Mulled Cider with Spiced Rum

This was supposed to be posted on Friday.
















I had the idea and the ingredients last week but did not get around to making it.

We had an intramural volleyball game on Thursday night and I decided it would not help our chances of victory if we had a cocktail before.
























Although after losing all three games, I don't think it would have hurt.

In fact, I'm surprised I didn't go home and drown my sorrows in a warm cup of this spiced cider.


Mulled Cider with Spiced Rum
(makes 2)

20 oz apple cider
lemon rind
whole cloves
pinch of allspice
cinnamon stick
1 ½ oz spiced rum

Stud the lemon rind with cloves.  Add the rind to a medium saucepan with the apple cider and allspice.  Bring to a simmer -  you should be able to smell the lemon zest and spices.  Pour into mugs and add the spiced rum.  Garnish with a cinnamon stick.

Pumpkin Pie Martini

I told ya so!

Last week I told you I was going start using the famous fall flavor of pumpkin and I followed through.  So there.

This does taste like pumpkin pie.  I just wish I could have had more of my favorite part of the pie, the graham cracker crust.  

Should have served it with a piece of graham cracker to dip in!  Why am I thinking about this at 7 am the following morning and not while I'm drinking it!

Well at least you can use that idea now...

Pumpkin Pie Martini

(makes 1 martini)

3 oz pumpkin puree

1 1/2 oz vodka

1 1/2 oz simple syrup

1 oz mik

pinch of allspice

graham cracker, crushed (optional)

whipped cream (optional)

Put all the ingredients in a cocktail shaker and shake over ice.  Wet the rim of a martini glass and dip into the crushed graham cracker.  Press to adhere if needed.  Strain the pumpkin mixture into the martini glass and garnish with whipped cream and a little more allspice if desired (careful not to do too much - the drink gets spicy!)

Coconut Rum Sunrise

I'm in a little bit of a season limbo right now.

Although summer is coming to a close, I still seem to be clinging to some warm weather habits.  Like this tropical drink with a toasted coconut rim
























However, I also looked at Christmas decorations on Pottery Barn's website.
















I skipped right past Halloween and Thanksgiving and went straight to December.

Christmas is my favorite Holiday but that's no excuse.  Fall is my favorite season so I should be embracing it!  Pumpkin flavored things, here I come!

















Coconut Rum Sunrise
(makes 1 drink)

3 oz coconut rum
2 oz pineapple juice
1 oz orange juice
splash of grenadine

coconut, toasted (optional)

Mix the coconut rum, pineapple juice and orange juice together.  Pour into a martini glass and put in the grenadine for some pretty color.

Blackcurrant Mint Mojito

This was an experiment that turned out really well!

I bought Creme de Cassis without really having a plan for it.  I knew it was a blackcurrant flavored liquor that was typically used in a drink called kir (Creme de Cassis topped with wine).  So I decided it would taste good in a mojito... and it did!

I have a love/hate relationship with mojitos.  I really love the taste of them and they are a great vacation drink.  It's tropical with out being too fruity and overly sweet.

However, I hate how the mint gets stuck in my teeth.  I have been embarrassed a few times by finding out that I have a piece muddled mint replacing one of my front teeth. 

That's not a good look for anyone.



Blackcurrant Mint Mojito
(makes 1 beverage)

2 sprigs of mint
1/2 oz lime juice
3/4 oz simple syrup
3/4 oz Creme de Cassis
1 1/2 oz rum
soda water

Mix 1 sprig of mint, lime juice and simple syrup in a bar glass and muddle to release the mint flavor.  Add the Creme de cassis and rum.  You can shake this in a cocktail shaker or just go ahead and pour it over ice in the serving glass (I strained out my mint - can't get stuck in my teeth now!).  Top with soda water and garnish with the sprig of mint.  

Black Cherry Bourbon Float

I'm not sure how today's weather is supposed to be where you are, but it is a high of 91°F in the Cleveland area.

Couple the heat with the fact that it is a Friday before a long weekend, and I think this drink's timing is perfect!

The drink is also very tasty. 

The bourbon is very subtle.  The black cherry pop soda pairs so well with it, that you have to pay attention in order to know it's there.

It makes you feel like a kid again!

Black Cherry Bourbon Float

Black Cherry Soda
Vanilla Ice Cream
1 oz. Bourbon

Put a scoop of the ice cream into a chilled glass (mine was a12 oz mug).  Add in bourbon and black cherry soda to fill to the top.  Give it a little stir and serve with a spoon and straw!

Ginger Lime Margarita

I bought a Justin Bieber song.

I was feeling a wee bit tipsy after testing two of these bad boys and made the purchase.

I regretted it in the morning.  It's $1.29 I won't get back!

I'll stop whining about it and tell you the lesson I learned: these are potent!  They are sneakily strong and refreshing, which makes them go down pretty easily on a summer's eve.

 The ginger is pretty subtle but I think it makes the taste a little more sophisticated than your usual margarita.

You've been warned now and I'm not responsible for any teen heart throb music you may purchase after making these.

Ginger Lime Margarita

Ingredients

1 1/2 oz tequila

1 oz Grand Marnier (or similar)

1 oz lime juice, preferably fresh squeezed

1 1/2 oz ginger simple syrup (see recipe below)

Directions

Wet rim of the glass and dip into salt or sugar (I added some lime zest and chili powder to some salt to spice it up - literally).  Mix all of the ingredients and stir well.  Pour over ice.  

Ginger Simple Syrup

Ingredients

1 cup sugar

1 cup water

a good chunk of ginger, peeled and chopped

Directions

Mash the ginger some with a meat tenderizer or the back of a spoon.  Bring the sugar and water to a boil and add the ginger and let it steep.  Once it is cool enough, transfer the mixture to a blender and blend - the ginger will stay whole for the most part, but some will break off to add more flavor to the simple syrup.  Strain the mixture and set aside to cool completely.

Blackberry Bourbon Fizz

I've broken a promise to myself.

 This past Sunday morning I swore to myself I would never, ever drink again!  I was quite serious about it at the time since all my organs were screaming at me: head, stomach, and I'm sure my liver, were all pissed.

 But it was also just last week that I decided I would try to post a new cocktail every Friday.  And I also promised (I need to stop making promises) Joe I'd make a macho drink:

Joe: "Why don't you make a more manly drink that isn't pink? ...like something with blackberries!"

Now you know, blackberries are masculine.

 So here it is - the Blackberry Bourbon Fizz.  Pretty yummy but not for the meek.  You taste the bourbon so you better have a palate for it, however, it is not so overwhelming that you can't enjoyably sip this down.

Blackberry Bourbon Fizz

Ingredients
(For blackberry juice - made just over 4 oz for me but it will depend on the berries)
12 oz blackberries (reserve some for garnishing)
1/2 cup superfine sugar

(For cocktail - 1 serving)
1 1/2 oz bourbon
3/4 oz simple syrup
1 oz blackberry juice
1/4 oz lime juice
club soda

Directions
For blackberry juice - Place blackberries and superfine sugar in a bowl.  Mash up the berries and let the mixture macerate for 15 minutes or until juicy.  Strain out the seeds so you are just left with juice.

For cocktail - Place all ingredients except the club soda in a cocktail shaker and top with ice.  Shake well and pour into a glass over ice.  Top with club soda and garnish if you'd like.

Sour Watermelon Martini

Maybe you have noticed, maybe you haven't. 

I have posted 4 recipes so far, including this one.

2 of the 4 are for cocktails.

 

Oops - maybe I should have some variety.

I don't feel that bad about it though... they taste good!

Sour Watermelon Martini 
Serves 4

Simple Syrup Ingredients

1 1/2 Cup water
3/4 Cup sugar

Watermelon Vodka Ingredients

12 oz watermelon, pureed

6 oz vodka

Directions

Make the simple syrup so it has time to cool (bring 1 1/2 Cup water + 3/4 Cup sugar to a boil - make sure all sugar dissolves).  To make the watermelon vodka, blend watermelon until you have 12 oz, then add the 6 oz of vodka.  It will separate over time so make sure to give it a quick blend right before you use it.

Sour Watermelon Martini Ingredients

3 oz simple syrup

3/4 oz lime juice
3/4 oz lemon juice

4 oz watermelon vodka

Superfine sugar, optional

Watermelon slice, optional

Directions

Pour all the ingredients into a cocktail shaker, top with ice and shake vigorously. Optional garnishes: Pour superfine sugar onto a plate.  Use a lime or lemon wedge to wet the rim of a chilled martini glass and dip into sugar.  Strain in watermelon mixture and garnish with the watermelon wedge.  Pretty!

Yum!

Blueberry Thyme Cocktail

I will be making these again soon. 

 It's really all about the simple syrup which I have found really is simple to make. 

Sugar + Water + Heat = Syrup.

 I mixed this blueberry thyme simple syrup with vodka and lemon juice.  It took some of the dark blue color away but tasted like blueberry lemonade.

 Delicious!  So delicious that I forgot to take a picture of the finished product until I had finished about a third of it.

Blueberry Thyme Simple Syrup

1 Cup water

1/2 Cup sugar

1/2 Cup blueberries

1-2 tsp thyme leaves

Note: If you want a sweeter syrup, use a 1:1 ratio of water to sugar.

Bring all the above ingredients to a boil in a saucepan.  Allow to simmer for 10 minutes - the blueberries should burst and release flavor/color.  Set syrup aside and let it cool to room temperature.

Blueberry Thyme Cocktail

4 oz blueberry thyme simple syrup

3 oz vodka

2 oz lemon juice

Pour all the ingredients into a cocktail shaker, top with ice, and shake like crazy.  Fill 2 chilled martini glasses and enjoy.

Great after a hard day of work.  Men, and it appears even dogs, will want one.