The Bloody Mary drink is very versatile. Some make it with beer or tequila instead of the standard vodka, but I think the classic version is still the best (with quality ingredients of course).
Perfect Mint Juleps
The Kentucky Derby isn’t the only time to drink mint juleps! You’ll love the ease of this recipe and you can keep it in the fridge for up to 6 months.
INGREDIENTS
3 Loosely Packed Cups Washed Fresh Mint Leaves
4 Cups Boiling Water
3/4 Cup Sugar
2 Cups Good Quality Whiskey
Extra Mint Sprigs For Garnish (Optional)
Sliced Limes For Garnish (Optional)
Fill large glass bowl with mint leaves. Reserve a few for garnish. Pour boiling water over mint. Cover with plastic wrap, and let steep until mixture reaches room temperature. Strain mint liquid and throw away mint leaves. Add sugar to mint liquid. Stir to dissolve. Add whiskey. Bottle as desired, then cork or seal bottles. Refrigerate up to 6 months. Serve over crushed ice with a sprig of mint and lime slice for garnish. Makes 6 cups.
© Victoria Hart Glavin
Guava Jalapeño Margarita
Happy Cino De Mayo! May 5th celebrates Mexico’s victory over France in the 1862 Battle of Puebla. Whether you’re Mexican or not, this is a great time to have a party. Blend a few of my fabulous Guava Jalapeño Margaritas to go along with my delicious Turkey Enchiladas With Avocado Sauce.
INGREDIENTS
1 3/4 Cup Chilled Guava Juice
Sea Salt
1 1/2 Cup Silver Tequila
1 Cup Triple Sec
3/4 Cup Fresh Lime Juice
Ice Cubes
1/2 Seeded & Diced Jalapeno Pepper
Pour 1/4 cup of the guava juice into a saucer. Spread sea salt in another saucer. Moisten the rim of 8 margarita glasses with guava juice, then dip glass rim into salt until coated. In a pitcher, stir remaining 1 1/2 cups of guava juice, tequila, triple sec, lime juice, and jalapeno peppers. Working in batches, shake mixture in large ice-filled shaker, then strain into glasses. Garnish each margarita with jalapeno wheel. Serve. Serves 8
© Victoria Hart Glavin
Seven Stylish Bar Drinks
Some like their cocktails sweet and fruity; others want them brisk and sour; and martini lovers are in a class by themselves. Keep these recipes in your repertoire and you’ll be covered no matter whom you’re hosting. Remember to drink and serve responsibly!
Cosmopolitan
INGREDIENTS
1/4 Cup (2 Ounces) Vodka
2 Tablespoons (1 Ounce) Orange Liqueur
2 Tablespoons (1 Ounce) Cranberry Juice
1 Tablespoons (1/2 Ounce) Lime Juice
In a cocktail shaker combine all ingredients. Add ice cubes, cover and shake until very cold. Strain liquid into chilled glass. If desired, garnish with lime peel twist. Makes 1 serving.
Mai Tai
INGREDIENTS
1/3 Cup Pineapple Juice
3 Tablespoons (1 1/2 Ounces) Rum
3 Tablespoons (1 1/2 Ounces) Orange Liqueur
2 Tablespoons (1 Ounce) Grenadine Syrup
Dash Lime Juice
Dash Sugar
In a cocktail shaker combine all ingredients. Add ice cubes, cover and shake until very cold. Strain liquid into tall glass filled with crushed ice. If desired, garnish with fresh fruit (such as strawberries, kiwifruit, orange wedges) threaded on long skewer. Makes 1 serving.
Vodka Gimlet
INGREDIENTS
3 Tablespoons (1 1/2 Ounces) Vodka or Gin
1 Tablespoon (1/2 Ounce) Bottled Sweetened Lime Juice
In a cocktail shaker combine vodka and sweetened lime juice. Add ice cubes, cover and shake until very cold. Strain liquid into an ice-filled glass. If desired garnish with a lime peel twist. Makes 1 serving.
Sidecar
INGREDIENTS
1/4 Cup (2 Ounces) Brandy
2 Tablespoons (1 Ounce) Lemon Juice
2 Tablespoons (1 Ounce) Orange Liqueur
Wet the rim of a chilled glass with water. Dip rim into dish of sugar to coat. Set aside. In a cocktail shaker combine all ingredients. Add ice cubes, cover and shake until very cold. Strain liquid into prepared glass filled with additional ice cubes. If desired garnish with quartered lemon slices. Makes 1 serving.
Whiskey Sour
INGREDIENTS
1/4 Cup (2 Ounces) Bourbon
2 Tablespoons (1 Ounce) Lime Juice
2 Tablespoons (1 Ounce) Lemon Juice
1 Tablespoon Sugar
In a rocks glass combine all ingredients. Using a spoon, stir until combined and sugar is dissolved. Add ice cubes. If desired, garnish with an orange slice and a cherry. Makes 1 serving
Blackberry Fizz
INGREDIENTS
5 Fresh or Frozen Blackberries (Thawed)
1 Tablespoon (1/2 Ounce) Lime Juice
1 Teaspoon Superfine Sugar
3 Tablespoons (1 1/2 Ounces) Cognac or Other Brandy
3 Tablespoons (1 1/2 Ounces) Sparkling Wine
In a cocktail shaker combine blackberries, lime juice, superfine sugar. To muddle, gently crush berries with the back of a spoon. Add cognac or other brandy and ice cubes. Cover and shake until very cold. Strain liquid into an ice filled glass. Add chilled sparkling wine. Garnish with additional blackberries and, if desired, a mint sprig. Makes 1 serving.
Martini
INGREDIENTS
3 Green Olives
1/4 Cup (2 Ounces) Gin or Vodka
1 1/2 Teaspoons (1/4 Ounce) Dry Vermouth
Thread green olives on a cocktail pick. Set aside. In a cocktail shaker combine gin (or vodka) and dry vermouth. Add ice cubes. Cover and shake until very cold. Strain liquid into a martini glass. Garnish with olives and/or a lemon peel twist. Makes 1 serving.
Homemade Limoncello
Last month I was in Rome on a culinary tour. Along with having delicious Amaro after dinner I had delicious and refreshing limoncello, which by the way, was much better than the bottled stuff available back home in New York. I was able to squeeze the recipe out of a well-known Roman chef before leaving Rome, although this recipe is typical of Salerno and is not as sweet as other limoncello recipes. It’s not too late to make your own limoncello for the holidays. At the very least get a batch started in time for New Years. If you can’t find a place to purchase grain alcohol you can substitute 100 proof vodka. I store my limoncello in the freezer.
INGREDIENTS
5 Medium Organic Lemons
4 Cups High Proof Grain Alcohol (Such as Everclear)
1 Cup Sugar
6 Cups Water
Wash and dry lemons. Remove peel from lemons and try not to get any of the white pith. A vegetable peeler works great for this job. Put peels along with alcohol into a large glass container with a tight seal. Let sit for 7 days. At end of seventh day heat sugar with 6 cups water until sugar is dissolved. Strain peels from alcohol. Add lemon peels to sugar mixture and cook until peels break down. Remove from heat and let cool to room temperature. Pour in alcohol. The color will have taken on a yellow color. Let rest for three days and then strain before use. Transfer finished limoncello to serving bottles and seal tightly. Store in freezer. This recipe makes about 1 liter. Recipe can be doubled if desired.
Mocha Java
As the days and nights get cooler it’s nice to have a good flavored coffee recipe.
INGREDIENTS
2 Cups Strong Hot Coffee
1/2 Cup Hot Cocoa Mix
3 Tablespoons Sugar
1/4 Teaspoon Ground Cinnamon
3/4 Cup Half & Half
Whipped Cream For Garnish
Chocolate Shaving For Garnish (Optional)
Ground Cinnamon For Garnish (Optional)
Pour coffee into 2-quart saucepan. Add cocoa mix, sugar, and 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon and stir until dissolved. Add half & half and cook over a medium heat for 3 minutes. Stir occasionally until heated through. Top each serving with shipped cream and sprinkle with chocolate shaving and ground cinnamon. Makes 2 (1 1/4 Cup) Servings
Refreshing Ginger Tea Drink
Here is a refreshing summer drink that you and your loved ones will take a liking to. With the hot weather here we all need to drink plenty of liquids to stay hydrated!
INGREDIENTS
4 Cups Boiling Water
15 Individual Green Tea Bags
3 Cups White Grape Juice
1 Cup Apple Juice
2 Tablespoons Honey
2 Tablespoons Minced Fresh Ginger
2 Tablespoons Fresh Mint Leaves
1 Green Apple Sliced For Garnish
In a slow cooker combine the boiling water and the tea bags. If you don’t have a slow cooker you can make this on the stove in a large pot on simmer. Cover and let stand for 10 minutes. Throw away the tea bags and stir in the grape juice, apple juice, honey and ginger. Cover and cook on low for 3 hours or until heated through. Strain and transfer to a large covered pitcher (or two covered pitchers). Place in the fridge for at least 6 hours. When ready to serve pour into glasses and garnish with fresh mint leaves and apple slices. Makes about 2 quarts.
Even More Skinny Cocktails
There is a huge demand for “Skinny Cocktails,” but it’s not easy coming up with reduced-calorie cocktails. There are several lighter-calorie alcohol brands that have come onto the market in the past few years. Skinnygirl Vodka and Voli Light Vodka are two low-cal vodka brands that have become quite popular. Skinnygirl was launched by former Real Housewives of New York cast member Bethenny Frankel who sold it to Beam in March 2011. Voli is owned by singers Pitbull and Fergie. TY KU Sake is a low-calorie, gluten-free premium sake brand which is owned by singer/producer CeeLo Green and The Millionaire Matchmaker, Patti Stanger.
Gin & Lime Juice
INGREDIENTS
1 1/2 Ounces Gin
3/4 Fresh Lime Juice
1 Teaspoon Simple Syrup
1 1/2 Ounces Seltzer Water
Lime Wedge
Add all ingredients except the seltzer water into a shaker. Shake and pour into a glass filled with ice. Top with seltzer water and garnish with a lime wedge. Serves 1. 155 Calories.
Daiquiri
INGREDIENTS
2 Ounces TY KU Sake
1 1/2 Ounces Light Rum
1/2 Ounce Lime Juice
1/2 Ounce Agave Nectar
Add all ingredients into a shaker. Shake and pour into a glass filled with ice. Serves 1. 163 Calories.
Light Bloody Mary
INGREDIENTS
2 Ounces Low-Calorie Vodka
2 Ounces Tomato Juice
1/2 Ounce Fresh Lemon Juice
1/2 Teaspoon Worcestershire Sauce
1/2 Teaspoon Hot Sauce
1/8 Teaspoon Celery Salt
Lime Wedge
Cucumber Slice
Celery Stalk
Add all ingredients into a shaker filled with ice. Shake and pour into a glass. Garnish with lime wedge, cucumber slice & celery stalk. Serves 1. 122 Calories.
More Skinny Cocktails
While one cannot consider these “health drinks” these cocktails are less guilty alternatives to the cocktails that are heavy on calories. Stay on weight goal track with my Skinny Cocktails. You can have your “cake and eat it too!”
Vodka & Citrus Cocktail
INGREDIENTS
2 Ounces Thyme & Citrus Blend
1 Ounce Vodka
1/4 Ounce Absinthe
Combine all ingredients in an ice filled shaker. Shake and pour into a glass. Tope with soda water. Serves 1. 200 Calories
Prosecco Fresco
INGREDIENTS
4 Ounces Chilled Prosecco
1 Cucumber
1 Lime Wedge
Splash of Hot Sauce
Pinch of Sea Salt
Peel the cucumber and puree it in a blender. Strain the cucumber juice into a large glass. Top off with the prosecco. Finish with a splash of hot sauce and a pinch of salt. Gently stir to combine and garnish with a lime wedge. Serves 1. 130 Calories
Skinny Cocktails
Spring seems to be poking its head out and the weekend is here so why not sit outside this weekend and enjoy an evening cocktail. The problem is that mixed drinks have a lot of calories so here is a cocktail with just a fraction of the calories (under 200 calories) that a regular cocktail would have. Enjoy your weekend!
Skinny Margarita
INGREDIENTS
1 1/2 Ounces TY KU Citrus Liqueur
1/4 Ounce Silver Tequila
1/4 Ounce Agave Nectar
Squeeze of Lemon
Combine all of the ingredients in a shaker. Shake well. Serve on the rocks or blend with ice. Serves 1. 100 Calories
Skinny Gin & Grapefruit Cocktail
1 1/2 Ounces Gin
1 Ounce Sugar-Free Simple Syrup
3 Ounces Fresh Grapefruit Juice
Combine all of the ingredients in a shaker. Shake well. Pour into a glass filled with ice. Garnish with a slice of grapefruit. Serves 1. 110 Calories
