Create Everyday

I like Daiquiris but most of the ones I have tasted are too sweet. I made this one which is lighter, made with fresh fruit and you won't feel full after drinking one. Melon, Strawberry, Peach Daiquiri

While vacationing in Italy I wanted to find a popular cocktail to post on my blog. I found one in Venice that we really enjoyed. It is a Venetian Aperitif. As you walk along the canal around 5pm you will see many people drinking this bright orange aperitif.  It is called a Spritz.

My husband, Dave likes to garden and has grown a lots of mint. At the end of the summer we dry it out to use in hot water to make mint tea. While it is fresh I love to make Mojitos! I adapted it from a Martha Stewart recipe. My recipe is lighter and not as sweet. Mojito Recipe

What is the best fruit to buy in Maine? Blueberries. What is one of my favorite cocktails? Margarita's! Below is my recipe for a Blueberry Margarita Maine Blueberry Margarita 3 cups of ice 1/3 cup of Tequila 2 cups fresh or frozen Blueberries 1 (6oz frozen limeade) 1 oz Citron Vodka 1 oz Triple Sec   Add all ingredients into a blender and blend until smooth. Enjoy! makes 4 servings  

Tom's Whiskey Sour 1 large can of frozen lemonade (use juice can to measure Bourbon and Triple Sec) measure 1 juice can of Bourbon measure 1 inch of Triple Sec in juice can measure 1 juice can of water   Put all ingredients into blender. Fill with ice and blend. Serve over ice.   Mary Ann's Lemon Juice Marinade for Flank Steak or Chicken 1 cup vegetable oil 3/4 cup soy sauce 1/2 cup fresh squeezed lemon juice 1/4 cup Worcestershire sauce 1/4 cup mustard 1-2 tsp coarsely cracked pepper 2 close minced garlic 2 or 3 flank steaks OR 4-8 boneless, skinless whole chicken breast   Mix all ingredients in a bowl. Place meat in large zip lock bags and fill with marinade. Refrigerate for 24-36 hours turning bag a few times. Place bag in a dish for support or if it leaks.  Grill meat until done.

Southern Living Magazine posted a recipe for a frozen peach old fashion and I thought of my Dad. He loved hot summers in the South, ate tomato sandwiches, fresh peaches and loved drinking Old Fashions. Southern Livings version was too sweet so I made a slimmed down version of a Frozen Peach Old Fashion. Frozen Peach Old Fashion Craft 94 of 100    Patty's Frozen Peach Old Fashion   3 cups of frozen peach slices 2 cups of ice 1 cup bourbon 1 cup of mango peach juice 1 tsp of bitters (Angostura Orange bitters) pinch of kosher salt 2 T superfine sugar   Blend all ingredients in blender until smooth.   Garnish both recipes with fresh mint leaves.   

Orange and Basil Aperitif Craft 80 of 100   15 fresh basil leaves 1 naval orange, thinly sliced into half -moons 18 oz Dubonnet Rouge wine 12 oz seltzer water chilled   Gently muddle basil and orange with a wooden spoon or muddler until basil is barely bruised but fragrant. stir in wine, and let sit at least 15 minutes and up to 2 hours. Divide among 6 ice-filled glasses. top each with 2 oz seltzer and serve.   From Martha Stewart Living Sept 2012

Mom's Margarita Recipe Craft 74 of 100 1 lg can of frozen limeade Use limeade can to measure the rest of the ingredients. 1 can of Tequila 1 inch of Triple Sec 1 can of water   Pour all ingredients into blender and then fill with ice. Blend and serve. DO NOT drive after drinking these Margarita's...really!     

Lemonade for adults by Dave Craft 67 of 100 Supplies: 2oz. Lemon Vodka 1 oz Vermouth 1 oz fresh lemon juice 1 oz simple sugar   Pour all ingredients into a Martini shaker. Add ice ice. Shake and strain into two sugar rimmed glasses. Garnish with a lemon slice.   To make simple sugar: 1 cup sugar 1 cup water Boil until sugar is dissolved. Cool before you use.   To make a sugar rimmed glass: Take a quarter of the lemon and rub around the rim of the glass. Pour sugar onto a plate and dip the rim of the glass into the sugar.

Boston Cocktail Craft 57 of 100   1 ½   oz London dry gin 1 ½ oz apricot brandy ¼ oz     grenadine Juice of   ½ a lemon   Pour ingredients into a cocktail  shaker filled with ice. Shake well. Strain into a chilled  cocktail glass.   Recipe and photo found on ABOUT.COM

Vodka-Espresso Cocktail Craft 50 of 100   1oz. vodka 1 oz. cold espresso 1/2 oz. Tia Maria 1/2 oz. Kahlua To prepare drink: Pour ingredients into a shaker filled with ice. Shake and strain into a martini glass To serve: Rub the pith of an orange along rim of each glass. Dip rim into cocoa powder spiked with a dash of cayenne pepper; tap glass to remove excess. Pour drink Recipe from Colin Cowie's Killer Cocktail Picture taken at Huntington Library and Botanical Gardens San Marino, CA

Pomegranate Martini by Steve and Patty Craft 43 of 100 1 and 1/2 oz. pomegranate juice 2 oz. Citron Vodka 1 oz. Cointreau liquor ice splash of sparkling water squeeze of lemon     Shake ingredients in shaker except sparkling water. Pour into a chilled martini glass. Then add a splash of sparkling water. To garnish use a slice of lemon or pomegranate seeds. Cheers! Happy Friday!   picture taken at Malibu Beach California

Cheers to the sun! I hope you enjoy this cocktail! The Hugo craft 27 of 100   2 cups dark rum 1 cup fresh lime juice (about 8 limes) 1/2 cup store bought ginger juice 5 T plus 1 tsp. sugar 8 dashes of bitters (optional) 1 (1-liter) bottle club soda, chilled Garnish: lime slices   Combine first 4 ingredients and, if desired, bitters in pitcher; stir until sugar dissolves.   Pour mixture into 8 (10-oz.) rocks glasses filled with ice; top with club soda. makes 8 servings recipe from Southern Living Magazine March 2013 picture taken on Hollywood Blvd, Los Angeles CA 90046      

  On Fridays I will share cocktail recipes. Here is an idea for a  hostess gift or a party favor for your craft parties.   Buy clear plastic party bags. Add a lemon and fresh rosemary. Print out recipe (recipe below). Using yellow card stock, cut out a shape of a lemon.  Then glue on the printed recipe. Punch a hole at top of lemon. Tie it together with a ribbon.     The Dogwood Craft Challenge 21 of 100   Combine 1/4 cup white grapefruit juice, 3 T vodka, and 1 T elderflower  liqueur (St Germaine) in a cocktail shaker filled with ice cubes . Cover with lid, shake vigorously until thoroughly chilled (about 30 seconds). Strain into an 8-oz. glass filled with ice cubes. Garnish with a lemon wheel and fresh rosemary sprig . makes 1 serving. recipe from Southern Living/March 2013