The STRAWBERRY PARFAIT MARTINI Cocktail Recipe

I have so many strawberry cocktail recipes that I rarely bother to create a new one these days. June 25th is Strawberry Parfait Day but I felt that recipe would be too close to several of my other Strawberry Cocktail Recipes and never bothered.
Then I was given a bottle of Bailey's Strawberries & Cream. Now, I'm not a huge proponent of having a bunch of specialty liqueurs in my bar. It's expensive, space consuming and more often than not these oh-so-specific flavored spirits just sit and gather dust. I prefer a bar stocked with high quality basics, a couple of my personal faves and my ability to be creative enough to achieve any flavor profile desired. But there it was, a specialty blend of one of my bar basics, the original Bailey's Irish Cream - just in time for Strawberry Parfait Day and just begging to become a cocktail.
So turn it into a cocktail I did, and it turned out pretty tasty and I made 2 each for 4 friends and, bingo, nothing left to gather dust in my bar. Would I buy Bailey's Strawberries & Cream? No. Is it good, yes, but not deserving of a permanent spot in my bar line-up. 
If I want to recreate this cocktail? I'll do it by replacing the specialty Bailey's with my bar standard regular Bailey's and substitute a strawberry ice cream for the vanilla.
BUT if you're searching for a delicious, pink, strawberry dessert cocktail and happen to have a bottle of Bailey's Strawberries & Cream, here you go:

TheSTRAWBERRY PARFAITMARTINI
INGREDIENTS1 Oz. Bailey's Strawberries & Cream Liqueur1 Scoop Vanilla Ice Cream1 Oz. Whipped Cream Vodka2 Oz. Strawberry Puree
GARNISH: Whipped Cream, Strawberry Half
DIRECTIONSBlend the strawberry ice cream with the Bailey's Strawberries & Cream until just mixed. Do not overblend.Pour or spoon into chilled cocktail glasses.Shake the strawberry puree, whipped cream vodka and Peychaud's Bitters together with ice in a cocktail shaker.Strain this gently over the ice cream mixture.Top off with the whipped cream and strawberry half and serve with a small espresso spoon and half a straw.
VOICEOVER VIDEO WITH INGREDIENTS AND DIRECTIONS:

National Strawberry Parfait Day is June 25th.

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The PEACHES & CREAM SHOOTER, A Dessert Cocktail Shot

A friend brought over a bottle of Crown Royal Peach as a gift. I'm not really a huge fan of pre-flavored whiskey, if I want a particular flavor I prefer to control that myself but - hey - I also don't turn down free booze.

I popped the seal and poured us both a nip to check it out. Right off the bat I knew what to do with it.

PEACHES & CREAMSHOOTER

A Dessert Cocktail Shot

Ingredients
1 Part (Oz) Crown Royal Peach
1 Part (Oz) Whipped Cream Vodka

Garnish: Whipped Cream, Peach Slice

Directions
Pour equal parts (about an ounce each) of both spirits into a shot glass.
Top with whipped cream and serve with a small slice of peach.

Boom. Mic Drop. Done.

Enjoy!

VOICEOVER VIDEO WITH INGREDIENTS AND DIRECTIONS:

If you're  not a shot person try myPEACHES & CREAM MARTINI
National Peaches & Cream Day is June 21st.
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Homemade TOMATO VODKA Recipe

Once upon a time you could buy several different brands of tomato vodka. Now you kinda have to make it yourself.

Have no fear, it's pretty darned easy!

Homemade Heirloom

TOMATO VODKA

INGREDIENTS
1 Pound Heirloom Tomatoes
1 Fifth (750 ml) Bottle of Good Vodka

DIRECTIONS
Cut the tomatoes into eighths.
Add these to your infusion jar.
Pour in the vodka.
Close lid.
Gently shake
Store in a cool, dark place a week, shaking every day.
After 7 days, strain through a fine strainer or cheesecloth and discard the solids.

To store, pour tomato vodka back into its original bottle, and keep in a cool, dark place.

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The HOT FUDGE COCKTAIL Recipe

I love fudge. I love hot fudge. But I'm REALLY fussy about my fudge and my hot fudge, no grainy dry fudge or faux fudge chocolate syrup will do. I make my own fudge and I buy only one brand of hot fudge and that's Mrs. Richardson's. And, no, I'm not getting paid to say that. It's just the only commercial hot fudge that tastes like actual (good) fudge, you can literally eat it with a spoon right from that jar. When I'm too lazy to actually make fudge that's exactly what I do.
That's why I knew it had to be used as the main flavor ingredient in my new cocktail for National Fudge Day. The only problem with Mrs. Richardson's as a cocktail ingredient is the fact it doesn't come in a liquid state. You have to turn it into a liquid without heating it because once it cools down again it reverts back to its semi-solid state. My answer to this was to dilute it, and since this was for a cocktail, to dilute it with booze.
The obvious spirit to use would be vodka but I already have a Hot Fudge Sundae Martini that used vodka so I went with another alcohol that goes great with fudge and that's rye whiskey. I took some Mrs. Richardson's and stirred it into some rye until I got a syrup and I was ready to go.

TheHOT FUDGECocktail
INGREDIENTS2 Teaspoons Mrs. Richardson's Hot Fudge mixed into2 Oz. Rye Whiskey until dissolved.1/2 Oz. Coffee Liqueur2 Dashes Coffee BittersPinch of Smoked Salt
Garnish: Piece of Homemade Fudge
Tools: Cocktail Shaker
Glass: Nick & Nora
DIRECTIONSChill your glass.Add ingredients to an ice filled cocktail shaker.Shake until chilled.Pour into your chilled glass.Garnish with the homemade fudge.
That's it, a rich and decadent fudge cocktail to celebrate National Fudge Day on June 16th - or whenever you're in the mood for fudge.
VOICEOVER VIDEO WITH INGREDIENTS AND DIRECTIONS:

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