Andy's Christmas Cranberry Cocktail

Break out your fancy glassware and mix up one of these yummy booze-optional babies.  Let the festivities begin!

This makes one drink in a high-ball glass:
1.  Muddle together 3-6 fresh cranberries with 1 slice of lime.
2.  Add 5 small ice cubes.
3.  Fill 2/3 glass with ginger ale.
4.  Add Cran-apple Juice and stir lightly.
5.  Squeeze 1/4 lime over top.
6.  Pour a splash of OJ down side of glass.
7.  Sprinkle ground nutmeg over top.
8.  Add straw; drink and be merry.

Buckaroo

Andy & I discovered this cocktail in the dead of winter. It's been a year-round favorite ever since. It's like the tasty cousin of the old rum-and-coke classic. We like to use Canadian Club Whiskey and Angostura bitters.

What's in it:

1 1/2 measures or 6 tsp bourbon

1/2 tsp bitters

5 measures or 4 fl oz Coca-Cola

How to make it:

Cold and strong!

Add bourbon, bitters, and cola to a glass filled with ice and stir well.

Serves 1.

*Source: The Bartender's Guide to Cocktails & Mixed Drinks by Stuart Walton, pg 163.

Moscow Mule

A great old-fashioned cocktail that's light and refreshing for summer.

What's in it:

3 tbsp vodka

1 tsp lime juice

4 1/2 tbsp sparkling ginger ale

How to make it:

Pour the vodka and lime juice into a glass of ice. Mix together well with a spoon, and top off with ginger ale. Add a few slices of lime.

Serves 1

*Source: The Bartender's Guide to Cocktails & Mixed Drinks by Stuart Walton, pg 132.

This is a great "encyclopedia" for making cocktails; I bought it in college and it's been a staple ever since. More to come!

Banana Berry Almond Milk Smoothie

This recipe is for one person. Double the ingredients for two people.

-3 Frozen Organic Bananas

-A generous amount of frozen berries (blackberries, strawberries, blueberries, whatever you desire)

-2 cups of Refrigerated Unsweetened Almond Milk (any brand or homemade)

Put the milk in first. Grind up the bananas, then throw in the berries. Consume it like a McDonalds shake, but without all of the death ingredients.

Seasonal Cocktail for Any Season

Michael’s Tom & Jerry’s

8 eggs--separated

¾ cup sugar (powdered or fine will work)

½ teaspoon nutmeg

½ teaspoon cinnamon

½ teaspoon ground clove

1 teaspoon vanilla

1-2 cups eggnog

5-6 cups hot water

5-6 cups warm milk

Fine Brandy

Fine Dark Rum

Separate eggs. Add first 5 ingredients to yolks and mix well. Set aside. Beat whites to stiff peaks. Fold yolk mixture into whites and adjust sugar to your desired sweetness for the “batter”. Use pre-warmed mugs if possible—add ½ to 1 shot of each (Brandy and Dark rum). Add ¼ cup hot water, ¼ cup warm milk and generous splash of eggnog to each cup. Top with generous dollop of batter –gently stir in with 1 or 2 stirs –add a bit more batter and serve hot. Extra nutmeg or chocolate can be finely grated on top if desired.

The Eggnog is not a traditional component of the recipe and can easily be omitted—but it lends a great richness to the cocktail.

Enjoy! ....hiccup