Tonic Upgrade

If there’s a food and drink trend, I tend to trail it. So while various food- and drink-oriented sources have been recommending a move beyond the grocery store tonic waters to something more handcrafted for ages now, I kept making my gin and tonics, including my pink G&T, with the classic Schweppes Tonic. Until I [...]

Rhubarb Variation – Pink G and T

As an alternative to the Basil-Lime Gimlet, celebrate spring by turning your gin and tonic a delicate hue of pink. Inspired by my love of rhubarb, which had me looking at ways to incorporate it into my kitchen that go beyond pie and compote, I took a look at what other cocktail-oriented websites had to [...]

Herald Spring

To celebrate one of the first truly sunny and warm days that herald spring after long weeks of cool, gray, wet days, make a Basil-Lime Gimlet. Of course, it helps to have a CSA that has basil this early in the season. You need fresh basil for this, but your reward is a lovely pale [...]

A Twist on a Classic

Inspired by Tony Abou-Ganim‘s suggestion in his book The Modern Mixologist, I infused some Plymouth gin with rosemary. Then I cast about the Web for ideas as to what to do with it. Here’s the result, and a very pleasing concoction it is: Into a Highball or Collins glass (something tallish, although a shorter Old-Fashioned [...]

The Woodchipper

If the big turkey dinner didn’t put you to sleep, this just might. Brew a strong cup of cherry and cinnamon tea (I used Twinings’ Herbal Revive). If you can’t find a pre-made tea like that, just use a good cherry-based tea and boil the tea with one or two sticks of cinnamon. In a [...]

The Cough Drop

To brighten an autumn evening’s early darkness: 2 parts basil-infused vodka 1 part Domaine de Canton (ginger liqueur) 1 dash Rose’s Sweetened Lime Juice Pour vodka and ginger liqueur into ice-filled glass (like and old-fashioned glass, or similar tumbler), add dash of lime juice, and possible a dash of water. Stir and enjoy. This drink [...]

Cooldown for Sweltering Summer Days

When the heat makes anything beyond a lime popsicle frozen fruit bar (made with real fruit! has vitamin C!) for dinner unlikely, here’s something to cool things down a bit: In a short glass, pour about 2 oz of basil-ginger-infused vodka over 2 -3 ice cubes. Add the juice of half a lime, and top [...]

Spring Salad

Once again, I’m spurred to action of the cooking sort by rapidly aging produce. This time, it’s peas. Spring means fresh peas, and in a burst of enthusiasm I got shell peas from my CSA. And then promptly let them sit in the fridge for a week. Luckily, the awesome Orangette‘s podcast Spilled Milk just [...]