cocktails

baileys and black tea and french toast

by spabettie on February 14, 2012

in Breakfast,cocktails,Gluten Free,recipes,Valentines Day,Vegan

I have told you about the time we were able to get almost the whole first class cabin of a flight to change their drink order to Baileys and coffee. Baileys and coffee was also a standard mid morning indulgence when we were snowed in for three weeks a few years back. We’d go on walks in the snow, come back home, start a fire and enjoy a coffee.

I have a new favorite Baileys drink!

Baileys and black tea.

Served in the ceramic version of my favorite New York deli cup. Everything tastes better in the New York deli cup.

Very easy, really. Not even a recipe.

I brewed my favorite black tea. I added a couple shots of my homemade Baileys to it.

Mmm, this is my newest obsession. I may have to wait until Saturday to enjoy this as a Valentines breakfast… and I’ll have to wait until my nursing shift is over, but we will have this with breakfast.

We will also have french toast.

You can just go ahead and make an extra cup of Baileys and tea, then use part of it for the french toast batter. Then, you know, enjoy the rest. Cheers!

baileys and black tea french toast

dairy, egg and gluten free, vegan

makes six pieces

1/2 container (6 ounces) silken tofu
2 shots Baileys Irish Cream*
1/3 cup steeped black tea
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon vanilla paste or vanilla
6 pieces your favorite gluten free bread

*substitute Baileys (and tea) for your choice of milk – I have made this with coconut milk

Combine all ingredients in food processor. Thin with more liquid as necessary (silken tofu varies in consistency). Pour into shallow bowl, dip bread pieces into batter and cook on a griddle over medium heat, a minute or two on each side, until cooked through and golden.

Serve with coconut spread (or butter), maple syrup and fresh fruit. Earth Balance coconut spread melts just like butter, and is so tasty good.

Being mainly gluten free and vegan, I used to think french toast was just not going to be. Oh how I love french toast – and it’s one thing that reminds me of great breakfasts shared with Grandpa Z.

I can once again make french toast – this is as good as any I’ve ever had. Great for a Valentines, or the Saturday following…

Happy Valentines Day!

jalapeno margaritas

by spabettie on February 4, 2012

in cocktails,Happy Hour at Home,recipes

I may have mentioned that spending a month in Mexico gave me a new found love of tequila. I learned about the different types (blanco, reposado, anejo) and more importantly, which is my favorite (reposado, or Cazadores reposado).

The types refer to how long the tequila is aged – blanco is not, reposado is an average of three months, anejo is generally a year or more. Jason liked several brands of anejo, and our checked suitcase was proof, and my favorite continued to be Cazadores.

We tried many.

One of the hotels we stayed with and love has a beautiful restaurant with a talented chef. I promise to tell you more about all of that soon, but right now I am telling you they are the inspiration for this cocktail.

A new favorite cocktail.

jalapeno margaritas

serves two

4-6 ounces tequila
juice of 2 oranges
juice of 1 lime
juice of 1 jalapeno
1-2 tablespoons agave, to taste
1/4 cup club soda
1 jalapeno, sliced
ice cubes

Juice oranges, lime and one jalapeno. Combine juice with agave, club soda and tequila, pour over ice and garnish with sliced jalapeno.

Enjoy!

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This final recipe came about after mixing and sipping, mixing and sipping, until I loved what I was tasting. I hope you love it too.

¡Salud!

Valentines Spicy Hot Shots

by spabettie on January 30, 2012

in cocktails,Dessert,Valentines Day,Vegan

The things I do in the name of love.

In the name of Valentines Day.

In the name of all things pink.

You recall the chocolate shot glasses I made over the holidays? That I filled with local New Deal vodka?

In the name of love, Valentines Day and everything pink, I have done it again, and without even meaning to, I’ve once again filled them with New Deal vodka. This time it is a spicy little monkey that is just all too fitting for Valentines Day. Of course, you can fill these with whatever you like.

Non dairy, vegan white chocolate is very difficult to get. Although I am not a white chocolate fan, I stock up when I can, because the day I am without it is the day I need it.

These shot glasses actually took two tries. The first batch of white chocolate would not melt. I have used non dairy chocolate enough to know that it is very touchy, and I almost always add coloring before melting. This time, the “food coloring” was all natural – it was beet juice! Don’t worry, it does not change the flavor at all! It does impart a beautiful dark pink color, exactly what I was going for.

and don’t worry, the unmelted chocolate was a perfect fondant consistency, and I was able to use it for another Valentines project. You will see that later.

spicy hot shots in pink (white) chocolate glasses

12 ounces white chocolate (vegansweets baking chips)
juice of 3 beets
shot glass mould
4 ounces Hot Monkey vodka (or your choice)
4 tablespoons non dairy whip (Soyatoo rice whip)

Shot glasses (make a day ahead): In medium saucepan, add white chocolate and beet juice, melt over medium heat. Spoon into shot mould. Place in refrigerator to set, preferably overnight. Makes four chocolate glasses.

Fill shot glasses and top with whip cream and sprinkles.

Unfortunately, I have not been able to find conversation hearts that do not have gelatin. Believe me, I have searched high and low. Next step is to make them myself.

However, a sweet nurse at the hospital gave me a box the other day – so I am using them as photography props. Hey babe.

Are you a fan of Valentines Day?

gojee potluck

January 18, 2012

Some of you know that I am a contributor to Gojee, a fun website featuring delicious recipes and photos from a group of incredibly talented folks. Somehow I snuck in… gojee remains one of my favorite projects to be a part of. Along with talent, they are a group of really fun folks – they [...]

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homemade Baileys Irish cream

January 12, 2012

In my family, my mom makes the homemade Kahlúa and I make the homemade Baileys. I have shared this recipe here before, but it now resides with the other lost socks posts from my self hosting move. I made a batch of Baileys in November, right before we left for Mexico to drink nothing but tequila. I [...]

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happy new year!

December 31, 2011

Cheers, everyone! Jason Basil and I wish you all a fantastic 2012! Bookmark on Delicious Digg this post Recommend on Facebook share via Reddit Share with Stumblers Tweet about it Subscribe to the comments on this post Related posts:favorite recipes

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hot chocolate peppermint shots

December 31, 2011

My last beverage of the year is deliciously non alcoholic – a hot chocolate made with dark chocolate. Seeing as I bring it to you in a candy cane shot glass, I did include a variation on the recipe that does include that chocolate vodka… or rum. or peppermint schnapps. Whatever floats your cocktail boat. [...]

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s’mores shots in chocolate glasses

December 30, 2011

I have been thinking about making chocolate shot glasses for a long time. A couple years ago, Jason gave me a shot glass mould, and so far I’ve only used it to make gummi shot glasses. Then, a few months ago, Jason came home with this local lovely: Chocolate vodka made by Portland’s New Deal [...]

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bottles in ice – last minute party idea

December 29, 2011

Hosting or attending a party this New Years Eve? This is a fun and quick addition to any last minute prep you might be doing. Start with a bottle of your favorite liquor, and a milk carton that fits the bottle (a pint bottle fits in a quart carton, a 750ml bottle fits in a [...]

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bourbon balls

November 16, 2011

“Club soda is a wonderful thing. You can use it to remove any stain, or mix it with gin and drink until you don’t care about the stain.” Celebrity chefs? Immersion blenders? Who needs ‘em? Gracing the back cover of the newest cookbook in my collection, that question definitely gives a glimpse of the fun [...]

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