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drink

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Lavender Lemonade Martini

January 24, 2014

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Lavender is a tricky herb to infuse because it can turn into this horrible “cough-drop” taste… so I tend to be weary about ordering anything with it.  Luckily after going to The Grove in SF and trying their refreshing lavender lemonade my faith in this refreshing drink was renewed!

IMG_5075 Inspiration hit me again when I was at the farmer’s market and came across some lavender bunches being sold.  I have a bunch of lavender infused drinks pinned (follow me on Pintrest here!) but they often call for “culinary lavender,” which frankly, was confusing to me.  I searched for it at the grocery store (it isn’t in the spices section? or the vegetable aisle…), and had almost given up on ever finding it, when I decided to ask the nice couple working the farmers market.  They educated me, that basically recipes are just saying not to use potpourri lavender, and that any lavender you pick up at a farmers market should do the trick!  Phew 🙂

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So naturally Fun Drink Friday wouldn’t be so, without an elevated beverage… so I introduce to you – the Lavender Lemonade Martini.

Lavender Lemonade Martini

  • 1.5 oz Lavender Lemonade (you can use this recipe or pick up some pre-made concoctions at a farmers market or specialty store)
  • 2 oz Vodka

Combine vodka and lemonade in a shaker with ice.  Shake until icy and strain into a martini glass.  Bottoms up!

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Hibiscus Tea Cocktail

January 10, 2014

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My sister came up with the best idea over the holidays – infuse alcohol with TEA!  She bought this amazing, fruity tea and then let it steep in vodka overnight.  The result? A delicious concoction that paired well with a little fruit juice and bubbly club soda!

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Hibiscus Tea Cocktail 

  • 2-4 oz club soda
  • 1 oz fruit tea infused vodka (you may need to strain tea before use)
  • 1/2 oz simple syrup
  • juice of one lime

Combine vodka and simple syrup in a shaker with ice.  Shake until chilled.  Strain over ice filled glass and finish with lime juice. Stir and enjoy.

Other tea infusion combinations that I think could be tasty:

  • Blueberry white tea with lemonade
  • Green tea with white peach juice
  • Black tea with bourbon and orange juice

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Maple Leaf Martini

January 3, 2014

Maple Martini

My family set out to enjoy this unseasonably gorgeous weather this past weekend, with a good ol’ Sunday Funday!

Cordevalle We made our way to Cordevalle, a gorgeous golf resort about a half hour from our home. The sun was shining, I was with my favorite people and when I glanced at the cocktail menu, I knew I had found my new happy place.

As my eyes worked their way down the list, I was beyond excited to try their Maple Leaf Martini… and lucky for me they shared their secret recipe – which I am going to share with you all!

Poured Cocktail

Maple Leaf Martini

1.5 oz Basil Hayden Bourbon
1 tsp high quality Maple Syrup
1 Lemon Juice Ice Cube (equal parts lemon juice and water)

Add maple syrup and bourbon to an ice filled shaker and shake vigorously.  Strain into a martini glass over a large Lemon Juice Ice Cube.

The great part of this cocktail, is it only gets better as the “ice cube” melts! Such a genius idea… I can’t wait to try out some new variations of the “flavored ice cube!”

Maple Leaf Cocktail

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Irish Coffee

December 27, 2013

Irish Coffee

Going to Buena Vista Cafe in SF for an Irish Coffee has been on my to-do list for some time… and still is.

But as a little Christmas miracle, my sister (who recently went to Buena Vista and witnessed the bartenders at work), perfected the task and crafted some for the family on Christmas morning!

Spooning Whipped Cream

World Famous Irish Coffee

  • 2 teaspoons sugar
  • coffee to taste (1/2-1 cup depending on preference)
  • 1 shot whiskey
  • homemade whipped cream (heavy whipping cream, vanilla extract and sugar to taste)

1. Make whipped cream using listed above ingredients in a KitchenAid – blend until peaks form.

2. Brew coffee.

Coffee

3. While making coffee, put hot water in glasses to warm them up (don’t want glass to crack!)

Warm Glasses

4. Once coffee is ready, you are all set to assemble your Irish Coffee!
5. Start with 2 tsp sugar in the bottom of your glass (make sure to dump out hot water first!)
6. Pour coffee in over the sugar.
7. Add shot of water to mixture.
8. Stir coffee and whiskey mixture together.
9.Using one spoon, scoop up whipped cream, then use a second spoon to scrap whipped cream into coffee mixture.

Whipped Cream topped Irish Coffee Recipe and photos by Taylor Feezor

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Tom Collins

December 20, 2013

Gin Tom Collins

With the influx of Meyer lemons at my disposal, they have taken center stage in my cooking (can you tell? Lemon Bars, Petrale Sole in Lemon Sauce, Kale Salad with Meyer Lemon Dressing…) AND bar-tending.

Tom Collins

  • 2 oz gin
  • 1 oz Meyer lemon juice
  • 1/2 oz simple syrup
  • 1 tsp of Marashino or Luxardo Cherry syrup 
  • 1 Luxardo Cherry
  • 1 orange slice 

Mix gin, juice and syrup in an ice filled cocktail shaker.  Strain into an ice filled glass and stir in some cherry syrup and garnish with a cherry and orange slice!

Cocktail Pour Marashino syrup will result in a more pink colored drink, but the Luxardo syrup is just as a tasty!

Cheers!

Cocktail Shaker