Tag Archives: Drinking

{Cocktail O’Clock} Dark And Stormy

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When I was in the sixth grade I begged my parents to let me have a boy-girl party on Halloween.  They finally agreed and I wrote out the invitations and told all my girl friends that it was on.

At school the next day I gave the invitations out to the girls, but ended up being too much of a chicken to even give them out to the boys.  Us girls had lots of fun dressed up as punk rockers dancing to Thriller in my basement.

Nowadays I’m not quite as painfully shy as I was in the sixth grade, and I’ve been known to throw a few boy-girl parties since then.  I especially love a good cocktail party, since you can set out a few snacks, some wine and beer, and plan on one or two special cocktails to mix for those that want them.

A fun drink for the rum drinkers is the Dark and Stormy.  It’s made with dark rum and ginger beer or ginger ale, and is said to be a remedy for a sailor’s seasickness.  But it’s definitely better without a queasy stomach!

Dark and Stormy

from Shortbread

makes 1 drink

Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 ounces dark rum
  • ginger beer or ginger ale
  • orange wedge for garnish (optional)

Directions

  1. Fill a highball glass with ice and pour rum on top.
  2. Add ginger beer/ale to fill glass.
  3. Garnish with orange wedge, if desired.

 

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{Cocktail O’Clock} Happy Friday Cosmopolitan

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Happy Friday!  It’s cocktail o’clock, and I want to share with you my recipe for the fun and ever-popular Cosmopolitan.  I have wowed many with this outstanding concoction that tastes not-too-sweet, not-too-strong, but packs a punch nonetheless.

Sadly, I have had more than my share of completely unsatisfactory Cosmos.  This one, however, is purely sublime.

Cosmopolitan

from Shortbread

serves 1

Ingredients

  • ice cubes
  • 2 ounces ounces lemon vodka
  • 1 ounce Cointreau
  • 1 1/2 ounce cranberry juice
  • 2 teaspoons freshly squeezed lime juice

Directions

  1. Fill a cocktail shaker with ice.
  2. Add the vodka, Cointreau, cranberry juice and lime juice.
  3. Cover and shake vigorously to combine and chill.
  4. Strain into a chilled martini glass and serve.

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Back Porch Southern Sweet Tea Cocktail

Posted in Beverages by

Firefly cocktail

Finally, a light at the end of the long, cold, winter tunnel.  I do believe I suffer from SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder), and would never make it anywhere farther north without a blue light.

After enduring a weekend of cold rain and two children with the flu, I think a celebration is in order.  With temperatures in the 70’s this weekend, I have cracked open my bottle of Firefly Sweet Tea Vodka, bought a few weeks ago with dreams of enjoying it on my back porch.

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World Tour Day Five Almond Whiskey Sour Cocktail

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almond whiskey sour

World Tour Day Five:  Italy.

I am in search of a signature cocktail.  Something that I can order at any bar, or have someone make for me at their house, or that I can throw together at cocktail hour.  Something that is simple to make, includes a few fairly common ingredients, and that will please me when I’m not in the mood for a special drink.  And most of all, something that says “KAREN”.

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A Fresh Start

Posted in Stuff I Like by

I believe there are two categories of cooks – those who cook so others can enjoy the food, and those who cook so they can enjoy the food.  I happen to fall into the second category, so my family and friends are often served creations from my kitchen which incorporate my favorite food groups:  cheese, bread, and potatoes (preferably french fried), and we almost never have the same thing twice.  I always thought this was the case in every household until I met my mother-in-law, who will not eat anything made with cheese, mayonnaise, milk, or processed meat products.  I discovered this at our wedding shower when she didn’t eat, even though there was creamy olive dip, cocktail hot dogs, cucumber sandwiches with cream cheese, and chicken salad.  However, she makes some of the best homemade macaroni and cheese, ham salad, and cheesecake.  Go figure.  She once asked me if there was any food I didn’t like…I was stumped. Continue reading →