Wednesday, October 27, 2010

Autumnal Cocktails

Caramel Apple






Sleepy Hollow


Two Cool-Season Cocktails from Kanon Organic Vodka
Sleepy Hollow
2 oz Kanon Organic Vodka
1 oz White Crème de Cacao
½ oz Half and Half
½ oz Dark Crème de Cacao
Pumpkin Spice Cocoa Powder (see recipe below)
simple syrup











In a plate with a diameter larger than a martini glass pour in enough simple syrup to coat the rim and dip the rim of the glass into the syrup.  Wipe the excess off the outside of the glass with a damp cloth.  Allow the syrup to drip down into the glass.  Put the cocoa powder mixture in a deep dish and coat the rim of the glass with the powder.  Add more powder to the center of the glass and rotate the glass so that all the syrup drippings get coated as well.  Dump out the excess cocoa powder mixture and set the glass aside.
 Add the Kanon Organic Vodka, half and half, and white crème de cacao to a mixing glass, add a few ice cubes and shake.  Strain the mixture into the martini glass allowing the cocoa powder to draw in from the sides along the surface of the cocktail.  Slowly drizzle in the dark crème de cacao so there is a layer on the bottom of the glass. 
Pumpkin Spice Cocoa Powder:  Add 1 tsp of dried pumpkin spice mix to ¼ cup of cocoa powder.

Caramel Apple: 
2 oz Kanon Organic Vodka
½ oz Fresh Lemon Juice
¾ oz Berentzen Apple Liqueur
¾ oz Caramel Syrup (see recipe below)
Cinnamon Sugar (see recipe below)
Put the caramel syrup in a plate with a diameter larger than the martini glass.  Lightly dip the rim of the glass in the simple syrup.  Wipe off any excess from the outside of the glass with a damp cloth.  Hold the glass upside down to allow any excess to drip off.  Then dip the rim into the cinnamon sugar (for a crystalline effect allow it to sit over night…it will look like rock candy).  Add all the other ingredients to a mixing glass add in a few ice cubes and shake vigorously.  Strain into the cinnamon sugar rimmed martini glass and garnish with an apple slice and cinnamon stick.
Cinnamon Sugar:  Add ½ tsp ground cinnamon to a ½ cup of granulated sugar.
Caramel Syrup:  Place 2 cups sugar in a heavy bottom saucepan; add enough water to make it look like wet sand.  Heat on medium heat until the mixture turns a medium amber color.  Remove from heat and add 2 cups of room temperature water and stir until all the sugar is dissolved.  Allow it to cool completely to room temperature.  Slice a green apple and soak the slices in the caramel syrup for at least one hour.
Enjoy and always drink and serve responsibly. 

Wednesday, October 13, 2010

Four For Dinner, or Lunch, or Supper, or Brunch, or...

Here are two delightful, uncomplicated wines to have with any meal any time you feel like it. California-based The Naked Grape launched this Fall with four easy-to-enjoy wines: Pinot Grigio, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Cabernet Sauvignon. The Pinot Noir is a medium-bodied, rich red with flavors of black cherry and blueberry. The Ponot Grigio is a crisp white wine with the aromas of pear, lemon and honey while the Chardonnay is a smooth white wine with aromas of pineapple and peach. The lush Cabernet Sauvignon is full-bodied with the fragrance of plush blackberries.

 These are wines that need no rules and since they are priced at around $9.00 a bottle, neither do you. Enjoy!

www.theNakedGrapeWine.com

Remember--always drink and serve responsibly.