Tasty Tuesday

“Wine is bottled poetry.”
-Robert Louis Stevenson

Hello! I know it is not summer, but I am so ready for the sunshine, warmth and cookouts, that I could not resist posting this recipe. I love red wine sangria, but this recipe for a white wine version is very refreshing and sure to be enjoyed by all. I have included the directions to make it non-alcoholic as well. Enjoy!


White Sangria:

Ingredients:

* 1/2 cup water
* 1/2 cup sugar
* 6 medium peaches, pit removed, wedged
* 2 pineapples; cored, cut in thick rings then cubed
* 3 ripe mangoes, peeled, cut in 3/4-inch cubes
* 6 limes, cut crosswise in 1/4-inch rounds
* 3 bottles fruity white wine (Riesling, Vouvray, Gewurztraminer)
* 1 cup Grand Marnier
* 1-1/2 cups light rum
* 1 liter sparkling unflavored water
* 1 pint raspberries

Directions:

1.) Heat water and sugar in saucepan over medium until sugar dissolves, about 2 min.
2.) Place peaches, pineapple, mango, and limes in large punch bowl.
3.) Add liquor and sugar water mixture to fruit & chill at least 2 hours.
4.) Add sparkling water, garnish with raspberries.
5.) Fill tumblers 1/3 way up with ice.
6.) Ladle in sangria and serve immediately.

(For a non-alcoholic version eliminate wine, Grand Marnier, rum, and sugar water mixture. Substitute with 4 quarts White Grape-Peach Juice.)


"Summer is a promissory note signed in June, its long days spent and gone before you know it, and due to be repaid next January."
-Hal Borland

Tasty Tuesday

“Get up and dance, get up and smile, get up and drink to the days that are gone in the shortest while.”
-Simon Fowler

Hello! Can you believe the New Year is upon us? I cannot believe how quickly 2010 has passed! I have a great drink recipe to share with you - it is one of my favorites, in fact I may make it too much. Enjoy!

“It is well to remember that there are five reasons for drinking: the arrival of a friend, one's present or future thirst, the excellence of the wine, or any other reason.”
-Latin Proverb


Winter Mimosa
Serves 2

Ingredients:

* 1 cup water
* 1 cup sugar
* 1 1/2 Tbsp whole cloves
* Cocktail Sugar
* 2 oz Asti or champagne
* 1 clementine orange, un-peeled, cut in half
* 1 oz vanilla vodka
* 2 oz orange juice
* fresh raspberries

Equipment Needed:

* Cocktail shaker
* Muddler
* 2 champagne glasses

Directions:

1.) Make clove simple syrup:

a.) Add water, sugar, and cloves to small saucepan on low.
b.) Cook, stirring, until sugar is dissolved.
c.) Chill and strain out cloves.
d.) Set aside 1 1/2 oz syrup; refrigerate remainder for other uses.

2.) Moisten glass rims w/citrus wedge & coat with cocktail sugar.
3.) Chill glasses.
4.) Pour 1 oz asti into each chilled champagne glass.
5.) Muddle orange and syrup in bar shaker; fill with ice.
6.) Add vodka and orange juice.
7.) Shake and strain into glasses.
8.) Garnish with raspberries.


Thought of the Day:

"Look at everything as though you were seeing it either for the first or last time."
-Betty Smith

Have a great day and remember: Go Ahead & Indulge!

Temptation Thursday!

"Bacchus has drowned more men than Neptune."
-Giuseppe Garibaldi

Hello! I hope you week is going well, mine has been busy, but that is not very unusual! With the cold weather upon us I thought a warm, alcoholic drink recipe would be just the thing to warm us up. You can make it non-alcoholic, just substitute flavorings for the liqueur. Enjoy!

"No one can understand the truth until he drinks of coffee's frothy goodness."
-Sheik Abd-al-Kadir


Dulce de Leche Hot Coffee

Ingredients:

* 6 cups coffee, brewed
* 8 Tbsp Nestle La Lechera Dulce de Leche (substitute sweetened condensed milk)
* 12 Tbsp Amaretto
* 12 Tbsp Coffee liqueur
* Whipped cream
* Grated chocolate

Equipment Needed:

1.) Large pot.
2.) 12 coffee mugs.

Directions:

1.) Combine coffee and dulce de leche in a large pot.
2.) Stir vigorously to melt dulce de leche.
3.) Pour 1 Tbsp amaretto & 1 Tbsp coffee liqueur into each coffee mug.
4.) Add 3/4 cup coffee mixture.
5.) Garnish with whipped cream and grated chocolate.


Though of the Day:

"Always do sober what you said you'd do drunk. That will teach you to keep your mouth shut."
-Ernest Hemingway

Have a great day and remember: Go Ahead & Indulge!

Tasty Tuesday!

"No one can understand the truth until he drinks of coffee's frothy goodness."
-Sheik Abd-al-Kadir

Hello! As I am sitting here the sun is streaming through my window saying, "WAKE UP!" However, I cannot seem to do that today. Several night of poor sleep will do that to you! The recipe I have to share today is the perfect pick-me-up for days such as today. It is non-alcoholic, but has coffee AND chocolate! I don't think it gets much better than that! (but that is just my opinion!) Enjoy!

“Coffee should be black as Hell, strong as death, and sweet as love”
-Turkish Proverb


Hot Coffee & Chocolate
Serves: 2

Ingredients:

* 40 miniature marshmallows
* 4 Tbsp chocolate syrup
* 4 Tbsp half & half
* 1/2 cup chocolate martini cocktail mixer
* 1 cup hot coffee
* Chocolate powder

Equipment Needed:

* Parchment paper
* Baking sheet
* 2 mugs

Directions:

1.) Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
2.) Make 2 piles of 20 marshmallows (pyramid shape) on parchment-lined baking sheet.
3.) Bake 4 min or until slightly toasted and set aside.
4.) Add chocolate syrup to large coffee mug and set aside.
5.) Place half-and-half and mixer to small microwave-proof bowl.
6.) Heat in microwave 30-45 seconds.
7.) Fill each mug with a 1/2 cup of coffee.
8.) Add half of the microwaved mixture to each mug and stir well.
9.) Top with marshmallows.
10.) Sprinkle with chocolate powder.

"Mothers are those wonderful people who can get up in the morning before the smell of coffee."
-Author Unknown

Silly Joke of the Day:

What did the necktie say to the hat?
..You go on ahead. I'll hang around for a while.

Have a great day and remember: Go Ahead & Indulge!

Mangia Monday!

Today I have two great drink recipes to share with you. Enjoy!

The first recipe is non-alcoholic and has been a popular summer tradition in Massachusetts since the early 1900s. The first time I had this drink was in Cape Cod many years ago, and now it is a yearly tradition for us on the Cape! You can make it with almost any type of berry and it would taste just as wonderful!

My second recipe today is an alcoholic drink, called a Mojito! The Mojito is known as the national drink of Cuba. Many people say it was invented in the late 19th century but, it actually may date back to an even earlier origin. It has been said that “pirates” of old, may have concocted drinks similar to the mojito, perhaps in the 16th century. The earliest mojito may have been a combination of a rum variant, aguardiente (fire water), and that these pirates of old introduced the drink to Cuba.


“We are living in a world today where lemonade is made from artificial flavors and furniture polish is made from real lemons.”
-Alfred E. Neuman

Frozen Lemonade w/ Blackberry Puree
(adapted from Williams-Sonoma)

Serves: 4

Ingredients:

* 1 1/4 cups plus 1 tsp lemon juice
* 1/3 cup orange juice
* 3/4 cup plus 2 Tbs simple syrup (recipe below)
* 1 pint fresh blackberries, juiced, plus more for garnish
* 4 1/2 cups ice cubes
* 4 fresh mint sprigs (optional)
* 4 Iced Tea glasses

Directions:

1.) Stir together 1 1/4 cups lemon juice, the orange juice and 3/4 cup simple syrup. in a small bowl. Set aside.
2.) In another bowl, stir together the blackberry juice, 1 tsp. lemon juice and 2 Tbs. simple syrup. Set aside.
3.) Put the ice cubes in a blender and add the lemon juice mixture.
4.) Using the crush setting, (or high speed), blend until smooth.
5.) Put 1 Tbs of the blackberry puree into each glass.
6.) Pour in the lemonade mixture, dividing evenly.
7.) Garnish each glass with a mint sprig and a few blackberries.
8.) Serve immediately.


“Alcohol may be man's worst enemy, but the bible says love your enemy.”
-Frank Sinatra


Mojito:

Serves: 2

Ingredients:

* 12 fresh mint leaves
* 3 Tbs simple syrup (recipe below)
* 2 Tbs lime juice
* Crushed ice as needed
* 2 ounces light rum
* 2 ounces club soda
* 2 lime wedges
* 2 high ball glasses

Directions:

1.) Place the mint leaves in the bottom of the highball glasses.
2.) Add the simple syrup and lime juice and mix well.
3.) Fill the glasses with crushed ice.
4.) Add the rum and club soda and stir.
5.) Garnish with the lime wedge.


Simple Syrup:

Ingredients:

* 1 cup water
* 1 cup sugar

Directions:

1.) In a small saucepan over medium-high heat, bring water to a simmer.
2.) Add the sugar and stir until it completely dissolves.
3.) Remove the pan from heat and set aside to cool to room temperature.
4.) Pour the syrup into a pint sized container and seal.
5.) Refrigerate until ready to use.


Silly Joke of the Day:

What is a tree's favorite drink?
..........Root Beer.


Have a great day and remember: Go Ahead & Indulge!

Mangia Monday!

“The smallest seed of faith is better than the largest fruit of happiness.”
-Henry David Thoreau

Hello! I hope everyone had a wonderful weekend! Mine was busy, but fun!
Today I have a very simple recipe for you! A good way to start your week after a weekend of indulgence! My boys love this and it is a good way to get some healthy food into them! Enjoy!


“Life without love is like a tree without blossoms or fruit.”
-Kahlil Gibran



Strawberry-Banana Smoothie

Servings: 2 1/4 cups

Ingredients:

* 1/2 cup Orange juice (no pulp)
* 1/2 cup Frozen strawberries
* 1 whole ripe banana, peeled and cut into 2" pieces
* 6 oz Organic vanilla yogurt

Equipment needed:

*Blender

Directions:

1.) Puree juice, fruit, and yogurt in blender on high for 30 seconds, until smooth.
2.) Pour into large glass and enjoy!


“Time flies like an arrow; fruit flies like a banana”
-Groucho Marx


Silly Joke of the Day:

What lives in apples and is an avid reader?
............A bookworm!


Have a great day and remember: Go Ahead & Indulge!