The Old Cuban

Posted on August 4, 2013 by Peg

My Version in the Wine Glasses from Gray and Marc’s Wedding Dinner Dance

Get Your Cocktail On. It is after-all Sunday Funday! I have a new favorite cocktail. Shocking I know. My first experience with the Old Cuban was with Gray, Marc, Liam and TD this past Thursday afternoon at Drink, Boston, just voted the “world’s best cocktail bar at this year’s Spirited Awards at the Tales of the Cocktail”. (Hell yea, follow them on FB!) The bartenders are so adept at mixing that they simply ask you what tastes you prefer and then craft something specifically for you. I mumbled something akin to “well I love a proper mojito in summertime and I adore champagne”. So he comes up with this most perfect concoction. Oh yea, I’m in love, all over again. Got home yesterday morning at 9:15 and waited til 6pm to try my own version. (Nice test of self restraint!) Not quite as tasty, but damn reminiscent! So, give it a try! No disappointment here.

3/4 oz lime juice
1 oz simple syrup
6 fresh mint leaves
1 1/2 oz gold, aged rum
Dash bitters
2 to 3 oz champagne

Pour lime juice, sugar, and mint into shaker.
Muddle mint gently.
Fill shaker with ice.
Add rum and bitters.
Shake well.
Strain into wine glass.
Top off with champagne.

Grainy Pic…It is just an iPhone in a Dark Bar!

Mojitos by the Pitcher

Posted on June 1, 2013 by Peg

It is S.A.T.U.R.D.A.Y! And with fresh mint growing as fast as the garden weeds, I am just hunting daily for ways to use it. This is one of my favorites. Cheers!

3/4 cup loosely packed mint leaves
1 cup fresh lime juice (6 limes)
2/3 cup simple syrup
1 1/2 cup rum
3 cups club soda
Crushed Ice

Muddle mint in bottom of pitcher.
Pour in lime juice, simple syrup, and rum.
Stir well.
Fill glasses with crushed ice.
Pour rum mixture filling glasses 2/3 full.
Top with club soda and stir.

Makes 6 to 8 servings, depending on how much club soda you use!

Weekend Margarita!

Posted on May 17, 2013 by Peg

It is F.R.I.D.A.Y. Get your cocktail on!

Gray and Marc made this cocktail last year during our family Thanksgiving/FauxChristmas week in Greenville and I have been sipping it ever since. Note please that Liam most ably assisted with the guacamole creation that evening! It was Friday night after ECU demolished their football opponent, where Auntie taught Liam to say Go Pirates…Arrrrrgh!

1 12-oz can frozen limeade
2 cups tequila
2 cups Diet Sprite
2 cups Corona Light Beer

Stir and serve over crushed ice.

*Note: Now that I’m almost 60 (well, two more years but I’m just saying…), a Margarita will occasionally kickoff that sinking heartburn feeling. This recipe has just the exact amount of tartness, and the beer calms the whole drink down. But, be careful; it can sneak up and bite you! Chips and guac anyone?

Mmm…Martini

Posted on April 29, 2013 by Peg

So here’s a “Cool Martini and a Good Read”! Oil on Canvas, 14″ x 11″ by Nicole Etienne. This is in my Mother’s personal collection, a Mother’s Day gift from me when I was co-owner of City Art Gallery.

Wake-Up Call

Posted on April 12, 2013 by Peg

So this is how I am beginning my Saturday in the kitchen tomorrow while The Don is on the golf course! Don and I first enjoyed this marvelous beverage at the Culinary Center, Ritz-Carlton, Cancun. It was January, 2007 and the property had just re-opened after being closed for a year due to the damages suffered from Hurricane Wilma, which hit in October 2005. The Ritz invested highly to make the property even more amazing, adding a culinary center, beautifully over looking the Gulf. Chef Rory Dunaway heads the all Viking kitchen, holding multiple classes daily. He is fantabulous! Thank you Rory for this special Morning Wake Up Call, and all of the other delights that we learned. Post Script…Props to Ritz Carlton Corp… during the year that they were closed for repairs from Wilma, they secured (or at least offered) each employee a job with a Ritz property in Mexico and the USA. Outstanding!!

You only need three things!
1 Bottle of Champagne
1 can Red Bull
4 cherries for garnish

Pour 4 glasses of champagne up to an inch from top of flute.
Top off with Red Bull and garnish with cherries.

The Young’s Brew

Posted on April 9, 2013 by Peg

Today we celebrate a fabulous ECU basketball victory which occurred a week ago today, April 2nd. This is the first ever post season tournament victory for ECU basketball in the history of the program… thanks to Coach Jeff Lebo! So, in celebration I offer you The Young’s Brew! Note the purple and gold napkins for the ECU Pirates…arrrrrrrgh!!

You will need:
6 light beers
1 can frozen lemonade, undiluted
1 cup vodka
1 lemon, sliced
Crushed ice

Mix beer, lemonade, and vodka together in large pitcher.
Pour in glass over crushed ice.
Garnish with lemon slice.

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