Category Archives: Beverages

Uncle Frank’s Dry Martini

2 oz Bombay Sapphire gin
Lemon rind
Dry vermouth

Freeze glass and gin. Cut wedge from lemon rind. Mist glass with dry vermouth. Pour in gin. Twist lemon rind, drop into gin. Enjoy.

Chocolate Sodas

In tall glasses, add 2 T Hershey’s Syrup and a tiny bit of milk or half and half (about 1-2 t). Mix thoroughly. Add cold soda water until glass is about ¾ full. Add a scoop or two of chocolate ice cream. Good stuff!

Chocolate Mint Dessert Drinks

4 oz vanilla ice cream
1 ½ oz chocolate mint liqueur (Hiram Walker)
Blend in blender, add one ice cube for a very cold drink. Serve in brandy snifter.

Cocoa Mix for the Winter by Bruce and Carol

8 quart box of instant nonfat dry milk
12 oz jar powdered cream
2 lbs cocoa mix
1 c powdered sugar (optional)

To use, add ¼ c of the above mixture to one cup hot or boiling water.

Cheese Filled Coffee Ring

In large bowl of mixer, mix 1 c flour, 1/3 c sugar, and ¾ t salt. Dissolve 2 pkg yeast in 1/3 c warm water. Combine 1/3 c milk and 6 T margarine in saucepan. Heat to warm, margarine does not need to melt. Add milk and yeast to flour mix and beat two minutes at medium speed. Add 1 egg and ½ c flour. Beat at high speed 2 minutes more. Stir in up to 1 ¾ c more flour to make a soft dough. Cover and let rise till double, about 50 minutes.

Cheese filling: Beat 3 oz cream cheese until light and fluffy. Add 1 egg, ¼ c sugar, and ½ t vanilla. Beat till blended.

Push down dough. Roll out to 18” circle. Lay over a greased 6-cup ring mold. Fit dough into bottom and sides, leaving about 1” hanging over edges. Pour in cheese filling and lap over dought from edges over filling. Cut a cross through the dough over center ring, forming triangles. Fold dough back over filling. Cover. Let rise till doubled, about 50 minutes. Bake at 350 for about 30 minutes. Remove from pan and cool on rack. Frost while warm with confectioners sugar glaze made with lemon juice.

Mulled Wine

Combine in pan, boil ten minutes, strain:

1 lemon, sliced
2/3 c sugar
2 c water
1 t cloves
½ t whole allspice
2 3” sticks of cinnamon

Add 1 fifth Burgandy or other red wine. Heat but do not boil. Top with sliced lemon.

Hot Spiced Tea

This and the following wine keep us going all winter in rainy Seattle.

Bring 3 quarts of water to boil. Add 4 tea bags, 1 t whole cloves, and 1 stick cinnamon. Steep 5 minutes only. Heat together in large kettle juice of 3 oranges (1 c frozen orange juice), juice of 2 lemons, and 1c sugar or less. Strain tea into this mixture. Serve hot. Makes 10-12 big mugs.

Drambouie

Your guests will never know the difference between this homemade liquor and the expensive Drambouie.  This recipe comes from the “Martyn S. Thomas distillary”.

1 fifth 86 proof scotch (cheap kind)
¾ lb rock candie (white or clear)

Put candy in scotch and let sit until candy dissolves (2 to 4 weeks).  Shaking bottle hastens melting of candy.  Strain out strings if necessary.  Makes ½ gallon.

Velvet Hammers

The Avon Lake dessert drink sensation.

1 pt vanilla ice cream, spooned into chunks
2 oz (¼ c) brandy or cognac
1 oz (2 Tbsp) Cointreau or other orange flavored liquer
1 oz (2 Tbsp) Crème de Cocoa
Blend in blender until creamy.  Serve with or without spoons.  For four drinks, do 1 ½ times.

Brandy Alexanders

A Christmas tradition.

In blender combine :
1 part brandy
1 part coffee cream
1 part crème de cocoa
crushed ice
Whirl in blender and serve.