A SPOONFUL OF COSMO

It's always fun to take a classic cocktail and do a little molecular mixology on it.  Here I've taken the basic ingredients of a Cosmopolitan (fresh lime juice, cranberry juice, Cointreau or Triple Sec, citrus vodka) and turned it into a spoonful of happy hour.
I used the reverse spherification technique on the classic Cosmopolitan ingredients of citrus vodka, cranberry juice and Cointreau then put the lime juice in a little pool in the spoon to float the cocktail sphere in.  Note the little mint leaf I added inside the sphere, not a standard Cosmo ingredient but I wanted something floating in the sphere.
These cocktail spheres are a perfect pairing with an amuse bouche; one bite, one sip to go with the bite. These also are a fun way to give folks a little happy hour giggle and they won't get you drunk either. Well, not unless you have a dozen or so.

INGREDIENTS

(These ingredients are equal to ONE cocktail serving. Feel free to multiply)

1 Oz. vodka

1/2 Oz. Cointreau

1 Oz. cranberry juice

1/4 Oz. lime juice

A handful of fresh micro mint leaves

1/2 tsp calcium lactate*

1 tsp sodium alginate*

Purified water

TOOLS

Immersion blender

Pitcher

Measuring spoons

Mini pipette droppers*

Round silicon molds

Freezer

2 Large glass bowls or containers 

Slotted spoon

DIRECTIONS

Measure out cranberry juice and add to pitcher.

Add calcium lactate and blend with immersion blender.

Add vodka and Cointreau (the lime juice will come into play later) – blend again.

Carefully fill the silicon molds with this cocktail solution. I used a small pipette dropper*.

Slide one micro mint leaf in each mold space.

Place in freezer for 12 hours.

15 minutes before serving add sodium alginate to 2 cups of purified water in a large glass bowl. Mix quickly and well with CLEAN immersion blender (because you don't want the calcium lactate and sodium alginate to accidentally mix here).

Place in fridge for 15 minutes. This is your sodium alginate bath.

NOTE: If you are multiplying the recipe this part does not need to be multiplied!)

TO MAKE SPHERES

Remove sodium alginate bath from fridge (it should be somewhat gelatinous in texture by now).

Fill another large glass bowl with 3 cups purified water for your washing bath.

Remove frozen cocktails from freezer.

Pop around four of the frozen cocktail spheres into the sodium alginate bath. Make sure they don’t touch or they will stick to each other. Stir gently occasionally so all sides of the spheres are in contact with the sodium alginate bath.

Keep in sodium alginate bath for 3 to 5 minutes (the longer they stay in the bath the thicker the outside skin) or until spheres have unfrozen.

Scoop out using slotted spoon and dip a few times in the water bath to rinse.

TO ASSEMBLE MOLECULAR COCKTAIL

Place each sphere in serving spoon.

Pipe the 1/4 ounce of fresh lime juice over the sphere.

Serve immediately.

* These can be purchased on Amazon.

National Cosmopolitan Day is May 7th.
 
Updated May 2020 PLEASE DRINK RESPONSIBLY

The Simpsons DUH-OH MARTINI Cocktail Tribute

The Simpsons is the longest-running American sitcom, the longest-running American animated program, and, in 2009, it surpassed Gunsmoke as the longest-running American scripted primetime television series in history.  I have been a faithful fan of The Simpsons for the whole run, including the shorts on The Tracey Ullman Show.

I have loved the fun intros that changed every week, the sly and point-on political jabs, the long list of guest stars, the topical story lines and the interrelationships of the dysfunctional but loving family. I've watched as Matt Groening's imaginary characters morphed and changed along with the zeitgeist of the America, bringing insight and laughter along on the ride. For over 30 years this show has made me chortle and I've barely missed an episode.

So today, for your Simpson's viewing pleasure, here is my cocktail homage to The Simpsons:

The

DUH-OH!

Martini

Inspired by and a Tribute to The Simpsons

INGREDIENTS

1-1/2 Oz. Cake Vodka

1Oz. Fresh Orange Juice

1/2 Oz. Fresh Pineapple Juice

1/2 Oz. Half & Half

Garnish: Donut Glaze* with Crushed Butterfinger Bar for Rim

Bright Blue Cotton Candy "Hair" for Garnish

(If you really want to have some fun stick a couple of edible googly eyes on the rim.)

DIRECTIONS

Dip your glass rim in some donut glaze and then into the crushed Butterfingers.

Chill the glass in the freezer.

Fill a cocktail shaker with ice and add the ingredients.

Shake vigorously to blend and emulsify the dairy into the drink.

Pour into your chilled glass then top with a Marge Simpson style hunk of blue cotton candy.

Add the googly eyes if you have them and serve.

Donut Glaze Recipe

Mix together:

2 Tablespoons Powdered Sugar

Drop of Vanilla Extract

1 Teaspoon +/- Milk

The Cake Vodka and glaze on rim tastes like Homer's favorite donut, the Butterfinger is for Bart's favorite candy bar, the cotton candy is for Marge's famous hair, the juices and half & half give the cocktail that distinctive Simpson's skin color.  Yes, I left out the Lisa, Maggie and the Simpson pets, Santa's Little Helper and Snowball. Babies and pets don't mix with booze. Oh, come on, Bart is well over 21 by now and Lisa is a goody two-shoes.  P.S. I didn't forget Grandpa either, I just never liked the dingbat old curmudgeon.

Updated 6-2021

PLEASE DRINK RESPONSIBLY

Blackberry Strawberry Mint Martini

    When, and if, I ever have a few fresh berries sitting around leftover from a recipe it's my typical practice to toss them in with some booze for a new cocktail.  Exactly what I did here.   Add a little fresh mint from the garden and you have another great summer fruit martini to enjoy at happy hour.   THE BLACKBERRY STRAWBERRY MINT MARTINI   2 Oz. Strawberry Vodka 1/2 C. Fresh Blackberries 1/2 C. Fresh Strawberries Juice of 1/2 Fresh Lime 4 Mint Leaves Ice   Chill your martini glass in the freezer.  Combine all the ingredients with 1/2 cup of ice in a blender and mix until slushy but smooth.  Pour into your chilled martini glass and garnish with a fresh strawberry, a few blackberries and a sprig of mint.   Cheers, M'Dears & Enjoy!  
Tweet

Follow me on Twitter as PopArtDiva
Follow me on Twitter as TheMartiniDiva
Friend me on Facebook
LIKE "TheMartiniDiva's Happy Hour" Facebook Page
PLEASE DRINK RESPONSIBLY

Honeydew Melon Martini

  Honeydew melons are very juicy but they can lack flavor unless perfectly ripe.  The one I got my hand on was in a pretty nice ripeness stage but, still, honeydews aren't typically bursting with flavor.  That's where flavored vodkas and liqueurs come into play.    With the addition of a little honey for added sweetness and some lemon juice this turned out to be a very pleasant and refreshing cocktail for a warm (read that hot, I'm in Arizona) late summer evening.   The Honeydew Melon Martini   2 Oz. Melon Vodka 1/2 Oz. Midori 1 Oz. Honeydew Melon Puree Juice of 1/2 Lemon 1 Tbsp. Honey 1 Oz. Sparkling Wine or Soda Slice of Honeydew for Garnish   Puree small chunks of honeydew in a blender or food processor. Chill your glass in the freezer.  Combine the melon vodka, Midori, Honeydew puree, lemon juice and honey in a cocktail shaker with ice and shake until well blended and chilled.  Pour into your glass, top off with the ounce of sparkling wine or soda and garnish with a slice of honeydew.   I won't bore you with any "Honey Do" jokes.... nah, yes I will:

free e-card from Some EE cards
Tweet

Follow me on Twitter as PopArtDiva
Follow me on Twitter as TheMartiniDiva
Friend me on Facebook
LIKE "TheMartiniDiva's Happy Hour" Facebook Page
PLEASE DRINK RESPONSIBLY

LEMON MERINGUE PIE MARTINI

One of my favorite pies is Lemon Meringue.  I love the tart, sweet lemon curd filling and the fluffy, lightly browned meringue topping. (Please don't put whipped cream on mine!)

Naturally I turned it into a cocktail. I simply took vanilla vodka, homemade Limoncello, lemon juice, simple syrup, added some pasteurized egg whiles and, boom, Lemon Meringue Pie in a glass!  The egg whites give it that froth, as well as add body to the cocktail, and counter the tartness of the lemon.  All in all a deliciously light martini.
If you really want the whole pie experience, add baked, crushed pie crust mixed with a little sugar to the rim.

LEMON MERINGUE PIE MARTINI
INGREDIENTS 2 Oz. Vanilla Vodka 1 Oz. Lemoncello 1 Tbsp. Fresh Lemon Juice 1 Tbsp. Simple Syrup1 Egg White(or 1 Oz. Pasteurized Egg White)
Garnish: Grated Lemon Zest
Glass: Cocktail (Martini) or Coupe
DIRECTIONS Add the ingredients to a cocktail shaker and dry shake (no ice) to emulsify and build foam.Add ice then shake until chilled and frothy.Pour into your chilled glass. Grate some lemon zest over the top of the cocktail and serve.
VOICEOVER VIDEO WITH INGREDIENTS AND DIRECTIONS:

   
Updated 3-2021 PLEASE DRINK RESPONSIBLY

Orange Creamsicle Martini Cocktail Recipe

We all loved them as kids, those orange juice and ice cream treats we chased the Good Humor man for.  Those Creamsicles® are an ice cream icon.   You might also remember there were Dreamsicles® and, in case you're wondering, the difference between the two is hinted at in the names.  Creamsicles® have an ice cream center while Dreamsicles® had an ice milk center.   I seem to remember raspberry as well as orange, but the orange was always my favorite. That means, of course, that I had to turn it into a cocktail.

TheCREAMSICLEMARTINI   INGREDIENTS1/2 Oz. Orange Vodka1/2 Oz. Grand Mariner1 Oz. Fresh Orange Juice1 Oz. Heavy Cream DIRECTIONSGarnish rim with orange sugar crystals.Shake ingredients with ice in a cocktail shaker then strain into a chilled cocktail glass and serve with a popsicle stick as a swizzle stick.
VOICEOVER VIDEO WITH INGREDIENTS AND DIRECTIONS:

August 14th is National Creamsicle® Day 

  Updated 7-2021 PLEASE DRINK RESPONSIBLY  

Strawberry Watermelon Martini

  Two of my favorite summer fruits are watermelon and strawberries, add booze and you have me! So I added booze:   THE STRAWBERRY WATERMELON MARTINI   2 Oz. Watermelon Vodka
1/2 Cup Fresh Strawberries
Juice of 1/2 Lemon
1 Tbsp. Agave Syrup

Chill you glass in the freezer.  Add the ingredients to a cocktail shaker filled with ice and shake until chilled. Pour into your glass and garnish with a lemon wheel and a fresh strawberry.   You can't beat fresh fruit for chilling you down and building up your immune system.  If you're going to drink in the heat, fresh fruit in your cocktail is a great way to combat the dry throat of the summer hot streak and the dehydration effects of alcohol.
PLEASE DRINK RESPONSIBLY