Beer Girl Cooks

Cooking & Craft Beer

martini

S’mores Martini

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Since we’ve already trashed this week by starting out with beer and donuts on Monday, let’s just keep going with some S’mores Martinis and just call it booze week.  You dig?

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I don’t know about y’all, and I know I always say this, but I sure am ready for the weekend!  It’s been tough going over here with all this trying to eat healthy during the week ’cause I’ve been complaining that my pants don’t fit for approximately 9.467 months and haven’t done anything about it until now.

S'mores Martini

All I’ve been eating are salads and fish during the week and dreaming of the beautiful weekend of stuffing my face into donuts, boozy ice cream, and chocolate-y, sticky, gooey, marshmallow-y S’mores Martinis.

S'mores Martini

I gotta be honest here too.  I don’t even really love marshmallows.  It’s a texture thing.  But I’m serious as a train wreck when I tell you that when that stuff gets all melted and toasty I don’t know what in tarnation comes over me, but that stuff is DELICIOUS!  Combine it with some chocolate booze and I’m a goner.  No self control.  Zero.

S'mores Martini

If you’re not busting out of your pants and don’t have to wait until the weekend to have yourself some indulgent S’mores Martinis, I highly recommend you get your self to the booze store STAT then swing by your local Publix or Teeter for some fluff, marshmallows, and graham crackers or crumbs – I usually get those ’cause I’m totally lazy and usually in a hurry to get to the good stuff and not necessarily in the mood for graham smashing.  Although it depends on the kind of day I’ve had. Or how fast I need that martini in hand and down the hatch.  Sometimes a good graham smashing is good for the mental health.

S'mores Martini

Sigh….  Is it Friday yet?

S'mores Martini
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S’mores Martini

Ingredients

  • 1 marshmallow
  • 1-2 tablespoons graham cracker crumbs
  • 1-2 tablespoons marshmallow cream
  • 3 ounces Creme de Cocoa
  • 3 ounces Bailey's Irish Creme
  • 1.5 ounces vodka
  • 1.5 ounces heavy cream

Instructions

  1. Transfer marshmallow cream to a bowl and microwave 15-20 seconds, stir
  2. Coat edge of martini glass with melted marshmallow cream
  3. Coat the marshmallow cream edge of the glass with graham crumbs, set aside
  4. Add marshmallow to a parchment paper lined baking sheet
  5. Toast marshmallow under broiler 1-2 minutes, rotate and toast another 30 seconds to 1 minute, rotate again and toast another 30 seconds to 1 minute, remove from oven and let cool while mixing the martini
  6. Add 5-6 ice cubes to a martini shaker
  7. Combine Creme de Cocoa, Bailey's, vodka, and heavy cream to shaker and shake vigorously for 30 seconds or so
  8. Pour into prepared martini glass
  9. Garnish with toasted marshmallow

This recipe makes 1 martini with a small sidecar

S'mores Martini

Mother’s Day Recipe Roundup

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Mother’s Day Recipe Roundup

 

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It’s Mother’s Day this weekend.  I don’t know about y’all, but it kind of surprised me.  If you’re in the same boat as me, I’ve got your back with anything and everything that can please Mom this weekend! Let’s do this!

First and Most Important – COCKTAILS!

 

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Preserved Lemon Martini with Spicy Olives – Tasty Ever After (recipe and photo credit)

 

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Strawberry Lime Frozen Margaritas – Beer Girl Cooks

 

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White Chocolate Covered Strawberry Boozy Milkshake – No Spoon Necessary (recipe and photo credit)

 

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Butterscotch Martini with Bailey’s Irish Whipped Cream – Beer Girl Cooks

 

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Jalapeno Margarita – Spiced Blog (recipe and photo credit)

 

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Patio Passion Martini – Beer Girl Cooks

 

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Creme Brulee Stout Ice Cream Float – Beer Girl Cooks

 

Now that we’ve had sufficient amount of booze to get us started, it’s time for breakfast and brunch recipes!

BREAKFAST AND BRUNCH RECIPES

 

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Candied Ginger and Rhubarb Crumb Coffee Cake – No Spoon Necessary (recipe and photo credit)

 

Strawberry Banana Muffins – Pumpkin ‘n Spice

Banana Nutella Stuffed Cardamom Maple Toast – My Garlic Ginger Kitchen

 

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Eggs Benedict Crostini with Roasted Asparagus, Bacon, and Easy Hollandaise – Beer Girl Cooks

 

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Goat Cheese Brie Souffle – Tasty Ever After (recipe and photo credit)

 

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Spinach and Tomato Breakfast Flatbread – Hungry Healthy Happy (recipe and photo credit)

 

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Breakfast Casserole – Beer Girl Cooks

 

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Strawberry Chia Jam Recipe – Show Me The Yummy (recipe and photo credit)

 

DOUGHNUTS V. DONUTS

Let’s be real.  No matter how you spell the word, the masterpiece deserves its own category.

 

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Key Lime Pie Donuts – The Beach House Kitchen (recipe and photo credit)

 

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Baked Vegan Chocolate Peanut Butter Donuts – Veganosity (recipe and photo credit)

 

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Brown Sugar and Pecan Baked Cake Donuts with Bourbon Maple Glaze – No Spoon Necessary (recipe and photo credit)

 

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Baked Lemon Doughnuts – Spiced Blog (recipe and photo credit)

 

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Cara Cara Orange and White Chocolate Glazed Baked Doughnuts – Beer Girl Cooks

 

How about some lunch ideas?

 

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Beet Salad with Goat Cheese, Apricots, and Pistachios – Tasty Ever After (recipe and photo credit)

 

Mediterranean Cucumber Salad – The Beach House Kitchen

Southwestern Orzo Salad – Family Food On The Table

Cesar Salad with Grilled Asparagus and Quail Eggs – Cooking LSL

Cranberry Pecan Chicken Salad – Beyond The Chicken Coop

 

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Baja Shrimp Ceviche Tostadas – No Spoon Necessary (recipe and photo credit)

 

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Southside Weiss with Pan Steamed Mussels with Roasted Lemon and Toasted Baguette – Beer Girl Cooks

 

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Salmon Burger with a Creamy Lime and Basil Sauce – Hungry Healthy Happy (recipe and photo credit)

 

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Lamb Burger with Tzatziki Sauce – Beer Girl Cooks

 

Going fancy pants and need some dinner ideas?

 

DINNER RECIPES

 

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Garganelli alla Vodka – Ciao Chow Bambaina (recipe and photo credit)

 

Tender Beef Kebobs with Tangy Barbaque Sauce – Cooking LSL

Thai Yellow Curry Turkey Meatballs – Fashionable Foods

 

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Grilled Coconut Lime Shrimp – Spiced Blog (recipe and photo credit)

 

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Belgian Tripel Beer Marinated Stuffed Pork Loin with Plum Sauce – Beer Girl Cooks

 

And finally.  We started with booze and we’ll finish with some awesome desserts.

 

DESSERTS RECIPES!

 

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Spumoni Cake – Beer Girl Cooks

 

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Vegan Lime Tarts with Meringue – Veganosity (recipe and photo credit)

 

Banana Sheet Cake – Cook With Manali

No-Bake Strawberry Cheesecake Mousse – Baked By An Introvert

Blackberry Ginger Cupcakes – Just About Baked

 

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Mixed Berry Pavlova with Blueberry Sauce – Beer Girl Cooks

 

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Vegan No-Bake Biscoff Tartletts – Whisk and Shout (recipe and photo credit)

 

I wish all of you a Happy Mother’s Day.  Whether you have little people, if you’re empty nesters, have grands, a bun in the oven, have a mom, or your a mom to a fur baby, I truly wish you a wonderful day of food, family, and of course, booze.   Cheers!

Cranberry Limoncello Martini

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Cheers, y’all!  I know I said to come back Thursday for a cocktail (really it’s a Cranberry Limoncello Martini!) and holiday toast, but I got to thinking – and according to Chris, me getting to thinking is always dangerous….

 

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My point is that if I’m going to share a cocktail (Cranberry Limoncello Martini!!!) for New Year’s Eve, shouldn’t you have enough time to prepare for it and get it ready?  So, I made an executive decision. This is my website after all, so I can do whatever I want!  This is totally my sandbox!

 

Here’s the deal.  I changed my posting plans and moved things up from Thursday to Wednesday.  So sue me.  I know it’s early, but it’s just all the earlier we can start drinking, so who’s with me?!?!?

 

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At least now you have time to make this martini.  No joke.  It’s fantastic.  Chris and I went out for a romantic dinner for two at Luciano’s Ristorante Italiano in Charlotte on Christmas Eve and Chris ordered one of the drink specials.  It was a Cranberry Limencello Martini.  Whaaat?!?!!

 

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We LOVE Luciano’s in Charlotte’s Southend neighborhood.  We found it by accident a couple of years ago and keep going back.

FULL DISCLOSURE:  Luciano’s Ristorante Italiano is not sponsoring this post.  We just love this place.

 

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I  totally hijacked their Cranberry Limoncello Martini.  So sue me.

 

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Seriously, y’all, this is my last post of 2015.  I sincerely wish each and every one of you a Happy New Year.  Have a blast during what remains of the holiday season. I wish you all so much happiness and send you a big CHEERS for a fantastic 2016!

 

 

INSPIRED BY LUCIANO’S RISTORANTE ITALIANO!

 

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Cranberry Limoncello Martini

Ingredients

For the Martini

  • 2 ounces Ciroc Berry
  • 2 ounces Limoncello
  • 4 teaspoons fresh cranberry puree recipe below
  • lemon twist and fresh cranberries for garnish
  • Sugar for rim optional

Fresh Cranberry Puree

  • 1 cup fresh cranberries
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • Water

Instructions

Fresh Cranberry Puree

  1. In a small pot, combine cranberries and sugar, add enough water to cover by about 1/2 inch
  2. Bring to a boil
  3. Boil until cranberries pop, smashing with the back of a spoon and gets thick and syrupy - 7 - 10 minutes
  4. Set aside until cool
  5. Transfer to bowl of a food processor or blender and puree until smooth

For the Cranberry Limoncello Martini

  1. Add cranberry puree, Limoncello, and Ciroc Berry to a cocktail shaker filled with ice
  2. Shake virogously, pour into a martini glass, garnish with lemon twist and two cranberries on a toothpick
  3. Optional - prior to filling glass, dip edge of glass in water then sugar

Patio Passion Martini Knockoff

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Good morning, sunshine!  I say we start this week off on the right track with a martini for breakfast on this fine Monday. Who’s with me?

 

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There is a place in Charlotte called Dillworth Neighborhood Grill that used to be a go-to hang out for lunch and happy hour back in the day when I was an Assistant Public Defender. Just to be clear – lunch and happy hour usually happened at different times. 🙂 Usually.

 

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If you remember Happy Days and the Fonz, it was our version of Arnold’s.  Except we weren’t in high school and I didn’t have any friends named Potsie – even if we do share the same last name.

 

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What in tarnation does this all have to do with this pink martini, you ask?

 

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The Patio Passion was a signature drink at DNG that was my best friend at the end of a trial week.  Because when you have to explain to a jury that the smack in your client’s pants is not his and he should be found not guilty because of the not my pants defense…..

 

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You will need the Patio Passion Martini in your life.

 

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I hope you never experience either side of this story, but if you do, I have your remedy. Crappy trial weeks led me to recreate the DNG Patio Passion Martini.

 

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Cheers to a great week!  If it sucks,  you can always have the Patio Passion Martini!

 

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Patio Passion Martini Knockoff

Ingredients

  • 1.5 ounces Triple Sec
  • 3 ounces citrus vodka
  • 3 ounces pink lemonade
  • lemon to garnish

Instructions

  1. Combine all ingredients in a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Shake and pour into a martini glass. Garnish with lemon slice.
  2. This will make enough for one average size martini glass with a small side car.

Butterscotch Martini with Bailey’s Irish Whipped Cream

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Happy Friday!

 

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Because it’s Friday.

 

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And I hope Happy Hour comes soon!

 

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I made you a cocktail.

 

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A butterscotch one.  With Bailey’s Irish Whipped Cream! Around here we call it the Dessert Martini.

 

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My friend Shannon gave me this recipe and it will totally blow your dress up!

 

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Cheers to the weekend!

 

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Butterscotch Martini with Bailey’s Irish Whipped Cream

Ingredients

For the Butterscotch Martini:

  • 3 oz. Baileys Irish Cream
  • 3 oz. Cake Vodka
  • 3 oz. Butterscotch Schnapps

For the Bailey's Irish Whipped Cream

  • 1 cup heavy whipping cream
  • 2 Tbs. sugar
  • 1 Tbs. Bailey's Irish Cream
  • Grated chocolate optional garnish

Instructions

  1. Add cream, sugar and Bailey's to the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment. Mix on medium-low (I used setting #2) until stiff peaks form (about 7-8 minutes). Be careful not to over mix or you will have Bailey's flavored butter!
  2. In a cocktail shaker, add 5-6 large ice cubes, Bailey's, Cake Vodka, and Butterscotch Schnapps. Shake vigorously. Pour into a martini glass and top with Bailey's Irish Whipped Cream and garnish with grated or shaved chocolate, if desired.
  3. Note: this will make one large martini with a generous sidecar or two smaller martinis.