Market-Fresh Mixology

Growing up I have fond memories of helping my mother pick beets from my grandpas Henry’s garden. We ate them in as many ways as Bubba did with his shrimp.

It is one thing to eat a beet, but mix one in a cocktail? You bet!

Roasting beets turns the natural sugars to concentrate, creating a sweet juice. Add a little lime and tequila and you have a savory twist on the Margarita.

Beet juice sings when mixed with gin. Give a new life to your Lime Rickey by adding a ½ oz of fresh beet juice to the recipe. The juniper will carry the sweetness from the beet and create a bold new flavor to this classic.

Beets are full of nutritional value too. They are low in saturated fat, cholesterol and sodium. This tasty veggie is high in dietary fiber, potassium, manganese, vitamin C, iron and magnesium.

Mix equal portions of juice from a beet, carrot and an apple. Stir over ice and serve. This makes a delicious no proof cocktail. Not only does it taste good, it is good for you.

Have fun with the many beet cocktail possibilities!

Cheers!
Bridget

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All of my single family members are getting married this fall. Most of you may already know that I come from a very large Polish, Irish, Italian family. So on any given Saturday night you will find my hubby and I doing the Polka or Electric Slide at the local wedding hall in my home town.

During each of these weddings, the toasts have been missing one key element: the signature wedding cocktail!

Brides typically spend an enormous amount of time and energy to make sure each and every detail of their wedding is special. The toast is a great opportunity to unite all of the joyful elements together.

Here are a few fabulous wedding cocktail tips:

• Have the dinner menu include a signature toast cocktail. When naming the cocktail use a word that expresses happiness after their last name. Example: For the happy couples toast: Susan McShaffrey & Craig Malloy invite you to raise your glass and enjoy a signature Malloy Bliss Cocktail.
• Incorporate seasonal fruits and juices into the cocktail that match the bridal party colors. Prickly pears make rich fuschia cocktails, watermelon is tasty and a pretty shade of pink and kiwi is bright green and perfect for a holiday wedding. You get the idea!
• Tropical drinks are already beautiful and full of fruit and flavor. This category of cocktails is perfect for a beach wedding!
• Don’t forget the non alcoholic crowd. On the bar menu include a variety of fun non alcoholic cocktails for your guests who do not enjoy spirits or wine but still want to be festive.

Friends enjoy the wedding season and brides I hope you are able to use these tips to help make your special day full of happiness!

Cheers!
Bridget

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There are three basic requirements to make great cocktails at home: 1) seasonal produce and juices, 2) a well stocked home bar and 3) a smile.

Let’s get one thing clear: cocktails must be fun!

Home bartending is a novel concept, an effort to entertain your friends and family — and at the same time enjoying the party. No, offering your party goers a margarita using a store bought mix doesn’t constitute a true home bartender. Neither does the offering of a beer from your cooler in the garage, even if you put it in a proper glass.

A home bartender, much like a home chef, demands their guest be able to enjoy a tasty cocktail while at the same time creating a beautiful memory of the evening. Making seasonal cocktails at home doesn’t require you to follow a strict recipe. Simply follow your taste buds to your local market or the backyard.

For example: My co-author Mary’s neighbor, Wanita, who is 70 years young had an overabundance of mint growing in her backyard. She had no one left from her neighbors and friends to share her harvest with. My co-author Mary and I decided it may be time for a “Mingle Mojito” party. On her kitchen table, we laid out a selection of fruit, limes, mint (you can put the mint in a pretty vase for drama) a pitcher of simple syrup, club soda and her favorite rum. We did a short mojito demo and let her friends make their own signature mojitos throughout the evening. This gave people a great excuse to mingle, try one another’s creations and made excellent use of Wanita’s mint.

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