Martini Mischief

These are some pictures of the limoncello I’m making, for readers who need some visuals.  Good luck with your ‘cello.

Lemons for your Limoncello

Please note the lack of blemishes, the shiny peel….makes for a better zest or peel.

Zest from the Lemons...Note the lemons are still yellow!

Select a large enough jar to add simple syrup later...

I will post more pictures later…Myrna

This is to help you celebrate Martini Monday.  We got this submission from a reader in Oregon.  Let us know what you think!!

Ingredients

• 1 oz DeKuyper Tropical Papaya
• 1 oz Stolichnaya Vodka
• 1/2 oz cranberry juice
• 1/2 oz  ruby red grapefruit juice

1. Pour all ingredients in a cocktail shaker.  Fill shaker with crushed ice.
2. Shake gently.
3. Strain into a chilled martini glass.
4. Garnish with a pineapple slice.

Enjoy!!!

Tropalicious Martini

We are celebrating Amanda’s Birthday…so in her honor, we are presenting the recipe for a Birthday Martini.  We would love for you to join us in the celebration.  Send us a pic of you preparing or drinking the martini.  Better yet, send Amanda a Birthday Shout Out!

Ingredients

•  1-1/2 oz. Stolichnaya Vanilla Vodka
• 1 oz half and half
• 1/2 oz Hiram Walker Amaretto
• Small amount lemon zest

1. In a cocktail shaker assemble all ingredients; fill shaker with ice.
2. Shake well.
3. Pour into well chilled Martini glasses rimmed with colored sugar.
4. Garnish with a dot of Whipped Cream in the center and a Candle, or Cupcake Sprinkles.

Enjoy!!

Birthday Cake Martini

The ladies of Martini Mischief sampled the nightlife in downtown Raleigh, North Carolina last night. It turned out to be a very vibrant city filled with colorful people, and colorful cocktails. The place that really stood out to us was the Vintage Bar and Lounge. Because we had a lot of ground to cover, we got there early enough to speak with the bartenders and get a feel for a southern bar and lounge. As you might expect, it was very laid back and friendly with great ambiance, and garnished with southern hospitality.

Our bartenders, Savannah and Fumba, concocted some really tasty martinis from the menu, as well as two originals which were not. One was a very tasty Chocolate Covered Raspberry Martini with Bailey’s and Chocolate Liqueur. It was an excellent dessert martini and was purely decadent. This is what you drink when a slice of pie just won’t cut it. Another concoction, off the beaten path, was the Orbit. This featured Blueberry infused vodka and mint and it was amazing!!! It was definitely a surprise party for your mouth!

All in all, we really enjoyed our time in Raleigh. The city captured our hearts and the bartenders our tastebuds and we will certainly return the next time we’re in the area.

Imani

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We are nominating this drink as THE DRINK OF THE DAY.   Created by our friend, Josh Davis, a mixologist supreme, this Martini really features “a little bit of this and a little bit of that”.  Sweet and delicious, it comes with our full recommendation.  You can follow Josh on Twitter; @MrMixologist; or check out his blog http://mrmixologist.blogspot.com. 

Ingredients

• 1oz  Absolut Pear Vodka
• 1 1/2oz  Grey Goose Citrus Vodka
• 1/2oz  Bacardi Dragon Berry Rum
• 1/2oz  Triple Sec
• 1/2oz  Peach Schnapps
• 1/2oz Pineapple Juice
• 1/2oz Cranberry Juice
• 1/2oz Orange Juice

1. Pour all ingredients into a cocktail shaker; add crushed ice.  Shake well.
2. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass.
3. Garnish with a slice of peach or pear.

Enjoy!

Let us know what you think. 

The Breetini at the moment of Creation!

Don’t you absolutely love this idea…a Martini to jump start your day!  Many thanks to Susannah G. , a reader from Baltimore, who felt that we were ignoring the most important meal of the day.  Let us know what you think!

Ingredients

1. Chill a cocktail glass while you are making the martinis. 
2. Put the marmalade together with the gin in the bottom of your shaker and stir them together until the marmalade dissolves.
3. Add the lemon juice and Cointreau to the shaker; fill with crushed ice.
4. Shake well.
5. Strain into the now chilled Martini Glas.
6. Garnish by floating a twist of orange peel in the drink.

Breakfast Martini

What a "Gorgeous Martini"

Ingredients

• 1.5oz Pear Grey Goose Vodka
• 1oz Pineapple Juice
•  1/2 oz.  Watermelon or Strawberry Pucker
•  Lemon & Lime wedge as Garnish

1. In a shaker, mix vodka, Pineapple Juice, Pucker and Crushed Ice.
2. Strain into chilled martini glass
3. Garnish with Lemon or Lime Wheel

This is the Drink of the Day!!!!  Let us know what you think!

This is Myrna’s personal recipe;  I hope you enjoy the limoncello as much I do!

Ingredients

• 20 Lemons, as fragrant and juicy as you can find;
• 1 Bottle of Tito’s Vodka (750ML);
• 1 Bottle of Everclear (750 ML) or similar grain alcohol as close to 100 proof as you can find;
• 3-1/2 Cups Water;
• 3-1/2 Cups Sugar;

1. Use a vegetable peeler to remove the peel from the lemons, taking care to keep the peels in long strips.  If you have a zester, lemon zest works better than peels.
2. With a sharp knife, remove the white pith from the peel.  Any pith left over will cause the taste to become bitter.
3. Place the lemon peels/zest in a 2 quart glass container.  Pour the vodka over the peels/zest and cover tightly.
4. Steep the lemon peels in the vodka/Everclear mixture  for 2-3 months, at room temperature.
5. Stir the water and sugar in a large saucepan, over medium heat, until the sugar dissolves.  (Simple Syrup)
6. Once this mixture has cooled, pour over the vodka/Everclear mixture.
7. Cover and let stand and additional 2-3 weeks, at room temperature.
8. Strain the limoncello; discard the lemon peels/zest.
9. Pour the limoncello into sealable bottles, and refrigerate.  You can store in the freezer, btw, because the high level of alchol won’t allow this cordial to freeze.

Limoncello