Paradise Punch

What is a baby shower without punch? Here’s a non-alcoholic (although this can easily be turned alcoholic with Vodka) punch that is pretty in a punch bowl and well liked by all.

1 cup peach nectar

1 cup pulp-free orange juice

1 cup cranberry cocktail

1 oz lime cordial

1 oz grenadine

2 cups soda water

** If adding Vodka, add 1 cup and taste, add more if you plan to get your guests drunk)

Garnish with blood orange slices and raspberries. (Don't forget the ice-cubes)

Non-Alcoholic Mimosa

I recently threw a baby shower for my sister-in-law (Another shout-out CW!), and focused on non-alcoholic drinks and finger-foods. This easy mimosa looked awful pretty in champagne flutes, without the “drinking-and-driving” thing to worry about.

The secret is in the bubbly. I simply used a bottle of sparkling grape juice, pulp-free orange juice and a generous splash of grenadine. I mixed it together in a pitcher and let guests help themselves to the mimosas. I threw in some blood orange slices to pretty it up too.

Baco Noir

I am a huge advocate of all things local. Local produce, local meats, local wine. I live in steel-town, Hamilton, Ontario. I am very proud of this under-dog city, that I live in. This city is a feast for the eyes for anyone who loves gothic-style architecture, history and yes, wine. 
I live 15 minutes away from the beautiful Niagara wineries. The wineries are almost in my backyard. D and I take the convertible to the wineries in the summer. In the winter, the winter car takes us to the wineries. I've been to Napa and Sonoma Valleys in California, and although the year-round weather is soooooo much better in California, Niagara has everything I need. In particular, Baco Noir. The Baco is a beautiful grape which I will compare to Shiraz or Cabernet. The Canadian climate here in the south of Ontario is perfect for growing this grape. Many wineries offer a blend of Baco Noir with something else, usually Cabernet (EastDell 2007 Black Cab - is AWESOME), but Henry of Pelham consistently makes a lovely pure Baco Noir. It is a full bodied wine, which has a slight caramel-ly taste that I love. 


Wine is a very subjective taste, much like food. I hate telling people what wines to drink. I, personally, love the full-bodied red wines.. but sometimes, I love other types of wines. Since this post is all about Henry of Pelham 2008 Baco Noir, I will focus on that. 
This bottle of wine is, like I said before, full-bodied, wonderfully oaky and just that little bit of caramel-ly. It doesn't have a harsh tannin finish and it goes down very well. (I'm obviously not an expert on wine and wine tasting, but I know what I like.)
I won't even pretend that I know what food to pair this with. I love food, I love wine. I love THIS wine. Who cares what it goes with?   Go and buy it (it's available in all LCBO's) and let me know if you like it too. Even better, go to the winery. Go to a few Niagara wineries. They are all beautiful, they are all unique, and they all have great wine. 


My current Niagara wine favourite is the Baco Noir. Give it a try, if you like it, leave a comment, if you hate it... well.. ok, leave a comment. :) 


I will leave you with one of my favourites quotes: 


"Everything in Moderation, Including Moderation." - Julia Child

Cosmopolitan Martini

This drink has been popular since the 90’s (like, hello?) and is still considered a girly drink by most. I’m not exactly the girliest-girl, but I love me a Cosmo sometimes. I’m sure most people know how to make one, but if you don’t, here is the recipe:

4 parts Vodka (Citrus vodka works too)

2 parts Cointreau or Triple Sec

2 parts Cranberry Juice

1 part Fresh Lime juice

Shake all four ingredients together in a cocktail shaker and enjoy. Garnish with a lime slice.

New York Cocktail

It has been a hellish week thus far and it's only Wednesday. I need a cocktail in a fancy martini glass ASAP. After flipping through "The Complete Bartender" book looking for whiskey drinks, I came across this one. (Why whiskey? Why not??) I put this together as per the recipe below and surprise, surprise, it was very yummy. This book of mine was published in 1990. I must have picked up this book in a garage sale or something, because in 1990 I was 14. This book has really weird recipes and it's not always easy to find something good. (For example: I will not put raw egg in my glass and mix it with alcohol- EVER.)


So, right now, I'm very warm and sleepy and decided to share this recipe on my blog. [Insert happy sigh here].


1 1/2oz. Whiskey
1/2 tsp. powdered sugar (Splenda worked great)
1/2oz. lime juice
dash grenadine


Fill a cocktail shaker with ice; add all ingredients; shake (don't stir); pour into a fancy crystal martini glass that you got from your first marriage [First marriage and martini glass optional]; garnish with orange peel and maraschino cherries.


Serves 1 Stressed-Out Person
Enjoy fellow stressed-out people! :)

Cranberry Ginger Cocktail

This recipe comes from an Ocean Spray coupon book from 2003 that I’ve had in my collection since then. I like this cocktail. It’s refreshing and slightly spicy with the ginger. It works as a good Holiday drink, but I like it in the summer too. Remember: It’s 5pm somewhere!!

Cranberry Ginger Cocktail

1 bottle Ocean Spray Cranberry Cocktail (1.89L)

1 inch fresh ginger, sliced very thinly

3 oranges

3 limes

8oz gin

1. Microwave on high, 1 cup of cranberry cocktail with the ginger until steaming, about 2 minutes. Cool to room temperature. Strain out ginger and combine liquid with remaining cranberry cocktail. Stir well and transfer to an 8-cup glass pitcher. Chill.
2. If desired, cut a long narrow strip of peel from one of the oranges to make a garnish. Juice two oranges and two limes. Thinly slice remaining fruit and stir into the cranberry mixture along with the citrus juices and gin.
3. Serve cocktail over ice in glasses garnished with orange peel spirals and frozen cranberries. Makes 8 servings. Also looks beautiful in a martini glass (if you are a perfectionist you may want to strain the pulp out before you pour into a martini glass)

Mojito

Those who know me, know that I enjoy my beverages. Especially if there happens to be alcohol in them. :) Thought I'd share my Mojito recipe. Give it a try.. it's got to be 5pm somewhere in the world!


Mojito


2 limes
1 tablespoon of sugar
4 or 5 fresh mint leaves
1oz+ white rum
Soda Water


Wash the mint leaves and tear them up a bit and put in a tall glass. Add the sugar (to taste) and muddy up the leaves into the sugar. 
Cut the limes in half and squeeze them into the glass. Cut a few slices of the lime and place in the glass. Muddy it up a bit more. 
Add your rum and top up with soda water and ice. Stir it around and taste it. Maybe it tastes perfect, maybe it needs more sugar, less lime, possibly some more rum. Whatever - make it to your taste, this recipe isn't exact and I probably have it different every time I make it. 


Enjoy!

My camera sucks for indoor shots.