Happy Hour: The White Lady

In honor of White Out Week, I chose the cocktail creation The White Lady! Not you have a new recipe to try once 5 o'clock rolls around, while wearing your white Lilly wear...and without fear of spills! ha!

Here it is:

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 oz of Gin
• 3/4 oz of Cointreau
• 3/4 oz of Lemon Juice
• Ice cubes

And here's what to do with it all:

Pour it all into a shaker (perfect time to use a Lilly shaker, if you have one!) and shake well. Then strain your cocktail into a chilled glass! Then simply enjoy responsibly! Simply scrumptious!

Happy Hour: Green Apple and Pear Daiquiri

Some of my best friends recently got back from a month long adventure abroad in Italy. Besides for being insanely jealous, I've enjoyed looking through their pictures and hearing about their trip! One of my friends said she tried a Green Apple and Pear Daiquiri and it was heavenly, so taking her word for it, here it is, friends!! You can bet I'll be mixing this later today!

Here it is:

Ingredients:

• 2 cups of ice
• 3 canned pear halves (8.5 ounces) drained and semi-frozen
  
• 3 ounces of white rum
• 2 ounces of Apple Schnapps
  
• Lime juice (just one lime needed!)
• 1 teaspoon of superfine sugar

And here's what to do with it all:

Simply put everything in a blender until it's all blended and smooth. Then it's ready to drink!

As always, relax but be responsible!!

Happy Hour: The Daiquiri

A fabulous cocktail, the daiquiri is a summertime staple. It's refreshing and cool during the hot hot heat!!!

Here it is:

Ingredients:

• 2 tablespoons (1 ounce) fresh lime juice
• 2 heaping teaspoons superfine sugar
• 1/4 cup (2 ounces) white rum
• 1 cup ice cubes
• Lime to use as a garnish

And here's what to do with it all:

In cocktail shaker, stir together lime juice and sugar until sugar dissolves. Add rum and ice cubes and shake vigorously for 20 seconds. Strain into chilled Daiquiri or coupe glass and drop in lime wheel for garnish.

Drink responsibly and enjoy!

Happy Hour: The Mint Julep

In honor of our deep southern roots and love for good 'ole fashion fun, today's cocktail is the classic mint julep. It's been a little over due for an appearance on the blog, don't you think? Well, better late than never!

Here it is:

Ingredients:

• 4 cups of Bourbon
• 2 bunches of fresh spearmint
• 1 cup of distilled water
• 1 cup of granulated sugar
• Powdered sugar

And here's what to do with it all, via the Food Network:

To prepare mint extract, remove about 40 small mint leaves. Wash and place in a small bowl. Cover with 3 ounces of bourbon. Allow the leaves to soak for 15 minutes. Then gather the leaves in paper toweling. Thoroughly wring the mint over the bowl of whiskey. Dip the bundle again and repeat the process several times.

To prepare simple syrup, mix 1 cup of granulated sugar and 1 cup of distilled water in a small saucepan. Heat to dissolve sugar. Stir constantly so the sugar does not burn. Set aside to cool.

To prepare mint julep mixture, pour 3 1/2 cups of bourbon into a large glass bowl or glass pitcher. Add 1 cup of the simple syrup to the bourbon.

Now begin adding the mint extract 1 tablespoon at a time to the julep mixture. Each batch of mint extract is different, so you must taste and smell after each tablespoon is added. You are looking for a soft mint aroma and taste-generally about 3 tablespoons. When you think it's right, pour the whole mixture back into the empty liter bottle and refrigerate it for at least 24 hours to "marry" the flavors.

To serve the julep, fill each glass (preferably a silver mint julep cup) 1/2 full with shaved ice. Insert a spring of mint and then pack in more ice to about 1-inch over the top of the cup. Then, insert a straw that has been cut to 1-inch above the top of the cup so the nose is forced close to the mint when sipping the julep.

When frost forms on the cup, pour the refrigerated julep mixture over the ice and add a sprinkle of powdered sugar to the top of the ice. Serve immediately.

Happy Hour: La Paloma

In honor of today being Cinco de Mayo, I figured I'd do a traditional and tasty Mexican drink. Without further ado... La Paloma!!

Here it is:

Ingredients:

• 2 ounces tequila

• 1/2 ounce lime juice

• pinch of salt

• grapefruit soda

And here's what to do with it all:

Combine the tequila (reposado, preferably), lime juice, and salt in your glass. Add ice, top off with grapefruit soda, and stir. The best soda to use is the Mexican Jarritos brand, although any soda or lemon-lime soda with a splash of grapefruit juice will work out as well. You can salt the rim of your glass, margarita style, or even throw a pinch of salt in the drink! Either way, you're sure to enjoy this Cinco de Mayo cocktail!

Drink responsibly and enjoy the fiesta! Ole!!

Happy Hour: Passion Fruit Mimosa

A classic brunch staple, the mimosa, has graced many a preppy parties and even famous functions. In my most recent cocktail research, I stumbled upon this fruity gem: the passion fruit mimosa! It never occurred to me, probably because I don't really spend to much time thinking up cocktail recipes - I'll leave that to the pros (this recipe is from Martha Stewart)! In any case, here's a little treat for you - you deserve it and it's Friday after all!

Here it is:

Ingredients:

• 6 ripe passion fruit cut in half
• 1 chilled bottle of champagne

And here's what to do with it all:

Squeeze juice of 1 passion fruit into each champagne glass. Add some of the seeds to each glass. Fill with champagne, then serve, enjoy and drink responsibly!

Looks delicious!!

Happy Hour: The Raspberry Flirtini

Call me inspired, or perhaps just a Sex and the City addict, but I was watching a rerun last night, and the drink the best friendss were sipping on was called a "flirtini". Obviously, I changed ALL my previous plans for this Happy Hour and looked what I thought would be a yummy "flirtini"!

The Originators

Here it is:

Ingredients:

• 1 part VOX Raspberry Vodka

• 1/2 part Chambord

• 1 part Champagne (float)

And here's what you do with it all:

Mix VOX Raspberry Vodka and Chambord in shaker half-filled with ice. Pour into a champagne flute and top with
Champagne. The simply garnish with fresh raspberries.

Now all you have to do is proceed to drink with caution, but flirt without it!!

Happy Hour: Oprah's Pomegranate Martini

Here's a little Oprah and Rachel Ray collaboration that is sure to rock your world. This is my mom's most recent favorite for Girl's Night Out!

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 cups pomegranate juice
• 2 ounces Absolute Citron vodka or white tequila
• 1 ounce Cointreau liquor
• 1 cup of ice
• Splash of sparkling water (optional)
• Squeeze of lemon (optional)

And here's what you do with it all:

Shake ingredients in a shaker and put in chilled martini glasses. Put pomegranate fruit into glass as garnish.

Enjoy and always drink responsibly! XOXO

Happy Hour: Skinny Girl Margarita

So here's the thing, I might have over-indulged at one of my favorite restaurants. It happens to the best of us, right? The guilt is worse than the stomach ache! Well here's a cooling cocktail that I don't feel guilty about in the slightest! It's delicious and low (I mean, doing the limbo, "how low can you go?" kinda low) calorie.

Without further ado here's Bethenny Frankel's Skinny Girl Margarita:

Ingredients:

• 2 oz of Clear Premium Tequila (count 1, 2 while you pour, no need for measuring)
• Tiny splash of Orange Liquor
• Juice of 4 Fresh Lime Wedges

And here's what you do with it all:

To serve on the rocks, combine all ingredients over a glass of ice and garnish with a lime wedge.

{photo courtesy of Bethenny Frankel and Bethenny.com}

DONE! And only 100 calories. Thank you, Bethenny! Always drink responsibly! XOXO