Fruit Punch

Fruit punch is the classic drink of summertime. There are so many different versions of how to make it and what goes in it out there. You can order it from a restaurant, buy it premade, make it from a drink mix, or thaw it and add water. Or you can make it from scratch. I think this last option has got to be the best one. Use whatever blend of juices is your favorite (apple, orange, cranberry, pineapple), add some pop to the mix (gingerale, sprite, club soda), and throw in some fresh citrus slices and ice cubes. Refreshing, sweet, and tasty!

Cocktail Time

Here are some cocktails I recently learned how to make and serve. I never realized there was so much detail in wine pairings and mixology. Not only are there certain methods used to serve certain wines, but for cocktails, there are mise en place items, mixology methods, type of glass, and garnish.

Cosmopolitan = vodka, cointreau, lime, cranberry
Shake and strain, martini glass, pair with fish and butter/cream sauce

Mise en Place: method, glass, alcohol, non-alcoholic ingredients, garnish, straw stirring stick, cocktail sword.

Mixology Methods: shake and pour, shake and strain, building, layering, brix weight, muddles, flaming, stir and pour, stir and strain.

Martini = gin, vermouth, olive
Stir and strain, martini glass

Mojito = rum, lime, soda, mint syrup
Muddled, building

Captain's Punch = spiced rum, pomegranate juice, apple cider, simple syrup
Building, pair with spicy food, cheese platter

Spur-of-the-moment muddled ginger lime drink

Kamikaze = vodka, triple sec, lime juice
Shake and pour, old-fashion glass

Bloody Caesar = vodka, tomato juice, Tabasco, Worcestershire, lemon, celery salt
Building, chimney

Frothy Malt Grasshopper

Here is the dessert display from yesterday's Irish meal, from left to right: pistachio-crusted mint chocolate cream pie, emerald truffles, mint nanaimo bars, and Irish soda bread. To round out the meal, I made my take on a grasshopper drink. Typically a grasshopper is a sweet, green mint flavored drink using crème de menthe and crème de cacao liquers. This is my version, which is definitely not as sweet and incorporates some different flavors. I had neither required liquer on hand and was not about to venture out in the midst of a storm, so I just made do with what I had on hand.

Frothy Malt Grasshopper
1 Tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon pure mint (or peppermint) extract
1 shot strong espresso
1 shot single malt scotch 
1/2 cup almond milk

Stir together the cocoa and ginger in a mug, then whisk in the espresso and scotch until smooth. Froth the almond milk until doubled in volume. Stir in half of the milk, then spoon the rest on top. Serve immediately.

Some notes and hints: I like the flavor of almond milk in this drink, as I think it is lighter and blends better with the strong flavors already present in the drink. Milk of any kind must be cold in order to be frothed, so I recommend serving this as a cold drink and using cold espresso. This also gives a stronger flavor of the scotch without having to use a lot. However, the drink may be heated after preparation but may lose some of its volume. You can add a touch of sweetener if you wish, I think a liquid sweetener will blend better but you may wish to avoid strong flavors like maple or honey. 

Peach Almond Smoothie

The fun begins! Time for foods that consist largely of purées and do not involve any chewing. Liquids are the best for this, as you can simply drink them, but thicker smoothies you can eat with a spoon work well too. I like smoothies, but I don't tend to drink them a lot, because usually when I drink them, I drink them out of necessity as in not being able to eat anything else, so that makes smoothies somewhat unappealing to me during good times.

Peach Almond Smoothie
frozen peach slices
plain Greek yogurt
wheat germ (optional)
almond butter 
almond milk

Blend all ingredients together in a blender to desired smoothness. Add some cinnamon, honey, maple syrup, or whatever else as desired. Amounts depend on how many servings you would like to make, and how thin or how peachy you would like your drink to be.
I used approximately 1/2 cup peaches, 1/4 cup yogurt, 1 Tablespoon wheat germ, 1 Tablespoon almond butter, and 1/2 cup almond milk.

Protein Whip Drink

Who needs fancy, expensive protein powder to make a good protein drink? Personally I think these protein powders are not the best option - they are quite pricey, not always that tasty, and there are certainly enough ways to get sufficient protein from real foods. Here is a quick idea I came up with when I was feeling an energy low - this is just a starting point for a great drink and can certainly yield endless flavor possibilities. A protein drink like this is just as easy and quick to whip up as a cup of coffee or hot chocolate - so next time you are in need of a pick me up - try this.

You will need: skim milk powder (a cheaper, more versatile alternative to protein powders), unsweetened cocoa powder, nut butter. How much: a spoonful or a plash of each. Water or non-dairy milk, to fill the cup. Maple syrup or honey, vanilla or almond extract, to taste. 
Mix all together in a cup and enjoy immediately. Be sure to use a very cold beverage for a refreshing drink.