Because sometimes the best part of a date is the food...

#TahoeBlueVodka

Grapefruit Martini – The Perfect Pink Valentine’s Drink

By Leave a Comment

I know I’ve said I’m a seasonal drinker.  But really, I have to say, vodka is my all-seasons alcohol.  And this Grapefruit Martini, while beautifully pink and perfect for today’s uber-sweet holiday, is a year-round libation for me.

We’ve been a vodka drinking family for an awfully long time.  And my “family,” I mean me and my mom.  With the exception of his “first sips” of almost every drink the two of us make or order, my dad an appreciator of all, but a connoisseur of beer.

An advantage of having a mom who enjoys vodka and who has amazing culinary skills, is that I am able to come across the most amazing martinis on any night that I want to go to my parents’ house and convince my mom to make me one of her works of art.  And in the winter, that usually means a citrus-y sweet and tart Grapefruit Martini.

…

Read More

“Tahoe Snowdrop” Lemon White Chocolate Truffle Martini

By Leave a Comment

There’s a wonderful artisan chocolate shop here in Reno called”Dorinda’s Chocolates.”  They have seriously spoiled me to the point of not quite enjoying other, less wonderful, chocolate brands (of course, that doesn’t stop me really from still partaking in the other brands.  Lol).

One of my favorite truffles of theirs is a lemon raspberry chocolate truffle that, for some time, I have wanted to copy in a cocktail.  Last year, however, I had a really awful and wonderful lesson in culinary chemistry when trying to create this cocktail.  It turns out, lemon juice curdles the milk solids in white chocolate!  Who knew?!  Hahaha.  Apparently everyone…  But I digress.

This year, I still had not forgotten my goal to make a white chocolate lemon martini for the Christmas season.  And I thought I knew how to do it, but definitely took it on with more caution and experimentation this year than I did last year. I have to say, what has come out of it is nothing short of festive!  Of course, Dorinda, there’s nothing that is ever going to surpass your truffle, but I think with the help of Tahoe Blue Vodka and DoTerra Essential Oils, we came really close. (The recipe below is just for one cocktail so if you’re sharing, multiply as needed.)

"Tahoe Snowdrop" Lemon White Chocolate Truffle Martini
 
Save Print
Prep time
Total time
 
Serves: 1 Cocktail
Ingredients
  • 2 Shots Tahoe Blue Vodka (This is seriously the only vodka I drink anymore... Visit their site at http://www.tahoebluevodka.com/our-story/ to see their story.)
  • 1 Shot Godiva White Chocolate Liqueur
  • 2 Drops Lemon DoTerra Essential Oil (if you don't use DoTerra PLEASE make sure to buy the highest quality oils which are formulated for human consumption--not all of them are safe to ingest.)
  • ½ tsp. Raspberry Jam Simple Syrup (Combine ¼ Cup Seedless Raspberry Jam with ½ Cup Water; Whisk together; Boil down until you get a syrup-y consistency)
Instructions
  1. Combine the first three ingredients in a martini shaker with a few ice cubes and shake.
  2. Pour the raspberry syrup in the glass to settle at the bottom or to decorate the glass (you can also add it to the shaker with everything else if you prefer).
  3. Pour the drink in glasses.
  4. Enjoy!

Pomegranate Martini

By 1 Comment

Tahoe Blue Vodka is the only vodka I drink straight up.  But my mom is famous for her flavored martinis, so I have a special place in my heart for them.  Her Pomegranate Martini is a pretty standard go-to in our houses.

She likes hers made with Mandarin Vodka.  But honestly, I have a hard time stepping away from the TBV.  The mandarin flavor is really lovely with the pomegranate juice, so I’ve found a pretty good half way point if I’m completely craving this orange flavor.  Especially if I’m making this drink for a special occasion like Christmas.  I have a lot less issue with making a special simple syrup when that’s the case.

So without further ado, here is the Pomegranate Martini made with Citrus Simple Syrup.  Feel free to make it with a Mandarin Vodka and a plain simple syrup instead if you’d rather.

Pomegranate Martini - 12 Days of Cocktails Day 6!
 
Save Print
Prep time
Total time
 
Serves: 2
Ingredients
  • 4 Shots Pomegranate Juice
  • 4 Shots Tahoe Blue Vodka
  • 1 Shot Citrus Simple Syrup
  • Juice of 1 Lime
Instructions
  1. Fill a martini shaker with ice.
  2. Add all ingredients to shaker and shake to combine.
  3. Pour into two chilled Martini Glasses.
  4. Enjoy!!!
  5. ***To make the Citrus Simple Syrup, combine 1 Cup Water with 1 Cup Sugar and slice a whole Mandarin Orange into the pot. Simmer on low heat for approximately 20 minutes (you want to make sure to get the citrus flavor really immersed in the syrup.) Add water as necessary.

 

Winter White Cosmo

By Leave a Comment

Last year, Russ Reyes (from Kilt & Cork) and I did a series on the 12 Days of Christmas Cocktails.  We had a total blast!  Three of those were videos instead of just posts.  Below is the video and recipe for a Winter White Cosmo, which was Day 8 last year.

The only thing I will say about this recipe is that sometimes White Cranberry can be difficult to find.  But when you do find it, this is definitely a winner for any holiday gathering because the pure color with some floating frozen cranberries in it looks ultra festive!

Happy Cooking! (or, you know, Drinking.  Lol.)

 

Winter White Cosmo - 12 Days of Cocktails Day 8!!!
 
Save Print
Prep time
Total time
 
Serves: 1
Ingredients
  • 2 Shots Tahoe Blue Vodka
  • 2 Shots White Cranberry Juice
  • 1 Shot Cointreau Liqueur
  • Squeeze of Lime
Instructions
  1. Add Ice to a shaker.
  2. Pour in all ingredients in shaker and shake.
  3. Enjoy!

 

Tahoe Blue Watermelon Cooler

By Leave a Comment

Happy Monday!  Admittedly, Mondays are not my favorite days–especially in summer when there are so many fun things to do on the weekends.  But if there’s one thing I’ve learned studying “attractive” living, you don’t want to wish away your life.  So nowadays, rather than wishing away “The Mondays,” I’d way rather do whatever I can to make them bearable and even wonderful.  One of my favorite ways of doing that this summer has been with the Tahoe Blue Watermelon Cooler.

Blossom’s BiFF and his kids have come over on Mondays and Tuesdays lots this summer to swim, BBQ, play, watch movies on my new outdoor projecting screen, and of course, to eat and drink.  This new drink came about when we had a bowl of cut-up watermelon that was clearly going to be on its way out soon.  None of us wanted to continue eating even MORE watermelon than we’d already consumed, and because BB is really good about preventing waste for all of us, the remaining watermelon ended up in the Ninja.  After realizing the flavor was light but still off the charts, we mixed it with some homemade soda water out of the Soda Stream, and some Tahoe Blue Vodka.  After adding a sprig of homegrown mint and a squeeze of lime, I think both of us realized we’d landed on something pretty special.

So soak up as much summer as possible.  Avoid the tendency to live weekend to weekend and make every day of these long, warm weeks count by creating special routines and ceremonies that make life worth soaking up with the sun.

Happy Summer and Happy Sipping!

Tahoe Blue Watermelon Cooler
 
Save Print
Prep time
Total time
 
Serves: 1
Ingredients
  • ⅓ Cup Fresh Watermelon Juice
  • 1½ Shots Tahoe Blue Vodka
  • 1 Shot Organic Lemonade
  • Soda
  • Lime Wedge
  • Mint Sprig
Instructions
  1. Put ice in the glass.
  2. Rim the glass with Lime and squeeze the rest of the juice over the ice.
  3. Pour in the Watermelon Juice and Tahoe Blue Vodka.
  4. Fill the remainder of the glass with soda, to taste.
  5. Float the cocktail with Lemonade.
  6. Twist the mint and garnish.

 

Homemade Christmas Vodka Soda – 12 Days of Christmas Day 11!

By Leave a Comment

Holiday food and drink doesn’t always have to be rich, heavy, and overly-sweet to still taste festive and holiday-esque.  Today’s cocktail is light while still maintaining the Christmasy flavors we all know and love so much.

I’ve said it several times recently, but my new favorite kitchen gadget is my Soda Stream.  One of the things I love is that I can make my own flavored vodka sodas; and with my favorite Tahoe Blue Vodka, I know I’m getting a tasty and natural concoction that’s way better than anything that comes out of a can or bottle.

I do love holiday flavors, though, so this year I decided to doctor up my homemade vodka soda to make it just a little more festive.  The addition of wonderful cranberry syrup, Orange DoTerra oil, and a Cinnamon rim, and you’ve got a wonderfully flavorful but perfectly-light Christmas Cocktail.

So here’s to our Day 11!  Tomorrow is Christmas Eve and our final day of our first annual 12 Days of Christmas Cocktails.  Merry Christmas to all!  And make sure to follow both Russ and I during the rest of the year for great recommendations, recipes, dating stories and suggestions, and natural living tips.

Homemade Christmas Vodka Soda - 12 Days of Christmas Day 11!
 
Save Print
Ingredients
  • 12 Oz. Filtered Water (or if you don't have a Soda Stream, just Club Soda will work)
  • 2 Oz. Tahoe Blue Vodka
  • 1 Drop Wild Orange DoTerra Oil
  • 1 Tablespoon Cranberry Sauce Syrup (Use your favorite Cranberry Sauce and put it in a saucepan with equal parts filtered water, simmer until syrupy and blend if needed.)
  • Ground Cinnamon
Instructions
  1. Rub the Rim of your glass with a slice of Orange and dip into Ground Cinnamon until coated.
  2. Make Soda according to Soda Stream instructions.
  3. Add Vodka, Soda, Syrup, and Oil to glass.
  4. Enjoy!!!

 

WP2Social Auto Publish Powered By : XYZScripts.com