Nov 26 2008
Posted by Bridget Albert under Holiday Cocktails
Play With Your Leftovers — Creating Tasty Cocktails with Your Holiday Leftovers
‘Tis the season to make tasty cocktails!
Friday morning as I wake from my food coma I will find my fridge full of Thanksgiving leftovers and endless opportunities. No doubt there will be turkey sandwiches for lunch accompanied with all the fixins’ followed by homemade turkey soup for dinner.
Why not turn turkey day re-runs into tasty new libations! For example, I typically end up with a lot of cranberry sauce left over. Cranberries have a sweet and tart zing taste much like a pomegranate. By reducing the sauce on your stove top with some wine or simple syrup you can turn that canned jelly into a beautiful delicious syrup.
Why not treat yourself to a cranberry cocktail after on long day of holiday shopping and chase away those black Friday blues? Try my recipe for a great day-after-Thanksgiving Cranberry Cocktail.
Cranberry Cocktail
1 ½ oz Patron silver tequila
½ oz Grand Marnier 100
2 oz fresh sour
1 oz cranberry port reduction
Garnish with 3 cranberries on a pick
In a sauce pan on high heat
½ cup cranberry sauce (without whole berries)
½ cup of your favorite port
2 bar spoons of cinnamon
1 bar spoon of super fine sugar
2 oz fresh lime juice
Bring to boil and keep stirring. Reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes.
Set aside to cool. Keep in the fridge.
Or you may have some herbs left over from your homemade dressing. Don’t let them go to waste. Sage and tarragon are a terrific addition to many classic cocktails such as the daiquiri, bloody Mary, gimlet and Tom Collins.
For many who bake pies a hot toddy is an easy choice. All you need is little hot water, whisky, lemon, honey and a pinch of your favorite left over spices like cinnamon or nutmeg to make a perfect holiday Hot Toddy.
Play with your leftovers and create yourself a tasty cocktail and a new holiday tradition!
Happy Holidays!
Bridget