vodka Archives | Fake Food Free

Cinnamon Cider Whiskey Cocktail

May 14, 2018

This cinnamon cider whiskey cocktail is a simple mix of flavored vodka, dry hard cider, and whiskey. Served over ice it’s perfect for any season of the year!

I might be the only one that feels this way, but cinnamon is a tough ingredient to incorporate into the warmer months of spring and summer.

If you think about it, do any of your favorite foods or drinks for the summer have cinnamon in their flavor profile? I tried to come up with something, but I haven’t thought of it yet.

I refused to give up, though. I knew there had to be a way to use cinnamon in something refreshing. This cocktail is it.

Rosemary Sweet and Salty Dog Cocktail

January 21, 2018

This mixed drink gives a fun, earthy twist to the traditional salty dog cocktail. A simple syrup is infused with rosemary from the herb garden and combined with freshly squeezed red grapefruit juice and vodka. It’s served in a glass with a rim of fine ground sea salt.

It has come to my attention this week that there are quite a few people out there who do not like grapefruit.

I suspect that much like those who do not like kale, they cannot be trusted.

Just kidding.

To be honest, I’m not quite sure when I turned the corner on the stuff. For years, it was a grandma and grandpa breakfast accompaniment. Served alongside poached eggs and whole grain toast.

For the record, I refuse to think that my love for the fruit correlates with getting older. Proof is in in the fact that I’ve loved grapefruit for at least 10 years now.

I think it’s because I was introduced to red grapefruit.

Roasted Grape and Rosemary Cocktail

August 6, 2017

I’ve always considered grapes to be a fall food. Maybe it’s their deep purple color, or that I was always used to concord grapes growing up. Those are a fall fruit, but table grapes are harvested in the summer here. As in right about now.

That’s one of the cool things that one gets to witness here in the Valley. Harvest of just about everything is an incredible operation to observe.

So I bought a few crisp, sweet red and purple grapes, which are really purple and almost black. Beautiful.

They are, of course, good fresh, but they are also excellent roasted. A half hour in the oven and they become even sweeter with caramelized notes. So if you can stand heating up the oven in the summer, roasted grapes are the way to go.

They go well in desserts, on pizzas, and in cocktails…

Garden Cocktail Week

August 1, 2017

I’m still working on cracking the code for successfully growing food here in the Central Valley. Blueberries and citrus are going well and I can pull off some kale through winter.

Peppers last year were a no go, and I’ve murdered a few tomato plants as well. As I continue to attend workshops and talk with others, I’m slowly gaining more knowledge. I do see a few tomatoes and maybe an eggplant in the near future.

Fennel Vodka Pink Grapefruit Martini

February 11, 2017

A couple months ago, I bought a bulb of fennel from the farmers market. It had the most gorgeous long stem, overflowing with feathery fronds.

This kind of fennel is harder and harder to come by. Not a chance at our local super markets. They like to chop off the beautiful tops to make the bulbs all tidy when stacked.

It always makes me feel like I’m getting ripped off when I have to purchase fennel like that. I do as much with the fronds as I do with the bulb. So whenever I spot it at the farmers market, I grab it.

Well, this time around I had loads of greenery left over after a project. I started to think about how its licorice-like flavors would pair with the Costco-size bottle of vodka sitting on the counter (don’t judge). I’d had fennel infused cocktails before, but it was as a flavor accent, in the syrup or as a garnish, versus the main attraction.

Celebrating a great year with a Holiday Pomtini Cocktail!

December 29, 2014

I’m toasting to a great year and ringing in a new one with this Holiday Pomtini cocktail made with orange vodka, peach schnapps and POM Wonderful Pomegranate Juice! POM Wonderful is a current client and this post results from my work with the brand.

It has been quite a year. The kind of year that you hate to see end, but one that makes you excited to see what is next. Around here we’ve had everything from great travel and fun family visits to gaining an even greater appreciation for health.

On the business side of things, I’ve started working with so many new companies and organizations this year. It’s been enjoyable, challenging, and I like to think it has helped me grow quite a bit.

What better way to celebrate than with a martini!

Frozen White Russian Cocktails

September 12, 2014

Turn your White Russian cocktail into a spiked frozen treat with this recipe!

I like to keep my desserts and my cocktails separate. I’m rarely tempted by the spiked dessert shakes or fancy frozen drinks that show up on restaurant menus.

But that is when I’m dining out. This? This is when I’m at home. No way am I passing up a frosty combination of spirits and ice cream at home. It’s a lot more fun to be creative with frozen cocktails in your own kitchen than to pay someone else to do it for you. At least that is how I feel about it.

I love both Black and White Russians, which is no surprise considering that I am a huge coffee fan. So with some coffee ice cream in the freezer and a few warm days lingering from summer, I thought a frozen cocktail would be a welcome addition to a rather long week.

vodka

Cinnamon Cider Whiskey Cocktail

Rosemary Sweet and Salty Dog Cocktail

Roasted Grape and Rosemary Cocktail

Garden Cocktail Week

Fennel Vodka Pink Grapefruit Martini

Celebrating a great year with a Holiday Pomtini Cocktail!

Frozen White Russian Cocktails

Thanks so much for reading!

My New Cookbook published in 2020!

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