Sugar and Spice: Gingerbread White Russians

by Sarah Steimer

Some of our gingerbread recipes will be nice… this one will be naughty (well, depends on how many you’ve had, really).

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Drunken Garden: Lilac vodkas

by Caitlin Saniga

Lilac vodkas are pretty and simple. No matter what, save a stem of lilacs for the garnish. The added scent boost makes all the difference.

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From Moscow with love, an Olympics-inspired cocktail

by Caitlin Saniga | photo by Joel Hawksley

Joel and I had a few friends over on Sunday to watch the closing ceremonies of the winter Olympics, and while we were brainstorming ways to imbibe Sochi-style, we got those catchy Chumbawumba lyrics stuck in our heads: “He drinks a whiskey drink. He drinks a vodka drink. He drinks a cider drink. He drinks a lager drink.” We went with the least complicated vodka cocktail we could find (by searching for “Russian vodka drinks” on Google) — this beautifully simple and subtle crushed grape cocktail.

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Power Trio: BLT Bloody Mary

by Sarah Steimer

I’ve never been a huge Bloody Mary fan, but this may have turned me. You can, of course, leave out various ingredients such as the kale or the bacon.

• 3/4 cup tomato juice
• 1 small kale leaf, stem removed and roughly chopped
• a few dashes Worcestershire sauce
• a few dashes hot sauce, to your liking
• 1-2 shots vodka (or you can cheat like me and use whiskey – I just can’t get into vodka)
• 1 cup ice cubes
• salt and pepper, to taste
• lemon, optional
• 1 strip bacon, for garnish
• cherry tomato, for garnish
• 1 small kale leaf, for garnish

Add the tomato juice, kale, Worcestershire sauce, hot sauce and liquor to a food processor. Pulse until the kale is blended into the drink to your preference (you can always strain some out if you choose). Add the ice cubes, crushing a bit before hand if your blender is a little weak like mine.

Season with the salt, pepper and lemon, adjust to your taste (maybe even adding more liquor or hot sauce if you really need it).

For the bacon garnish:

You could crumble the bacon and add it straight into the drink itself, but I really loved the look of this garnish.

Take one piece of raw bacon and arrange in a squiggle or another cool shape it on a wooden skewer — NOT a metal or plastic skewer. Place the skewered bacon between four paper towels, two on the bottom and two on top. Microwave on high for 1-2 minutes.

* Power Trio is our July guide that features BLT recipe ideas — including bacon, leafy greens and tomatoes, minus the two slices of bread. See all of our Power Trio BLT recipes here.

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Spiked pink lemonade

by Caitlin Saniga

Here you go: a cup of late-summer buzz

Three things that make this drink fancy: watermelon juice, lemon wedges and Absolut Citron (You can use any citrus vodka, but isn't this bottle pretty?)

I made this for a recent family get-together, and everyone had seconds, thirds …

• 2 quarts lemonade (prepared from concentrate or powder mix)
• 2 liters lemon-lime soda
• 1/2 liter citrus-flavored vodka
• 1 cup watermelon juice*
• lemon slices

Combine all ingredients except lemon slices in a large pitcher or bucket. (We tripled the recipe and served the drink out of a 5-gallon water-dispenser jug.) Serve lemon slices alongside.

*We gathered the juice from a watermelon as we scooped out chunks for another dish.

Recipe: Caitlin Saniga

Photos: Caitlin Saniga

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