Strawberry Basil Martini

Tags

basil, cocktail, gluten free, herbs, martini, strawberry, summer, vodka

Strawberries were on sale this week at my grocery. My garden is overrun by basil. The perfect opportunity to create this cocktail. I love the fresh, herby-ness of the basil and the sweet of the strawberries. Maybe this is a “girly” drink but I love it. Next time I think I will try raspberries and rosemary… The fruit/herb possibility are endless.

Strawberry Basil Martini  (from Cin Cin Let’s Eat)

• 7-8 fresh strawberries, hulled and diced
• handful of basil leaves
• 1 oz simple syrup
• 1/2 oz lime juice (I added an oz)
• 4 oz vodka (I use Rain Vodka, a gluten free vodka that is tasty!)
• Ice

In a a cocktail shaker, muddle together the strawberries, basil, and simple syrup. Add lime juice, vodka and ice. Shake and pour into a martini glass garnished with a strawberry. Serves 2.

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The Promised Crantini

Tags

adult, beverages, cocktails, cranberry, crantini, drinks, lime, vodka

Remember the cranberry-lime infused vodka I made the other day? The photo on the left was taken on the day I put the bottles together. The photo on the right is after the bottles matured about 3.5 weeks.

Before

After

The vodka is good enough to drink alone but also very nice in this crantini. 

Crantini

• 1/2 oz triple Sec
• 1 1/2 oz cranberry-lime infused vodka 
• 4 oz cranberry juice
• Ice

Combine all ingredients in a shaker to combine. Serve with ice if desired. Garnish with a few cranberries or a lime zest curl.

Cranberry-Lime Infused Vodka

Tags

beverage, Christmas, cocktail, cranberry, holiday, infused, lime, vodka

I discovered this recipe via a “Homemade Christmas Gifts” collection on Pinterest. I know some of my foodie friends will really enjoy this gift. The green and red of the lime and cranberries are so festive, especially with the snowy white sugar sprinkled throughout.

Cranberry-Lime Infused Vodka (thanks to fancy napkin)

• 2 16 oz glass bottles with toppers (mine have corks)
• 1 bag fresh cranberries
• 2 limes, peeled with as little pith as possible
• 2 tbsp sugar
• Vodka

Using a knife, pierce each cranberry so the vodka can seep into the berries. Alternately fill each bottle with the cranberries and the lime peels. When bottle is full of berries, add sugar. Pour vodka into the bottle until full. Allow to sit and mature for 2 weeks to a month. Be sure to shake the bottles every couple of days to help the flavors meld.

You can use this vodka for these crantinis or any other cranberry cocktail.

The Oaks Lilly

Tags

cocktail, cranberry, Kentucky, Oaks, vodka

The Kentucky Oaks is a Thoroughbred race held the Friday before the Derby. Also held at Churchill Downs, this race seems like pre-gaming to me, though a $600,000 purse seems a bit bigger that a pre-game.

The Oaks Lilly is the official drink of the race. It is really good! I will certainly keep making this one in the future. It is summery, not too sweet, and tasty. You should try it!

The Oaks Lilly

• 1 oz. Vodka
• 1 oz. Sweet and Sour Mix
• 3 oz. Cranberry Juice
• Splash of Triple Sec

Once the ingredients are mixed, place the Oaks Lily a glass with crushed ice, add a straw and garnish with an orange wedge and cherry.

Cosmo-style Pomegranate Martini

Tags

cocktail, juice, pomegranate, vodka

I got lucky at the market last week. Pomegranate juice was on sale this week and I had a coupon! Yay for saving money! I have several ideas on how to use this fantastic ingredient. This is one is definitely worth mentioning.

I love how the ice cubes look like a kiss…

Cosmo-Style Pomegranate Martini

• 2 oz vodka
• 1 oz fresh orange juice
• 2 oz pomegranate juice
• 1/2 a lemon
• Sugar

Combine the vodka and juices. Rim a martini glass with lemon juice and then the sugar. Shake the vodka mixture over ice and pour into the glass. Top the martini off with a squeeze of the lemon. Enjoy!

Grapefruit Vodkarita

Tags

citrus, cocktail, daffodils, drink, grapefruit, robins, spring, vodka

I had the most awesome surprise this afternoon… Hundreds of robins cheeping in my backyard. It is spring time! No matter what the calendar says. The tips of my daffodils and tulips are barely peaking through the dirt. I can’t wait till they show their happy little faces. The pure yellow of old fashioned daffodils is by the best part of spring to me. When I was a little girl, I would pick hundreds of them and fill quart Mason jars near to bursting.

Until spring arrives, I am going to have to console myself with alcohol. This is the best time of year for fresh citrus; combined with my mini palm tree, maybe sipping this will make me feel like it is warm outside and a tan is in my near future.

Grapefruit Vodkarita

• 1 ounce vodka
• 1/2 grapefruit, juiced
• 1 lime, juiced
• 2 ounces citrus soda
• Ice

Mix vodka and juices in a cocktail shaker with ice. Strain into a tall glass. Finish with soda.

Skinny Vodkarita

Tags

citrus, cocktails, margarita, vodka, vodkarita

This recipe is originally from NPR. They bill it as the “healthy” version of a margarita because it has about 100 calories per drink. I just picked tried because I like the citrus and vodka combination. I am glad I did. The fresh citrus makes it refreshing, not sickly sweet like some fruit based drinks. The vodka taste is pretty masked so it would be good for people who normally don’t like alcohol. I plan to make this for a work get-together planned soon.

Skinny Vodkarita

• 1 ounce vodka
• 1 lime, juiced
• Splash fresh orange juice
• 2 ounces calorie-free citrus soda (I used 4 ounces and omitted the club soda because I didn’t have any on hand)
• 2 ounces club soda
• Lime wedge for garnish

Mix vodka and juices in a cocktail shaker with 1 cup of ice. Strain into a tall glass. Finish with sodas. Garnish with lime.

Homemade Vanilla Extract

Tags

extract, homemade, rum, vanilla, vodka

Everything is better homemade. I suspect that this is also true of vanilla extract. It takes 2 months to make so only time will tell.

You need only three things- 3 vanilla beans, 1 cup of plain vodka or rum, and a glass jar with a screw on lid

Sterilize the glass jar and lid in boiling water for ten minutes. While the jar is in the water, use a sharp knife to cut each bean in half longways. Measure out your liquor of choice. When the jar is done, remove from the water very carefully and dry it off. Combine the vanilla and vodka, making sure everything is submerged. Place the jar in a dark area for 2 months. Every week, shake the jar gently. This will help the flavors incorporate into the alcohol.