I always wanted to try Cosmopolitan, since I don’t go out too often anymore, maybe I will just have to try making one at home.

Ingredients

* 1 (1.5 fluid ounce) jigger vodka
* 1/2 fluid ounce cointreau
* 1 teaspoon fresh lime juice
* 1 1/2 fluid ounces cranberry juice
* 1 twist lime zest, garnish

Pour all the ingredients into a shaker with lots of ice. Shake vigorously for several seconds and strain into a cocktail glass. Garnish with a lime twist.

My almost 65 colleague here at work is asking about senior life insurance and since I have no idea of what she was asking about I went online about it and then I received this email about cocktail recipes and instead of looking further with my workmate’s problem, I read about the Frozen Irish Banana so I can list the procedure and try it at home, Summer is not over so this is worth a try…

Ingredients:

2 oz. Baileys Irish Cream
1-1/2 oz. Bacardi light rum
2 oz. Coco Lopez
1/2 cup of half-and-half
1 banana (diced and frozen if possible)
1/2 cup of ice
Nutmeg for garnish
1 strawberry halved for garnish
Shaved coconut to rim glass

Preparation:

In advance, rim the end of a chilled goblet with shaved coconut. Blend all the ingredients, except the garnishes, until the mixture is smooth. Pour into a goblet. Sprinkle the top with nutmeg, and garnish with half a strawberry.

Recipe from http://www.fineliving.com/

Okay now back to my workmate and her favor.

Keeping with the groove of cocktail drinks, let me share to you the basic of making a Sangria. So first, what is a Sangria?

Sangria (Spanish: sangría; meaning “bloodletting”) is a wine punch typical of Spain.

It normally consists of:

• a light, dry, young, acidic, unoaked, fruit forward red wine, usually from the province of Rioja in Spain and of the Tempranillo or Grenache varieties; other reds that work well include French wines such as Gamay or Beaujolais, and Italian wines such as Grignolino, Bardolino, Dolcetto, Freisa, or Lambrusco.
• chopped or sliced fruit (often orange, lemon, apple, peach, berries, pineapple; occasionally melon, grape, or mango)
• a sweetener such as honey, sugar, simple syrup, orange juice, and/or fruit nectar
• a small amount of added brandy, triple sec, or other spirits
• and ice and carbonated soda, in some recipes.

Mixed them all in a serving bowl and you are ready to serve. That’s how easy it is. Go try and make one, it’s refreshing and really nice for an early dinner cocktail party on a hot Summer day.

Who loves coffee? Me? I ADORE coffee (to the highest level), I can’t have a day without it but I’m trying to. I try to minimize caffeine intake as much as I can. Nowadays, coffee is a treat, for trying so hard to be healthy, watching my diet and all, it’s a prize that I look forward to every week. And now, I came across a reason to dust of Dad’s martini glasses…

Ingredients:
1 oz. espresso
1-1/2 oz. vanilla vodka
1-1/2 oz. Kahlúa
1 oz. crème de cacao

Fill a shaker with ice and combine 1-1/2 oz. vanilla vodka, 1-1/2 oz. Kahlúa, 1 oz. crème de cacao and a shot of espresso. Shake well and strain into a cocktail glass.

I will try this one of these days, maybe this Father’s Day!

I started o love Margaritas when I had a frozen Margarita at Agave on Valentine’s Day this year. I’ve stated a few margaritas before and some are too strong for me so I didn’t like it but when I had the frozen one, surprisingly I loved it. So let me share some frozen recipes for you!

Since this is my favorite, I will start with the Strawberry Recipe

6 fluid ounces of tequila
2 fluid ounces triple sec
8 ounces frozen sliced strawberries in syrup
4 fluid ounces frozen limeade concentrate

Fill a blender with ice and crush. Pour in the tequila and triple sec. Add the strawberries and limeade. Blend for 30 seconds or until smooth. Serve in margarita glasses with the rims dipped in powdered sugar.

Very easy right? Now I know what to serve when my girl friends visit at home.

Okay, I’m guilty! I shouldn’t be posting about chocolates when I’m just about to finish reading an article about the fda approved diet pills. People who are close to me are aware that I’m on a diet but when you have chocolates only a few inches from you, who can resist that? Anyway, last night we (hubby and I) went on a bar/restaurant to celebrate Valentine’s Day and I drank a few cocktails and I just thought wouldn’t it be nice to try a chocolate alcoholic drink, because Bailey’s actually is a bit boring for me. So, I think I will have to try this one of these days (diet set aside)…

Chocolate Martini
6 parts vodka
1 part chocolate liqueur

Combine ingredients in a mixing glass with ice and stir well. Strain into a martini glass to serve. For an extra chocolate kick consider rimming the glass with chocolate flakes.

Photo and recipe grabbed here.

I will share some Holiday Cocktails here from Fine Living. And for starters, here is…

Mexicocoa

Ingredients:

1 tbs. unsweetened cocoa powder
1 tsp. cinnamon
Pinch of chili powder
Pinch of cayenne pepper
3/4 cup almond milk (can substitute Irish Crème, coffee-flavored liqueur or milk)
Splash of agave nectar (can substitute honey or maple syrup)
1 oz. Silver tequila
Paprika
Cinnamon stick

Preparation:

In a saucepan over low heat add the cocoa powder, cinnamon, chili powder and cayenne pepper. Toast until spices begin to release their aromas, about a couple of minutes. Using a small whisk or wooden spoon, slowly incorporate the almond milk. Raise the temperature to medium-high and bring to a slow simmer. Stir in the agave nectar and remove from the heat. Rim a mug by dipping into a saucer of water, blotting and dipping into saucer of paprika. Pour in tequila. Add hot cocoa mixture. Stir with a cinnamon stick and serve.