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Yummy Link: Gnocchi and Strawberry Sippers

YumSugar — Tue, 22 May 2007 14:03:58 -0700

If you're still looking for a recipe for dinner tonight, consider ricotta & garlic gnocchi and a strawberry sipper to wash it down. It looks yum yum yum! - Never Bashful with Butter

TV Dinners: Ugly Betty - Dirty Girl Scout

YumSugar — Mon, 23 Apr 2007 11:58:31 -0700

Today's happy hour comes from one of my favorite new shows, Ugly Betty. I don't know if you guys watch, but on last week's episode, Betty and Christina find themselves at Club Prague where another club patron suggests that Betty orders a "Dirty Girlscout." Later, Betty (in a clichéd Betty moment) actually refers to it as a Filthy Girl Scout, which I somehow find even funnier.

To find out how to make your own Filthy Girl Scout (which gets its name because it reminds people of the Thin Mint Cookie), read more

Also, I'm not sure why the girl in the picture has what appears to be some sort of celery garnish. I can't imagine thin mint cookie & celery stalks go hand in hand.

Dirty Girl Scout
From Drink Swap

1 oz vodka
1 oz coffee liqueur (like Kahlua)
1 oz irish cream (like Bailey's)
1 oz white creme de menthe

Mix the vodka, kahlua and bailey's and pour over ice. Pour the creme de menthe down the center of the glass.

Alternatively, I've also found recipes where you can put all ingredients into a shaker over ice and strain into a glass with or without ice cubes.

And, I've also seen it without vodka and served as a shot.

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Happy Hour: Funky Garlic

YumSugar — Thu, 19 Apr 2007 13:18:37 -0700

When PartySugar told me that today was National Garlic Day, I immediately set out to find us a cocktail that uses garlic as an ingredient. And yes, yes, I know it sounds horrible, but done well I bet it would be good - think of a Bloody Mary, that sounds horrible on paper too...

At any rate, I was thwarted - turns out it may be a disgusting idea after all - and could not find any cocktail recipes featuring garlic. I did, however, find a recipe called Funky Garlic that actually sounds sort of refreshing (if not also somewhat terrible). It's a mixture of wine and soda, and it sounds dirty, yet light and bubbly. To check out the recipe (oh and if you know of any drinks that feature garlic, let us know), read more

Funky Garlic
From Drink Swap

4 oz Sprite
4 oz Coca-Cola
4 oz White Wine

Chill all ingredients prior to serving. Pour into a highball glass, and stir well.

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Happy Hour: Income Tax Day Cocktail

YumSugar — Tue, 17 Apr 2007 02:58:59 -0700

Tick Tick Tick. Folks, that would be the clock counting down the minutes you have left to get your taxes done (you do know that taxes are due today, right?). For those of you that have successfully e-filed or mailed out your taxes, you can whip yourself up an Income Tax Day Cocktail and dream about how you're going to spend your refund. Or, alternatively, drown your sorrows and not think about how much you owed.

If you haven't finished up your taxes, I highly recommend waiting until they're out the door before partaking in a drink. Although, maybe it'll make signing those checks a lot easier...

To check out the Income Tax Day Cocktail, read more

Income Tax Day Cocktail
From Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Photo by Anne Schamberg

2 ounces gin
1/4 ounce sweet vermouth
1/4 ounce dry vermouth
1 ounce orange juice
Aromatic bitters to taste
Orange slice or twist for garnish

In an ice-filled cocktail shaker, vigorously shake liquid ingredients. Strain into chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with orange.

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Happy Hour: Red Headed Slut

partysugar — Tue, 03 Apr 2007 13:51:13 -0700

On Saturday night a big group of us went out to celebrate my sister's 22nd birthday. We started the night with dinner at my favorite new pizza place and then continued the party a few doors down at a few bars. My sister has bright beautiful red hair (think young Lindsay Lohan in her Parent Trap days) and for some reason everyone kept ordering her red headed sluts. As we were taking shot after shot of this red concoction, I couldn't help but wonder where did these drinks come from and more importantly who named them such horribly derogatory names (purple hooters, anyone?). Sure we were all close friends celebrating a birthday in good fun, but how is my sister going to feel when she goes into a bar and some random guy orders her a red headed slut? Although they may be straight out of Girls Gone Wild, in honor of spring break, here's the recipe - the drink itself isn't half bad so, read more

Red Headed Slut
From Bar Meister

1 1/2 oz Jagermeister
1 1/2 oz Peach Schnapps
1 1/2 oz Cranberry Juice

Pour all ingredients into a shaker and shake vigorously. Strain and split 2 to 5 ways.

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Happy Hour: Sangria Soda

YumSugar — Thu, 08 Feb 2007 11:44:12 -0800

A few years ago, while at a little taqueria in Sacramento, my friend purchased a small green bottle with a fancy maroon label that said "sangria." I immediately wondered what bottled sangria would be like and started to imagine the possibilities when I noticed the word "non-alcoholic" right above "sangria." And yet, somehow this made me more intrigued. So I purchased a bottle and gave it a try.

What I experienced was a spicy grape soda with a sangria-ish flavor. I found it to be a great complement to my spicy tacos. If you want to try it yourself, Senorial Sangria is available for $1.35 a bottle.

Happy Hour: Espresso Martini

YumSugar — Fri, 02 Feb 2007 14:13:12 -0800

My guy is addicted, and I mean ADDICTED to coffee (in fact, we had to lose the microwave to make room for the espresso machine). When we go out he's always looking for a drink that involves coffee, Kahlua, espresso, etc. So yesterday, when I asked him to choose a drink for today's happy hour, it really should have come as no surprise when he said, "how about an Espresso Martini?"

Go figure! But, at least he's got good taste and found a delicious recipe for all of us.

Espresso Martini
From Drinks Mixer

1 1/2 oz vodka
1 1/2 oz Kahlua (or any other coffee liqueur)
1 oz Bailey's Irish cream
3 oz espresso - the stronger the better!

Brew espresso fresh.
Pour into a cocktail shaker half-filled with ice cubes and add other ingredients.
Shake well, strain into a cocktail glass, and serve.

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Happy Hour: Sicilian Splash

YumSugar — Thu, 04 Jan 2007 12:46:32 -0800

I was looking for a nice non-alcoholic drink to work with our spaghetti day, when I came across this one for a Sicilian Splash. This drink, which was supposed to be a seasonal summer drink over at Olive Garden, was such a huge hit with the customers, it stayed on the menu. It's a blended drink with the right amount of juice and sparkling water. I think it would probably be nicer on the rocks, and a little more season as well (although, a blended drink in the dead of winter might be a nice way to bring the summer zing into your home). To check out the recipe, read more

Sicilian Splash
From Flora's Drink Hideout

4 cups ice
3/8 cup white grape juice
1/4 cup orange soda

Sparkling water, as needed
1 lemon slice, for garnish

Blend in order given. Serve in a tall fluted glass, with lemon slice and straw.

My variation would be to omit the ice, mix grape and orange juice together, top off with sparkling water. Serve on the rocks.

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Ray's One Mint Julep

YumSugar — Wed, 27 Dec 2006 00:03:32 -0800

The date is December 27, 1960 and somewhere in the ABC Paramount studios, Ray Charles is recording what will become a number one hit. The song is called "One Mint Julep," a jazzy number that gets its name from a cocktail distinctive to the south. To celebrate this recording I say let's make ourselves a drink and have a toast. To learn about the traditional Mint Julep and recipe, read more

Traditionally, Mint Juleps were served in pewter or silver cups and were often held by only the top and bottom edges. This way frost was able to form on the outside of the cup.

Since the Mint Julep is the traditional beverage of the Kentucky Derby, I figured we should turn to them for the right recipe.

Mint Julep
From the Kentucky Derby

2 cups sugar
2 cups water
Sprigs of fresh mint
Crushed ice
Whisky
Silver Julep Cups

Make a simple syrup by boiling sugar and water together for five minutes. Cool and place in a covered container with six or eight sprigs of fresh mint, then refrigerate overnight.

Make one julep at a time by filling a julep cup with crushed ice, adding one tablespoon mint syrup and two ounces of whisky. Stir rapidly with a spoon to frost the outside of the cup. Garnish with a sprig of fresh mint.

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Would You Drink a Nogasake?

YumSugar — Sun, 17 Dec 2006 02:55:31 -0800

Did anyone catch The Office on Thursday night (if you missed it, BuzzSugar has a great recap for you)?

In the episode Andy, Jim, Dwight and Michael head over to Benihana for a cheering-up lunch. While there Andy ordered (brace yourself for this one) a Nogasake! When I heard this, I nearly spit out my drink because (A) it's pretty offensive (B) it's hysterical and (C) my goodness that sounds disgusting!

But, if you want to try it at home (and if you do let me know about it), it's one part eggnog, three parts sake. Drink up!

Also, since I'm on the topic of disgusting drinks, what's the worst holiday drink you've ever had? Let us all know in the comments below!