Blueberry Vodka

Want to be the hit of the party?  Show up with a bottle of this stuff: 

And, as always, it's easy.  All you'll need is a bag of frozen blueberries (I personally recommend Wymans Frozen wild Maine blueberries), a large mason jar or other covered type pitcher or jar and your favorite unflavored vodka.  

Place the frozen blueberries into the clean jar, cover with vodka, close the top and shake.  Leave the jar on your counter or in the fridge and give it a good shake every time you pass by. (Make sure the top is secure because vodka is a solvent and is going to remove all the 'blue' from the blueberries which I imagine will stain). 

After a day or two you'll notice that the blueberries have given up their color and turned rather white

Have a little taste. If you think it's got enough flavor then strain the vodka back into the original container using a funnel and sieve to keep out the now wasted blueberries.  Resist temptation to eat the blueberries. They have no flavor anymore- it's all in your booze. 

Toss the vodka into the freezer and pull it out to the amazement of your friends next time they're over.  One of the best uses in my humble opinion is in a delicious grown up blueberry lemonade.  

Check back tomorrow for the recipe! 

TGIF- Frozen Green Apple Martini

So, if you've been following along for the past couple of days you'll know that we have been heading on a longish slowish road toward the Frozen Green Apple Martini.  But its worth it!  You're going to to love this recipe.  However, as my Dad pointed out, the first line of the recipe has to be something like 'Start with $600 worth of equipment...'  So, not for everyone but if you happen to have these gadgets lying around then you'll be loving this!

Worst picture ever.  This is what happens when you portion these 4 drinks into 2 large glasses...

Frozen Green Apple Martini

Makes 2-4 depending on pourer

 

3 pounds Granny Smith Apples, washed but not peeled

1 Lemon

1/4 cup Simple Syrup

4 shots of Vodka

  

 

Slice the flesh from the core of the apples and make sure that the chunks are small enough to fit into your juicers slot but not so small that it takes all day.  You're juicing these after all... If you are able to cut quickly then you can do the whole 3 pounds then begin juicing.  But if you're a slower slicer, you should do the job in parts as the slices will turn brown and change the color of the juice.

 

 

Slice the lemon in half and squeeze juice directly into the green apple juice and stir.  The lemon juice will help keep the apple juice from changing color.  Do not put the lemon through the juicer as most juicers are centrfugal and will add lemon peel and pith into your juice.  The peel won't hurt but the pith is bitter and will affect the taste of the juice.

 

Now on to the frozen part of our day!  Take the apple juice and place it into the bowl of your favorite ice cream maker.  Here is mine.  Isn't she pretty?

 

 

Freeze the green apple juice according to the instructions on your Ice Cream Maker.  Then place in freezer to further solidify.  When the sorbet is finished, place into blender with the vodka and blend until smooth.  Try to remember to take a picture before drinking the whole thing.

 



Enjoy!



Grown Up Blue Raspberry Slush Puppies

I  love me a good cocktail and I'm not afraid to put in the work to get there.  But sometimes, the novelty of the idea wears off when I can't really figure out how to make those 'super cool' ingredients work.  This was actually the case on Wednesday when my first ever batch of Jolly Rancher Infused Vodka's was finally done.  Ok, it only took 12 hours but when you're so anxiously awaiting the result, that's a long time!

Jen from Mixthatdrink.com is a vodka wizard.

Anyway, my original plan had been to mix the infused vodka with seltzer and voila!  Instant yummy!  Except it didn't really do it for me.  Not sure why but it just didn't.  Time for Plan B.  My sister and I pulled out the blender (actually we used the Margaritaville Machine because we didn't have our blender handy) and it was 'make it work time'!  We stumbled upon a dead ringer for the Blue Raspberry Slush Puppies of our youth.  Try these babies.  You won't regret it!

Grown Up Slush Puppies
Makes 2-4 drinks.  Depending upon who is pouring...

1/2 can frozen lemonade concentrate
1/3 (of that same can) Blue Raspberry Jolly Rancher Vodka
Crushed or Shaved ice to taste. 

Combine all ingredients into a blender and whip her up!  Add more ice if you feel that the result is too tart.  This will take you back to those summer days of your youth, riding you bike to the corner store for a slushie!

 

 

Drunken Arnold Palmer

Ok so by now you're aware of my love of the cocktail. And you've probably noticed that I tend to stick with vodka. Not completely sure why but it's likely due to roaring hangovers I've had over time from other spirits. (Yes I know that the hangover is due completely to pilot error and is not any certain spirits fault- unless it's crappy red wine).  Anyway, back to me. This week I'm all about the Drunken Arnold Palmer. If there's a cocktail out there that screams summer more than this one, I've never met it but would like to. This is your thinks-she's-hip Aunts favorite but with the volume turned up. And people said the Arnold Palmer was dead...

First take a tall glass and fill with ice. Then pour one shot (or to taste my boozy friends) of Sweet Tea Vodka and fill to the top with your favorite Lemonade. Mine's still Newman's Own Organic. Charities everywhere are grateful for my boozing. Just sayin'.

Grab a book, find a sun porch or your own happy place, get comfortable and have a sip of summery heaven.   You're welcome.

Electric blue lemonade

In my ongoing quest to find the perfect House Speciality drink for the summer I've made quite a few winners and even a couple of duds.  Right now the leader in the race is the Electric Blue Lemonade.  Sounds fun, right?

The Electric Blue Lemonade is a pretty cocktail and it's easy to prepare as well.  Which comes in handy after you've consumed a couple...  Begin by selecting a tall glass that will fit your super cool cubic ice (see previous post "Ultimate Ice").

Directly on top of the ice pour 1oz of Blue Curacao.  Then top that with one shot of vodka or to taste (but don't pour too heavily because I guarantee you'll be wanting more than one of these babies so you'd better save room!)  Lastly, fill to the top with lemonade.  I've tried a number of brands including SanPelligrino Lemonata, Simply Lemonade, various store brands and Newman's Own Organic Lemonade.  By far the tasters at my house have found that the Newman's Own Organic Lemonade works best in this libation.  Don't be afraid to take a picture of this baby.  She's ready for her close up!

TGIF Beverage- Raspberry Lime Rickey

TGIF People!  I don't know about you, but this has been a long week around here.  I could use a drink!  And so today I posit that we go ahead and make a beautiful Raspberry Lime Rickey from the Raspberry Vodka that we started on Wednesday.  If you've been diligently shaking that baby every time you see her, then she'll be ready by now!

Making the perfect Raspberry Lime Rickey will take a tiny bit of advanced planning.  At least a couple of hours before you plan to enjoy these cool delicious lovelies you'll need to prepare a batch of lime infused simple syrup and squeeze yourself some lime juice.  Each drink needs about 2 oz of simple syrup but since it's not a quick process I'd recommend making 1 3/4 cup of simple syrup (enough for 6 or 7 drinks- it keeps for a week in the fridge).  Begin by adding 1 cup of sugar to 1 cup of water in a small sauce pan.  Place over medium heat and stir the sugar until it is fully disolved.

While the simple syrup is coming together, remove the outer layer of peel from two limes (be careful to get just the zest and leave the bitter pith behind).  Once the sugar is dissolved, add the zest of the two limes and remove the pan from the heat.  Cover and allow to come to room temperature.  Once cooled, fish out the lime zest.  It doesn't look pretty and it's done its job.

While the Simple syrup is cooling, squeeze the juice from the two limes and reserve that to be combined with the simple syrup once it has cooled.   When the simple syrup has reached room temperature you're ready to get your mixology on!

Take a tall glass and add one to two Ultimate Ice cubes.  Then add 2 oz of the lime infused simple syrup, 1.5 oz of your raspberry vodka (or to taste) and top with Pelligrino or seltzer.  The addition of a squeeze of lime juice as well as a raspberry or two will add to the wow factor.  Enjoy!

Not a 'wow factor' photo, I know.

If by some weird chance a Raspberry Lime Rickey doesn't sound amazing (like maybe you didn't grow up slupring them at Brigham's like I did) then why not go with plan B which is to mix this vodka with your favorite lemonade.  Voila!  Raspberry Lemonade!  You're a genius.



Raspberry Vodka

Want to show your friends that you really are super awesome?  Make them booze.  Not just any booze, mind you.  Make the good stuff.  Today I introduce the biggest bang for your laziest buck- Raspberry Vodka.

WOW!  You say... looks amazing.  Mostly cause it is.  But it's also easy too.  And I'll gladly show you how.  Take a one gallon container (I choose giant Mason Jars because I just love them) and add two pints of washed raspberries.  Then fill to the top with Vodka.  Personally, I go for Skyy because it's 1. cheap and 2. doesn't give me a giant headache.  What's not to love??

Set this baby out on your counter and give it a good shake every time you walk by.  In two to three days you'll have Raspberry heaven!  When you think it's raspberry enough (yes I do coin my own phrases from time to time) remove the raspberries as they will have lost all their color and taste by now.  Store in the fridge or freezer for two weeks.  Of course it will be gone by then so maybe you should make some for your friends...  Just sayin'