Kara Newman Has a Virtual Cocktail Party: I Brought The Rhubarb Cooler is a post from: Girly Drinks. Check out more ice wine and martini recipes.

Spice & Ice by Kara Newman

Kara Newman, author of Spice & Ice, invited me to a Virtual Cocktail Party. First off, credit to her for being innovative, but more so than that, I was excited to be a part of her online cocktail party. A few months after starting Girly Drinks, I hunted (for a lack of a better term) Kara down to seek her advice in how to enter into the cocktail blogging world. Not only is Kara a great writer and enthusiastic cocktailer, she was also extremely helpful in leading me to a number of cocktail resources.

I received a copy of Kara’s book last week and immediately found the recipe that I wanted to make: The Rhubarb Cooler. Turns out, rhubarb is ridicuously hard to find in the winter. Perhaps that’s why Kara placed this recipe in the “Spring” section of her book, but I was set on making a rhubarb cocktail.

Luckily, I found rhubarb yesterday and promptly set out to make the Rhubarb cooler this morning. I mean afternoon.

Rhubarb Cooler Recipe:

• 1.5 Oz Gin
  

  Rhubarb Cooler Cocktail

• 1 Oz Domaine De Canton Ginger Liqueur
• I Oz Rhubarb Puree
• 1 Mint Sprig (garnish)

Vigorously shake together the gin, ginger liqueur, and rhubarb puree over ice, until frothy. strain into a martini glass and garnish with mint.

Rhubarb Puree Recipe:

1.5 cups 1 inch pieces rhubarb (apx 1.5 stalks of rhubarb, based on size)

Rhubarb Cooler With Mint

Puree rhubarb in a blender and strain outthe sediment through cheesecloth.

I used New Amsterdam for the Gin, but I tested the recipe out with Hendrick’s on the second try. The New Amsterdam version was smooth as far as the gin taste and let the ginger and rhubarb stand out more, but the Hendrick’s blend had a nice kick. I may be partial to Hendrick’s gin in general, but the next time I make the Rhubarb cooler, that’s the gin I’ll use.

I love the taste of rhubarb, but if you don’t, or if you can’t find it when it’s out of season, you could try substituting strawberry for the puree. You’ll still get some of the kick from the ginger liqueur, and you can also add muddled ginger to the blend (during the shaking stage).

I also had to add a dash of simple syrup to the rhubarb – while I was pureeing it – to speed up the process. You could also add a bit of gin instead of simple syrup, but if the rhubarb had been fresh, I don’t think anything would have been required.

Preserving and Freezing Rhubarb:

Rhubarb

According to the farmers market around my house, you can freeze rhubarb for up to 9 months. If you find rhubarb and want to enjoy it later, clean the stalks and cut into desired length (.5 to 1 inch pieces are perfect for sauces and purees), then store in an airtight container or freezer bag.

Spice & Ice

The Rhubarb Cooler wasn’t the spiciest of cocktails from Kara’s book, so if heat is your thing, don’t be put off by my pick. I’m still set on making a Gin and Tonic with Spiced Ice from Spice & Ice (Saffron and habanero pepper ice), and cocktails like the Cajun Martini (jalapeno infused vodka) or Lemon Pepper Martini (jalapeno infused vodka, Blueberry vodka, lemonade) are high on my list as well.

For more recipes and information about Spice & Ice, visit Kara’s blog or follow her on twitter @karanewman.

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Sandra Lee Semi-Homemade Cocktail Time is a post from: Girly Drinks. Check out more ice wine and martini recipes.

Sandra Lee Cocktail Time

All images and recipes courtesy of SLSH Enterprises Inc. 2009

Follow Sandra Lee on Faceboook or Twitter

Kissable

KISSABLE

Makes 1 drink

• 1 1/2 ounces milk
• 3/4 ounce orange flavored vodka, Smirnoff
• 3/4 ounce white creme de cacao
• ice cubes

In a cocktail shaker, combine milk, vodka, and creme de cacao. Add ice; cover and shake until very cold. Strain into a chilled martini glass.

Strawberry Swirl

CRANBERRY KISS

Makes 1 drink

• Ice cubes
• 2 ounces Tom Collins drink mix
• 2 ounces cranberry juice
• 3/4 ounce spiced rum, Captain Morgan
• Original Spiced Rum
• Fresh spearmint, Fresh raspberries

Fill a glass halfway with ice. Add Tom Collins drink mix, cranberry juice, and rum; stir to combine. Garnish with spearmint and raspberries.

STRAWBERRY SWIRL

Cranberry Kiss

Makes 1 drink

• 1/2cup ice cubes
• 1 1/2 ounces strawberry flavored vodka, Smirnoff
• 1/2 cup fresh whole strawberries
• Fresh whole strawberry

In a blender, combine ice and vodka. Add the 1/2 cup strawberries. Cover and blend until smooth. Pour into chilled glass. Garnish with additional strawberry.

Creamsicle Martini

CREAMSICLE MARTINI

Makes 1 drink

• 1 ounce vanilla flavored vodka, Smirnoff
• 1/2 ounce strawberry nectar
• 1/2 ounce strawberry liqueur
• 1 1/2 ounces half-and-half
• Fresh strawberry, sliced (optional)

Fill a cocktail shaker with ice. Add vodka, nectar, liqueur, and half-and-half. Cover and shake vigorously. Strain into a chilled martini glass. Garnish with a sliced strawberry (optional).

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Coming in Hot: Organic Strawberry Margarita With Jalapeno Chile is a post from: Girly Drinks. Check out more ice wine and martini recipes.

Paul Abercrombie, Author of Organic, Shaken and Stirred: Hip Highballs, Modern Martinis and Other Totally Green Cocktails, has taken the ingredients to make a strawberry margarita and turned it into a modern day cocktail with the addition of organic ingredients and a touch of jalapeno.

Coming in Hot! Recipe

Recipe and Image from Paul Abercrombie’s book, Organic, Shaken and Stirred: Hip Highballs, Modern Martinis and Other Totally Green Cocktails

Coming in Hot! from Organic, Shaken and Stirred: Hip Highballs, Modern Martinis and Other Totally Green Cocktails

• 2 organic strawberries, hulled
• 4 slivers peeled and seeded organic jalapeno chile
• 3/4 ounce freshly squeezed organic lemon juice
• 1 1/2 ounces organic reposado tequila
• 1/2 ounce organic agave nectar

In a cocktail shaker, muddle the strawberries, 3 of the jalapeno slivers, and lemon until well mashed. Add the tequila and agave nectar, and fill the shaker with ice cubes. Shake vigorously, then strain the mixture into a chilled martini glass. Garnish with the remaining jalapeno sliver.

Of course, you can always use non-organic ingredients, if you prefer.

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National Martini Day: Martini Recipes is a post from: Girly Drinks. Check out more ice wine and martini recipes.

Friday, June 19th is National Martini Day (2009)! In celebration, I brought out one of the first martini books I ever bought, 101 Martinis.

Martinis don’t have to be made from gin or vodka — take a look at some of the fun martini recipes below from 101 Martinis that are out of the normal:

Bananas Foster Martini Recipe

• 2 Ounces Dark Aged Rum
• 3 to 4 Dashes of Angostura Bitters
• 1 3/4 Ounces Banana Nectar
• 1/2 Ounce Creme De Banana

Combine 1.2 ounce of rum and all of of bitters in a martini glass. Swirl and carefully light the mixture in the martini glass with a lighter; swirl until mixture starts to carmelize and cats the side of the glass. Discard remaining liquid and set the martini glass aside.

Combine the remaining rum, banana nectar, and creme de banana in a cocktail shaker filled with ice and and shake. Strain into coated martini glass.

Hot chocolate Martini Recipe

• 3 Ounces Homemade hot chocolate, cooled
  

  Martini Recipes for National Martini Day

• 1 Ounce Dark Creme De Cocoa
• 1 Ounce Bailey’s Irish Cream
• 3/4 Ounce Miniature Marshmallows

Combine the chocolate, dark creme de cacao, Bailey’s, and vanilla vodka in a cocktail shaker filled with ice and shake. Strain into a chilled martini glass. Drop 3 to 4 miniature marshmallows into glass and roast with a creme brulee torch, if desired.

Hibiscus Rose Teani Martini Recipe

• 3 to 5 Mint Leaves
• 1 Ounce Simple Syrup
• 2 Ounces Vodka
• 2 Ounces Steeped and Chilled Hibiscus Tea
• 3 Rose Petals, for Garnish

In cocktail shaker, mash mint leaves with simple syrup. Add vodka and hibiscus tea, fill with ice, and shake, Strain into chilled martini glass and float rose petals on top, for garnish.

Classic Gin Martini Recipe

• Strip of Lemon Peel
• 2 1/2 Ounces of Premium Gin
• Splash of Vermouth
• Olives

Combine gin and vermouth in shaker filled with ice. Shake and strain into chilled martini glass (with lemon peel). Garnish with olives.

So, what are you drinking on National Martini Day? Submit your favorite martini recipes below!

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Bachelorette Party Drinks: Recipe Book is a post from: Girly Drinks. Check out more ice wine and martini recipes.

Bachelorette Party Store

Bachelorette has just published a free ebook, Cock-Tails,  with over 30 Bachelorette Party Drinks, available for download now!

A sample of the bachelorette party drinks included in the ebook are:

Tasty Orgasm

• 1 1/2 Oz Peppermint Schnapps
• 1 1/2 Oz Irish Cream Liqueur

Serve in shot glass

Blow Job Shot

• 1 Oz Kahlua
• 1/2 Oz Frangelico

Shake With Ice, pour into shot glass, and top with whipped cream.

Serve in Shot Glass

Along with over 30 Bachelorette Party Drinks, Cock-Tails also includes toasts and ideas for bachelorette parties. Cock-Tails is perfect for the bride-to-be, friends planning a bachelorette party, or even for fun ideas for a girls night out (or in).

*Girly Drinks readers can also use coupon code “Cocktails” to recieve 10% off any order from Bachelorette.com

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