BACON COCKTAILS

Come on. You know you want 'em!
BACON COCKTAILS 
BLT MARTINI BACON & VODKA INFUSED TAPAS BACON VODKA RECIPE CHEESY DOODLE-TINI TURKEY MARTINI WHEN PIGS FLY

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The SCREWDRIVER, A classic highball drink

A timeless highball classic, the Screwdriver is a drink that, like many of our cocktails, has a murky, debatable history. Most stories range back to the early 20th century with mentions of Turkish intelligence agents and engineers in clandestine bar meetings, World War II soldiers adding vodka to their reconstituted o.j., and even oil workers in the Persian Gulf mixing their vodka into their juice with a screwdriver because they lacked another convenient stir tool. 
Personally, I think it was invented by a overworked, under appreciated, bored and hungover mid-twentieth century housewife who spied a nearly empty bottle of vodka on the kitchen counter the morning after she and her hubby had thrown a cocktail party. "Waste not, want not" and that dribble of vodka went into her morning o.j. before the bottle went into the trash can. From that point on a little vodka in the juice was as accepted an accessory to her breakfast as her pearl choker was to her shirtdress.
The I.B.A recipe calls for 10 parts orange juice to 5 parts vodka. I like my Screwdriver a little less like diesel fuel and fresh juice is a must.

The SCREWDRIVER
8 Oz. Fresh Orange Juice 1-1/2 Oz. Vodka
Glass: Highball
DIRECTIONS Fill a chilled highball glass with ice cubes. Add the vodka, add the orange juice, stir. Garnish with an orange slice, serve. 
My Variations SONIC SCREWDRIVER DEATH BY SCREWDRIVER
Other Variations HARVEY WALLBANGER Fuzzy Navel: Peach Schnapps and orange juice. Hairy Navel: Vodka, Peach Schnapps and orange juice. Brass Monkey: Vodka, Dark Rum and orange juice. Cordless Screwdriver: Shot of vodka, shot of orange juice. Tang Banger: Vodka and Tang. Poor Man's Screwdriver: Vodka and Sunny Delight. Electric Screwdriver: Vodka, Tequila, energy drink and orange juice. Slow Screw: Slow gin and orange juice. Slow Comfortable Screw: Southern Comfort and orange juice. Slow Comfortable Screw Up Against the Wall: Slow Gin, Southern Comfort, Galliano and orange juice. Slow Comfortable Screw Up Against The Wall Mexican Style: Slow Gin, Southern Comfort, Galliano, Tequila and orange juice. Slow Comfortable Screw Up Against a Fuzzy Wall: Slow Gin, Southern Comfort, Galliano, Peach Schnapps and orange juice. Slow Comfortable Screw Up Against a Fuzzy Pink Wall: Slow Gin, Southern Comfort, Galliano, Peach Schnapps, Sparkling Rosè and orange juice. (I know ... but I didn't name them!)
National Screwdriver Day is December 14th.
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GAZPACHO MARTINI COCKTAIL

This cocktail was inspired by leftovers from a Mexican dinner. I had homemade pico de gallo and after sitting for a day I noticed there was quite a bit of juice from the tomatoes and cucumbers in the bottom of the pico de gallo container. I suddenly wondered how that would taste as the mixer for a cocktail and, boom, this gazpacho martini was born.
The GAZPACHO MARTINI
INGREDIENTS 2 Oz. Tomato Vodka 1 Oz. Pico de Gallo "Juice"* 1/2 Oz. Fresh Lime Juice 5 Drops Chohula Lime Hot Sauce
GARNISHCilantro SprigLime Slice
DIRECTIONS * Make some homemade Pico de Gallo. After it sits for several hours or overnight there will be some lovely juices you can strain out. How much juice will determine how many cocktails you can make.Chill your glass.Add the ingredients to an ice filled cocktail shaker, shake until chilled then strain into your chilled glass.Garnish and serve.

VOICEOVER VIDEO WITH INGREDIENTS AND DIRECTIONS:

National Gazpacho Day is December 6th.

Updated 12-2021

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The BABY GROOT COCKTAIL - I AM GROOT!

I have a very close friend who is madly in love with Baby Groot, the miniature but growing incarnation of Groot from Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy series. She collects anything Baby Groot and, for fun, is placing hers in a variety of locales and scenarios.
I decided she needed a special cocktail for those moments.
Merry Christmas, Melodieann! (Don't worry,  you will get a package too 😘.)
The BABY GROOT COCKTAIL
INGREDIENTS 1 Oz. Seagram's Whiskey 1/2 Oz. Dark Crème de Cacao 1/2 Oz. White Crème de Menthe 3 Oz. Warm Cocoa
Garnish: Dollop of whipped cream, drizzle of Green Crème de Menthe, chocolate sprinkles, mint leaves
Glass: Old Fashioned (Rocks)
DIRECTIONS Add the Whiskey, Dark Crème de Cacao, White Crème de Menthe to your old fashioned glass. Pour in the warm cocoa. Spoon on a large dollop of whipped cream.  Drizzle with some Green Crème de Menthe. Top off with a few mint leaves and some chocolate sprinkles.
I am Groot. I am GROOT! (Groot is buzzed.)

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Sparkling Pumpkin Cocktail Recipe

Yes, I know, I have a bunch of Pumpkin Cocktails already but I didn't have one that included bubbly. Plus I have a couple of bottles of Homemade Pumpkin Liqueur to play with again this year so, fizzy pumpkin cocktails here I come.

The SPARKLING PUMPKIN COCKTAIL    INGREDIENTS: 1 Oz Chilled Spiced Pumpkin Liqueur 2 Oz. Dry Sparkling Wine (Champagne, Cava or Prosecco) Pinch of Pumpkin Pie Spice and Sugar
Garnish: Toasted Marshmallow 
Glass: Champagne Flute    DIRECTIONS: Chill your glass in the freezer, then pour in the spiced pumpkin liqueur and top off with the sparking wine of your choice. (I prefer a brut Champagne, but the others are nice too and bring their own flavor profile to this cocktail.)  Stir gently, dust with a little pumpkin pie spice and sugar then garnish with a toasted marshmallow.
Enjoy.
VOICEOVER VIDEO for the SPARKLING PUMPKIN COCKTAIL with Ingredients & Instructions:

Updated 3-2021 PLEASE DRINK RESPONSIBLY

CRANBERRY A-GO-GO THANKSGIVING COCKTAIL

The fruit most associated with Thanksgiving and the holidays is probably cranberries and it's also the time of year where it's easy to get them fresh so it follows that it's also a great time of year for cranberry cocktails. Add a little Jack Daniels, some lemon and sugar and you're ready to (pardon me for this) a-go-go.
The CRANBERRY A-GO-GO COCKTAIL
INGREDIENTS 1-1/2 Oz. Jack Daniels 1 Oz. Homemade Cranberry Liqueur 1 Oz. Cranberry Juice Juice of 1 Lemon 1 Tsp. Turbinado Sugar 3 - 4 Mint Leaves
Garnish: Sugared Cranberries, Fresh Mint Sprig
Tools: Muddler, Cocktail Shaker, Hawthorne Strainer
Glass: Coupe
DIRECTIONS Make your sugared cranberries and set aside. Warm the lemon juice then stir it with the turbinado sugar until the sugar dissolves. Muddle the sugar and lemon juice with the mint in the bottom of your cocktail shaker. Fill your cocktail shaker with ice Pour in the whiskey, cranberry liqueur, and cranberry juice. Shake until chilled then strain into your chilled glass. Garnish and serve. 
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SLIMY EYEBALL MARTINI HALLOWEEN COCKTAIL

This drink is one of the top favorites of all my Halloween Cocktails, most likely because it comes garnished with a gummy eyeball and people love telling their guests it's a Slimy Eyeball Martini. It tastes pretty good too. However, I created this one years ago and it originally had cream in the recipe which added nothing to the flavor and clouded the drink thus hiding the whole point - the eyeball. That has bugged me for a while now so I'm fixing it.

I also added a bit of Blue Curacao to give it a creepy green color.  Nothing says Halloween more than a weird colored drink with an eyeball in it.

The
SLIMY
EYEBALL
MARTINI

INGREDIENTS
1 Oz. Citrus Vodka
1/2 Oz. Coconut Rum
1/4 Oz. Blue Curacao
2 Oz. Original Sunny Delight

Garnish: Gummy Eyeball Candy

DIRECTIONS
Pour the vodka, Sunny Delight, Blue Curacao and rum into your cocktail shaker with ice and shake until well blended and chilled.
Strain into your chilled martini glass, skewer the gummy eyeball on a cocktail pick, drop in and serve.

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JALAPENO MEZCAL SOUR COCKTAIL

 I was given some beautiful, fresh jalapeno peppers from a neighbor and one of my favorite things to make from them is cocktails.  I have a little problem eating chilies because they cause my mouth to break out in little blisters if they are too high on the Scoville scale.  I get around this by roasting them and making syrups from them, there's something about roasting or adding sugars that makes them easier for me to ingest.   I took a few of those peppers, roasted them, then made some Jalapeno Simple Syrup, added some mezcal and made myself a few of these last night and sat out on my front deck enjoying the Arizona fall weather with Bailey.    That roasted flavor in the simple syrup was a great smoky addition to the already smoky mezcal. Perfect fall cocktail.

 The JALAPENO
MEZCAL SOUR

INGREDIENTS
2 Oz. Vida Mezcal
1 Oz. Fresh Lemon Juice
1 Oz. Jalapeno Simple Syrup (recipe below)
1 Fresh Egg White (or 2 Tbsp. Pasteurized Egg White)
3 Dashes Angostura Orange Bitters

Garnish: Roasted Jalapeno Pepper Slices   Tools:  2 Cocktail Shakers, Hawthorne Strainer   Glass: Coupe
DIRECTIONS
Add all ingredients, except the bitters and the egg white, to a cocktail shaker with ice and shake until well chilled.
Strain into the second shaker WITH NO ICE, add the egg white and orange bitters then shake vigorously to emulsify the egg white and build the foam.
Pour (you've already strained) into a chilled cocktail glass, garnish and serve.
VOICEOVER VIDEO WITH INGREDIENTS AND DIRECTIONS:

JALAPENO SIMPLE SYRUP RECIPE

Ingredients
1 Large Jalapeno, seeds & placenta removed, roasted then sliced
1 C. Turbinado Sugar
1 C. Water
Directions
Using gloves, strip out the seeds and placenta (white pith) from the roasted jalapeno pepper then cut into several thin strips. Do not touch your eyes or other sensitive areas while handling the peppers.
Heat the sugar and water on medium until the sugar has completely dissolved.
Still using the gloves, toss the jalapeno strips into the syrup, bring this to a boil on medium, then lower the heat and simmer for 10 - 12 minutes.
Remove from the heat and allow the peppers to infuse into the syrup until it's cool.
Strain then store in airtight glass jar or container in the refrigerator for up to two weeks.
National Mezcal Day is October 21st.

Updated 10-2021
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The CELERY COCKTAIL

I had a bunch of celery in my refrigerator that needed to be used before it was useless and it suddenly occurred to me I could juice that whole bunch for a few refreshing cocktails. I have no idea why I have not juiced celery for a cocktail before, I love celery and the juice is very healthy for you.
I also decided to make use of the rest of the cilantro I had to make a simple syrup to go in my celery cocktail. Boom, two things that didn't get thrown away and a new cocktail for happy hour!
I know there are a lot of you out there that do not like cilantro. If that's the case, just use plain simple syrup in this recipe.
The CELERY COCKTAIL
INGREDIENTS 1-1/2 Oz.Hendrick's Gin 3 Oz. Fresh Celery Juice 3/4 Oz. Cilantro Simple Syrup ( recipe below) 3/4 Oz. Fresh Lime Juice Dash Celery Bitters 
Garnish: Celery Leaves, Sprig of cilantro
Tools: Mixing glass, Strainer
Glass: Coupe
DIRECTIONS Make your Cilantro Simple Syrup ahead if time so it's cool. In a mixing glass filled with ice, add the ingredients then stir until well chilled. Strain into a chilled Coupe, garnish and serve.
CILANTRO SIMPLE SYRUP RECIPE  INGREDIENTS 1 C. Granulated Sugar 1 C. Water 1 C. Chopped, Fresh Cilantro Leaves and/or Stems (I often save the stems from my cilantro instead of throwing them away just for making things like flavored oils or simple syrups because they have just as much flavor as the leaves!)
DIRECTIONS In a medium saucepan, combine the sugar and water and heat, stirring constantly, until the sugar has dissolved. Once the sugar has dissolved remove from the heat and add the chopped cilantro. Allow the syrup to cool for 30 minutes, then strain the syrup through a fine-mesh sieve then toss the solids. Store for up to 2 weeks in the fridge.
National Celery Month is in March and Celery Day is July 21st.
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STRAWBERRY LEMON - LIMEADE SUMMER COCKTAIL

Despite the fact that it's Labor Day, it's still in the 100s here in Tucson, so ... how about one last summer cocktail before fall grabs hold of the weather?
HARD STRAWBERRY LEMON & LIMEADE
INGREDIENTS 1 Oz Whiskey 5 Fresh Strawberries 1 Tbsp. Honey Henry's Hard Lemon Lime Soda*
Garnish: Fresh Strawberry
Tools: Muddler
DIRECTIONS Cut the strawberries into quarters then drop in the bottom of your glass. Drizzle the honey over the top of the strawberries. Muddle until the strawberries are well smashed. Fill your glass with ice. Add the whiskey then top off with the Henry's Hard Lemon Lime. Stir gently then garnish and serve.

P.S. If you don't like the idea of the chunky strawberry pieces, puree the strawberries with the honey in a blender instead of muddling them together in the glass.

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LABOR DAY COCKTAILS & FALL BAR TIPS

Labor Day poses a bit of a dilemma for cocktail lovers.  It's the official end of summer but it's not quite fall.  It's a no-man's land between the sunny heat of summer and the crisp days of autumn where temperatures fling themselves around willy-nilly and you are starting to layer your clothing to accommodate the range. Thoughts of the beach are getting shoved away by visions of the holidays but you still have that last summer barbecue to plan. What to do, what to do.   As the light and heat of summer fade, your drinks need to get a little muscle in them. This is the time of year I start to restock my whiskies and brandies, buy a couple of new aged rums and sipping tequilas and add a couple of juniper/botanical heavy gins to my bar.  Using these heftier spirits in a late summer's iced cocktail is a great transition to fall; they are still cool and refreshing for the heat but can face up to an evening chill. Can you can still make a Sangria or a punch for Labor Day? Sure, but trade your light white wines, peaches, grapefruits and lemons in for hearty reds with late fall berries or apples, pears and oranges.   As for Labor Day flavors, I know pumpkin mania is nipping at your heels, but thanks to worldwide trade you might still have access to some summer produce like watermelon, cantaloupe, late summer berries, citrus, a few late harvest strawberries as well as the fall bounty that is showing up at the local markets. Let's let the pumpkin cool it's heels while we're still wearing short sleeved shirts during the day, we're only in September, not staring down the Pilgrims.   As you get your wardrobe ready for colder times, your kids packed off to the first days of school and you pull out the instant pot for soups and stews, why not get your taste buds primed for the season as well?   Here's a few cocktail ideas, using the above principles, for Labor Day:   APPLE SOUR BLACKBERRY FIZZ 

BLACKBERRY JAM BOURBON SOUR

BLUEBERRY MINT JULEP

  BOURBON (WHISKEY) CHERRY COBBLER
BOURBON CHERRY PIE SMASH CANTALOUPE MARTINI GOBBLED KNOB HATCHCHILETA MARGARITA POMEGRANATE MARGARITA  PURGATORY PUNCH
 PRICKLY PEAR OLD FASHIONED RATTLED SKULL RED WOMAN'S BERRY WINE PUNCH  SPICED APPLE OLD FASHIONED SPICED RUM POMEGRANATE FIZZ  STRAWBERRY JAM OLD FASHIONED  TIJUANA JACKASS  You can also try some of the tall, iced cooler style drinks from these seasonal flavors:
APPLE COCKTAILSBLACKBERRY COCKTAILSCRANBERRY COCKTAILSMELON COCKTAILSPEACH COCKTAILSPEAR COCKTAILSWATERMELON COCKTAILS
AFTER LABOR DAY PREPARING YOUR BAR FOR FALL Labor Day passes quickly so below are a few tips to get your fall happy hour on as summer fades and Old Man Winter is breathing down your neck. Of course, a good host or hostess should always be prepared to serve a guest that Pina Colada or Tom Collins if that is what they desire, but getting into a seasonal aspect at happy hour keeps you and those you're entertaining from cocktail boredom.

• Keep the ice bucket full, but tuck the light rums, vodkas and gins off to the side of the bar and bring out your whiskies, brandies, aged rums, botanical heavy gins and anejo tequilas
• Pull out the rocks glasses, coupes and stemware and let the tall guys take a vacation
• Keep the effervescence of those tall coolers by replacing their ounces with just a splash or two
• Bring the spice to the party. Spices warm and comfort and add depth of flavor
• Take the last of your summer produce and herbs and turn them into simple syrups or shrubs. Even jams and preserves can be used in fall and winter to replace fresh fruit and sugar in your cocktails.

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The RASPBERRY SGROPPINO, An Italian Inspired Cocktail

I recently bought a nice, new pint of Talenti Romance Raspberry Sorbet that was crying out to become a cocktail. Most of the time I just grab a spoon and pour some homemade Magic Shell* on this fabulous raspberry dense sorbet, but this time it was looking to get a little buzz on and I knew exactly how to go about that.

In Italy they often serve a cocktail known as a Sgroppino as a digestive or a dessert. It's a light, frothy combination of lemon sorbet and prosecco that was originally served in Venice as a palate cleanser between the fish and meat course. Prounounced "ss-guro-peno", the word is a derivative of sgroppare, which translates to "untie" or "undo", an apt name for drink originally devised as a palate cleanser.
Some recipes add vodka or limoncello or both, but the original palate cleansing recipe was served without either. I chose to add citrus vodka to carry the lemon and switch out the lemon sorbet for the lovely Talenti raspberry.

The RASPBERRY SGROPPINO Cocktail
INGREDIENTS 1/3 Cup Raspberry Sorbet 1 Oz. Citrus Vodka 3 Oz. Chilled Prosecco
Tools: Stainless Steel Mixing Bowl, Whisk, Ladle Glass: Chilled Champagne Flute
DIRECTIONS In a chilled stainless steel bowl, whisk together the sorbet and the raspberry vodka. While whisking, slowly pour in the prosecco until frothy.  Ladle into the chilled flute, garnish and serve.
* Magic Shell is a chocolate ice cream topping that hardens when it hits ice cream. I make my own by mixing 12 ounces of a high quality (70%+) chopped dark chocolate with 3 tablespoons of lightly heated coconut oil.

Updated 12-2018 PLEASE DRINK RESPONSIBLY

The BOURBON PEANUT BUTTER CUP COCKTAIL

  I've done a few Peanut Butter Cup cocktails over the years as The Martini Diva. Generally I've used vodkas in them.  This time I decided I wanted to try bourbon because I had just discovered this fabulous recipe for Bacon Bourbon Caramel Popcorn from Genius Kitchen and I really wanted to pair it with a kindred cocktail.

Here I used Frangelico because it is readily available, but I have also done this recipe using Castries Peanut Rum Creme Liqueur in place of the Frangelico. It really brings home the peanut flavor but it is difficult to find these days. If you can find it give that version a try as well, it's creamier because of the Castries but equally delicious.

The

BOURBON

PEANUT BUTTER CUP

COCKTAIL

INGREDIENTS

2 Oz. Frangelico

1 Oz. Bourbon

1 Oz. Dark Creme De Cacao

2 Dashes Black Walnut Bitters

Garnish: Peanut Butter and Shaved Chocolate Rim

Tools:  Small plates for chocolate shavings, Cocktail shaker

Glass: Cocktail or Coupe

DIRECTIONS

• Shave a bar of chocolate over a small plate.
• Spread peanut butter on the rim of your glass with a finger then dip rim in the chocolate shavings.
• Chill the glass in the freezer.
• Add the ingredients to a cocktail shaker filled with ice then shake until chilled.
• Strain into your chilled glass and serve with the killer Bacon Bourbon Caramel Popcorn mentioned above.

Yes, those are a couple of Peanut Butter Cup Pops on the plate and they're very easy to make. You simply grab a buttered melon baller (you can also butter the palms of your hands and get down and dirty), scoop out some peanut butter balls onto a piece of parchment paper, shove in some pop sticks then freeze those for a few hours until they're solid. Then you melt some chocolate and dip the frozen peanut butter balls sticks into that and chill them down in the fridge until the chocolate sets. Bingo, homemade peanut butter cups on a stick or Peanut Butter Cup Pops.

National Reese's Peanut Butter Cup Day isAugust 11th and I Love Reese's Day us May 18th.

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CHOCOLATE CHIP MARTINI Cocktail Recipe

Because I could.   The
CHOCOLATE CHIP
MARTINI

INGREDIENTS
2 Oz. Dark Creme de Cacao
1 Oz. Chocolate Vodka*
1 Oz. Noilly Prat Dry Vermouth
Pinch of Smoked Salt

Garnish: Cocoa Powder and Sugar Rim, Chocolate Chips

Tools: Cocktail Shaker

Glass: Martini Cocktail

DIRECTIONS
Fill your cocktail shaker with ice then add the ingredients and shake until well chilled.
Strain into your chilled glass then place a few chocolate chips on the rim and serve.

How to make your own Chocolate Vodka.
National Chocolate Chip Day is August 4th.

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COLORADO BULLDOG COCKTAIL

On August 1st, 1876 Colorado was admitted into the Union as the 38th state. Known as the Centennial State, it was named after the Colorado River (Rio Colorado) and has the highest median elevation in the United States.
It also has its own cocktail, the Colorado Bulldog, which is a variation of a White Russian. How it got the Bulldog attached is up for debate, but I did notice there are a large number of sports teams in Colorado named Bulldogs.

The COLORADO BULLDOG COCKTAIL
INGREDIENTS 2 Oz. Vodka 2 Oz. Kahlua 2 Oz. Cream 2 Oz. Cola
DIRECTIONS Combine the vodka, Kahlua, and cream in a shaker filled with ice, shake well, strain into a chilled rocks glass filled with ice cubes, top off with cola.
Fun Colorado Facts
Colorado Day is August 1st.
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POMSICLES - FROZEN BOOZY POMEGRANATE ICE POP COCKTAILS

Once upon a time, on a very, very hot summer day I wanted a cocktail so cold that I joked I needed a Cocktail Popsicle. I liked that idea so much I made myself some Pomsicles. It was pretty easy since I had a huge bottle of Pom Wonderful in the fridge as well as Pama Pomegranate Liqueur and Pomegranate Vodka.  

I took the opportunity to dip a few in chocolate "magic shell", an ice cream coating that solidifies when it hits something very cold, like ice cream or popsicles. I love chocolate and fresh fruit together, I wasn't going to miss that opportunity.

POMSICLES
Frozen Pomegranate Ice Pop Cocktails

INGREDIENTS
For 1 ice pop - (For 6 standard 4 ounce ice pops)
2 Tbsp. (6 Oz.) Pomegranate Vodka
1 Tsp. (1 Oz.) Pama Pomegranate Liqueur
5 Oz. (30 Oz.) Pom Pomegranate Juice
1/2 Oz. (3 Oz.) Fresh Lemon Juice
1 Tbsp. (6 Tbsp.) Pomegranate Arils (Seeds)

OPTIONAL GARNISH:  Magic Shell Chocolate Coating

TOOLS:  Pitcher with a spout

DIRECTIONS
Mix all the ingredients together in a large pitcher.
Pour mixture into the molds, leaving a little room at the top for expansion as the liquid freezes.
Wipe off any spills or drips so they won't cause the ice pop to stick in the molds.
Pop in the freezer overnight. (If you are using molds that require adding wooden popsicle sticks, freeze the pops until partially frozen - about three or four hours - then slide the stick gently into the center of the pop. If the stick stands on it's own you can then continue to freezing the pops overnight.
To remove the pops from the molds simply dip them in a bowl of warm water or just let them sit out for a few minutes before removing the ice pop from the mold.

Just before eating or serving, if you like the chocolate coating idea, pour some of your Magic Shell into a glass then dip in the tops of your Pomsicles.

STORAGE TIP
I like to remove my Boozesicles™ from the molds, pop them in individual plastic baggies and refreeze for an hour before serving. They seem to solidify a bit better and they can be kept in the baggies for several weeks as well.  

 
MORE FROZEN COCKTAILS   PLEASE DRINK RESPONSIBLY  

FROZEN COCKTAILS - Boozy Floats, Shakes, & Ice Pops

 

  Summer is here and it's time for some frozen booze! When the blistering heat waves roll in it's time to find a cool way to chill down at the end of the day and these chilled out cocktails will do the trick.  

  FROZEN COCKTAILS Floats, Boozesicles, Shakes & Ice Pops   BANANAS FOSTER BOOZY SHAKE CHOCOLATE MILKSHAKE MARTINI CHOCOLATE PORTER BEER FLOATS COCKTAIL GRANITAS DECADENT DUTCH COCKTAIL FLOAT
FERNET MOCHA FRAPPE SHAKE FROZEN ICE POP COCKTAILS GRAPESICLES LICUADOS DE MAYO Cocktail & Mocktail Recipes
MISSISSIPPI MUD PIE MARTINI SHAKE PEACH ICE CREAM SODA FLOAT PEACH MELBA BEER FLOAT POMSICLES - FROZEN POMEGRANATE ICE POPS  REALLY DRUNK BROWN COW BEER FLOAT 
RED, WHITE & BOOZESICLES ROOT BEER FLOAT COCKTAIL
SAMOA COOKIE BOOZY SHAKE
SLIGHTLY BANANAS DEFINITELY COCONUTS CHOCOLATE BOOZY SHAKE   And Let's Not Forget The SLUSHY! Ginja Ninja Slushy Grilled Pineapple Margarita Slushy Red Nose Cherry Raspberry Watermelon Slushy Rubber Ducky Mango Pineapple Slushy Stranger Things Waffle Bourbon Cola Slushy Zombie Aneurysm Slush  

 

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Best CHOCOLATE MARTINI of them all!

This is it, the MAC DADDY of designer martinis,

THE CHOCOLATE MARTINI.
There are many variations on this classic and you can find most of them in my Chocolate Cocktails page, but this is the very first Chocolate Martini I ever had and it's still in my top ten favorites because there is something so soothing about chocolate. We women have known this forever and finally the world has come around to our way of thinking. You no longer have to feel guilty about your chocolate obsession. Just be prudent, this is a powerhouse of a cocktail and it tastes so good it's very easy to overindulge.
  CHOCOLATE IS GOOD FOR YOU!
There are over 300 chemicals contained in chocolate, someday someone had to find some that were good for us and they did. One study has shown that the smell of chocolate might relax you by increasing theta waves in your brain. Chocolate contains small amounts of a chemical called phenylethylamine (PEA) which is a mood elevator, but we knew that already, didn't we?
  According to the Mayo Clinic studies, the stearic acid in chocolate is a neutral fat that does not increase bad cholesterol. The cocoa butter in chocolate has oleic acid which is a mono-unsaturated fat - the same type of fat found in olive oil which might actually raise good cholesterol. Chocolate also contains proteins, rivoflavin, calcium and iron.   What more can you ask from a cocktail?

The

Best
CHOCOLATE MARTINI
Recipe Around

INGREDIENTS
2 Oz. Chocolate Vodka
1 Oz. Chocolate Liqueur
1/4 Oz. Coffee Liqueur (Kahlua)
1 Oz. CreamDash of Coffee Bitters

Garnish: Chocolate Sprinkles Rim

DIRECTIONS
Dip your glass rim in either of the liqueurs and then into the chocolate sprinkles.
Chill the glass in the freezer to cool.
Pour the ingredients into a cocktail shaker with ice and shake vigorously until chilled.
Strain into a chilled cocktail glass and serve.
Voiceover Video with Ingredients and Directions:

"There are four basic food groups: milk chocolate, dark chocolate, white chocolate, and chocolate truffles." - Anonymous

NOW there's five basic food groups - just add Chocolate Martinis.

National Chocolate Day is October 28th.
 Updated 10-2021 PLEASE DRINK RESPONSIBLY  

MAI TAI COCKTAIL RECIPE ART, POSTERS, HOME DECOR & GIFTS

MAI TAI COCKTAIL RECIPE ART

A full color illustration of the famous double rum Tiki cocktail, the Mai Tai. The drawing shows a rocks (old fashioned) glass filled with ice and each ingredient portioned out according to the cocktail recipe ratios. The cocktail rendering includes garnishes of a Maraschino cherry, an orange slice and a pineapple wedge.

The drinks name Mai Tai, curves across the top, the recipe ingredients are alongside the cocktail glass. The background is a graduated deep rust to lime green with white polka dots.

Primary colors: deep red, rust, peach, orange, cream, chartreuse, lime green.

Perfect for happy hour entertaining, cocktail parties and events, bar decor and family entertainment rooms as well as birthday, bachelorette and bachelor parties.

THIS MAI TAI COCKTAIL RECIPE ART
IS AVAILABLE ON

Customizable & Personalizable Art, Posters, Prints, Home Decor & Gifts

     

BOOZESICLES™ Alcoholic Popsicles - Healthy, Homemade BOOZY ICE POPS

Have you seen those low calorie boozy "Vodka Martini" type ice pops showing up in Costco and other places?

They are a great idea for summer cocktail hour and parties; they're icy cold, refreshing and low ABV (alcohol by volume), which is very popular now and a good idea for hot temperatures. But, at only 100 ml. each (3.4 ounces), they're pricey and it will take a few of them to equal one typical cocktail. They sell for around 3 bucks each and are loaded with artificial coloring, flavoring and sweeteners. Furthermore, at less than 4 ounces each with an 8% ABV, how many would your happy hour guests slurp down at 3 bucks a pop?
You know what I say  about that? DIY BABY! You can have healthy, refreshing ice pops galore, and at a price that won't offend your wallet.
LET'S FREEZE SOME ADULT ICE POPS! Alcohol alone doesn't freeze at normal freezer temperatures but when you mix it with the right amount of non-alcoholic liquid that changes. I've found the formula that works the best is a 1 to 5 alcohol to mixer ratio, using a standard 40 proof spirit. This should give you approximately an 8% ABV ice pop. (Higher ABV spirits will require a higher mixer ratio to freeze, but standard vodka, rum, gin, tequila and whiskies are around 40 proof and some liqueurs even less.)
Each one of the 100 ml. (3.381 ounces) "vodka martini" pops are 100 calories. Homemade 100 ml. cocktail ice pops using fresh juices and purees will end up at or under 100 calories, BUT without the artificial sweeteners, flavors and colorings. If your mixer is tea or coffee that should be even lower. That gives you the same or a lower calorie count of the pre-packaged ice pops but without the artificial ingredients.
BINGO! HEALTHIER, HOMEMADE BOOZESICLE™ ICE POPS that are still low in calories and also meet the popular lower ABV cocktail trend! Because these cocktails are eaten, you can also use a fresh fruit puree instead of a juice and, because the puree includes all the pulp, each homemade ice pop is full of even more vital nutrients and fiber. Homemade alcohol infused ice pops are easy, a lot of fun to make and your choice of frozen cocktail flavors is endless.
Now I ask you, why shell out big bucks for their boring flavors when you can really punch up those ice popsicles for a lot less? Below are just a few of the flavors I came up with for this experiment. I've been chilling with fun ice pop cocktails all week and the rest are headed to a Fourth of July barbecue.*

The Martini Diva's BOOZESICLE™ ICE POPS
TOOLS Zipsickle style ice pop freezer bags. I ordered mind on Amazon. Mixing pitcher, shaker or glass. Funnel.
BASIC ICE POP DIRECTIONS 1. Add in 1 part of decent but reasonably priced 40% or less ABV spirit and/or liqueur. 2. Then add in at least 4 parts of a non alcoholic liquid like fresh juices or purees, tea, coffee, yogurt. Feel free to add in a splash of lime or lemon juice to brighten things up. 3. Freeze overnight.
I was not so concerned about calorie count as I was about creating healthy, delicious ice pops and used a few things like bitters for complexity and to balance sweetness. I also used homemade grenadine, flavored vodkas, cream of coconut and flavored yogurts to sweeten without adding sugar. However, the bitters were only a dash or two and have almost nil calorie count, the flavored spirits were already accounted for in the liquor ratio and the sweeteners like grenadine or cream of coconut were only around a teaspoon per pop.

MY BOOZESICLE™ FLAVORS (Remember the 1:5 Booze to Mixer Ratio!)
BERRYTINI: Fresh Blueberry Juice, Fresh Raspberry Juice, Homemade Grenadine, Strawberry Vodka
BLUE LEMON DROP: Fresh Lemon Juice, Vanilla Vodka, Blue Curacao
CAFFÈ  ICED LAIT: Coffee, Irish Cream Liqueur, Scrappy's Chocolate Bitters
CARAMEL APPLETINI: Caramel Vodka, Apple Pucker, Apple Juice
CHERRYTINI: Frozen Dark Cherries, Whipped Cherry Vodka
CREAMSICLE: Orange Vodka, Fresh Orange Juice, Vanilla Yogurt.
DREAMSICLE: Whipped Cream Vodka, Fresh Raspberry Puree, Vanilla Yogurt.
KEY LIME PIE: Key Lime Yogurt, Fresh Lime Juice, Whipped Cream Vodka
MELON: Fresh Cantaloupe Juice, Watermelon Vodka, Scrappy's Grapefruit Bitters 
PEACH MELBA: Raspberry Vodka, Peach Puree, Raspberry yogurt, Scrappy's Cardamom Bitters
PINÃ COLADA: Pureed Fresh Pineapple, Cream of Coconut, Coconut Rum
RAZZATINI: Raspberry Vodka, Cointreau, Fresh Raspberries
SOUR APPLE: Apple vodka, Apple Pucker, Apple Juice
SPICY WATERMELON: Watermelon Vodka, Watermelon Juice or Puree, Lime juice, Dash of Hot Sauce.
STRAWBERRY SUNDAE: Strawberry Vodka, Strawberry Puree and Vanilla Yogurt.
You can play with the flavors to suit your taste and just multiply the ingredients to make batches of the each flavor.
* I even made a pile of booze free ones for the children where I just left out the booze. I used some natural food colorings to make the kiddies ice pops in blues, purples and greens to make sure the parents could be sure no little ones got a buzz on.

PLEASE DRINK RESPONSIBLY