Summer Savories: Italian Sunset Cocktail

In one of my previous posts, I mentioned how hot it has been down here in the Peach State. Guess what?

It’s still hot.

Here we are in the middle of July and for me, the heat is unbearable. I’m dreading the month of August, but there is a light at the end of this scorching tunnel… Football season is right around the corner! Alas, this is not a post about football.

One of my BFF (we shall call her DJ) fell in love, married a soldier and moved earlier this year to Colorado. Before she left, they gave us a few boxes of goodies that would not be making the trek with them on their move. One of those items was a bottle of amaretto liqueur.

Back in college, I was introduced to an Amaretto Sour cocktail. While it was a delicious beverage, I had no idea what else I could create with amaretto. After I scoured the internet, I stumbled upon a recipe for an Italian Sunset and decided to give it a whirl with some slight modifications.

Fixings

• 2 ounces of amaretto liqueur
• 3 ounces of orange juice
• 3 ounces of black cherry sparkling water
• 1 dash of cherry juice

Fix It

1. Choose a pretty glass and fill it up with crushed ice.
2. Pour the amaretto over the ice.
3. Slowly add the orange juice.
4. Slowly top with the sparkling water.
5. Add a dash of cherry juice.
6. Garnish with cherries or an orange slice.

While this concoction was much sweeter than anything I typically drink, it was a perfect, light, beverage for these hot summer months. Fruity drinks are tasty (in moderation) and you certainly get the pleasant yet rich flavors from the oranges and cherries.

I also used freshly squeezed orange juice and sparkling water because I had both ingredients on hand. Beware though, playing with fruit juice can leave you in a sticky mess with a dirty glass. Fun fact: if you pour really slow and carefully, you can layer the liquids for an attractive looking drink.

I was also informed that you can add amaretto to coffee. Where have I been?!

Have any of my ten followers used amaretto? We still have a lot left…enough for an Amaretto Sour, Italian Sunset and morning coffee!

I am seriously contemplating throwing some in my coffee. Post Whole 30 of course.

Cotton Candy Cosmos

Cotton Candy Cosmos

1 1/2 Oz. Vodka

1/2 Oz. X-Rated Fusion Liqueur

1 Oz.Cranberry Juice

Pink Cotton Candy

Lime Juice

Place the cotton candy in the martini glass.Mix the rest of ingredients in a shaker and shake well.Pour liquid over the cotton candy.

This idea was SO fun! I loved the creativity and the cosmo was very delicious. Poor R drove around to literally 8 places before she found the cotton candy. I believe she got the idea from TGI Fridays. Forgive the cotton candy in the wine glass. I left my martini glass at home.

HHBC: Black Tie Affair (January)

Before the month ends I will try to get a complete post of this month's HHBC. It was a NYE/Black Tie Affair although we did not dress up. B was our wonderful hostess and I think it was one of the best so far! For our favors we painted HHBC wine glasses. Due to my horrible artistic skills, there will be no picture of this cute idea.

Pork Loin
Broccoli & Cheese Casserole
Roasted Potatoes
Green Bean Bundles
Banana Pudding
Cotton Candy Cosmos

Who knew cotton candy came in a creepy snowman container?

Fruity Pebble Cocktail

Fruity Pebble Cocktail

2 Oz. Bacardi Limon Rum
1 Oz Lime Juice
5 Oz. Cranberry Juice

Stir ingredients together in a glass and serve on the rocks.

This was a mixed drink that did not taste like it was full of sugar. It was refreshing and very easy to make. Plus, the hostess gave us the cute Holiday cup to keep!

HHBC: Christmas Elves

I am overdue for the December HHBC considering that it is almost the end of January. What can I say? Things have been crazy busy! For the December HHBC, DJ was the host and decided on a Christmas theme. Dinner was yummy and the holiday decor made it easy to get into the Christmas spirit! Plus, because she and I are basically sisters separated at birth it was no surprise that the music of choice was Hanson's Christmas album, Snowed In. It's just not Christmas without some Hanson. DJ also gave us reindeer head piece things, a stylish business card holder and a festive drinking glass. Without delay, here is what was on the menu:

Beef Brisket
Scalloped Crack Potatoes
Green Bean Casserole
Strawberry Shortcake
Fruity Pebble Cocktail

Caramel Appletinis

Caramel Appletinis

2 oz. Green Apple Vodka
1 oz. Butterscotch Schnapps
Caramel Candy
Apple Slice


Mix the liquid together in a cocktail shaker with ice. Pour into a glass and add a piece of caramel candy. Complete with an apple slice for garnish.

As mentioned in my previous post, I hosted our first HHBC meeting. I chose the main dish and decided to also have a drink to keep in line with the theme. This drink was so simple and festive! I will warn you that it was VERY strong. Some of the guests may have added a splash or two of pink lemonade, which sounds random, but apparentely it was very good. As with any martini, make sure the drink stays cold - otherwise you may not be able to stomach it!

Hungry Hungry Bia's Club

One day while I was stalking an Eat, Sleep, Cheer blog, I decided that I wanted to do something similar. I had always thought about having something like that in Abilene, but life gets crazy and the idea was hidden somewhere in my brain. However, after deciding that I do not have enough on my plate this fall, I finally decided to sent out an email and see if there was any interest in a supper club. It was at this time that Hungry Hungry Bia's Club was born. We decided to get together monthly: the host picks the theme, the main dish and something else (side, drink, appetizer, etc.) Everything else gets assigned to the guests.

Last week, I hosted the first HHBC meeting and I believe it was a success. It was great to have a few drinks with the girls (my featured drink almost killed everyone) and I love new recipes! We started with a small group (4 of us total) which worked out well because most of us currently reside in an apartment AND everyone was able to eat at the table. Winning.

Autumn Harvest Dinner
Apple &Spice Pork Roast

Seasoned Asparagus

Feta & Tomato Pasta Salad

Apple Pie

Caramel Appletinis

A wonderfully flavored menu! Maybe apple should have been the theme? My mother had given me a few place settings that were "fall ish" so I used the linens to set the table. Also, since most of our stuff is in storage (including all of our bar ware), I picked up a few martini glasses for the featured drink. I put a few caramel candies in each glass and also placed a few blank recipe cards on top. Voila! A very inexpensive, but useful favor for the guests. In the next few days I'll post the recipes to the dishes listed above. Yum!

The table setting. I would have gone crazy if our stuff wasn't in storage. :(

Recipe cards from Hobby Lobby.

Martini glass with caramels for the drinks.