Citrus Cocktail

Hello Citrus trees! Lemons, Limes, and Oranges. I love the smell, taste, and color of Citrus. Look at how pretty they are: 

Time to do some juicing and serve up a yummy cocktail for the man!

Here is all you need: 

4 Oranges

3 lemons

3 limes

1/2 cup coconut nectar

equal parts vodka

Juice your fruits. Add 1/2 cup coconut nectar and stir until dissolved. Measure your liquid and add an equal part vodka. 

Gingerbread Martini

This is a simple recipe that will make your Man think you are a pro at mixing drinks. 

1 part gingerbread concentrate

1 part Captain Morgan Spiced Rum

1 part Vodka

1 part whipped cream vodka

Ice

1  tsp. sugar

1 tsp. cinnamon

1 tsp nutmeg

Mix together the sugar and cinnamon. Dip the the rim of the martini glass in a bit of vodka, then place the glass rim into the cinnamon, nutmeg, and sugar mixture until the rim is coated. 

In a shaker add ice, gingerbread concentrate, spiced rum, vodka and whipped cream vodka. Shake well. Pour into prepared Martini glass.

Orange Creamsicle Cocktail

Orange Creamsicle Cocktail
It is Citrus Season here in Southern California. We are blessed with free lemons, limes and oranges this time of year. There is nothing better than fresh squeezed Orange juice. Yum.
One of my favorite flavors is the combination of Orange and Vanilla. At Jamba juice I order the Orange Dream Machine. This drink tastes just like it... but with some alcohol added. I love handing a cocktail to my husband when he comes home from a long day of work. Just enough to relax him and make him feel at home. This cocktail tastes like orange sherbet with a touch of vanilla and cream. I hope you enjoy this cocktail as much as we do!

Orange Creamsicle Cocktail Directions:

1 oz vodka 

1 oz whipped cream vodka

1/2 tsp vanilla extract 

4 oz orange juice (hand squeezed is the best)

Fill a mixing cup with 1/2 way with ice. Shake all ingredients well and strain into a cocktail glass.

Lemoncello Cocktail

Whenever I hear the term Lemoncello I picture Danny Devito a mess back in 2006. Hair sticking up and noticeably intoxicated on The View. He chocked up his inappropriate jokes, slurred speech and unsteady walking to too many shots of the traditional Italian lemon-flavored liqueur known as limoncello. "I knew it was the last seven limoncellos that was going to get me," he said. I can see how the drink got him. Tastes like a yummy sweet lemonade. Since lemons are going crazy this time of year, I decided to make a sugar free version of this classic drink. 

Sugar Free Limoncello

10 lemons

2 cups vodka

3 cups water

2 cups splenda

1 tsp vanilla

Juice your lemons.

Add 3 cups filtered water and stir. 

Add 2 cups splenda and 1 tsp vanilla and stir. 

Store in the fridge in a glass bottle until well chilled. 

It will last 3 weeks in the fridge. 

*note if you want a regular sugar version, add 2 cups sugar to water on stove and simmer until all the sugar is dissolved. Then proceed with the above recipe. 

Whipped Cream Vodka Chai Tea

This time of year I am always trying to come up with cute cocktails to serve for Family and Friends. We tend to have a lot more company and hanging out at our place with a fire and candles and a spirit just defines the Holiday Season. My husband enjoys a nice drink and treats it like having dessert. Just enough to relax and feel cozy. I prefer a glass of a deep red wine, but I do enjoy making a variety of cocktails for my husband. You can adapt this recipe to a Virgin Chai Tea simply by leaving out the vodka and adding 2oz of agave nectar instead.

Whipped Cream Vodka Chai Tea 

2 TBSP Chai tea concentrate

2 oz whipped cream vodka

6 oz water

1 oz half and half

(optional whipped cream)
Add Chai Tea Concentrate to 6 ounces of boiling water, Add half and half and vodka. 

Serve topped with whipped cream and sprinkled cinnamon for an extra special treat.

Thanksgiving cocktail

I wanted to come up with a nice toast drink for Thanksgiving. I always buy Martinelli's sparkling cider for the kids, but I wanted something for us adults. I decided on a cranberry cocktail. 

Start off with getting some cranberry sauce. I like the lumpy kind. Put it in the blender. Put about 1/4 cup of the puree in the bottom of a cocktail glass. I then poured chilled champagne (any will do) over the top and did a little stir. Garnish with a lime wedge which everyone can squeeze into their glass. 

Cheers!

The Perfect Mojito

It feels really really good to be home in Southern California. Las Vegas was hilarious and tiresome at the same time. I am eager to fall into my regular duties at work and at home. My girlfriend is coming over tonight to cook and catch up. Seems like forever since we have talked. Funny how a trip can do make it seem like much more time has passed. 

Any way... she has a bunch of mint that she grows in her backyard, and I came home to my lime tree on steroids. Time for a lime tree intervention...Mojitos!

To make ONE Mojito:

½ lime, cut in wedges

10 mint leaves 

2 tbsp agave nectar

45 ml white rum

125 ml soda water

1 cup ice cubes

extra mint and slice of lime for garnish

Put the mint leaves and the lime wedges in a Mojito glass. Crush the mint and lime together with a muddler to release their juices. I got these really cute Mojito glasses that came with a muddler that fits perfectly. If you don't have a muddler, you can use a mortar and pestle and then poor the juices into the glass. 

Add the agave and muddle again. Do not strain the mix.

Fill the glass with the ice cubes.

Add the rum.

And fill the glass with soda water.

Decorate with a slice of lime and more mint leaves.

CHEERS!