Wild Ginger

This is the classic Mojito recipe, unadorned and perfect.

INGREDIENTS
1 teaspoon powdered sugar
Juice from 1 lime (2 ounces)
4 mint leaves

1 sprig of mint
2 ounces white rum
2 ounces club soda

PREPARATION

• Place the mint leaves into a long mojito glass and squeeze the juice from a cut lime over it. You'll want about two ounces of lime juice, which is probably the juice from a single lime.
• Add the powdered sugar, then gently crush the mint into the lime juice and sugar with a muddler - use the back of a fork or spoon if one isn't available.
• Add ice (preferably crushed) then add the rum and stir, and top off with the club soda
• Garnish with a mint sprig.

I'm offering up two margarita recipes: Classic and Popular. The difference is that the classic uses no Triple Sec or other orange liqueur. It depends, I think, on how pure you want your lime experience to be.

The key to any good cocktail is the quality of spirits - splurge on a high quality tequila and not only will your margarita taste oh so much better, but you'll suffer less the next day should you over do it!

INGREDIENTS
¾ cup good-quality blanco tequila
½ cup fresh lime juice
½ cup simple syrup (see below)

PREPARATION

• Pour ingredients into a cocktail shaker with 6-8 ice cubes. Cover and shake for 15 seconds
• Pour into margarita or martini glasses and garnish with lime.

The popular margarita is based on a 3:2:1 ratio of tequila, triple-sec or other orange liqueur and lime juice. Use high quality tequila (Cazadores, Patron or Herradura - don't blame me for your Jose Cuervo or Sauza induced hangover!). Cointreu or Grand Marnier are good choices for Triple Sec.

INGREDIENTS
6 oz. good-quality blanco tequila
4 oz. triple-sec or orange liqueur
2 oz. fresh lime juice

PREPARATION

• Pour ingredients into a cocktail shaker with 6-8 ice cubes. Cover and shake for 15 seconds
• Pour into margarita or martini glasses and garnish with lime.

What is Glögg? Glögg is the Nordic version of mulled wine. My mother's family comes from Sweden and Glögg (often intentionally mispronounced as "glug" in our house) was a part of the Christmas Eve traditions. My Uncle Dick was the keeper of the family recipe...this is my own take on it.

INGREDIENTS
3 quarts tawny port wine
1½ cups brandy
1½ cups rye whiskey
1 cup whole blanched almonds
1 cup seedless raisins, rinsed
4 1-inch pieces dried orange peel
4 cinnamon sticks
10 wholecardamom pods, lightly crushed
10 whole cloves

PREPARATION

• Combine the port, brandy and rye in a six-quart, non-reactive pot. Add the almonds, raisins, and orange peel. In a cheese-cloth, tie the cinnamon, cardamom, and cloves together and add to the pot. Cover pot and warm over medium heat being careful not to let it boil When the glögg reaches a simmer, reduce the heat to low, and let it steep for at least 30 minutes.
• Ladle the glögg into mugs, including raisins and almonds which become a treat in and of themselves.

Dried orange peel is easy to make if not acquire: quarter and peel a high quality orange (preferably organic as chemicals used on fruit can ruin this). Eat the yummy orange segments, then chop each peel into 2-inch pieces, place on a non-reactive baking pan, and bake at 200°F for 2 to 3 hours until dried but not browned. Cool overnight and store in a sealed plastic bag at room temperature.

Here's an easy cocktail that is sure to be the buzz of your next dinner party. The Bee's Knees gets it sweetness from a quick-to-perpare honey syrup, and gets a floral kick by adding lavendar. The result is delicious: a perfect balance of sharp, fragrant, sweet, adn strong.

INGREDIENTS
¼ cup hot water
1 tsp dried lavendar blossoms (available at health food stores)
¼ cup honey
6 tbsp gin
2 tbsp lemon juice

PREPARATION

• Mix hot water and dried lavender blossoms in a bowl. Let steep for 5 minutes
• Whisk in ¼ cup honey. Strain into another bowl.
• Add 3 tbsp of honey syrup to the gin and lemon juice; strain into a cocktail shaker with ice.
• Shake well and strain into 2 chilled Martini glasses

Shamelessly stolen from Ina Garten, the Barefoot Contessa. I've found dozens of variations of this cocktail - I like Ina's orange twist. This is a great Halloween cocktail!

INGREDIENTS
2 cups freshly brewed espresso, chilled
2 cups orange-flavored vodka (recommended: Stoli Ohrani)
1 cup coffee liqueur (recommended: Kahlua)
8 slices orange peel, twisted

PREPARATION

• Fill a cocktail shaker halfway with ice.
• Add the espresso, vodka, and coffee liqueur.
• Shake for 30 seconds, or until foamy.
• Strain into a chilled martini glass and decorate with the orange peel.
• Serve at once.

A refreshing alternative to the martini, where just a touch of cassis adds sweetness and berry flavor to this lemony concoction.

Makes 2 drinks.

INGREDIENTS
6 oz. vodka
4 tsp fresh lemon juice
2 tsp sugar
½ tsp grated lemon peel
1 tbsp crème de cassis

ice cubes
Lemon peel twists for garnish

PREPARATION

• Mix first 4 ingredients in a glass measuring cup. Let stand for 10 minutes
• Strain into martini shaker and mix in cassis
• Add ice - shake or stir until very cold
• Strain into glasses
• Garnish with lemon twist