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"A gourmet who thinks of calories is like a tart who looks at her watch." - James Beard


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Saturday, July 25, 2020

Happy Hour at Home - Paloma



This is one of my all-time favourite cocktails, and it's so simple! Just tequila, grapefruit and soda, or tequila and grapefruit soda, or tequila, grapefruit, lime, sugar and soda.  I've actually had Palomas made many different ways.  

Today I squeezed grapefruit for fresh-squeezed juice, added fresh lime juice and sugar, tequila, ice and soda, with a half-salt rim and a pretty slice of grapefruit to garnish. 


When we were in Mexico last year I had a Paloma that was just tequila and Jarritos grapefruit soda with a Tajín (chili lime spice) rim and a massive grapefruit slice to garnish. 

If you can find grapefruit soda, this method is much easier, but I do love the flavour of fresh-squeezed grapefruit juice.

Here's the recipe!

Paloma Cocktail (makes one drink)

salt or chili-lime seasoning
grapefruit wedge
1/4 cup fresh-squeezed grapefruit juice
1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
1 teaspoon sugar
1/4 cup tequila 
1/4 cup club soda

Sprinkle salt or seasoning on a flat plate.  Run the grapefruit wedge around the rim of a 12oz glass and coat the rim of the glass halfway or completely in salt or seasoning. 

Add grapefruit and lime juice and sugar to the glass and stir until sugar dissolves.  Add the tequila and fill the glass with ice.  Top with club soda. 

Cheers! 


Saturday, July 18, 2020

Happy Hour at Home - Clover Club Cocktail


This cocktail has a lot to recommend it.  It has an interesting history, uses fresh berries and an egg white, and it's absolutely gorgeous to look at and very delicious. 

The cocktail dates back to 1880s Philadelphia and it was a pink drink men loved.  It's not too sweet and the egg white gives it a foamy contrasting head that looks beautiful.

First, you'll need to make a raspberry syrup, but it's easy!  This is a no-cook syrup that keeps that fresh raspberry flavour.

Raspberry Syrup 

1/2 cup raspberries (fresh or frozen)
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup water

Muddle the raspberries with the sugar. Let sit 30 minutes until syrupy. Add the water and stir until sugar is completely dissolved. Strain through a fine mesh sieve. Store leftover syrup in the fridge up to a week. 

Clover Club Cocktail (makes one drink)

1 1/2 oz gin
1/2 oz fresh lemon juice
1/2 oz dry vermouth
1/2 oz raspberry syrup
1 small egg white 

Combine ingredients in a shaker with ice and shake for 20 seconds.  Strain into a glass. 

Cheers!  






Saturday, July 11, 2020

Happy Hour at Home - Watermelon Mojito



I love making cocktails but I don't make frozen cocktails very often. Partially because they always seem overly sweet, and partially because it's just a hassle to haul out the blender and crush ice. 

But this cocktail is an exception!  It is so good, so summery and refreshing, I will definitely make it again and again.  

The trick here is frozen watermelon instead of ice.  This way the watermelon is the star, and it's not diluted by anything but liquor.  I love the way the watermelon's colour just says SUMMER!

The recipe comes from Smitten Kitchen, a great resource for well-tested food and drink recipes.  

Here's how to make this fabulous summer treat:

Frozen Watermelon Mojito Recipe (makes 2 drinks)

1 lb frozen watermelon 
1/2 cup fresh squeezed lime juice (about 3 limes)
1 tablespoon sugar
4 oz rum
10 mint leaves, plus sprigs for garnish

To freeze the watermelon, remove the rind from one small or 1/2 a large watermelon. Remove seeds if necessary and cut into 1-inch cubes. Freeze in a single layer on a tray lined with plastic wrap or parchment for at least one hour.  Save any leftover frozen watermelon in a zip-top bag in the freezer.

To make the cocktail, mix the lime juice and sugar until the sugar dissolves. Blend the frozen watermelon, lime juice and rum in a blender until smooth.  Add the mint leaves and blend briefly until chopped. 

Serve in a roomy glass with a straw, garnished with a mint sprig. Cheers!