apple juice

We love Slashfood so much that every Thursday we round up their most delicious stories. Here are this week's finds:

• What to keep in mind when pairing cheese with beer.
• A Fort Worth, TX, diner serves the largest chicken-fried steak in the world.
• Is the trendy concept of a food adventure club more gross than gourmet?
• A new fading barcode could be the answer to tracking food's freshness.
• Star chefs like David Burke and Charlie Trotter are pulling out of ventures in Vegas.
• News flash: apple juice can contain shockingly high levels of arsenic.

Source: Flickr User mistagregory

On Wednesday FabSugar and I hosted our Apples to Apples game night. The party was a total success, and we had a great time thanks in part to a conversation-stimulating cocktail. Although I had planned to make a vodka-based drink, Fab asked me to do something with whiskey, so in the end, I went with these apple spritzers. They are refreshing, easy to drink, and effervescent. Unlike some party drinks, this libation is not too sweet. To get the recipe, read more

Next Wednesday FabSugar and I are hosting a game night. We're playing Apples to Apples and serving a menu of easy dishes that all have apples.

Usually when I host a party, I like to make a pitcher drink so I don't have to worry about making cocktails all night. However, since this is an intimate gathering and I'm cohosting with Fab, I've decided it will be fun to play bartender!

I'll be mixing up a libation called the Gold Rush. It's a beautiful combination of vodka, apple juice concentrate, and Calvados, a French apple brandy. It's easy to make, so learn how and read more

When I was 21 and would raid my dad's liquor cabinet, I was always intrigued by a tall thin bottle filled with a bright yellow liquor. Called Galliano, I wondered if the spirit was named for John Galliano, the designer at Dior.

It's not: Galliano is actually named after an Italian hero, Giuseppe Galliano. The sweet liqueur has a complex vanilla-anise-citrus flavor and is most commonly used in a cocktail called Harvey Wallbanger.

However, Galliano can be used in many other cocktails, like this one, named for the town where it's made. An elegant combination of Galliano, sparkling apple juice, and Prosecco, it's a refreshing bubbly beverage. It makes a great start to the weekend, so get the recipe after the jump.