French Martini

We went to a restaurant today and they had on the menu a "French Martini" of course they never tell you how much is in the martini, they just tell you what is in it. So there I am, writing all the ingredients of all the fun looking drinks on a napkin!! I really wanted my hubby to take a picture with his phone of the menu but the look I got when I suggested it was a little awkward so I decided against pursuing it. I think he was a little embarrassed, and I am not 100% sure he will be taking me out again in the near future - you can dress me up but can't take me anywhere :) :) :)

This one is really good though - it may not be the exact one that they had there but the one that I made was really yummy!!

2 ounces high end Vodka (I used Grey Goose)
1 1/2 ounce Chambord
2 1/2 ounces Pineapple Juice
Ice

I of course used my Boston shaker. I chilled the Martini glass using ice and water. Then I mixed the liqueurs and the pineapple juice in the glass part of the Boston shaker then filled it completely with ice. I shook the shaker with all the liquids then strained it in a martini glass. It was excellent!

Enjoy!

All my stuff

Since I started making Martini's, I have collected so many cool things. The other night, I saw an episode of "Good Eats" on the Food Network. Alton Brown showed the way to make a perfect Martini. Of course, he had a stocked bar and all the little gadgets that go with it. My husband had to stay up to watch the show (which was on WAY past his bedtime) just so that he could see all the different things that Alton had so he could get them for me for Christmas.

I have a top of the line Martini shaker that my best friend, Becky gave me for my birthday. It was featured in the Food Network magazine a few magazines ago and it is so nice! It has a flip top, and has a great seal on it - NO SPILLING!! YAHOO!!! I use this to make Margaritas, Pearl Harbours, and any other mixed drink. There is something about the way ice sounds when it is being shaken in a martini shaker!!

This Christmas, after seeing the Alton Brown Martini show, I HAD TO HAD TO HAD TO have a Boston Shaker. I had no idea how to use them, or why I needed one but Alton had one so what the heck right?!?!? Anyways, my poor husband, and Becky and her dad searched high and low for this Boston Shaker and it was not to be found in any store in fact, Ray said that they looked at him like he had grown 2 heads when he said what he was looking for!!

He had to turn to his savior the Internet where he found one on Amazon. He found that along with every size measuring cup there is. I love them all!! You will be able to find all of these things on http://www.amazon.com/ and put in the keyword Boston shaker. They will come right up.

I used the Boston shaker blog to find out the correct way to use it. It was really informative and had all the different types of strainers. It also has a video on how to use the shaker itself which I thought was really neat. I need a visual!! The link is here if you are interested:

The picture shows everything. The Boston shaker comes with the strainer and the glass and metal cup, the 3 size jiggers are in front then my martini shaker is the last one on the right.

http://thebostonshaker.com/_blog/ShakerSmarts/post/What_is_a_Boston_Shaker_(And_how_do_you_use_it)/

Have I ever told you how much I LOVE MARTINI'S?????

Apple Pie Ala Mode

Quite the name for such a cool drink!! Stoli Vanilla Vodka and Apple pie liqueur with some apple cider - OH WOW!!! What a great addition to next year's fall line up!!

1 1/2 ounce Stoli Vanil Vodka
2 ounces Apple Pie Liqueur - See previous post
1/2 ounce Peach Schnapps
2 ounces Apple Cider

Put in shaker with ice and shake. Strain into martini glass and ENJOY!!

Apple Pie Liquor - A must have!!!!

Today, as I was heading out to find something new and exciting, I came across a new liquor - well, it's new to me - it's called Apple Pie Liqueur. As I was coming up with something to do with it, I came across the website - check it out sometime! There is a great story of the liqueur and how it came about as well as different recipes to do with it. The website is http://www.drinkpie.com/

I also have a recipe, but for now, here is what the bottle looks like!

Chili's Jamaican Paradise

This is by far my favorite drink from Chili's - I always get it!! I am os excited to be able to share it with all of you! This recipe is a copycat from the Top Secret Recipes drink book that I posted previously.

1 1/4 ounces Malibu Rum
1/2 ounce Tequila
1/2 ounce Midori
1/2 ounce Blue Curacao Liqueur
2 ounces sweet and sour mix
Splash lime juice

Garnish:
Orange wedge
Maraschino cherry

1. Fill 16 ounce mug with ice
2. Combine all ingredients in a shaker and shake. Pour over ice.
3. Add an orange wedge and maraschino cherry on a toothpick and serve with a straw (or if you are me in a wine glass LOL!)

Gotta get the recipes from somewhere!!

I have been trying to utilize some of my cookbooks lately. Yes everyone, I can cook too!! Not just martinis!! Anyhow, If you love to mix drinks and you have favorites from The Olive Garden and Chili's, you will love this book I have, and you NEED one :) It is Top Secret Recipes and it is the one for all drinks. Not only martinis and margaritas but smoothies and non alcoholic drinks as well as recipes for pina colada mix, and sour mix. I have been using that recipe instead of buying it - SO MUCH CHEAPER!!! Anyways, here is a picture of the book so you can get it an add it to your collection!!

Raspberry Citron Martini

This is a great summer sipper - Ray even liked it! Can you believe it?? He never likes my martinis! Life is good!! Anyways, here is the recipe. This is one I played with till it came out right - And it finally did!

2 ounces Absolute Citron Vodka
2 ounces Pomegranate Juice
2 ounces Raspberry Liquor
2 ounces Orange Juice
1 ounce Lime Juice

Mix all ingredients over ice in a martini shaker. Strain in a martini glass. This recipe can make 2 martinis depending on the size of the glass. Enjoy!!!!

Butterscotch Caramel Martini

This is a great dessert Martini. A little on the sweet side, but I will never be sweet enough!! This one was great on a Sunday afternoon while cleaning up the kitchen and listening to music!!

2 ounces Vodka
1 ounce Butterscotch Liquor
Splash of Cream De Cacao
Splash of Bailey's Caramel Liquor
Ice
Chocolate Syrup (for garnishing)

Line Martini Glass with chocolate syrup. Add all liquor to martini shaker with ice. Shake and strain into prepared glass. Enjoy!

Welcome Home Nana!!

After a fire happened at Nana & Grampa Kemp's house, and they lived in their camper for a good majority of the summer, It's finally just about done! All that is left in the house now is boxes of stuff to be gone through and put away but yesterday afternoon, while the boys were up on the roof fixing the antenna, Becky, Mom & I were downstairs enjoying our first of many drinks in the new kitchen. Here's to you Nana and Grampa - May we all create new memories in your new house!!

Coconut Pineapple Dream

2 parts Coconut Rum
1 part Vodka
Pineapple Juice
Orange Juice

Put ice in glass. Add Rum and vodka. Add pineapple juice and a splash of orange juice. Stir and Enjoy!

Absolut Comfort

This is another one from the same app for the i-phone or i-touch. I had no idea what Southern Comfort tasted like until I had this one and it was really good! The Grenidine was definetly the addition it needed to sweeten it up!

2 dash Grenadine
1 ounce Absolut Vodka
1 splash Club Soda
1 Splash Sour Mix
1 ounce Southern Comfort

Shake in a martini shaker and pour over ice in a cocktail glass.

Siberian Express Martini

for any of you who have an iphone or itouch, there is an app called mixology. I got this drink from there and it was very good! It is definitly a dessert martini but well worth it!

2 oz. Stoli Vanilla Vodka
1 oz. Chambord Raspberry Liquor
1 oz. Godiva Chocolate Liquor
Ice

Shake with ice and strain into chilled martini glass. Garnish with a raspberry if desired

Perfect Pear Martini

This one is nice and sweet that's for sure! It was really good though - Another summer sipper :) :) :)

1 part Absolute Pears
1 part Sour Apple Pucker
1 part Sour Mix
Ice

Mix together in a martini shaker and strain - Enjoy!

Chambord Margarita

Can't go wrong with this one. When someone asks me my FAVORITE drink to make, it would have to be this one. I love margaritas almost as much as I love martinis! This one is a little fruity but still has the whole tequila experience - try it - you will LOVE it!

1.5 part tequila
1 part Chambord
2 part Sour mixture
Ice

Mix all the ingredients in a martini shaker. Pour into margarita glass (ice and all) rimmed with margarita salt (if desired). Garnish with lime wedge. ENJOY!

Banana Coconut Cream Martini

Yup - I tried it! I had no idea what I was in for or if the sink was going to get the most of it! I even had to have Nikki try it so that I could make sure I wasn't crazy!!

2 parts Coconut Rum
1 part Banana Liquor
1 part Milk or Cream
Ice

Mix all ingredients in a martini shaker and strain - tastes like a banana pina colada!! YUMMY!!

Pumpkin Martini

YUM! This one is one of those ones that you can only make if you have the pumpkin Liquor which in NH only comes out in the fall. I made my own simple syrup - 1 c. water and 2 c. sugar - boil them until the sugar is melted. Badda Bing there you go!!

3 parts Vodka
1 part Pumpkin Liquor
Splash of Simple Syrup
Ice

Mix all ingredients in a martini shaker and strain into a martini glass. Enjoy!

Electric Peach Martini

Peach Schnapps
Stoli vodka (or any other good vodka)
Splash cranberry juice
Splash orange juice

Mix all ingredients in a martini shaker with ice and strain into glass. Very good martini for the summer time!

Mudside Martini

1 part Kaluha
1 part Bailey's Irish Cream
1 part Stoli Vanilla Vodka
Chocolate Syrup

Swirl chocolate syrup in the glass. Put all of the alcohol in a martini shaker and shake with ice. Pour in prepared glass and enjoy!!

Thin Mint Martini

1 part Stoli vodka
1 part Godiva Chocolate Liquor
VERY SMALL Splash peppermint liquor
Splash of chocolate syrup
Ice

Place ice in martini shaker. Add all other ingredients making sure to be very careful with the peppermint liquor - it cacn be very strong! Shake and pour into martini shaker. Tastes just like a girl scout cookie!! YUM!!