy or share!

National Chocolate Cake Day is January 27th.

Updated 1-2021

PLEASE DRINK RESPONSIBLY

HAPPY "ENJOY BEING A GIRL DAY" - We Deserve It!

I DECLARE JULY 26th as ENJOY BEING A GIRL DAY!
GIRL'S NIGHT OUT MARTINI

(Plus a few more!)

TAKE A GIRL DAY!

Something every girl should know how to do is enjoy being a girl.  For me that usually means taking a vacation from the drudgery of everyday life, skipping out and going on a luxury shopping trip then ending the day with martinis with my besties!

I think most women are born with the shopping gene, but for those of you who have had it stomped on - put your stilettos on and do some stomping back! There's nothing that calms the emotions, soothes the ego and unruffles feathers more than a full day of throwing caution to the wind, spending a ton of money on yourself then enjoying a few martinis with your best friends! Well, almost nothing, but we're talking "Girls Night Out" here.....

I don't know why, but ordering your own limo, getting something frivolous for yourself, having a couple of martinis, filling shopping bags with stuff you don't need and maybe even taking in a romantic comedy along the way all combine to put a smile on any girls face!

So here's my list - in order and with tongue firmly in cheek - of how to fully utilize "Enjoy Being A Girl Day" by spending money and pampering yourself. Feel free to go it alone or share with your girlfriends:

First, you have to order up your own limo and driver for the day. Parking is a pain and alcohol is in the itinerary! One day of a limo rental is a lot less expensive than a DUI, way more fun and seriously more convenient for the schedule.

Is your limo here with your very young and attractive wannabe actor/chauffeur yet? Good. Let's start our "Enjoy Being A Girl" Shopathon!:

• You'll want to look good today, so, after a stop for a quick mocha latte, head right to the spa for a hair styling, some war paint and a mani-pedi. A few hours of pampering and you're done!  Now, you're looking good and no witch shop girl at any chi-chi boutique would dare snub you!
• It's probably around lunchtime now so head off to your favorite bistro for a wonderful gourmet salad and a lovely Bellini Martini. Take a teeny little detour first to your favorite jewelry store and buy yourself something sparkly. Bling is always a "Enjoy Being A Girl" must.
• Now that you're refreshed and properly warm and fuzzy from your Bellini (and the little bit of bling you just bought.), it's time for the serious shopping! Gird your Prada bag, hoist your credit cards and Charge!
• The shopping spree must buys are: One article of clothing that is not practical, One pair of divine shoes that make your legs look stupendous, a box of very expensive chocolates, something goofy that makes you laugh and a little gift for your BFF. These are mandatory purchases - everything else is gratis!
• BTW, You are a Goddess! You do not shop in malls! Go to the ritzy part of town and hit the snooty, upscale boutiques! Remember to keep your nose highly elevated and drawl this often, "oh, that's just too Paris Hilton for me!" then put it back like it's smelly trash, this will put the witchy shop girls in their place!
• Are your shopping bags full yet? Okay, then now it's time to take a little break and see a movie or enjoy a nice twelve dollar fruit smoothie with some rum in it! Ah, wasn't that a good break?
• Oh, look! It's time to pretend shop for cars! Get yourself right over to the foreign car dealer and saunter around the Ferraris and Aston Martins like you just can't make up your mind. If you've sauntered right and your stilettos look like Jimmy Choos, you'll hook a salesman and maybe score a test drive! At the end of the test drive, when the salesman starts getting pushy tell him to give you a card and you'll have your business manager call him, then saunter back on out of the dealership to your waiting limo.
• You are now into the solid Cocktail Hour so head yourself (and any BFFs) right over to the hippest little martini bar in town and order up a few Girl's Night Out Martinis. A nice plate of appetizers would be a perfect way to deal with that peckish feeling in your tummy and let you have just one more little 'tini before heading home.
• Wait, did we get everything? Sexy shoes, rich and calorie laden chocolates, jewelry, some trinkets and gifts? Uh-oh, what about lingerie?? We forgot the lingerie and no "Enjoy Being A Girl Day" is complete without one or two little strips of intimate-attire silk!  Back tracking takes energy so grab a Drunk on Espresso Martini for a little boost and head over to Victoria's Secret before they close!
• Whew. Disaster averted. You have gotten yourself beautified, completed the shopping mission objectives, enjoyed cocktails and cuisine, a few laughs and you enjoyed "Being A Girl" in style!
• Back in the limo? Great, now relax, kick off those skyscraper pumps, riffle through all your booty and enjoy the quiet of the limo on the way home while you sip a nice Dessert Martini and savor your "Enjoy Being A Girl Day" memories. Mission Accomplished!

HAPPY "ENJOY BEING A GIRL DAY"

Tweet
Follow me on Twitter as PopArtDiva
Follow me on Twitter as TheMartiniDiva
Friend me on Facebook
PLEASE DRINK RESPONSIBLY

Ice Cream Cone Cupcakes? Put some BOOZE in them!

Get the complete recipe and full instructions:

ICE CREAM CONE CUPCAKE COCKTAILS

Yeah, everybody and their mother is doing cupcakes in ice cream cones.  Nothing new there, BUT they're doing them wrong!! They're not putting any BOOZE in them! Yeah, right??

Happy National Ice Cream Cone Day!

PLEASE DRINK RESPONSIBLY

THE PROJECT RUNWAY MARTINI - MAKE IT WORK!

THE PROJECT RUNWAY

MAKE IT WORK
MARTINI

INGREDIENTS

 2 OZ. THREE OLIVES LOOPY VODKA

(This is a fruit loops flavored vodka, which I thought was snidely appropriate to all the fruit loopy contestants)

1 CUP OF MIXED BERRIES

(because Project Runway is a huge sewing basket full of fruits & nuts)

JUICE OF 1/2 LEMON

(for the acidic and tart comments from both contestants and judges.)

SPLASH OF SODA

(for the effervescent Heidi)

SEVERAL FRESH BERRIES

(For the berry astute Nina)

AGAVE SYRUP

(for the sweetalicious Tim Gunn)

SHIMMER WHITE SUGAR CRYSTALS

(for all the bling and flash)

TOOLS

Fashionista Style Vintage Crystal Martini Glass

Classically Fashionable Retro Cocktail Shaker

Fashion Forward Cocktail Pick

Plain Old Strainer

INSTRUCTIONS

 Dip your martini glass in the agave syrup and then into the Shimmer White Sugar Crystals and chill in the freezer.  Put the cup of mixed berries and the lemon juice into the bottom of a cocktail shaker and muddle really well so all the juices are released.  Add a cup of ice to your cocktail shaker, pour in the Loopy Vodka and shake until well chilled.  Your cocktail shaker will frost over when the martini is chilled well.

Strain this into your chilled martini glass, skewer the berries onto your fashion forward cocktail pick, lay this across the martini and enjoy during every episode of Project Runway.  If you need a snack to go with try my Salad Pizza!

AUF WIEDERSEHEN!

PLEASE DRINK RESPONSIBLY Updated 10-2016

CAVIAR MARTINI & EDIBLE COCKTAILS

July 18th is NATIONAL CAVIAR DAY and I couldn't let it pass without giving you a fun way to have caviar in your booze.  I got so riled up that I actually came up with a Caviar Martini AND Edible Caviar Cocktail  Gels (aka Jello Shots.)

We may not be living in the greed driven, decadent 1980's and we may not be awash in a life of luxury but there's no reason why we can't grab a little bit of gourmet for one martini or a glitzy edible bite at happy hour, right?

The
CAVIAR MARTINI

INGREDIENTS
2 Oz. Chilled Vodka
Tsp. Dry Vermouth
3 Thin Slices Cucumber

Garnish: 2 small slices of a cucumber. 1 caviar cube.

Tools: Cocktail shaker, Metal strainer

DIRECTIONS
Add the cucumber slices and vermouth to a cocktail shaker and muddle to release juices from cucumber.
Fill shaker with ice, add vodka and shake until chilled.
Double strain into a chilled cocktail  glass garnish and serve.

Get the full size, mailable Caviar Martini Recipe Postcard/Invitation HERE.

National Caviar Day is July 18th.
PLEASE DRINK RESPONSIBLY

HAPPY WISH UPON A STAR DAY - Star Fruit Martini Recipe

July 17th is

WISH UPON A STAR DAY

and to make your cocktail dreams come true, here is my

WISH UPON A STAR FRUIT COCKTAIL

Take a few steps back to when you were young and you believed that if you wished upon a star all your dreams would come true. Maybe, if you believe hard enough, they will.

And now, here is my favorite song in the whole world and my favorite version of it,

JIMINY CRICKET (Cliff Edwards) Sings WHEN YOU WISH UPON A STAR:

MAY YOUR DREAMS COME TRUE!

Updated 7-2016

Follow me on Twitter as TheMartiniDiva

PLEASE DRINK RESPONSIBLY

Happy GUMMY WORM DAY! Go Eat a Worm (Gummy Worm Shot!)

If you have to eat a worm, this is the way to do it!

When I was a kid my friends and I would sing this silly children's song:

"Nobody likes me,
everybody hates me,
think I'll go eat a worm."

It popped into my head for some odd reason and I couldn't get it out. So . . .  I turned it into edible cocktails. Cute, green little jello shots that will tickle your happy hour fancy. And you can make them without alcohol for kids parties.

They are fun, delicious little tropical flavored bites infused with your favorite fruit flavored vodka, simple jello shots (the "primordial booze") with a sour gummy worm crawling out.

GUMMY WORM EDIBLE COCKTAIL in Primordial Booze

DIRECTIONS FOR MAKING
GUMMY WORM COCKTAIL GEL SHOTS

INGREDIENTS
1/2 C. Pineapple Juice
1/2 C. Sunny Delight, Original
2 Pkg. Unflavored Gelatin Powder
1 Sm. Box of Lime Flavored Gelatin Dessert Mix
1 C. Fruit Flavored Vodka
Sour Gummy Worm Candies
Spray Vegetable Oil

GARNISH & PRESENTATION

Serving Platter
White Sugar Shimmer Cake Decorations (worm "dirt")
Sour Gummy Worm Candies
(See Tips below)

TOOLS
Measuring Cups
Non-stick Medium Saucepan
Spoon
Disposable 2oz Plastic Jello Shot Cups

GUMMY WORM JELLO SHOT DIRECTIONS

Spray all your molds with cooking spray and set aside.
Add the 1/2 cup of pineapple juice and 1/2 cup of Sunny Delight to a saucepan.
Sprinkle in the 2 packages of gelatin powder, give a quick stir and allow to sit for a couple of minutes.
Warm this mixture over a low heat for about 5 minutes, long enough for the gelatin to completely dissolve.
Remove your pan from the heat and stir in the lime gelatin mix until dissolved.
Add the 1 cup of Gummy Vodka and stir.
Pour the mixture into your plastic jello shot cups, add one gummy worm candy and refrigerate until set, a minimum of two hours.

NOTE: To keep my worms from sliding back into their still liquid primordial booze ooze, I grabbed the worm candies with a nice curve to them then inserted a toothpick underneath them to hold them in place while the gels set:

TIPS

You can soak some of those gummy worms in the same vodka overnight for an extra boozy kick. Just put some in a glass container then cover with vodka. Strain them out onto parchment paper then let them dry a bit and roll them in sugar.

If you're preparing these for a party that will have children present create some without alcohol simply by replacing the liquor with the same amount of a non-alcoholic liquid or puree of a complimentary flavor, BUT be sure to make the non-alcoholic ones look very different from the ones with alcohol.

National Gummy Worm Day is July 15th.

 

PLEASE DRINK RESPONSIBLY

IT'S NATIONAL STRAWBERRY SUNDAE DAY and I did pour it into a martini glass!

July 7th is

NATIONAL STRAWBERRY SUNDAE DAY

Oh yeah, I did!

The STRAWBERRY SUNDAE MARTINI

because it's the right thing to do.

And because you can garnish it with a cheesecake filled strawberry!

Purchase the STRAWBERRY SUNDAE MARTINI on a fun & mailable Postcard/Invitation

Happy National Strawberry Sundae Day!

Tweet
Follow me on Twitter as PopArtDiva
Follow me on Twitter as TheMartiniDiva
Friend me on Facebook
PLEASE DRINK RESPONSIBLY

For National Apple Cobbler Day - THE APPLE COBBLER MARTINI

I'm found of Apple Cocktails. I'm fond of apples. I'm not fond of applesauce. In fact, I kind of hate applesauce, but a friend gave me some of her homemade applesauce (more like a quart) and I had to find a way to use it and not hurt her feelings. So I came up with this recipe for an Apple Cobbler Martini. It uses a quarter of a cup of applesauce for each cocktail so I managed to use up that applesauce gift pretty fast. Now I'm hoping I get the applesauce as a gift again, lol.

Inspired by my Baked Apple Tarragon Chicken Breast recipe this cocktail recipe includes apple vodka, lemon, some spices, sugar, some sautéd apples and, of course, applesauce.

The Caramelized Apple Garnish:

THE

APPLE COBBLER MARTINI 

INGREDIENTS:

1-1/2 Oz. Apple Vodka

1 Oz. Orange Juice

1/4 Cup Applesauce

2 Tart Apples

Juice of 1 Lemon

2 Oz. Salted Butter

2 Tablespoons of Sugar

2 Teaspoons of Tarragon

1 Teaspoon Each of Nutmeg and Cinnamon

DIRECTIONS:

Make the Caramelized Apples:

Peel and slice the apples. Melt the butter in a saute pan, add the apples and saute for 5 - 8 minutes or until almost cooked through. Add the sugar, half the spices and reduce until the sugar gets well caramelized. Set aside to cool while you prepare your cocktail.

Make the Martini:

Blend all but 3 or 4 of the caramelized apples into the applesauce and add 1/4 cup to each cocktail you're making. Save the unblended ones for the garnish.

Fill a cocktail shaker with ice then add the applesauce, apple vodka, orange juice, lemon juice, the rest of the spices and shake until smooth.

Pour into your chilled glass (do not strain, it's futile), garnish with a couple of the caramelized apples and serve.

Updated 7-2018 PLEASE DRINK RESPONSIBLY

HAPPY 4TH OF JULY - Fireworks for your Martini Glass!

HAPPY 4TH OF JULY!

May Your 4th Be Filled

With Fun, Food & Lots of Sparklers!

FOURTH OF JULY COCKTAILS

JULY 4TH MARTINI RECIPE CARDS

Updated 2-2017

PLEASE DRINK RESPONSIBLY

CHOCOLATE WAFER MARTINI COCKTAIL RECIPE

Because even National Chocolate Wafer Day deserves a cocktail namesake - it's chocolate!

The

CHOCOLATE WAFER

MARTINI

Ingredients

1-1/2 Oz. Whipped Cream Vodka

1 Oz. Dark Creme de Cacao

2 Oz. Half & Half

Pinch of Sea Salt

Garnish

Cocktail glass rim of Crushed Chocolate Wafer Cookie

DIRECTIONS

Shake the ingredients with ice.

Strain into your Wafer rimmed cocktail  glass.

Serve and enjoy.

VOICEOVER VIDEO WITH INGREDIENTS AND DIRECTIONS:

National Chocolate Wafer Day is every July 3rd.

PLEASE DRINK RESPONSIBLY

Happy NATIONAL ANISETTE DAY - The Anisette Martini

July 2nd is

NATIONAL ANISETTE DAY

and this ANISETTE MARTINI is a Star of Anise Cocktails!

Anise (Pimpinella anisum) is a spice that is very reminiscent of licorice. Star Anise (Illicium verum) closely resembles Anise in flavor but is not actually Anise.  Both have a licorice flavor to them. If you've ever had Galliano, Sambuca, Pastis or Absinthe you will be somewhat familiar with the flavors of Anise aka Aniseed or Star Anise as one of these has been used to flavor those liqueurs.

Of course, another liqueur that is flavored with Anise or Star Anise is Anisette and that is the "star" of my Anisette Martini for National Anisette Day!

Happy National Anisette Day!

Updated  4-2016

Tweet
Follow me on Twitter as PopArtDiva
Follow me on Twitter as TheMartiniDiva
Friend me on Facebook
PLEASE DRINK RESPONSIBLY

It's NATIONAL GINGERSNAP DAY - The Gingersnap Martini

Happy National Gingersnap Day!

I drowned that cookie in a martini!

The GINGERSNAP MARTINI

Just another excuse for me to enjoy my favorite cookie of all time, my Mom's Gingersnaps!

Now, snap to and enjoy Gingersnap Day!

PLEASE DRINK RESPONSIBLY
Updated 7-2022