I stumbled upon this recipe one day when setting up a champagne cocktail bar. I knew I wanted to include one of my favorites, the French 75. I had some fresh raspberries, so I decided to do a simple Chambord and Champagne. To create a “bar”, though, I felt I needed three drinks. So off to the internet I went.

A quick search returned the classic champagne cocktail. It was easy enough. Just a few ingredients, sugar cube, bitters, brandy (and of course, champagne). But how would it taste? (more…)

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Dairy free, Drink Time, Gluten free, Vegetarian by Courtney

Earlier this week I suggested the perfect drink to go with the Grilled Chicken Wings was a Manhattan. It’s not often that I suggest a cocktail pair with food, as I generally prefer my cocktails to be a before- or after-dinner drink. However, the first time I made the chicken wings, I happened to be drinking a Manhattan, and this yummy pairing was born.

Brown drinks aren’t my typical summer sippers, but when I made a batch of brandied cherries a while back, I started searching for cocktails to use them in. I didn’t have to look far, because once I had this drink, I was hooked. My cherries disappeared in no time. (more…)

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Dairy free, Drink Time, Vegetarian by Courtney

I hadn’t planned on making this post, but then again, I hadn’t planned on having dessert tonight! The hubby has long wanted an espresso maker, and low-n-behold what came via FedEx today… an espresso maker. So while we waited on our ordered-in pizza and drank cocktails and wine, we put together the espresso maker, tinkering with the right amounts of grounds, the right texture, etc.

We decided as an after-dinner treat to have affogato. We tried to order it last night at a local restaurant, but they were out of vanilla ice cream, only having mint or cioccolato, neither of which we were in the mood for. So tonight I brought out the Black Cherry Talenti gelato, the brandied cherries, and the kirsch. And of course, we finally got the perfect-ish pull of espresso. (more…)

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Dessert, Gluten free, Italian, Vegetarian by Courtney

Recipes, or deviations from, must be the theme this week. Earlier this week I posted about a pimento cheese that started off from a friend’s recipe, but rapidly developed into its own. Now there’s this French 75, which I first saw in The Art of Bar, never made, finally got around to making, and decided I liked it a different way better.

Wait, what? Yes, that was a bit confusing. Let’s start from the beginning. When the hubby and I got married, we registered for this cocktail book, and some lovely family friends bought it for us. Whilst flipping through it, I came across a recipe for a French 75, which I’d never heard of before. It called for brandied cherries, which needed to be made separately, so I never got around to making it. (more…)

Filed under:
Dairy free, Drink Time, Gluten free, Vegetarian by Courtney