Ingredients
2 scoops Strawberry Ice Cream (Your favorite brand will do… I’m particular to Haagen-Dazs. Mmm.)
1 cup Whole Milk
1/4 cup Frozen Strawberries (or fresh, if you’ve got them!), hulled
2 teaspoons Sugar

Put strawberries in your blender. Pulse until mushy. Add the Ice Cream, Milk and Sugar, and give it a good whirr.

Serve with a wide straw, and your favorite hamburger.

A toast to Michael

June 26, 2009 | Posted by Lorraine as Drinks at 5:19 pm | (1) Comment »

Truly a sad day for millions of Michael Jackson fans around the world- but as with any death, I think this time is best spent celebrating the life of the recently deceased. That his death headlined on nearly all news sources, that people stopped working and condoled with each other, just goes to show how many lives he’s touched. Through watching his sometimes crazy life, yes- but most importantly, through his music.

Because, right now anyway for me, it’s all about his music.

And so we toast Michael Jackson today, with this appropriately named cocktail, the Moonwalk. It’s a little fruity, a little floral, elegantly bubbly, and very fabulous. Much like the King of Pop himself.

Moonwalk Cocktail Recipe

1 part grapefruit juice
1 part Grand Marnier
1 part rose water
Chilled champagne

Combine ingredients in a cocktail shaker. Shake well, and strain into a wine glass. Top off with champagne.

The Perfect Martini

June 24, 2009 | Posted by Lorraine as Drinks at 3:11 am | (1) Comment »

I hardly ever have a drink these days. The occasional glass of wine to accompany a meal, sure- and maybe one or two glasses of Bailey’s on the rocks at get-togethers with girlfriends… but nothing like when I used to go out to clubs and bars. In those days, one of my favorite ever things to order was a Martini. With an olive, maybe two. Can you tell that I love olives? Delicious.

Because we like to entertain regularly, we keep our home bar pretty well-stocked- and the other night I felt myself hankering for a perfectly made Martini. And here’s what I did:

Perfect Olive Martini Recipe

1 oz dry gin
1 oz sweet vermouth
1 oz olive juice or brine (straight out of the jar of olives… yep)
ice cubes
1 or 2 olives

Fill your cocktail shaker halfway with ice cubes. Pour gin, sweet vermouth and olive juice into it, cover, and shake well. Strain into a martini glass, and add olive(s). It’s shaken, not stirred (cue James Bond music).

Making two of these and handing one to my husband as he walked in the door made me feel very worldly and grown-up somehow.

5 Drinks With Prosecco

December 27, 2008 | Posted by Lorena as Drinks, Holiday Fun at 1:16 am | Comments »

What is a New Year’s party without the usual mix of drinks? I am sure that you are planning your own party for next week and I have the perfect idea for you – prosecco 5 ways! I actually saw this list on Food Network and thought that I’d share it with you.

Just a little background on prosecco. Prosecco is actually a variety of white grape grown in Veneto, Italy. The sparkling white wine made from this grape is called by the same name. It can be served on its own, chilled, but it is also great when mixed. Here are the 5 ways you can serve prosecco.

1. Apricot Fizz
Ingredients
3 tablespoons chilled apricot nectar or peach papaya mango juice
1/2 cup chilled Prosecco
lime slices for garnish
Directions
Pour the apricot nectar in a champagne flute and top with Prosecco. Garnish with lime slices if desired.

2. Black Currant Cocktail
Ingredients
2 tablespoons chilled CurrantC or Black Currant Nectar
1/2 cup chilled Prosecco
Directions
Pour juice in a champagne flute and top with Prosecco.

3. Prosecco Blush
Ingredients
1/4 cup chilled sparkling grapefruit juice or pink grapefruit juice
1/3 cup chilled Prosecco
1 2-inch long strip of grapefruit zest for garnish
Directions
Pour grapefruit soda in a champagne flute and top with Prosecco. Garnish with zest.

4. Berry Sparkler
Ingredients
¼ cup fresh or frozen raspberries or blackberries
1 teaspoon granulated sugar
1/3 to 1/2 cup chilled Prosecco
Directions
Mash raspberries and sugar together with a fork. Spoon mixture into a champagne glass and top with Prosecco.

5. Prosecco Sparkler
Ingredients
3 dashes of Angostura Bitters or more if desired
1/2 cup chilled Prosecco
1 sugar cube
Directions
Add bitters and prosecco into a champagne flute. Drop in sugar cube. Mixture will sparkle and fizz.

I am sure that these drinks will add some sparkle to your New Year celebrations!

Apple pie in a jar

November 3, 2008 | Posted by Lorena as Drinks at 6:48 am | Comments »

Ingredients
1 gallon apple cider
1 gallon apple juice
6 (3 inch) cinnamon sticks
1 1/2 cups white sugar, or to taste
1 (1 liter) bottle 190 proof grain alcohol (such as Everclear™)

What’s Next
Place the apple cider, apple juice, cinnamon sticks, and sugar into a large pot. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring until the sugar has dissolved. Remove from the heat, and discard the cinnamon sticks. Allow the mixture to cool to room temperature, then stir in the grain alcohol. Pour into quart-size canning jars, seal with the lids and rings, and refrigerate until ready to serve.