Hell or High Watermelon Wheat Beer

Happy 4th of July!

A Big shout out to my friend Amy Gulden who introduced me to this sublimely delicate, refreshing watermelon beer from 21st Amendment Brewery in San Francisco.   I love the name of the brewery.    As you know, the 21st Amendment repealed Prohibition in 1933, ending years of below-ground drinking--the liquid dark ages, as it were.  21st Amendment is located near Giants stadium in south SF and has an interesting story (see link below).   I have found this beer on tap this summer in SF, in the Central Valley (Lodi) & all the way back east in Philly!  And everyone (okay mostly women) whom I have turned on to this has instantly become cultish fans.  They sell the cans at Trader Joe's and I freeze watermelon cubes to drop in the glass on really hot days.  What is more patriotic than watermelon, the flag & exercising our reclaimed right to imbibe! Happy 4th and as my daughter told me this morning: "I'm glad we split up from Britain, but the accent would have been cool to keep!"

One of the founders of the brewery was a photographer, solidifying the natural connection for me between image capturing and cocktail making!


check out their site:   http://21st-amendment.com/beers/hell-or-high-watermelon/


After reading my blog a British friend of mine sent me this You Tube clip, which is HILARIOUS!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?list=RDh1YvJBwC4xQ&v=h1YvJBwC4xQ


CHEERS!

Campari Citrus Fizz

Campari Citrus Fizz

2 parts Campari 

1 part Grapefruit (Pompelmo) Pellegrino Soda

Juice of 1 lime per drink

Campari is one of my favorite drinks, It is an Italian Liqueur and a classic aperitif.  It is made with a blend of herbs, barks and fruit (chinotto, which is sour orange from a myrtle-leafed orange tree which produces small biter oranges)

It was invented in 1860 by Gaspare Campari in Novarra, Itlay with production being in Milan. Yes, it originally derived its red color from crushed insects, but they stopped this in 2006.  

So enjoy this perfect summer cocktail, insect free. 

"Evviva!"

Cucumber-Jalapeño Party Lemonade

Cucumber ~ Jalapeño Party Lemonade

1 bottle (1.75) of Vodka 
(or Silver Tequila)

2 containers of Minute Maid 15 Lemonade

½  Container of Simply Lemonade

1 English Cucumber, sliced

4 large Jalapeños, sliced (use gloves)

5 limes sliced

Lime Spiced Salt Rim

(you can also do a club soda or a Fresca float to add some fizz!)

Add ¾ of English cucumber & limes to vodka (I later made this with Tequila and, well, frankly, it's even better!)  soak for at least 1-2 hours. Add jalapeños and soak for an additional hour. 

Add remaining ingredients and serve over ice with your choice of spicy salted rim

I made this for a party and after several requests for the recipe, I decided to blog it, despite my only photo of the drink being sub-standard. This drink is fresh & spicy!

CHEERS!

The Belmont Stakes ~ The Belmont Breeze

The Belmont Breeze

(makes 2 drinks)

4 1/2 oz Bourbon (I used Bulleit)

7 oz Lemonade

4 oz Pomegranate Juice

add all ingredients to a shaker full of ice and pour into low-ball glasses on the rocks, garnish with lemon slice. 

The Belmont is the 3rd race in the Triple Crown of horse racing. This last stop of the triple crown is the longest race, 1 1/2 miles, and is the oldest of the races, this year being the 146th running. It is held in Elkmont, NY on the 1st Saturday in June, so drink up Johnnie!  

Thinking back to the late 90's, it still smarts a bit when I think of my friend Tracey Taylor, who lived in Manhattan at the time, calling me one day, while I was living in Philly, telling me to get a big hat. She reported that she had tickets to the Belmont, to which I politely, and embarrassingly enough, declined in favor of relaxing on my weekend off. WTF is all I have to say to that misguided 30-something year old girl!  It was an important lesson however, because I often summons this particular event regret as a personal cautionary tale, to never turn down experiential opportunities just because I am a touch tired.  DRINK A DOUBLE ESPRESSO ON THE ROCKS AND CARPE DIEM LYNNIE! 

There are 3 quasi-official cocktails of the Belmont, so I will, when I can actually bring myself to buy Harvey's Bristol cream, feature the other two in coming years.  The Belmont's official flower is the white carnation, which I also need to make peace with.  In years gone by, if a man brought me carnations as a floral declaration of interest or love, he was thoroughly and unceremoniuosly rebuffed in favor of the gentleman caller who drank Fernet Branca and brought me orchids.  I snobbishly digress....

Drink a Belmont Breeze June 7th, the day of the Belmont and root for California Chrome! 

CHEERS! 

The Pink Skinny Dragon

The Pink Skinny Dragon

 (makes 2 drinks)

3 oz      Gin or Vodka
6 oz      Vitamin Water Zero, Dragonfruit 
3 oz      Minute Made 15 Lemonade
             Juice of 2 limes
             Club Soda

Combine the 1st four ingredients in a cocktail shaker, gently shake and pour mixture over crushed ice, top off with a heavy splash of club soda and garnish with a lime wheel.

I purposely made this drink pink. I am dedicating this low-calorie cocktail and this blog entry to all of the women who are fighting or have fought breast cancer. Specifically, a women I know who is presently in the trenches of her fight, Dina Hunter. She has shown such courage, veracity and grace--I am in awe of her.  So cheers to you Dina and to every woman and family that if affected by this diagnosis. 


These are my favorite Breast Cancer Slogans:

a feel a day keeps the doctor away

feel for lumps, save your bumps

cancer survivors are sexy

save a life, grope your wife

the breast is yet to come

thanks for the mammories

stop the war in my rack

yes my boobs are fake, me real ones tried to kill me



Please get involved with or donate to an organization and don't forget to get felt up!

http://www.komensacramento.org

The Preakness Stakes ~ Black Eyed Susan

Black~Eyed Susan

(Makes 2 large or 4 small drinks)

5 oz Bourbon (I used Makers Mark)

1 1/2 oz Vodka (I used Kettle One)

6 oz House-Made Sweet & Sour Mix 

(see recipe below)

4 oz Fresh Squeezed Orange Juice

(Thanks MaryLynn Franzia for sharing fruit from your tree!)

1 oz Fresh Lemon Juice 

(2 oz of you prefer a more tart drink, as I do)   

Pour all ingredients in cocktail shaker with ice, pour in small Mason jars, garnish with cherries 

you can also add a Bourbon float to this drink

Citrus is so variable in terms of sweetness, so you may need to adjust the recipe to your taste.  You may need to add extra juice, or a little more Bourbon or simple syrup. I put all the ingredients in the cocktail shaker, and before I serve it, I pour a schoch into a small glass to taste and then make the necessary additions.

CHEERS!

The Preakness Stakes is the second race, after the Kentucky Derby and before the Belmont Stakes, in the Triple Crown. This is the official drink of the Preakness. I love Mint Juleps, the drink of the Kentucky Derby, but each race has an official drink and I finally tried this one. Watching California Chrome, which is from near where I live, was so exciting! And that local win was made all the sweeter with a dark-eyed Susie in my hand.
Another reason for my affection for this drink is because of the flower it is named after. My mother pointed these whimsical flowers out to me as a child, and they were abundant in Montgomery, Alabama where I grew up.  They, along with most flowers, remind me of my mom and my grandmother. 

Sweet & Sour Mix:
equal parts fresh squeezed lemon juice and simple syrup, shake vigorously 

139th Running of the Preakness

California Chrome!

Standard Breakfast

STANDARD BREAKFAST ~ Makes 2 drinks

2 oz Vodka (or Glenlivet Scotch)                         

1 1/2 oz of Meletti (or Cynar)

2 oz fresh lemon juice

4 oz of fresh Ruby Red grapefruit juice

3 Tb homemade cherry grenadine (recipe follows)

Shake in cocktail shaker full of ice and serve up with a lemon wedge garnish.

I was in Philly a week ago for my friend's wedding. I stayed with my BFF Joe and since he makes it his business to keep up with the restaurant scene, he knew that the chef at a.kitchen was voted one of the best new chefs in the country. Excitedly enough, we went there for dinner. The food was sublimely innovative and delicious, but of course, I was happily anticipating the cocktail selections out of the gate. We ordered several cocktails between the 4 of us to try & share and the Standard Breakfast was the clear winner. 

The cocktail at the restaurant was made with Scotch. I tried making it with the Scotch I had in my bar, but it was too peaty for this cocktail, overpowering the rest of the flavors.  I tried it with vodka and it is still delicious. However, I think Glenlivet is smooth enough and would add a depth of flavor.  Also, the original cocktail called for Meletti, an Italian amaro. Sadly, Meletti was nowhere to be found around where I live.  I substituted another liquor in the amaro category that I love, Cynar.   I have played chemist for 2 days so that the girls I am going to Santa Cruz with this weekend could get a taste of Philly, a place I love, filled with people I love and miss. 

Homemade cherry grenadine
1 cup pure cherry juice
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup fresh lemon juice
5 drops of orange flower water

heat cherry juice before boiling, add sugar, dissolve, remove from heat and add lemon juice and orange flower water. Let cool to room temperature, then refrigerate for up to 2 weeks. 

Additional use: I added 2 Tb to a large glass of Pellegrino and my daughter loved it. 

CHEERS! 

a.kitchen
our dinner