Monday, December 20, 2010

step away from the cosmo...




Hey gorgeous Cosmo drinkers,
it's time to try something new. Don't worry we still have some cranberry and a lovely reddish pink hue. Together we can do this :)

ginger, lime, cranberries, tito's vodka, amaretto

  • grate fresh ginger (enough to cover the bottom of your pint glass)
  • microwave some fresh cranberries for a second or 2, until you hear a little "pop" (this will change the flavor for the better & make muddling easier)
  • fill shaker with ice
  • add in 1 oz of amaretto
  • 1 oz tito's handmade vodka
  • dash of lime juice
  • if you like sweeter drinks add a touch of honey
Shake and strain over ice. Garnish with some cranberries.
cheers!

sage & tangerine margarita

photo credit anbanet.com


Margaritas may not scream winter, but they do bellow PARTY!!

so, let's cut out the manufacturers and become our own best friend with a 'healthier margarita' served for 1 or 4 (pitcher style)
tangerines, sage, cointreau, lime, tequila

  • press tangerine juice from about 6 tangerines. you may dabble with other types of winter citrus if you'd like, grapefruit, blood orange all are perfectly delicious. I'd pair grapefruit with mint though, and the blood orange with some lavender...but I'm a crazy bird.
  • slap the sage against your palm to release the aromatic properties
  • muddle up the sage with half of a pressed tangerine in a shaker- keep the rind (skin) on. You don't really need the juicy pulp- it's the rind that will release the oils and make the muddling worth it.
  • put ice in the shaker
  • add 1/2 oz of cointreau
  • 2 oz of tequila
  • squeeze 2 lime wedges on top
  • strain and pour into a snifter full of ice
  • garnish with a tangerine wedge & a sage leaf

If making this in pitcher form, press about 15 tangerines, muddle up a handful of sage, add 8-10 oz of tequila (or more)
and 2 oz of cointreau


The best part about this margarita is that you are cutting out the packaging and excess sugars in manufactured products. You pressed the juice, you muddled the sage, and now you get to reap the sweet rewards of this too good to be true margarita!

Sunday, December 19, 2010

a play on the champagne cocktail (it's actually really good!)



hi beautiful drinkie people

did you hear? i's goings to be on the news.

this will be my 2nd venture, well 3rd if you count the time i answered phones at the newington children's hospital telethon in 5th grade. I met Al Terzi!! (well, you only know who that is if you are a connecti-cutian.

any hoo! it's a healthy cocktail segment and the drinks are by me.

a normal fancy lady will cheers & toast (with eye contact) with a traditional champagne cocktail, champagne, sugar cube, bitters & a cherry. But a savvy, local healthy fancy lady will shun the white sugar.

Behold a white sugar- cube- free champagne cocktail.

What you need:
honey, a tangerine wedge, Aperol & champagne or prosecco.

  • grab some local honey and put a dollop in the bottom of a champagne class
  • take the Aperol and add about a 1/2 ounce
(what is Aperol you ask? (specifically it's an apertif made to stimulate digestion) & it's basically another brand of Campari (now owned by the same italians who own Campari), like coke & pepsi, Aperol is the pepsi- I like it better, for no reason- other than it's a smidge sweeter)

  • squeeze a tangerine wedge and leave it on the bottom or take it away- your choice.

  • stir the honey, aperol and tangerine all together & fill the flute with your champagne/prosecco of choice. I've been using Lamarca.Bulleted List
* why is honey better you ask? well, it's unrefined made by bees (which = god & not human hands, god trumps human hands, always, always always).

* there is sugar in Aperol so this isn't a sugar free recipe
it's a healthier version with citrus instead of an over processed marachino cherry.

Sunday, December 5, 2010

tangerine dream


tangerine! the able to be rhymed orange hued fruit!


Press some tangerines (about 10)
  • 2 0z tangerine
  • 1 oz vanilla vodka
  • squeeze a fresh lime wedge
  • shake & strain in a martini glass.
  • garnish with a mint leaf


if you want to use regular vodka and don't have a crush on vanilla like I do, toss in a dabble of maraschino liquer it's sooooo goood.


so easy.