Strawberry Collins

Guys. It's sooooooo hot here I'm hiding in the house in front of the fan - on the upside it gives me more time to craft and make stuff...gotta look for the positives :)

I found this recipe for a modified Tom Collins, I've never had one and I have all the ingredients on hand (no going to the grocery store - I'm not leaving the house if I can help it, you got that - right?) so thought I'd try this version. Since I don't know what a Tom Collins tastes like I can't tell you how this strawberry cocktail compares - but it's delish regardless! I'm thinking for a patriotic holiday cocktail I'll add frozen whole blueberries to the drink - that'd be pretty.

This recipe makes 2 drinks - the only thing I changed from the posted recipe is she adds a touch of pomegranate syrup and I don't have that so I omitted it.

Strawberry Collins

10 strawberries, plus more if you want to freeze some and use in place of ice cubes
4 teaspoons sugar
2 tablespoons lemon juice
3 ounces vodka (gin is in the original Tom Collins but substituting vodka is a thing, I prefer vodka)
club soda
ice cubes

• puree the strawberries until smooth, add the sugar and let it set until the sugar dissolves. 
• put 1 tablespoon of lemon juice in a tall glass (note: I don't have old fashioned size glasses, but I'm not a stickler for having to have my drinks in the correct glass!)
• add 1 1/2 oz. vodka to the glass 
• divide the puree in half and add to the glass, stir to mix it all together. Note: I didn't puree mine enough so it's a bit chunky - next time I'll blend it more. You could also strain the puree to remove some of the seeds if you like. Second note: I'm not sure why she didn't just add the alcohol and lemon juice to the blender along with the puree - next time I'll blend it all together that way instead of stirring the mixture up in the glass. 
• add a couple ice cubes or whole frozen berries. Another note: it would taste good to add crushed ice to the blender along with the puree - it'd be more like a frozen daiquiri that way I guess and maybe that's straying too far from calling this a "Collins".
• top with club soda and enjoy! One more note: for the second drink I experimented by using coconut flavored seltzer water and it was even better than plain club soda. 

Click here for the original source.

Gimlet

This is an easy recipe for an oldie but goodie cocktail - a gimlet. These are traditionally made with gin but I like them using vodka instead, I'm not a big gin fan.

All you do is put some ice in a shaker, add 2 ounces vodka and 2 tablespoons Rose's lime juice. Shake, strain, pour into glass. Garnish with a lime wedge if you have one on hand :). Tart and a tiny bit sweet - so good!

Lucky Cat Martini

I love to get ideas when we are at restaurants for food and drinks that I think I'd like to try to make at home - problem is as soon as I get home I forgot all about them. So I started taking pictures of the menu and cocktail ideas when I see something that intrigues me, with the idea that maybe if I can remember what the ideas are I will actually try them! Yes that means I have probably hundreds of pictures on my phone of recipes, pictures, drink descriptions, etc - and while I still won't remember where I took the picture at least I have captured the thought.

I took a picture of this drink years ago at a PF Chang's - I was with non-drinkers (a bunch of kids!) at the time so wouldn't order one then, but since I still have the description on my phone I finally decided to make one. Naturally I modified it a little bit, I don't have vanilla vodka so I substituted cake flavored instead. It is delicious! Not sure if changing the vodka flavor changes the name - maybe I've made up my own drink, think I'll call it the "lucky dog" instead hahahaha! I have no idea if that name is already taken and I'm too lazy to google it so...call this whatever lucky animal you want and enjoy :)

Directions:
Put some ice in a shaker. Add 2 oz. cake (or vanilla) flavored vodka and 1 oz. pineapple juice. Shake for 30 seconds until really cold. Pour into glass. Add 1/2 oz chambord, it will sink to the bottom of the glass.

I don't have stemmed martini glasses, it would be even prettier in one of those!

Dave's Cosmopolitans

Mary sent me a picture the other day of her drinking a cosmo with friends, and it reminded me of the good old days when we drank them all the time! For whatever reason they haven't been on my radar in forever, guess after Sex & The City ended I just forgot about them ;).

We call these "Dave's Cosmos" because even tho he didn't make up the recipe (have no idea where it came from of course), he makes them the best. Or maybe they are the best because he makes them for us while we just sit around waiting to be served? Either way, I asked him to make one for us for old times sake.

Put some ice in a shaker (check out the shaker that our friends gave us, so cute!) then add:
4 ounces cranberry juice
3 ounces orange liquer (we use Triple Sec)
2 ounces vodka
1 ounce lime juice

Shake for 30 seconds to mix well and get it nice and cold. Pour into pretty glasses. Enjoy!

*I'm sure you could make this non-alcoholic by substituting orange juice for the triple sec, omit the vodka and add a splash of club soda or sprite.