Watermelon Grape Martini

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WATERMELON GRAPE MARTINI
Recipe

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.

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It's National Macaroon Day - Have a Macaroon Martini!

Most of us are familiar with the shredded coconut macaroon but the very first macaroons were actually almond meringue cookies. (It's said these original macaroons were created in an Italian monastery and modeled after a monk's belly button.) The more familiar chewy coconut macaroon cookie is a recipe brought over by Jewish immigrants who adopted the cookie because it required no flour or leavening agents, this meant it could be enjoyed during Passover.  This is also most likely when coconut started being added, often completely substituting for the original ground almond versions.

In France "Les Macarons" are generally meringue type cookies and you will find them all over French bakeries (patisseries) in a sandwich form filled with chocolate ganache or jams and buttercreams.  This sandwich macaroon was invented by Pierre Desfontaines Laduree, Thanks to Laduree, today you can find these meringue macaroon sandwiches in a variety of flavors and beautiful colors in every corner of France.

Laduree's original "macaron" sandwiches were filled with chocolate ganache which is why I included the White Creme de Cacao in my Macaroon martini recipe. The word macaroon comes from the Italian word maccherone, a derivation of ammaccare, which means to crush or beat. The original recipes for macaroons used crushed almonds in the form of almond paste so the French called them macarons and that is why there is a little Amaretto in this recipe.

TheMACARONMARTINI 
INGREDIENTS1 Oz. Coconut Rum1/2 Oz. Amaretto1/2 Oz. White Crème de Cacao1 Oz. Unsweetened Coconut Cream*
Garnish:Coconut Rim, Macaron Cookie
DIRECTIONSShake ingredients with ice.Pour into your rimmed cocktail glass, garnish & serve.
*You can use coconut milk for a lighter version but I happen to prefer this creamier style cocktail. I save the rest of the can for a curry or coconut rice.
VOICEOVER VIDEO WITH INGREDIENTS AND INSTRUCTIONS:

National Macaroon Day is May 31st.
Updated 5-2021
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HAPPY MINT JULEP DAY! Celebrate May 30th with a Mint Julep Martini

A Classic Mint Julep is Bourbon, Fresh Mint, Water and a splash of Simple Syrup and it came out of the Southern United States as a kind of bourbon spritzer meant to ease the heat of those long, hot summers.  It is also the traditional cocktail of the Kentucky Derby where thousands of them are served up for the Run for the Roses.

I've done several adaptations of this classis Southern cooler and you can find all those drink recipes here:
MINT JULEP RECIPES 

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HAPPY MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND!

You can download the full sized 5x3 recipe card in print quality HERE under the Anniversary/Special Occasion Section

 HAPPY MEMORIAL DAY

Please take time out of your weekend celebrations to remember

those who stood in harm's way

to protect and defend us and our way of life.

IN LOVING MEMORY of Dad and Kenny.

HAVE A SAFE &
HAPPY MEMORIAL DAY.

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PARTRIDGE IN A PEAR MARTINI - Pear Ginger Cocktail

As I often do, I reformulated this recipe to adjust to my ever evolving preferences in a cocktail. I used to add pear puree but I decided I'd rather have a lighter, sparkling version. I also added a splash of pear brandy to deepen the pear experience.

Now I'm drinking very happy.

The
PARTRIDGE IN A PEAR MARTINI

Can you see why I named it that?

INGREDIENTS

1 Oz. Vodka

1/2 Oz Pear Brandy

1 Oz. Sparkling Pear Juice

1/4 Tsp. Freshly Grated Ginger

1/2 Oz. Fresh Lemon Juice

1 Tsp. Lavender Honey

Garnish: Pear Slice

Tools: Cocktail shaker

Glass: Cocktail (Martini)

DIRECTIONS

 Chill your glass in the freezer.
Fill the cocktail shaker with ice.
Add the lavender honey,  ginger, lemon juice, vodka and pear brandy. Shake until chilled, pour into a chilled cocktail glass, top off with the sparkling pear juice, garnish and serve.

Voiceover Video with Ingredients and Directions:

I added a pinch of fresh ginger for a little spicy kick but feel free to use a pinch of powdered ginger if you want, just be very judicious and don't use too much or you run the danger of the ginger overpowering the delicate pear.

Yes, it's a perfectly named martini for Christmas but I was actually thinking more of The Partridge Family because the pear garnish looked like their logo:

So, Come On, DRINK Happy at happy hour with my Partridge in a Pear Martini.

Updated 12-2021

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SUNSET IN PARADISE MARTINI

SUNSET IN PARADISE MARTINI

Fresh Raspberries and Mangoes for a Sunset in a Martini Glass

This cocktail came about from a little brunch memory lapse but sometimes that means a happy accident.  What was a missed opportunity for my brunch became a pretty delicious martini the next day.

This is a sunset in a glass with a star burst design of raspberry coulis on top for a nice decorative touch:

MOCKTAIL VERSION

Non-Alcoholic Recipe for the Sunset in Paradise Martini

Simply replace the Coconut Rum with non-alcoholic Pina Colada Mix or sweetened Coconut Juice.

Enjoy it while sitting out and watching the sunset today - never miss a sunset if you can help it.
Cheers & May the sun set on a wonderful day for you.

Updated 7-2018
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GREAT BRUNCH MARTINIS

Caravaggio's BACCHUS

SOME GREAT BRUNCH MARTINIS

FOR SURVIVAL SUNDAY

Yesterday was supposed to be the End of the World - again.  Thankfully, and predictably, that did not happen.  The world goes on and, if you're reading this, you - like me and bazillions of other inhabitants of Earth - are still here.  This is, of course, a reason to celebrate with a few

BRUNCH COCKTAILS

But whatever you do, be sure to celebrate Survival Sunday because any day you wake up and the world hasn't ended is a day to lift a glass and toast to!

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Updated 9-2016