Month: August 2020

What am I Drinking Tonight? Birthday Cake Martini! Salut, Virgos!

Happy Birthday, Virgos! Let’s have cake! You do have birthdays coming up, don’t you? And you thought I forgot? Well, if you’re in the mood to celebrate, I’m raising a glass to celebrate you, and I’m also raising a glass because I just like to drink! Ok, let’s qualify that.  I like drinking fun, interesting and tasty cocktails that are worth the time and effort to shake or stir. What better time to shake up a fancy new cocktail and pour one up for your friends and fam? Two birds and a stone and stuff, right? So, Salut!

Because I can’t actually make all of you cakes, we can enjoy a Birthday Cake Martini in your honor! I have a lot of friends and family born in August and being generous in spirit, I don’t want anyone to feel like I skimped on them. We’ll have none of that, so I’ll have one and another one,  just to cover all bases.

Ah Vodka!…Again.

Of course it’s a novelty drink. This is definitely not one of the classics and doesn’t even rely on a classic cocktail as a base. It, like most novelty drinks default to gin or vodka and then runs off the rails from there.

It’s summer though, and lightening up a little can be good change of pace. I continue to surprise myself lately turning to vodka and gin drinks again and again. And why not? I’ve been stubbornly wedded to brown liquor for so long I can afford to shift gears. Since vodka and gin mix so well with so many things especially fruity bases, I’ll chalk it up to a summertime thing and have another.  

Cocktail, Schmocktail…It’s a Glass of Cake!

I try to never disappoint when it comes to cocktails and I’ll admit, this one is a little different for me. But, for creamy cocktail lovers, you’ll love this tasty martini, I think this is delicious!  Really, it’s like a friggin’ glass of cake but, not in a gross way, and goes perfectly with actual cake. Not weird. I’m always on the hunt for the perfect cocktail to try and share and if I go to the trouble to find the ingredients (because I never seem to have everything at my fingertips) my expectations for an awesome reward for my efforts are going to be high.

Locating Ingredients During Lockdown

Although it seems like all of these are basic items that you can easily find at your local liquor store, it was hard finding a few things being in lockdown. I guess liquor is not a priority item during a months-long quarantine. But with so many people becoming home bartenders now, it should be. I had the hardest time finding whipped cream vodka in the middle of this quarantine and finally found it three stores and two towns later. It’s what you do for the quest! But, you can be efficient and just go to Instacart’s website and get what you need to finish your perfect cocktail in just a couple of hours.

I joke around about drinking more than I actually drink so I promise, I’m at the end of this post and I’m still sober. The birthday cake martini is a great diversion from a standard cocktail. It’s not an everyday cocktail to be sure, but, this is really very good and I highly recommend it. It’s sweet and creamy and if you like that kind of thing, you’ll enjoy this martini. It’s colorful. It packs a bit of a punch. And yeah,…ooohhh, sprinkles

Birthday Cake Martini

Ingredients:

1 part Smirnoff ® Iced Cake Vodka
1 part Smirnoff ® Vanilla Vodka
1 part Half & half
Vanilla frosting to rim edge of glass
Sprinkles

Instructions:

Dip martini glass in frosting and rim with sprinkles.
Combine vodkas and half & half in a cocktail shaker.
Add ice to cocktail shaker and shake well.
Strain into sprinkles decorated martini glass.

Tip: try adding a bit of white chocolate’ or cream de cacao liqueur. You can’t go wrong!

Happy Birthday and sip slow!

Today is National Chocolate Chip Cookie Day!

Today is National Chocolate Chip Cookie Day! And who can argue?  Chocolate chip cookies are right up there with National Corndog Day, and they deserve their own national holiday. They are after all, one of the most popular cookies in America. I prefer mine soft, chewy and homemade but, if you don’t mind the slice and bake variety, you do you. You can find chocolate chip cookie holiday paraphernalia everywhere because the stores are stocked and overflowing with all brands and all kinds. Why? Because we LOVE THEM! Chocolate chunk, white chocolate, nuts, sprinkles, drizzled with caramel and dipped in chocolate…go crazy, because it’s all good!

Today, Cookie Calories Don’t Count

Good news! If you’re on a diet, and who’s not, today these cookie calories don’t count but only if they are chocolate chip cookie calories. Pair them with my homemade vanilla ice cream (these calories are going to cost you).  Put on your comfy pants (mine are yoga pants because I can’t fit into my jeans anymore), put up your feet and melt right into a chocolate chip cookie fever dream (or a plate full, and don’t forget the dairy!).

Cookie Deals

You can even get deals on your chocolate chip cookie addiction on National Chocolate Chip Cookie Day so that makes it a legitimate holiday. Remember, National Chocolate Chip Cookie Day only comes once a year! So, grab a cookie, and celebrate!

Chocolate chip cookie dough

Chocolate Chip Cookies

1 cup salted butter,  softened
1 cup white (granulated) sugar
1 cup light brown sugar packed
2 tsp pure vanilla extract
2 large eggs
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking soda
½ tsp baking powder
1 tsp sea salt
2 cups chocolate chips
1 cup, chopped pecans (optional)

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
2 .In a bowl, mix flour, baking soda salt, baking powder and set aside.
3. Cream butter and sugars until well combined.
4 .Beat in eggs and vanilla until light and fluff.
5. Add dry ingredients into the butter/sugar and mix until combined.
6. Add chocolate chips and pecans. Mix well.
7. Roll 2-3 TBSP (depending on how big you want your cookies) of dough at at a time into balls or use a cookie dough scoop and space evenly on cookie sheet.
8. Bake for 8-10 minutes or until cookies just start becoming a light golden brown.
9. Cool on baking rack.