Cranberry Cocktails - Pink Saturday

From the kitchen of One Perfect Bite...There was a time when I'd have blanched if asked to bring wine or drinks to a party. In my mind, there was always something about that request that indicated incompetence or the inability to cook. I'm no longer quite so proud and was delighted when asked to supply libations for a party we'll be attending this Sunday. We live on the West coast, so, for us, the Academy Awards begin and end at a human hour and allow us plenty of time for people watching and raucous rounds of applause or cat-calls. We do eat, but on this occasion fancy drinks become slightly more important than they might otherwise be. One of the drinks I've planned is designed specifically for the gals. While it's served in martini glasses there is nothing about it, save vodka, to tie it to its more potent cousin. It's a great, if strong, drink for luncheons, showers and other special occasions. Be forewarned, the snake oil salesman in me is about to surface. Ready? It's also good for you because of all the calcium rich cranberry juice that's used to make it. I also sell bridges and oil wells if you're in the market. This is really simple to do and cranberry flavored syrup can be made several days before using if it's refrigerated. Here's the recipe.

Cranberry Cocktails...from the kitchen of One Perfect Bite, courtesy of Martha Stewart

Ingredients:
Cranberry Syrup
Finely grated zest of 1 large orange
Finely grated zest of 1 large lime
1/2 cup superfine sugar
1/2 cup water
2-1/2 cups plain cranberry juice
.
12 ounces vodka

Directions:
1) Combine orange zest, lime zest, sugar and water in a medium pan. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring until sugar is dissolved. Cool slightly. Place cranberry juice in a 1-quart jar that has a lid. Add sugar syrup and close jar. Shake to combine. Refrigerate for up to 5 days.
2) To make one drink, combine 1/2 cup of cranberry syrup and 2 ounces of vodka in an ice filled cocktail shaker. Shake well. Strain into a cold martini glass. Yield: 6 drinks.

You might also enjoy these recipes:

Poinsettia and Champagne Cocktail - One Perfect Bite
Hot Mulled Cranberry and Apple Cider - One Perfect Bite
Homemade Irish Cream Liqueur - One Perfect Bite


This post is being linked to:
Pink Saturday, sponsored by Beverly at How Sweet the Sound.

Blue Lemonade for Blue Monday

You know what they say about the path to perdition. Well, I'd planned all week for a montage of the sky and ridgeline that I see from my kitchen windows. I thought about it and I thought about it, but never touched the camera and when I went to take the pictures the sky chose to bury itself beneath a haze of milky white and nap like Sleeping Beauty. I made myself a drink - I swear it was not the one you see here - and while sipping my tea had another thought that did lead to the photograph and recipe featured today. A few years ago I was asked to make a punch for a shower that had an all blue theme. Drinks are not my area of expertise, but with a little research I was able to find something called Blue Lemonade Punch. Now, unbeknownst to me, there was one small problem with the drink. It's made with strawberry Kool-Aid. God has yet to create a man or woman who can taste blue curacao and vodka when mixed with this strawberry witches brew. Some of the revelers, though warned the punch was spiked, had a very, very good time that was matched only by the very, very bad headaches they had the following day. This is not that drink, but it's pretty darn close to it, so proceed with caution. I do love the color. It's perfect for Blue Monday.

Blue Lemonade

Ingredients:
1 ounce vodka
1 ounce Blue Curacao liqueur
4 - 5 ounces lemonade
Ice cubes

Directions:
Combine all ingredients in a shaker jar. Mix well. Serve in tall, thin glass over ice. Yield: 1 serving.


I'm sending this to Smiling Sally for her Blue Monday event.