Wednesday, February 9, 2011

A Valentine’s Day Cocktail

RileyAdamsFoodBlogPostpic_thumb_thumb[3]

When I started thinking about a Valentine’s Day recipe, I kept coming back to cocktails for some reason. :)IMG_3615

Actually, we haven’t had cocktails at the house for a while…just wine and dark beer. Wine is nice for Valentine’s Day, too, but it just doesn’t seem quite special enough for the event.

Whenever I get a recipe that says to muddle something, it sort of muddled me. But now, after Googling how best to muddle, I’ve found that it’s just pressing ingredients (in this case, fruit) in the mixing glass, with a pestle-looking thing called a muddler. Since I don’t have a muddler, I used my wooden spoon instead. I think I may have to invest in a muddler, though—it did take a while with the back of my wooden spoon.

I think the gods are shutting down my photography pursuits in protest. After making my drink and putting it in my grandmother’s cute crystal glass…I couldn’t find my camera. I looked and looked. So then I decided to take out my phone and snap a picture…and my phone kept flashing “Droid! Droid! Droid!” over and over again. :) I took out the phone battery, put it back in again, held my breath and….”Droid! Droid! Droid.”

So you will see some lovely stock photos today of strawberries. But I will find my camera!

Berrytest_012Here’s the Valentine's Day-worthy Strawberry Rum Punch
3 strawberries (and a 4th for a garnish)
3 slices of canned pineapple
2 oz. white rum
1/2 oz of the pineapple juice from the can
1/4 oz. simple syrup (dissolve one part sugar in one part boiling water & cool)

JGS_Strawberry10Muddle the strawberries and pineapples in the bottom of the mixing glass. Add the ice and the other ingredients and then shake to mix. Garnish with a strawberry.

Hope everyone has a Happy Valentine’s Day!

Riley/Elizabeth
Delicious and Suspicious (July 6 2010) Riley Adams
Pretty is as Pretty Dies –Elizabeth Spann Craig

13 comments:

  1. The photography gods just don't like you, do they hon? Lovely stock photos, LOL. I need to find a non alcoholic special occasion drink - neither my husband nor I drink alcohol, but we're tired of sparkling grape juice. The strawberries and the muddling give me an idea of what to start with, though... *goes off thinking*

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  2. One day, I'll have some really amazing food photos and *then* the photography gods will be sorry! Ha!

    I think you could make a non-alcoholic version of this with the muddled fruit, for sure! Happy Valentine's Day to you both!

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  3. I don't have a muddler either. But I wonder... What would be the difference if you just ran all this through a blender??? Add a cup of ice and you have a strawberry/pineapple milkshake (with rum). I am sure it is a different drink when muddled, but blending fruit drinks is a time honored (and easy) way to make this.

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  4. A muddler? That's my brain, me thinks. :) Sounds lovely to me (the drink) and I'm looking forward to concocting one this weekend.

    Thanks, Riley!

    ~Avery

    AveryAames.com
    @AveryAames

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  5. This is a gorgeous drink for Valentine's day. I can't help but see it served with a beautiful plate of dark chocolates - pouring a kind of spiked, chocolate-covered strawberry flavor over the buds. Oh, yes, that sounds very, very good to me! Happy Valentine's Day, Riley!

    ~ Cleo Coffeehouse Mystery.com
    Cleo Coyle on Twitter

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  6. Sounds delicious! I can't wait to mix up a batch for my wife on Valentine's Day! Thanks for sharing the recipe!

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  7. A Year on the Grill--That's what I said about halfway through the muddling process! Ha! But when I looked up the muddling online, the site said: "It brings out the extra flavor from certain ingredients, such as fruits and herbs, that you wouldn't get if they were just thrown into the drink." (From http://www.barnonedrinks.com/tips/techniques/muddling.html). But I'd imagine that those flavors would surely be released in a blender! At any rate, bartenders seem fervent about their muddling. For some reason. :)

    Avery--Hope you'll enjoy it! :)

    Cleo--The only thing that would make this recipe better is if we had a *chocolate covered* strawberry for the garnish! Mmm!

    Howard--Hope she'll enjoy it! Happy Valentine's Day!

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  8. Love your photos, Elizabeth. You make me laugh with the camera issues, because I've so been there! Gorgeous drink and I can't say that I've ever owned a muddler, but maybe Dave's suggestion would work for me. Blender, here I come!

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  9. This sounds delicious! As another person who lacks a muddler, I think I'll try using my citrus reamer. It's not quite the right shape, but it might work

    The combination of flavors sounds amazing. A little touch of sunshine for this cold and dreary winter we're having.

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  10. Julie--The funny thing is that I take *great* pictures of people and landscapes...but apparently I'm cursed with food photography! Yes, I think I might have to pull the blender out next time and do a taste test. Maybe these bartenders need to get in touch with their blender, too.

    Wendy--That's a great idea! I think I have a citrus reamer...well, somewhere. Actually, I'm suddenly feeling the need to organize...

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  11. I think this would be great whenever strawberries are in season (that would be July for us). However, will get some imports and let it perk up my winter evening. Thanks, Elizabeth.

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  12. MJ--I would be so sad if it took that long for me to get strawberries! But then I have a feeling that you've got some in-season things that I won't get until much later, too. :)

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  13. This sounds so good, Elizabeth! I have to pick up some pineapple juice and strawberries!

    ~ Krista

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