I don't know about you but when Christmas is in the air, it's time for my favorite, favorite drink.....
Can you guess what it is? It's EGGNOG! I love it, in any shape or form and prefer it sans the alcohol....most of the time.
I even love the cheap stuff right out of the gallon jug at the supermarket (I know, I know, sometimes I'm desperate) or McDonald's Eggnog Shakes. My obsession runs deep with this one.
However, several years ago I started making my own Chai Eggnog and I've never looked back. Of course Chai is another obsession, so when you combine the two...oh mercy.
This is the perfect warming drink for a cold Sunday morning, what a way to start the day.
Food, Wine, Good (and Evil) Spirits
Food, Wine, Good (and Evil) Spirits
Peach Margaritas
It's only a few days until Cinco de Mayo. Woo-hoo!
That means margaritas, chips and salsa, margaritas, carnitas, margaritas. Are you seeing a pattern?
Having previously lived in Southern California where Cinco de Mayo was BIG, we always celebrated with some type of special Mexican meal. For me, the tradition will always live on no matter where I am, and that tradition will always include margaritas.
I would like to share with you one of my favorite margarita recipes. The Wild Boar and I concocted this recipe for a margarita contest we entered and WON! It was a long time ago but we still make this margarita as often as we can.
This Peach Margarita has a fresh and refreshing taste that will soothe your mouth as you eat your salsa-laden burrito this Cinco de Mayo.
So come on, find your lost salt shaker and let's get to blendin'.
It's That Old Devil Moon In Your Eyes
"I think the increased number of 1920s themed parties caused the current economic crisis. There I said it." - Alexis Brodey
I love old timey things. I even love the term old timey. Whenever I
hear it, everything turns into sepia tone and rag time music starts
playing. Then my iPhone rings and I realize I need to update my blog
and twitter. I'm happy I wasn't born in the 30's but I enjoy many
things about it. Mainly the influx of bars that seem to embrace that
old timey feel. Did Mad Men have something to do with this? Probably.
I'll be the first to admit prior to watching Don Draper I never had an
Old Fashioned. I now love Old Fashioneds. I even make a really good Old
Fashioned.
Since I'm not the biggest drinker, I never really want to visit a
random Hollywood bar and order a gin and tonic that tastes generic. I
tend to stick to very specific bars that do very specific things. Let’s
say I want a tropical drink. Easy, I go to Tiki Ti in Los Feliz. The
bar’s been open since 1961 and challenged Trader Vics for the best tiki
bar ever (and won). Currently I’m really into bourbon. This led me to
the great bar SeVen Grand on 7th and Grand downtown.
SeVen Grand is a mix between an old timey bar, a hunting lodge, a gentleman's club and a place where stockbrokers hang out after ruining peoples lives. They have over a hundred types of whiskey and really great bartenders. My favorite bartender is a guy who I refer to as "Last of the Mohicans" because he has an indie mohawk.
Remember Manischewitz
The other day I took a walk through Wally's, my local wine emporium's
autumn sale and was bottle shocked by the number of kosher wine choices
on display—Ninety-seven Jewtique labels. From Israel to Australia to
the Valley of Napa, there are rabbis rendering grapes right for Jewish
tables the world over.
Although pleased as wine punch that my brethren can sip with
confidence from so many vineyards at all the holiday tables to come, I
felt drowned in a sudden wave of nostalgia, for, over in a less popular
corner, I spied some "Man Oh Manischewitz – What a Wine" languishing,
neglected for a mere $4.99 in its own dust.
And a flood of bittersweet tasting memories ensued…of my parentally
enforced Prohibition. The years of my youth when I was served Welch's
grape juice in a grown up glass at the holidays to placate my longing
for the real deal. I sipped the faux, while the elders were slurping
Manichevitz, the manna of the God, the only choice in that era, with
lip-smacking satisfaction. I'd lift my grape laced goblet, toast and
boast—'Lookit! Lookit how fast I can drink it!"
Spiced Mulled Cider
This warm and comforting drink is great on a cold day.
Combine lime zest and juice, lemon zest and juice, sugar, and salt in large liquid measuring cup; cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until flavors meld, 24 hours. Toast spices in large saucepan over medium heat, shaking pan occasionally, until fragrant, 1 to 3 minutes. Add cider, orange zest, and sugar and bring to boil. Reduce heat to low and simmer for 30 minutes, using wide, shallow spoon to skim away foam that rises to surface. Pour cider through fine-mesh strainer lined with coffee filter and discard spices and orange zest. Serve. (Mulled cider can be refrigerated in airtight container for up to one week. Reheat before serving.) – Recipe courtesy of Cook Like James |
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