Food Outside The Box

http://www.foodoutsidethebox.me

I love idea of serving a cocktail with a Pink blush on Valentine’s Day. Here are a few ideas…plus one  (not Pink) with Chocolate–yum!

“Posmo” (a spin-off of the classic Cosmopolitan):

• 1.5 Oz. Vodka
• 1/2 Oz Cointreau (or Triple Sec)
• Juice of 1/2 Lime (before cutting, slice some off a piece of zest for garnish)
• 1.5 Oz. Pomegranate Juice

(Optional: rim the glass by rubbing the cut Lime on the edge and dip into sugar)

Cherry Lemon Drop:

• 1.5 Oz. Vodka
• 1/2 Oz. simple syrup (I like to make mine from Agave Nectar — I make it in a shot glass by filling it with water and about 1 teaspoon of Agave)
• Juice of 1 Meyer Lemon (use 1 1/2 if you like your drinks tart, like I do)
• 1.5 Oz. Cherry Juice

(Optional: rim the glass by rubbing the cut Lemon on the edge and dip into sugar)

Raspberry Lemon Drop:

• 1.5 Oz. Vodka
• 1/2 Oz. simple syrup (I like to make mine from Agave Nectar — I make it in a shot glass by filling it with water and about 1 teaspoon of Agave)
• Juice of 1 Meyer Lemon (use 1 1/2 if you like your drinks tart, like I do)
• Muddle about 5 raspberries (fresh or frozen) in the shaker before pouring in the ice and liquids

(Optional: rim the glass by rubbing the cut Lemon on the edge and dip into sugar)

Chocolate Martini:

1 oz. Godiva Chocolate Liqueur

1 oz. Vodka

(Optional: add a splash of Creme de Cacao or Half and Half, and rim the glass with cocoa powder and sugar)

For all of these Martinis, pour ingredients into a shaker with ice, shake and strain into a Martini glass. Of course, you could serve them over ice, if you prefer.

Blood Orange Margarita:

• 1 Oz. Tequila (preferably Silver)
• 1/2 Oz. Cointreau (or Triple Sec)
• Juice of 1 Blood Orange
• Juice of 1/2 Lime

Pink Grapefruit Margarita (adapted from Sunset Magazine):

3 parts freshly squeezed Ruby Grapefruit Juice, 2 parts Tequila, 1 part Cointreau (or Triple Sec)

If you use 1 Oz. of Tequila per serving, it’s easy to adapt it for as many servings as you need. This is one of my favorites!

For the Margaritas, pour ingredients into a shaker, blend and serve on the rocks. Salt or Sugar Rim optional. You could also mix some spice into the salt by mixing it into a mortar with pestle. I have tried Aleppo Pepper, which is quite mild (and delicious on eggs too!), and Aji Amarillo , a bit hotter (from Crescent Moon Farm via the Sebastopol, CA farmer’s market).

The photo is a Purple Basil Lemon Drop. In lieu of adding Cherry Juice to the Lemon Drop recipe above, muddle about 10 small leaves of Purple Basil into your mixing glass. Shake up your drink and strain it into your glasses. It will be a lovely Lavender color (although in this photo, it appears more Pink). Not quite as appropriate for Valentine’s Day, but equally refreshing!

Tags: Beverage, Cocktail, Food, Recipes, Romantic, Valentine's Day