#ShareaStraw - Shake It Up Baby #Martinitime

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Share a Spoon
"MARTINI TIME"

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Welcome to Happy Hour Smackers!  This week's theme is compliments of The Quacker, Daffy of Batcrap Crazy.  You might know her as The Duck, a moniker I am proud to say is compliments of yours truly!  She requested we shake up some drinks this week like she shakes her tail feathers.  Appropriate no?  It's the end of Summer.  Soon....hopefully.  Please let it be over soon.
So...in order to beat the heat, or at least quench a wicked thirst brought on by anything outdoors we are throwing back some martini recipes.  I love martini glasses.  I think they are beautiful.  They make any drink look fancy, alcohol in it or even a simple lemonade.  They make desserts look fancy schmancy too.  They are just pretty.  I like the ones with stems, without stems, with crooked stems, whatever.  I just love them!

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Aren't those just the coolest things ever?  

So this week's drink recipes are short and sweet and to the point!  You need a cocktail shaker to make a great martini.  Must have.  Even if you buy a cheap plastic one, you need one!  Martinis are shaken.  Especially the sweet variety.  In order to get the alcohol well distributed and that frothy look martinis are known for, you must shake shake shake.....shake shake shake....shake your boo-tay....  Wait!  That's something else, but you get the idea.
BDC loves him a Wallaby Darned, or whatever that peachy adult slushy in a mug from Outback Steakhouse is called.  So...I made him a Fizzy Naveltini at home to give him the same tastes.  What the hell is a Fizzy Naveltini?  It's my take on a Fuzzy Navel, mixed with a little Fizz (Champagne) which is in that Wallabywhateverthehellyoucallit drink.

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Fizzy Naveltini
1 oz Peach Schnapps2 oz Vodka 1/4 cup orange juiceSplash of Champagne
Fill a cocktail shaker 2/3 full with ice.  Add Schnapps, Vodka and orange juice put the lid on.  Shake vigorously for a few seconds.  
Strain drink into martini glass.  Top with a splash of Champagne (or Prosecco).Garnish with a Maraschino Cherry.

Pomegranate Martini
3 shots Tito's Vodka (trust me)2 jiggers Rose's Pomegranate Twist MixSlice of lime
Fill cocktail shaker 2/3 full with ice.  Pour vodka over ice.  Add PomTwist mix.  Shake well.
Pour into a martini glass and squeeze in lime slice.
Now, this isn't the recipe on the mixer bottle.  It calls for way more mix, which is really really sweet.  3 parts vodka to 2 parts mix, with the acidic bite of the lime works best.
Alrighty Smackers....Happy Hour is officially on!  Bring on your favorite drink recipes!!  

Share a Straw - Summertime Sipping

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Summertime Swigs
There's nothing quite as refreshing as a cool drink in the summertime.  It doesn't matter if it's an iced drink, a slush type drink, an adult beverage, a cold beer, whatever your taste buds like, when it's hot outside, and the drink is ice cold....it's...ahhhhhhhhhh refreshing!
Mixing the other thing that I love about summer, which is SWEET FRESH fruit with a cold icy sweet beverage is so much fun.  I experiment a lot with flavors that I love!  I am not a big fan of my kids drinking too much soda or sugary artificially flavored crap so we make citrus "ades" a lot, or mixed fruit drinks. 
I thought I would share one of my favorite things this week though.  I am a huge fan of cantaloupe.  But you can substitute honeydew melon if you like for this as well.

Cantaloupe Granita Spritzer
1 cantaloupe cubed and pureed1/2 cup sugar1/2 cup water1/2 cup fresh squeezed orange juice 1 tsp orange zest3 cups SeltzerSliced orange for garnish
In a small saucepan over medium-high heat bring the sugar and water to a boil.  Stir until the sugar is completely dissolved.  Remove from heat and cool.
In a blender, puree the cantaloupe in batches.  Pour the pureed mix through a fine mesh strainer and add to a glass or non-reactive 8in dish.
Zest an orange and mix into the strained puree.  Juice the orange and stir in as well.  Add the cooled simple syrup (water/sugar).  Mix well, cover and freeze for at least 6 hours.
Scrape granita with a fork.  Spoon about a cup into six glasses.  Top each with 1/2 cup of seltzer and garnish with a fresh orange round.
(Note:  If you use honeydew melon in place of the cantaloupe, substitute lime zest and juice in place of the orange.  Also, with either granita, if you are a fan of fresh mint, add a small bunch to the melon when you puree it.)

Killer Smurf
1 oz Blue Curacao1 1/2 oz Bacardi RazzSprite Zero
Fill a glass with ice.  Add Blue Curacoa and Bacardi Razz.  Fill the rest of the glass with Sprite Zero.  Stir.
This is a drink that my friends love.  I don't drink them, but everyone who comes over to play RockBand seems to really enjoy!  I'm sure that this drink probably has another name as well, but here at Casa di Romano, amongst the best of friends, they are Killer Smurfs.  Best thing?  They won't KILL your diet!
Now, it's your turn Smackers!  Share your favorite summertime thirst quenchers!

Share a Straw - Holiday Cheers!

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Cheers!
Share a Spoon Straw:  Holiday Edition
My ever faithful #ShareaSpoon buddy Kim over at Mo' Betta asked for holiday drink recipes and I was thrilled!  There are so many specialty drinks for the holidays.  Everything from hot cocoa to Champagne Punch to EGG NOG.  So when @kimslittlelife suggested this theme I went to work on a special button for the festivities!
This is only the second time we've done specialty drinks but you lushes Smackers seem to get excited about it!  *wink*
I'm not a big EGG NOG fan.  But then, I am more of a clear liquids kind of gal. I do however, make a mean cup of cocoa and some fierce mulled apple cider.  Both can be dressed up for the adults with the addition of a bit of alcohol, or served nekked for the kiddos!
We decorated our Christmas Tree Sunday evening and we all enjoyed a nice cup of Peppermint Hot Cocoa while adorning the tree with lights and ornaments.  Now, you can certainly make that stuff in a packet if you want to, but for special occasions, you have got to bust out the good stuff.  It's really worth it, and when your loved ones faces light up and they have a big whipped cream mustache??  That's a memory worth making!
Momma B's Peppermint Hot Cocoa
1/2 cup Unsweetened Cocoa3/4 cup granulated sugar1/2 teaspoon Kosher salt1/2 cup boiling hot water4 cups 2% milk1/2 cup (roughly) half-n-half1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract1/2 teaspoon peppermint extract
GarnishWhipped CreammarshmallowsCrushed soft peppermints
In a medium sauce pan over medium heat combine sugar, cocoa and salt.  Pour in boiling water and stir until mixture looks like liquid chocolate.  Continue stirring until the mixture starts to just barely bubble.  Do not allow to scorch.

Add the milk.  Continue to cook over medium heat until the milk is scalded and hot.  Do not boil or allow the cocoa to burn.  Stir regularly to avoid scorching.
Remove from heat and stir in the vanilla and peppermint extracts.
This makes four large mugs of cocoa.  In the bottom of your mugs pour equal amounts of the 1/2 cup of half-n-half.  This will add a creaminess to the cocoa and help cool the cocoa to drinkable temperature. 
For adults:  You can skip the half-n-half and add 1-2 oz. of Creme de Menthe or Creme de Cacao.
This hot cocoa also makes a fabulous Peppermint Mocha when you add a shot or two of espresso.  Or add to a cup of freshly brewed coffee for those of you who drink copious amounts of hot caffeine!
Garnish with fresh whipped cream, marshmallows and crushed soft peppermints.

Hot Mulled Apple Cider
4 cups apple cider2 cinnamon sticks5-6 whole cloves1-2 peels of orange
Peel off a few pieces of orange rind.  Do not include the pith (whites).  This is bitter.  If you want you can zest the orange and just strain the cider through cheesecloth before serving.
Over medium heat, warm the cider with orange peel, cinnamon sticks and cloves for 20 minutes.  I use a mesh strainer when pouring the cider into mugs.
For adults:  Pour a good dark spiced rum, or regular dark rum about 2oz. in the bottom of the mug before adding cider.
Garnish with a fresh slice of orange and a cinnamon stick.

For those of you looking for something a bit cooler and a bit more "cocktail" beverage I have an Italian Festive drink for you as well. 
Sgroppino
3 Tablespoons lemon sorbet1 oz Vodka1/2 cup Prosecco (Italian Sparkling wine)
In a champagne flute, add lemon sorbet and top with vodka.  Stir.  Pour Prosecco over the sorbet mixture.  Garnish with lemon twist or fresh mint.

Remember that this time of year is about making memories and making memories that count!  Going that little bit extra to make a meal, a drink, or a treat special makes a difference and goes a long way towards making memories!
Enjoy!
Don't forget to go here and get your extra entry for my giveaway for Sharing your Straw today!
I have a huge review and giveaway to announce tomorrow that you definitely won't want to miss!  I'm SUPER excited about this and you will be too!  Swearsies!