fridaysoff.ca

Photo credit

I don't know about you, but I'm glad it's Friday! Who needs a drink?

As the countdown to Christmas continues and you knock a few more holiday parties off your list this weekend I thought I would share a few tasty holiday cocktail recipes to spice up the party circuit (or perhaps the pre-drink).

[print_this]

Candy Cane Martini (this spells headache so if I were you I would just have one!)

You'll need:

• 1.5 oz. vodka
• 1/2 oz. vanilla liqueur
• 1/2 oz. peppermint schnapps
• 1 oz soda water
• crushed candy cane
• peppermint sticks or candy cane for stirring

Then you:

1. Rim martini glass with crushed candy cane
2. Pour vodka, vanilla vodka and peppermint schnapps in a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake and pour into martini glass.
3. For the the weakling you can top off with soda, but I would prefer this straight up!
4. Serve with a candy cane as a stir stick.

[/print_this]

If you're hosting a holiday party, I think this cranberry vodka punch recipe would make a great crowd pleaser.

[print_this]

Vodka Cranberry Punch

You'll need:

• 1 750 ml bottle of chilled vodka
• 8 cups of chilled cranberry juice cocktail
• 2 cups chilled ginger ale
• 2 cups chilled soda water

Then you:

1. In a large punch bowl mix cranberry juice and vodka well.
2. Add plenty of ice.
3. Stir in soda and gingerale and add any fruit you wish (I recommend floating cranberries!)

[/print_this]

Please drink responsibly folks!

Last Friday I arrived home to a giant box wrapped with a bright pink bow and inside was a balloon and a 6-pack of DC.

Thanks for sending Diet Coke!

Now I don't normally do diet but honestly how can you say no to these cute little pink bottles? I popped one open right away and poured it into a tall glass filled with ice. Yum!

Holt's has partnered up with Diet Coke and created these limited edition bottles to celebrate 175 years. They are available now exclusively at Holt Renfrew for $1.75 each or $6.99 for a 6-pack.

Now I don't know about you, but my favourite way to drink Coke is with a shot of JD. So come on people it's Friday!

Happy Birthday Holts!

It's Friday!!!

Even though it's Labour Day weekend I'm not convinced summer is over yet. So I thought I would share these yummy summer-y cocktails that Lipton so kindly sent to me.

The first one is a light and crisp white sangria. I'm not a fan of  red sangrias (I indulged a little to much years and years ago) so this recipe suits me just fine.

[print_this]

Iced Tea White Sangria

You'll need:

• 1 bottle of Lipton Iced Tea (they recommend Lipton Diet Green Tea with Citrus, but I don't do diet drinks so...)
• 1.75 cups white wine (don't forget this ingredient!)
• 1/4 cup orange juice
• 1 orange, sliced
• 1 lemon, sliced
• 1 lime, sliced

Then you:

Combine liquid ingredients into a pitcher, stir in sliced fruit, chill and serve on ice.

If sangria doesn't do it for you why not try the citrus iced tea punch?

You'll need:

• 2 bottles Lipton Iced Tea with Lemon (although I'm sure any iced tea will do the trick)
• 1 cup orange juice
• 1 lemon, sliced
• 1 lime, sliced
• 6 oz. white rum

Then you:

Combine liquids in a pitcher, stir in sliced fruit, chill and serve over ice.

[/print_this]

If you're not feeling either of these recipes head over to Lipton's website where they have almost 200 drink ideas all made with their brewed teas and bottled iced teas.

Enjoy the last long weekend of summer and just chill out!

Cheers!

It's the first long weekend of summer and I wish I was hanging dock-side but alas I'm not. Instead we'll be chilling out at home and by chilling I mean making zero plans, puttering and simply enjoying this fantastic summer weather.

That being said, we will be getting our drink on. Are you ready or what?

My intent was to post a delicious looking white sangria recipe (I'll post next week), but then I received the most delicious/refreshing Canada Day cocktail recipe pitch ever featuring Atlantico - "the hot new rum" (their words not mine) owned by Enrique Iglesias (yep he has his own rum!).

Let me tell you, this cocktail will fire up your Canada Day weekend (don't judge me).

Now I'm no rum connoisseur and I didn't receive a free sample (gasp!) of said rum so I'll leave the reviews up to the pros, but I'm certainly open to giving it a try when it arrives in Canada.

Happy Canada Day everyone! Be safe.

[print_this]

Canada Day Cocktail

You'll need:

• 2 oz. dark rum
• 1 oz. lime juice
• 3/4 oz. simple syrup
• 10 mint leaves
• 5 fresh raspberries

Then you:

1. In a rock glass muddle the mint leaves and raspberries.
2. Add ice.
3. Pour rum, lime juice and simple syrup over ice and stir.

[/print_this]

Ah!

A few weeks ago the Hubs and I had the luxury of going out for a few tipples and I tried out something new - a mint julep.

Have you ever had one? They're refreshingly delicious, but if you can't hold your liquor I'm warning you they do pack punch! Which is funny because when I see this drink I think of refined women in hats and dresses standing on the sidelines at the Kentucky Derby. They must be hardcore!

Anyhow, with all of the mint we have growing in our backyard I'm dedicating this evening to perfecting the mint julep and tossing one or two back (zzz).

Here's what you need.

• A handful of fresh mint leaves (20-25 leaves)
• 2 tsps. sugar
• 2-3 oz. bourbon (Wild Turkey, JD, Jim Bean, Maker's Mark...)
• Lot's of crushed ice (or a little, depending on how stiff you like them)

Then you.

1. Muddle mint leaves and sugar in a glass until sugar dissolves (take your time).
2. Add choice of bourbon.
3. Top off with plenty of ice and stir.

Happy slurping...er sipping!

It's Friday already!

With this awesome summer weather I'm jonesing for some patio time, but with L'il E, after work drinks are less attainable. Instead, the Hubs and I retreat to the backyard after the little guy goes to bed and put our feet up with a Dr. Turkey. Well, the Hubs drinks his on the rocks and I "doctor" mine up with a splash of Dr. Pepper. Want the recipe?

All you do is:

1. Rock glass
2. Ice
3. 2 oz. Wild Turkey Bourbon ( you can stop here if you want)
4. Top off with Dr. Pepper or Coca Cola, but it's so much better with Dr. Pepper.

Have a great weekend!

I've been an emotional wreck this week! The last two days have been my first days back at work after maternity leave and I'm feeling separation anxiety something fierce (more on that later).

So tonight, I'm planning on drowning my sorrows in a bottle of HobNob Pinot Noir. I've never had a favourite wine before but now I have one. It's nice and light (I hate heavy reds) but it tastes warm and cozy. When I drink it I taste vanilla, tobacco, cedar wood - but I'm no wine connoisseur.

Anyway, try it and let me know if you love it too. It's totally affordable at just under $15 a bottle.

Happy weekend!

If you're a city slicker like me you'll likely be schlepping home through the snow and slush to get to your cozy home tonight. TO got a rocking 3 cms of snow and it's cold! To stay warm this eve I'll be curling up with the Hubs and watching a movie with a belly-warming cocktail. It is Friday afterall!

I've been scouring the web looking for some toasty tipples, but none of them are very appealing.  I did find one that I might test drive - The Chai Toddy. If that's a bust, there is always red wine or Bourbon on the rocks!

The Chai Toddy!

You'll need:

• 3 oz. spiced Rum
• 8 oz. chai tea (hot)
• 1/2 oz. peppermint schnapps
• Honey to sweeten

Then you:

Add all ingredients into a wine glass and stir. Voila!

Stay warm y'all!

L'il E and I have been enjoying some down-time in Fort Myers, FL at Nana and Papa's. It's taken me four days to unwind from the big smoke, but I'm finally feeling relaxed. Yesterday I spent two hours at the beach alone (novel) with my book (The Help) and a bottle of water. It was pure bliss.

All of this sand and sun has got me thinking about tropical drinks and since it's Friday I thought I would leave you with this Caribbean delight - the Funky Monkey or as I like to call it the Pounding Headache.

You'll need:

• 1 oz. Mount Gay Rum
• 1 oz. creme de bananes
• .5 oz. creme do cacao
• 3 oz. coconut milk
• 1 banana
• shredded coconut for garnish

Then you:

Pour all ingredients into a blender with ice, whiz up and pour. Garnish with coconut and sip away!

I'll be out on the golf course but I hope one of these is waiting for me when I get off the 18th hole.

Happy weekend!!

I'm heading to a BBQ of sorts on Saturday, probably the last one of the summer (weep!), so I've been eyeing BBQ cocktails. Not that I'll be drinking them. Hard liquor just hasn't sat the same since L'il E rolled around.

I spotted this crazy tipple complete with bacon for garnish! This is no girlie drink my friends. So, impress your BBQ guests this weekend with this - Smoky Sour!

You'll need:

• 1.5 oz Jack Daniel's Tennessee Whiskey
• 1 oz fresh lime juice
• 1 oz simple syrup
• Dash of liquid smoke (you can find this in specialty food shops - I'm sure Pusateri's has it)
• Bacon for garnish (say what?)

Then you:

1. Add whiskey, lime juice, simple syrup, and liquid smoke to a shaker filled with ice.
2. Shake and strain into a glass with ice and garnish with a bacon skewer.

Now that's a drink your boy can't scoff at!