Say When
Grapefruit and black pepper? I can’t remember where I saw this combination, but it’s been circulating in my brain for a minute. After I recently made a batch of a delicious grapefruit-forward syrup (recipe by @sennzafinne_libations— see this post for the full specs), I knew I had to use the combo in a drink.
Ode to Mato
I really enjoyed this month’s @homebarawards theme: incorporating an ingredient three different ways. I chose tomato, in large part because there is a huge spectrum of flavor depending on the age and processing. On one end is the fresh, vibrant, tart green tomato; followed by ripe red tomatoes; and on the other end, the umami-laden flavor bomb, sun-dried tomato.
Picklefest!
Pickles are really having a day, y’all. I’m glad I finally got fully on board the Pickle Train in the last several years so I can relish (ha) in this moment. Last night’s dinner was really a pickle extravaganza. For the meal, I made a couple recipes from @jodimmoreno’s new book, Simple Pleasures. First, pickle-brined chicken— juicy and absolutely delicious, and super easy to make. Second, pickle potato salad with peperoncini and crispy prosciutto. Oh. My. Goodness. Both of these dishes were outstanding and I’ll be making them again.
Gateway Frond
Fennel (the plant, and its seed) has many wonderful culinary applications, and I find it to be a gateway to the anise/licorice flavor profile if you’re not sold on the flavor in a more intense format. I made a “no waste” syrup using some leftover fennel fronds (15g) and some clementines that were about to go bad (50g, in coins). I combined those with 1tsp of darkly toasted fennel seeds and equal sugar by total weight. Muddle, refrigerate overnight, strain, bottle, refrigerate.
She’ll Be Apples
Fun fact I just learned: Granny Smith apples originate from Australia. I named the drink in honor of a great Australian phrase I also just learned (meaning “she’ll be alright”). The cocktail is my submission to the exciting return of the @homebarawards! A huge shout out to Chris for resurrecting this awesome competition. The prompt: create a sour without citrus. There are a few approaches I considered here (most of you know I love shrubs), but ultimately I decided to acid-adjust non-citrus fruit juice.
Greenfire
I love a good spicy margarita (I do live in Texas, after all). This marg riff is as delicious as it is vibrant. And no, it doesn’t taste like Mountain Dew though you could easily fool me!
U Make Me Purple
I won’t lie, I absolutely love the color of this drink. The gorgeous purple mostly comes from the primary ingredient, a delicious plum liqueur. What’s interesting about this spirit is that it’s not especially sweet, and even has a delicious tart edge to it. This means we can use larger quantities and also create enjoyable lower ABV cocktails (it’s 17%).
Fleur De Minuit
It’s almost New Years! To celebrate the occasion with my last post of the year, I have this beautiful number in collaboration with my friends at @totalwine. Of course, there are bubbles involved— here I used an amazing cuvée rosé from @borrascawines. It’s dry yet approachable and delicious by itself. For the cocktail-inclined, we won’t stop there. First, we’ll add a bit of cognac. I used a lovely expression from @abk6cognac (Grande Champagne).
Never Say Cry
The temperatures are finally cooling a little bit (at least at nighttime…) so I tend to reach more for the stirred, boozy numbers. This one looks straightforward, but I was really happy with how it turned out. I often pick up on some stone fruit notes in Irish whisky, and this delicious option kindly sent by @writerstearswhiskey is no exception. As a result, it pairs beautifully with apricot.
Hopped Up Negroni
Okay, okay, you didn’t really think I would go through Negroni week without posting something vaguely Negroni-esque, did you? Debates about what technically should be called a Negroni riff aside, the template is incredibly versatile and easy to play with.