Happy Thirsty Thursday! GINSANITY CHAPTER X: You can never sparkle too much {Elderflower Citrus Sparkler}

Elderflower Sparkler

Happy New Year.  LOL.  I don't think I ever said that.  I am cautiously optimistic for 2013. 
Happy Thirsty Thursday... 1st one for the year.
Even though I'm on a diet for another 15 lbs [at least]I still enjoy my special cocktail treats.  This one was very special indeed, combining all of my favorite things and looking SOOOOOO pretty.

What is it? I called it an Elderflower Sparkler.  It was sweet & citrus-y with a hint of pine needles.... Florida at Christmas :)

WHAT YOU NEED:

3 slices/rounds each of orange, lemon & lime

1 & 1/2 ounce lemon OR Orange not so simple syrup

1 ounce gin

1 ounce St. Germaine

Ice

3 ounces Champagne {brut}

St~Germaine, Gin & Champagne
Can you go wrong?

WHAT YOU DO:

GENTLY Muddle 1 slice orange, lime and lemon with not so simple syrup in a shaker [do half of each flavor if you have them on hand!]. Add gin, St. Germaine and a little ice. Shake well and strain into glass.

Pack with ice and top with Champagne garnish with remaining fruit. Sip & Stir.  Repeat.

ENJOY [you are welcome]

THIRSTY THURSDAY & a Fabulous bottle of Meyer Lemon Soda {Meyer 25 Cocktail}

T.G.I.T.T.

Another week has whipped by but I did take a moment to  pick some basil, do a little muddling and come up with an absolutely fabulous drink for Thirsty Thursday :)

I think it's a great end of summer treat: it's refreshing, it's crisp, it's Yummy.  I found this awesome Meyer Lemon soda at World Market, I'm sure you could find something similar at Trader Joe's or Whole Foods.  

I mixed mine with Zacapa Rum because I've grown very accustomed to that oakey, dark amber rum taste but I'm sure this would be absolutely fabulous with Captain Morgan or Bacardi.



What you need:
1 & 1/2 ounces Amber Rum
1 thick slice lemon
seven or eight torn fresh basil leaves
3 ounces Meyer Lemon soda
3 ounces club soda
lots of ice.

What you do:

• Put your lemon slice and your torn basil leaves in the bottom of your favorite class: muddle well.
• Pack glass with ice then fill halfway with your lemon soda and halfway with club soda.
• Top with your favorite Rum.

Stir well & enjoy.

NOTE: I used club soda in addition to the Meyer lemon because I like a crisp/less sweet cocktail.  In many ways this is sort of a modified Mojito in that I substituted the lemon soda for the simple syrup... if you like a sweeter drink you could skip the club soda.

p.s. excuse my crappy iPhone photography!!!

 

Thirsty Thursday and an awesome Shandy

Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy.
                       ~Ben Franklin

Harp & Limonata Shandy

In my last Featured Five I shared a Shandy from Trevor at Sis. Boom. Blog.  I've been so SnakeBite focused in recent years that I forgot how much I love a Shandy.

It's a simple pleasure. Get your favorite Lager and your favorite lemon soda... I adore the San Pellegrino Limonata but 7up will work in a pinch! 1/4 soda, 3/4 lager. AHHHHH.

Thirsty Thursday & My Old Standby {Snakebite Recipe}

No fancy picture. No fancy drink.  But definitely what I think is an overlooked "classic". The Snakebite.  It's simple, beer & hard cider. I am such a Landshark junkie that at home my Snakebites have Landshark as their base.  But when I'm out I go a little darker... at BJs a Jeremiah Red, or Shock Top is a nice pairing.  It's really whatever you like. It's a simple, no frills, crisp, refreshing drink.   My favorite Cider is Magners but a close second is Strongbow and then Hornsbys.  The latter you can get ANYWHERE, Magners you can find at a specialty store like World Market.

Mix them half & half. 

Cheers! 

Stick A Fork in 'em {Happy Thirsty Thursday: Zacapa Mojito}

Ron Zacapa Mojito

Life as a Foodie can be challenging, I mean it is a veritable Cornucopia these days.  Everywhere I look I see downright addictive nibbles and delectable, decadent Bill of Fare cooked to perfection.  Finer dining is so approachable in this day and age, whether you are in search of an Artisan treat or lean more towards a Sammie.

For example, when we were in Key West we went to our favorite Eatery, Louie's Back Porch for what was a toothsome experience.  We never miss going to Louie's when we are in Key West and neither should you.... Their menu boasts a wide variety of Noms, featuring an awesome fusion of island fare and fine dining.  You are not there long before you know there is a serious Toque behind this scene! I savored every luscious bite of my dinner.  The lobster bisque was velvety; the steaks were meltingly tender and served with the best gnocchi ever.  The mouthfeel of that gnocchi was simply out of this world... downright pillowy.  For dessert the offered a simply unctuous assortment of yummy-tastic treats, enrobed in white and dark chocolate.  There was nothing in this meal that I would label a miss!

My original Millionaire Mojito
They used Limes,
 I like Lemon with my Zacapa

For those of you who are shaking your head wondering what this post is even about.... click HERE.  But do not mistake that review as a complete joke.... I LOVE LOUIE'S BACK PORCH!

On to the serious post.... HAPPY THIRSTY THURSDAY!

Since I brought up Louies in Key West.... I might as well share that I met my favorit-est Mojito EVER there that last visit, the Millionaire Mojito.

It's made with Zacapa Rum, which is a fabulous oak aged Rum.... and it makes for one seriously special Mojito.

here's what you need
1 & 1/2 oz. Zacapa Rum
1 oz Simple Syrup
8 mint leaves
1 half of a lemon cut in eighths
Club Soda to top

 here's what you do

Muddle Simple Syrup, Mint & 1/2 of the Lemons to perfection, pour into your prepared glass, fill with ice... top with club soda, THEN pour your Zacapa over it, garnish with reserved lemon/lime and stir & sip ....ahhhh the islands in a glass!

THIRSTY THURSDAY: Would you like some toast with your jam? No Thanks. {Sweet Kentucky Sip}

Sweet Kentucky Sip

 So, last week I had the pleasure of popping into One Flew South and our Barkeep was the dynamic Tiff this visit..... fortuitously, one of Tiff's admirer's brought her in a jar of homemade preserves on his way through so Tiff immediately mixed up a quick batch of "sips" for us all and let me say, I'm no Whisky drinker but OH MY was this smooth.... a mighty fine sip I would have to say!
I recreated it for you for this fine Thirsty Thursday....

WHAT YOU NEED:
4 ounces Whisky of your choice
{I used some good old Early Times Kentucky Whisky}
1 tsp jam..... I used Dickinson's Blackberry Preserves

WHAT YOU DO:
Fill a cocktail shaker with ice add whisky and jam and shake it like you mean it, at least for a couple minutes, then strain into a rocks glass and enjoy with a couple "rocks."

Very.  Nice.

Thirsty Thursday: Mint Sugar & A Thunderstorm {Lemon-Lime Mojito in a Mint Sugared Glass }

Happy Thirsty Thursday!

Nothing like a rainy afternoon to screw with your photography..... but sometimes it just doesn't matter, no amount of rain or poor lighting could diminish how wonderful these Mojitos are.

Last weekend I saw Amy at Oh Bite it posting previews to her candied watermelon rind recipe.... {which I am trying this weekend!} but what really grabbed me were the two words MINT SUGAR.  I was like, hello Mr. Mojito please meet Mrs. Mint Sugar.  I couldn't get to my food processor fast enough.... 

And so the ceremony was conducted and they became one.  It's a beautiful thing.

May I introduce to you, the Lemon-Lime Mojito in a Mint Sugared Glass.

Lemon-Lime Mojito in a Mint Sugared Glass

here's what you need 

for the Mojito:
1 & 1/2 oz. white rum {I used Bacardi}
1 oz lemon Not So Simple Syrup
8 mint leaves
1 half of a lime cut in eighths
1 half of a lime cut in eighths
Club Soda to top

for the Mint Sugar:

1 cup of mint

1 cup of sugar

here's what you do

In a Food Processor, pulse 1 cup of fresh mint with 1 cup of sugar {I used evaporated cane juice} until well combined.... then dampen the rim of your glass with a lemon or lime and dip in the prepared sugar.

then Muddle Rum, Not So Simple Simple Syrup, Mint & 1/2 of the Lemon & Limes to perfection, pour into your prepared glass, fill with ice... top with club soda, garnish with reserved lemon/lime and....ENJOY!

Lemon-Lime Mojito in a Mint Sugared Glass

GINSANITY CHAPTER VIII: This'll Cherry, I mean Cheer, You up! {Cherry Gin Fizz}

Cherry Gin Fizz

DONE.

J'ai fini.

Stick a fork in me.

oh? it's only Thursday?
GEEZ.
Oh wait!
It's THIRSTY Thursday.
and this is my new little friend the Cherry Gin Fizz
It's easy like Sunday morning....
hehe, I know, that was cheesy.
I'm tired.

WHAT YOU NEED:

{1 part = 1 ounce when drinking alone 

---although you're never drinking ALONE, I'm with you in spirit}

1 part maraschino cherry juice {I know, zero health benefits but I think they now use something besides the carcinogenic Red dye #9 or whatever it was}
1 1/2 part Gin {there's the healthy stuff}
4 parts club soda
sugar for the rim

WHAT YOU DO:
BEFORE I made the drink I put my 1 part cherry juice in a shallow bowl to dip my glass in before sugaring the rim.... not necessary but I think it sticks better with the juice than just water.
Fill shaker with ice, add ingredients, shake vigorously before straining into your prepared glass....

can you say AH? Wake me when it's Friday....

p.s.  Don't forget, MY SEA SALT GIVEAWAY ends at 11:59 EST TONIGHT.... don't miss it... share this post for 2 extra entries {we are VERY close to adding the GRILL RUB COLLECTION!}

THIRSTY THURSDAY {Fruit & Flowers Sparkler}

Meet my Thursday.... this is my daughter's Middle School Orchestra.  It was a field trip today.  I try not to miss because I know these days are coming to an end but this one was pretty hellish.  We had to be at the school at 7 a.m. so we could travel WITH the Chorus AND the Band to visit and perform at 4 Elementary Schools in the area.  Two school buses packed full, a U-haul full of instruments & music stands and about 80 kids all told in 90 degree heat.  Unloading, slepping, watching them perform, packing up, riding in the bus to the next school and then doing it all over {and over again}.  Don't get me wrong the kids were AWESOME.  Well mannered, helpful and performed incredibly but I'm an OLD WOMAN and I am whooped {and Rebecca forgot the flask!}.  

So, I'm THIRSTY.  But it's all good because it's Thirsty Thursday and I'm enjoying a lovely cool cocktail.  I'm calling it the Fruit & Flower Sparkler and it is YUMMY AND REFRESHING.

HERE'S WHAT YOU NEED:

1 & 1/2 ounces St. Germaine Elderflower Liqueur
1 & 1/2 ounces pomegranate juice
4 fresh strawberries sliced
4-5 ounces Brut Champagne


HERE'S WHAT YOU DO:
Add everything but the Champagne in your processor {I used my Magic Bullet of course} and puree then add to glass, fill with ice and top with Champagne.


AHHHHH, it's Friday soon but this will hold you over :)


p.s. have you gotten a Magic Bullet yet?  You deserve one.... summers here.... frozen drinks in a snap ~