Wahooo: Tax day is upon us! For some of you it’s good news for others it’s bad, but I think everyone is breathing a sigh of relief that it’s over. Well, unless you filed for an extension like me, but that’s another story. Everyone is rejoicing a just a little, but you know who’s throwing doing the most cartwheels? That’s right, the tax accountants. You may or may not be happy to deal with them at this time of year, but I can guarantee they’ll be more relieved than you when this thing is all over. How do I know?
I’m not an accountant myself, but there are so many in my family that I’ve lost count. It causes a little friction around this time of year, but it always pays off in the end. The day after tax day, we all get together and have a ginormous party (wahooo)!
I kind of feel like I’m cheating because I don’t do anyone’s taxes (including my own), but I go along for the ride anyway. They don’t mind, especially if I come with cocktails in tow (and you know I do).
Here are two recipes for my favorite after-tax-season cocktails:
Fill a glass with ice. Pour the Kahlua and vodka and then top off with club soda. Stir it gently, and drink quickly (that is, if you want to erase your mind).
Alright, people - the time has come. One of my favorite holidays is almost upon us. That’s right – Saint Patty’s Day! Yay! I honestly don’t even know why I like the holiday so much. I’m only half Irish, and I’m vegan (so no corned beef for this gal). I’m not even a fan of Guinness. Maybe it’s the memories of daytime drinking in my college days that gets me sentimental. Maybe it’s the tattoo I have as a reminder. I’m not sure; but I love me a good Saint Patty’s Day pub crawl. And in that spirit, I’m going to share a few of my favorite Saint Patrick’s themed drinks with you:
Irish Coffee – You can bet this will be how I’ll be starting my Saint Patrick’s Day celebration (that is, if I can find a suitable vegan alternative). Coffee, Irish cream, whiskey and a pinch of nutmeg. Yummers!
Emerald Isle Martini– Just add some blue curacao and melon liqueur to your vodka martini, and you’ve Saint Patrick-ized it! Now, you just have to imagine you’re sitting on the Emerald Isle as you sip on this tasty and festive concoction.
Irish Cactus– I love the idea of this cocktail, but sadly I cannot partake. That just means you’ll have to have one in my honor. Combine two ounces of Irish cream and tequila to make yourself an Irish cactus; just don’t forget to make two!
Green Dublin Martini – Consider this the Irish version of an apple martini. Actually, it’s pretty darn close. To make this drink, you’ll need Irish whiskey (of course), sour apple schnapps and some white cranberry juice (white grape juice will do just fine, if you can’t find white cranberry).
You may have noticed that there’s no mocktail advice this week. Here's my take on that: On Saint Patrick’s Day, you’re either drinking or you’re not. Mocktails need not apply.
It’s the moment you’ve all been waiting for: the 84th annual Academy Awards is here! And the Oscar goes to… Why, the person with the best Oscar party, of course! Well, that’s who it would go to if I were doling out those little gold men. So, today I have a treat for you all: A little Oscar party inspiration. Make them as cocktails or mocktails; either way, your guests will be thrilled. Actually, since it’s a Sunday night (work in the morning), guests might really appreciate the mocktail versions. And, boy would you be in trouble if the office administrative assistant didn’t show up for work after having too much absinthe at your shindig.
Black Russian – If you’re a fan of the movie Black Swan, you might want to serve this dark version of a White Russian. Just use black vodka instead of the standard stuff. If you’re going with a mocktail, use food coloring to get the dark effect.
Inception – Wasn’t that a great movie? And, of course it made you run out and get a bottle of absinthe, right? What a great cocktail to serve to your guests tonight. Just make sure no one has too much. At about 70 percent alcohol, absinthe is nothing to mess around with (especially not on a school night).
Coconut Water Mocktail – This Toy Story 3 inspired drink is packed with antioxidants to keep your guests feeling great (tonight and tomorrow morning). Just mix some fruit juice (papaya works wonderfully) with coconut water and enjoy. Even the kiddos will love this one.
Classic Martini – If you want to keep things simple, you might opt for a classic martini. Since the early days of the Academy Awards, the martini has starred in more nominated movies than Katherine Hepburn (who, by the way, has been nominated 12 times in the Best Actress category).
To most of us, President’s Day is nothing more than a day to get a good deal at the mall. It’s all about the sales, isn’t it? It’s kind of funny how we distort the true meaning of just about every single holiday there is. I mean, is Christmas really about presents and Valentine’s Day about flowers? Of course not. But, at least we actually know what we’re supposed to be celebrating on those days. What are we supposed to be celebrating on President’s Day? Hint: it’s not a good sale.
President’s Day is an interesting holiday because of the way it evolved. Is it a day where we’re supposed to be honoring all presidents, past and present? That’s definitely not how it began. We celebrate President’s Day in February because it is the month when two important Presidents were born. So, which was born on the third Monday of the month? Neither (and who celebrates their birthday that way, anyway?). Washington’s birthday (February 22nd) used to be a national holiday – every year on that date. Lincoln was born on the 12th of the same month, but his birthday was never a national holiday.
In 1971, Washington’s Birthday (the national holiday) was officially moved to the third Monday of February. During Nixon’s time as President, there was a spoof printed in the NY Times stating that he declared the day a day to celebrate all presidents, including himself. The quote never came from Nixon, but it stuck. Although the day is meant to celebrate Washington’s Birthday, many celebrate all presidents instead.
If that describes you, you might want to try an Obamatini or a “Bill Clinton” on Monday. But, if you’re a purist, you may want to throw back a homemade beer in honor of the founding father that made this holiday possible, George Washington.
Maybe it’s my recent obsession with Mod Cloth or maybe it’s the fact that I’ve been spending time visiting my grandfather at his (55 and over) complex, but I have seriously grown obsessed with the 50s. Clothing, music; you name it. I’m there. There’s something about that time that makes me nostalgic for better days. No, I wasn’t around then. My mother was barely even born in the 50s, but I really feel like we’ve lost something as a society that can be found by looking back to that time. Was it a simpler time? I can’t be sure. Every decade has its own set of problems. What I can tell you is that people valued relationships much more in those days.
I recently saw a comedian who joked about the contrast between his parent’s generation and our own. At his parent’s house, they welcomed people who dropped by unannounced and even had a coffee cake on hand for such occasions. Today, when someone unexpected rings the doorbell, we dim the lights and pretend we’re not home. It’s a sad but true reality. If someone stopped by my house today, I’d do the same. Why? Because my house isn’t ready for company. The laundry is in a pile in the hallway and the coffee cake is still sitting on the shelf at the store.
But, with my newfound affinity for this bygone decade, I think it’s time to change my ways. It’s time to get the house ready and prepare for company. And, well, you know I wouldn’t entertain without some good cocktails. So, here are a few cocktails that were popular in the 50s. Time to get the ingredients and stock the bar because we’ve got company!
Although I normally post recipes on this blog, I wanted to take this post to talk a little bit about the reasons to make a mocktail for your next event. Cocktail parties can be a lot of fun, but not everyone can partake in the alcoholic beverages. Does that mean they shouldn’t join in on the fun? Heck, no. If you have a mocktail version of every cocktail you serve, everyone can partake. And the best part? Mocktails are higher in nutrients and lower in calories than their alcoholic counterparts.
Here are some reasons why your guests might appreciate a good mocktail.
Pregnancy – If you have any guests that are pregnant or even nursing, a mocktail is a must. Even parents with young kids might not want to have cocktails, so it’s good to have options.
Recovering alcoholics – If you’re having a big get-together, you might have a person or two who has quit drinking, and you don’t even realize. Although these people can always have soda or juice, a mocktail just makes it feel more like a party.
Heavy drinkers – If you notice someone has had one too many, you can offer them a non-alcoholic mocktail. They’ll be much more likely to accept another salt-rimmed drink than a boring old glass of water.
Designated drivers – If you don’t want people drinking and driving, you should seriously consider serving a mocktail at your next cocktail party. After the cleanup is done, you’ll rest easy knowing that none of your guests will have a brush with a police officer – or worse.
Dieters – It’s no secret that cocktails have a lot of calories. Usually the mocktail version isn’t quite as rough on your waistline as the full-alcohol version.
With Thanksgiving behind us, it’s time to start putting up the Christmas decorations. And, really, who does that without a nice warm glass of eggnog in-hand? It adds another element of fun to your holiday preparations. Plus, if you practice making your eggnog before your holiday get-togethers, you’ll be a pro by the time the big event rolls around.
Eggnog isn’t one of the easiest drinks you can make, but nothing else is quite as synonymous with the holidays. Although mastering a good eggnog isn’t easy, virginizing it is. All you have to do is omit the alcohol and you’ll have a tasty, kid-friendly version.
Just one note of caution: The eggs in eggnog are only lightly cooked. Eating raw eggs can possibly lead to salmonella poisoning, so take steps to avoid it by using only fresh, refrigerated eggs for your eggnog. Also, don't cook them for less time than the recipe states. You want guests to remember your party, but not because they all got sick for a week after.
Eggnog Cocktail and Mocktail Recipe
4 cups milk ¼ tsp ground cloves 1 tsp ground cinnamon 12 egg yolks 1 ½ cups sugar 2 ½ cups light rum 4 cups heavy cream ½ tsp ground nutmeg
In a medium saucepan, whisk milk, sugar, cloves and cinnamon until the sugar is completely dissolved. This should take about 1 to 2 minutes. In a large bowl, whisk the egg yolks. Pour the hot milk mixture onto the yolks, while whisking constantly, in a slow and steady stream.
Return the eggnog mixture to the pan and cook over medium-low heat, stirring often for about 20 to 25 minutes. Just don’t let it simmer or the eggs may start to clump. When it’s done, the mixture should be thick enough to coat the back of a spoon.
Strain the mixture into a bowl and stir in the heavy cream and alcohol (if you’re making the cocktail version). You can serve your eggnog warm or cool, depending on what you’re accustomed to. If you’d like it chilled, you cover it with plastic wrap and put it in the refrigerator for about 2 hours before serving.
Garnish with nutmeg prior to serving.
Oh yeah, one more word of caution: If you’re drinking the alcoholic version, don’t be afraid to switch to the non-alcoholic version after one or two. You don’t want to get too drunk, especially if you’re not among close family and friends. Remember how drunk the company tax accountant got at last year’s holiday party? You never want to be that guy.
The recipe above is one of the best eggnog recipes I've found, but there are many others. You may have to try a few or tweak one a bit to find one that suits your taste buds. For yet another eggnog recipe, watch the video below:
