Archive for the 'Drinks' Category

26
Dec
09

Roasted Pear Bellinis

By msbutterton 2 Comments
Categories: Cocktails and Drinks
Tags: , , ,

Just a quick post today, as we’re still in the Christmas/post-Christmas weeds!

:)

I thought I’d share a Christmas Eve Cocktail tradition of ours ~ it’s good enough to sip through the holidays,

right up to New Years Eve!

:)

:)

Pear Bellinis


2 ripened pears

Good quality honey

Pear Brandy

Star Anise

1-2 bottles dry, well chilled Champagne or Sparkling Wine (like Prosecco)

.

Preheat oven to 375 degrees

Peel ripened pears and cut in half.  Scoop out the seeds and the middle section of the pears.  Place on a cookie sheet and fill the hollowed out sections with honey.  Place a star Anise in the honey.  Cover in a loose aluminum foil tent and place in the oven. Roast for 25 minutes.

Remove the cookie sheet from the oven and allow the pears to cool.  Remove and discard the Star Anise; place the roasted pear in your blender and puree well.  (I usually make the pear puree in advance and freeze it until Christmas Eve, then remove it and allow it to thaw for an hour.)

Place a tablespoon of the puree in a Champagne flute.  Add a teaspoon of  Pear Brandy, then pour in the Champagne.  Cheers!

:)

:)


12
Dec
09

Hot Chocolate a la taza

By msbutterton 5 Comments
Categories: Breakfast and Brunch, Chocolate and Drinks
Tags: , , , , , ,

:)

It’s December 12th – National Hot Cocoa Day, but that’s not why I made hot chocolate today….It’s cold and rainy here in LA and all I want is hot soup, hot chocolate and a warm fire!

Today’s blog is in two parts — the first is hot chocolate; the second is Churros, my favorite accompaniment with hot chocolate or hot cocoa.

A couple weeks ago, I wrote about La Tienda, one of my favorite online shopping sites.  Besides their cazuelas, I’ve made many purchases from La Tienda and highly recommend them for any Christmas gifts you might want to buy for your “foodie friends”!

La Tienda sells a huge variety of food products, as well.  I love using their Valor Chocolate a la taza for making hot chocolate.  It comes out thick and rich.  My two other favorite chocolates are made by Vosges and Burdick, but the Valor costs a bit less and is delicious!

I bought a churro pastry maker from La Tienda a while ago and I make churros in another one of my favorite things, my little Cuisinart deep fryer.  Actually, this is also a great idea for a Christmas gift – one year, I bought them for several friends – who all LOVE using them!

I’ve fried churros in a skillet before, with varying results – not always great, but when I started making them in my Cuisinart deep fryer, they came out perfectly crispy every time!

:)

:)

:)

Hot Chocolate a la Taza for 2


:)

.

6 squares Valor Chocolate a la taza – chopped

4 cups whole milk

2 cinnamon sticks

1 teaspoon granulated sugar

In a deep saucepan, over low heat, melt the chopped chocolate – when using Valor Chocolate, 3 squares per serving, usually makes a thick hot cocoa.  Slowly add the milk, sugar and cinnamon sticks and whisk until well blended.

Simmer on low heat until the cocoa thickens – usually about 15 minutes.  Stir it occasionally.  Serve with whipped cream or marshmallows.  When I make this with churros, I serve the cocoa ungarnished.   Cheers!

:)

01
Dec
09

“i can’t believe I drank the WHOLE thing”…Serendipity’s Frrrozen Hot Chocolate!

By msbutterton 13 Comments
Categories: Chocolate, Desserts and Drinks
Tags: , , ,

:)

I watched an episode of Oprah Winfrey last week, (I think it was a rerun) where she featured Serendipity 3′s famous “Frrrozen Hot Chocolate.” I wasn’t able to get them out of my mind – even with all the hullabaloo of Thanksgiving…my mind kept going back to “Frrrozen Hot Chocolate.”

Yesterday morning, I woke up, pissed off, after not being able to fit into my favorite jeans the day before, and vowed to get moving; to cut the fun stuff out of my diet and shed some of those Thanksgiving lbs…that lasted all of one day!  Last night, after a dinner that consisted of Cabbage Salad (I kid you not), I could hold out no longer. I went into the kitchen and made two “Frrrozen Hot Chocolates” for hubby and me!

Didn’t Kate Moss just say: ‘Nothing tastes as good as skinny feels’?…..I wonder if she ever had a “Frrrozen Hot Chocolate! Anything this good, is worth the extra calories….you can quote me on that!

Now I’m off to the tennis court – See you all later!

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:)

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:)

I found the recipe online – if you don’t have it already – here it is:

Frrrozen Hot Chocolate: Serendipity’s Best-Kept Secret

(from the Epicurious website)


6 half-ounce pieces of a variety of your favorite chocolates
2 teaspoons store bought hot chocolate mix
1 1/2 tablespoons sugar
1 1/2 cups milk
3 cups ice
Whipped cream
Chocolate shavings

Chop the chocolate into small pieces and place it in the top of a double boiler over simmering water, stirring occasionally until melted. Add the cocoa and sugar, stirring constantly until thoroughly blended. Remove from heat and slowly add 1/2 cup of the milk and stir until smooth. Cool to room temperature.

In a blender place the remaining cup of milk, the room temperature chocolate mixture, and the ice. Blend on high speed until smooth and the consistency of a frozen daiquiri. Pour into a giant goblet and top with whipped cream and chocolate shavings. Enjoy with a spoon or a straw. . . .or both!

:)

top with whipped cream

19
Oct
09

A perfect accompaniment with those Asian Beef Tenderloin Wraps…Ginger Vodka!

By msbutterton Leave a Comment
Categories: Cocktails and Drinks
Tags: , , , , ,

Ginger Vodka I made with Boru Vodka

:)

I first had this drink in a Thai Restaurant in New York, years ago. The mirrored shelves of the restaurant’s bar were lined with bottles of this Ginger Vodka – beautiful to look at, even better to sip.

It’s ginger-y and delicious and perfect when you’re serving an Asian meal. And did I say easy to make?

Ginger Vodka

1 bottle quadruple distilled Vodka
1 chunk of fresh ginger, sliced thinly – you’ll need about 20 slices

Preheat oven to 400 degrees

Slice the ginger and spread them on a cookie sheet.  Place the cookie sheet in the oven and cook for 5 minutes.  This will release the “oil” in the ginger.  Remove immediately and let the ginger cool. Stuff the ginger slices in the Vodka bottle, place in your freezer for at least 3 weeks and enjoy!  Cheers!

:)

:)

Ginger Vodka

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© Sandy Carlson and À la Sandy, 2009. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Sandy Carlson and À la Sandy with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

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