The Importance of a Flavorful Cocktail

Yikes, it's been a week since I last wrote, and I apologize for that. There were leftovers to be used up, after-work plans, and just some plain old relaxation this past week, so I got a little lazy. But, I got down to it yesterday, posted a new menu for the coming week, and did the food shopping! We're back on track!

You may have noticed I've started including a "Cocktail of the Week" on my menus. You may also have thought, that's not food, and there's no cooking involved in drinking, but I don't see it that way. I love a flavorful cocktail, something that pulls together interesting flavors, and pairs nicely with a meal. In a way, it's still cooking, or concocting. You have to get the right flavors, and pair them correctly, in order to have a successful cocktail, and that skill is intricately entwined with all things cooking. So there...it's cooking...sort of!

I always find myself printing off, or cutting out, recipes for cocktails and have gathered quite the collection...all drinks I've never tried. So, in an attempt to minimize the pile of paper sitting in my kitchen, and continuing in my endeavor to digitize my recipes, I've been trying to make a new cocktail each week. This project has expanded my bar collection, and my taste buds!

For this week's cocktail, I chose The Limonsecco, one that had been published in a magazine awhile back, from a restaurant, I believe in NYC. I happened to have all the ingredients on hand, so it was a perfect choice since we had pleasantly-unexpected house guests on Saturday night! The drink consists of an ounce of Limoncello (which I LOVE), 2 dashes of orange bitters, a splash of rose water and Prosecco. It was so easy to make because there was no shaking involved - just pour the first three ingredients into a glass, and top with Prosecco...could it be any easier? And tasty too! It was a great way to finish off an evening, but would be an equally good way to start off an evening. It's refreshing, and fancy enough to make for a nice cocktail at the beginning of a dinner party, light enough to move on to wine at dinner. The rose water adds a very interesting tinge to the taste of the concoction, and you all know how I love trying an ingredient in a new way! Cheers!

A Few Days Have Passed

Hi everyone! I apologize for the lack of posts over the past few days. There's a lot going on in the next few weeks, and I've been trying to get ready for many of these things, rather than cooking nightly meals. Let me tell you about everything, so you have some things to look forward to in the next few weeks of posts.

from Flickr - by Pedro J. Ferreira

Halloween is my favorite day of the entire year, and we throw an annual party! I love to try new, themed recipes for the occasion so I will definitely be writing about all the fun treats that I'll be making. I've already purchased a cookie tin which makes cookies in the shape of witch's fingers, and I found these really cool little sugar appliques, in the shape of knives. They can be added to the top of desserts, with some icing that looks like blood for a really cool murder-scene themed cupcake! The theme of this year's party is Zombies, too, so I'm going to try and do a bunch of appetizers with a play on zombies. I have a big cauldron that I mix drinks in as well, so stay tuned for this year's signature cocktail!

A few days after the party, we depart for a European vacation! I'm so excited about this trip, because we are going to three countries that I've never been to before: Belgium, Germany and the Czech Republic. My plan is to write each evening, in order to discuss all the food we ate each day. We're going to be in a different city almost every day, so it should make for some really diverse posts! I can't wait to see the sights and eat the food of three cultures that I have yet to really delve into! We're going to learn together!

from Flickr - by PDX Pipeline

A week or so after we return to the states and our daily lives, it will be Thanksgiving, and this year, I'm hosting! My family, and my husband's family, will convene at our place for a delicious feast. I've never hosted a dinner party this big before, but I'm really looking forward to it. I have some ideas for creative sides, and I might even make my own pies for the event! I'm sure there will be more than a few posts on the planning, the shopping, the prepping and the cooking that goes on the day of Thanksgiving! You all know how I love being host...and this one will be a doozy!

from Flickr - by bbic

Just a month after that comes the winter holidays, and while I usually celebrate Hanukkah with my family by going out for a nice meal, my husband's parents usually come visit for Christmas Eve and the day of...which means another couple of fancy celebratory meals! I really have my work cut out for me this holiday season, but you know that I'm enjoying every second of it, and this year will be even more special because I can share it all with you, my wonderful readers!

'Tis the season for eatin'!

Eyeball it!

First, let me apologize for not writing yesterday! I didn't get home until really late last night because I spent my evening listening to Bon Jovi croon his greatest hits! There are few things that could keep me from writing, but Bon Jovi...he's one of them! :)

And now, on to the culinary wanderings for today!

There's something to be said for following a recipe to the letter, especially if you are still getting your "kitchen-legs." Measuring spices and oils to the exact amount can prove helpful if you don't have a lot of experience, but once you get a slight grasp of the concepts, try branching out, and put that 1/2 teaspoon measurement spoon away. You can usually see, as you pour, when you've used the correct amount.

From Flickr - by chef@isimmer

A lot of people get scared that they are going to over-season, or mess up the balance of flavors in a dish by eyeballing the measurements. If you have that concern, start off with a timid pour. You can ALWAYS add more, but it's a lot more difficult to take away, so pour a little of all the spices necessary for a dish, and then taste it. Add some more and taste it again! The key is to always taste your food, at every step of the way. If you taste the flavors as they are melding, you can certainly tell when you need to add more.

If you watch any of those cooking competition shows, you know that people are always getting burned for not tasting their food, and that's not just on tv! I wouldn't want to eat a meal in a restaurant, knowing that no one tasted it along the way. And the same goes for your kitchen - don't send anything out of it without tasting it, and adjusting the flavors to your liking. The more you use certain spices and herbs, you'll learn the specific tastes and will be able to recognize when your dish is missing one thing, or has too much of another.

From Flickr - by TiGeRwInGs

If you still feel hesitant to try the eyeballing method, try this. Take a recipe you want to try and make it to the letter. Measure every single ingredient. Enjoy your meal but concentrate on remembering the tastes. In the coming weeks, try making the recipe again, using the eyeball method. Can you recreate the dish, or even, make it better!?

Get Cookin' to this Playlist!

I love listening to music while I cook. I tend to get it pumpin' in the kitchen and then, as I finish up the dish, calm it down with a few low-key songs. Check out this playlist!

Source

Bartender by T-Pain (feat. Akon): The best way to start any recipe is with a glass of wine! Who better to serve it than T-Pain as bartender?!

Burn It Up by R.Kelly (feat Wisin & Yandel): Now, we don't really need to be burning things in the kitchen, but this song gets me groovin', and when I'm groovin', I'm COOKIN'!!

Fuego by Pitbull: Ah, now we're getting hot! On the same theme of burnin' it up, in a metaphorical sense.!

Breakin' Dishes by Rihanna: If this song doesn't get you bumpin', I don't know what will. But again, don't break the dishes, unless they just can't handle your culinary creativity!

Kitchen by Mary J Blige: To be honest, I just love that Mary J is talkin' about her kitchen...regardless of the double entendre. Protect your kitchen!

Hot N' Cold by Katy Perry: Whether you're making a hot meal or a cold dish, Katy Perry will definitely rock through it with ya!

Pour Some Sugar On Me by Def Leppard: Everything's better with a little sugar! ;)

Green Onions by Booker T and the MG's: As you follow more and more recipes, you'll find that tons of things are garnished with green onions! They make the plate look pretty and add a nice bite! What kind of playlist would this be if there was no garnish?

Syrup & Honey by Duffy: I love Duffy's voice and what better way to start putting things away while your meal cooks and start winding down from your busy day, then with a little syrup and honey?

Horchata by Vampire Weekend: Horchata is a Mexican delicacy, made with rice, vanilla and cinnamon, and Vampire Weekend is a great way to relax at the end of the day!

Lemon Meringue by Poe: What's dinner without dessert? ;)

I hope you enjoyed this playlist and it gets you jammin' in the kitchen! It doesn't have to be a chore to come home and make dinner each night! Make your own little party in your kitchen and enjoy yourself!