CHRISTMAS MARTINIS

So I’m a beer drinker by nature, but when it comes to festive drinks for the holiday season, nothing looks more Christmasy than sugar-rimmed  martini glasses.    While a variety of recipes can be used to create that red and green color, two simple crowd favorites that I love is a tasty twist on the classic French Martini and the ever popular Appletini.  Both of these recipes call for vodka which, as an aside, I learned is not a true martini.  Martini purists believe gin makes a martini whereas vodka makes a cocktail.

But,  if you've ever watched a James Bond movie, Double-0-7 himself, has always preferred his martinis to be made with vodka along with his trademark "shaken not stirred".  That said, it appears that James has joined Team Debbie in his movie Skyfall....he ditches his martinis and switches to beer!

Now that you have an anecdote to go along with these recipes, let me just say that they are an incredibly easy way to look like you spent hours on every detail without breaking the bank.  They only require a few ingredients each so you can have your "martini taste" on a "beer budget"!


                                                             INGREDIENTS

                                                  Red Raspberry French Martini

                                                            1 oz.Chambord
                                                          1 oz. Vanilla Vodka
                                                    2 oz. Cran-Raspberry Juice

                                                        1 oz. Pineapple Juice
                                                       Raspberries/Toothpicks

                                                            Green Appletini

                                                    2 oz. Sour Apple Schnapps
                                                               2 oz. Vodka
                                                           2 oz. Apple Juice
                                                      Sour Apple Candy Cane
                          Optional:  For Christmasy green color add  2 drops Green Food Color

                                                      SUGARED GLASS RIM

                                                    3 tablespoons Corn Syrup
                                                       Green Sugar Sprinkles
                                          Wilton's White Sparkling Sugar Sprinkles

                               INSTRUCTIONS FOR RIMMING GLASS WITH SUGAR

STEP 1: Pour 3 tablespoons corn syrup onto dessert size plate.

STEP 2: Place rim of glass upside down into corn syrup.  (I bought these martini glasses at TJMaxx.)

STEP 3:  Sprinkle white sugar onto a 2nd dessert plate that is separate from the corn syrup dessert plate.  I use Wilton's White Sparkling Sugar Sprinkles because it is larger,  more coarse and looks fancier than regular sugar.  Some grocery stores may carry it.  I bought my bottle at Michael's in the Wilton's aisle. Then sprinkle green sugar sprinkles on top of white sugar sprinkles and mix together. I use the green sugar sprinkles from the grocery store baking aisle that you would use to decorate tops of sugar cookies. 

STEP 4:  Then place syrupy rim of glass upside down into sugar mixture.

                           INSTRUCTIONS FOR RED RASPBERRY FRENCH MARTINI

STEP 1:  Using a martini shaker filled with ice, add 1 oz. Chambord, 1 oz. Vanilla Vodka, 2 oz. Cran-Raspberry Juice & 1 oz. Pineapple Juice.  Shake vigorously.

STEP 2:  Using the strainer at the top of martini shaker, pour into sugar rimmed glass and garnish with raspberry filled toothpick.

If you would like to purchase fancy toothpicks from Amazon,  please click below...

Frilled Toothpicks Party Accessory
  
                                   INSTRUCTIONS FOR SUGARED RASPBERRIES

STEP 1:  Pour 3 tablespoons corn syrup onto dessert plate and place raspberry in syrup and roll and coat thoroughly.

STEP 2:  Sprinkle 2 tablespoons Wilton's White Sparkling Sprinkles onto 2nd dessert plate and place syrup coated raspberry in sugar sprinkles and roll and coat thoroughly.

STEP 3:  Place coated raspberry on fancy toothpick.  (You can buy fancy toothpicks at the grocery or wine store.  I buy mine through Amazon because I can buy more for le$$.  But, only when I can get free shipping.)  I use 2 raspberries per toothpick, leaving a space between them so the space balances comfortably on the rim of the glass.

                                         INSTRUCTIONS FOR GREEN APPLETINI

STEP 1:  Using a martini shaker fill with ice, add 2 oz. Sour Apple Schnapps, 2 oz. Vodka &
2 oz. Apple Juice and shake vigorously. 

STEP 2:  Using the strainer at the top of martini shaker, pour into sugar rimmed glass and
garnish with sour apple candy cane balanced on rim of glass.

OPTIONAL:  For Christmasy green color, add 2 drops Green Food Color otherwise it will be lime green in color.

Want more recipe ideas?  Please click below...

Pineapples & Palm Trees

                                                               ~ Cheers ~
                                                               ~ Debbie ~
                                                              

SNOW CONE MACHINE - GREAT GIFT IDEA STRAIGHT FROM THE NORTH POLE

One of my favorite memories as a kid was the treat of an ice cold snow cone on a hot summer day.  Mixing several flavors together made it even more of an adventurous treat!  As it melted the sticky syrup would start running down my arm and my mother and I would race as to who would catch it first - my tongue or her dish rag.  But, snow cones are not just for summer anymore.  With the advent of the kitchen snow cone machine it can now make memories year round. 

This was one of the most utilized presents I think I ever bought my daughter.  When her friends would come over, they would spend hours having fun in the kitchen concocting different flavor combinations.  The best part is it's not just for kids anymore in our house.  Now that she is grown and has a home of her own, I inherited it and we use it when entertaining to make Margaritas and Daiquiris.  Same concept, just as much fun! 

I found this Snow Cone machine on Amazon.  If you would like to read more about it, please click below...

Hawaiian Snow Cone Machine - Ice Shaver #S700

Want more gift ideas?  Please click below...
Pineapples & Palm Trees

                                                                 ~ Debbie ~

MERRY CHRISTMAS PASTA SHRIMP SALAD

This salad is a fun contemporary complement to a traditional Christmas dinner.   It can be made ahead of time and is as colorful and festive looking as it is great tasting!   It can also be used the day after as a nice change-up to turkey sandwiches.  Just pull out the turkey platter and the pasta shrimp salad from the fridge and "voila" you have lunch!

This is such a yummy salad that I don't need Christmas as an excuse to make it.  It is especially refreshing in the summertime.   When my husband and I sit on the lawn at concerts I make this and it is a dinner unto itself on a warm summer night.                                                                     
                                                             INGREDIENTS

                                                        1 Pound Box Pasta
                                           1 Pound Small Size Shrimp (Cooked)
                                                  1/2 Green Pepper (Chopped)
                                                   1/2 Red Pepper (Chopped)
                                                  1/2 Cup Carrots (Shredded)
                                                    1/2 Cup Onion (Chopped)
                                                             Salt & Pepper
                                                                  Paprika

                                                             Salad Dressing

                                                       1 1/2 cup Mayonnaise
                                                       4 Tablespoons Sugar
                          1/2 Cup Evaporated Milk (Comes in small can in baking section)
                                              4 Tablespoons Apple Cider Vinegar

Makes approximately 12 servings as a side dish, 6 servings as a meal.

INSTRUCTIONS:

STEP 1: Boil 1 pound of  pasta according to instructions on box.  Then drain and cool.

STEP 2:  Chop 1/2 green pepper, 1/2 red pepper, 1/2 cup carrots & 1/2 cup onion.

STEP 3:  Make salad dressing mixture.  Mix1 1/2 cup mayonnaise and 4 tablespoons sugar until well blended.  Pour in 1/2 cup evaporated milk and mix well.  Add 4 tablespoons apple cider vinegar and stir well.  Mixture will become thicker.

STEP 4:  Add salad dressing mixture to cooled pasta and blend thoroughly.   If you like your macaroni salad to be creamier and well coated by the dressing, you may need to use less noodles than recommended..  If you like it to be less creamy and thinly coated,  you may need to use the recommended amount of noodles but less dressing than recommended.

STEP 5:  Add chopped red and green peppers, onion and shredded carrots to pasta and stir well.

STEP 6:  Add 1 pound cooked shrimp. (I buy the 2 pound frozen bag of cooked, deveined, tail-off, peeled,  100-150 count shrimp from Costo) and stir.

STEP 7:  Add salt and pepper to taste.

OPTIONAL:  Garnish with parsley and paprika.

Want more recipe ideas?  Click below.
Pineapples & Palm Trees

                                                               ~ Debbie ~