Bacardi Parti Cocktail

It's another War Kitten DOUBLE POST!  Here is a cocktail I made for rum lovers like myself.  This drink is for adults only!

Ingredients:
3 ounces orange juice
1 ounce pineapple juice
1 ounce Bacardi Oakheart
1 ounce Bacardi Pineapple
1/2 ounce Bacardi Select

Directions:
1. Add all ingredients to a glass with ice.
2. Stir until well combined.  Enjoy!

Strawberry Moscato Cupcakes

It's another boozy dessert recipe! You can use any sweet/dessert wine, but I think Moscato or White Zinfandel would work best. Makes about 20 cupcakes.

Ingredients:
1 box Betty Crocker Strawberry Cake Mix
3 eggs
1/2 cup oil
1 cup Moscato wine (I used Barefoot Pink Moscato)
1 package cream cheese frosting
Conversation hearts (optional)

Directions:
1. Add cake mix, eggs, oil and wine to a large bowl, then mix until smooth.
2. Line some cupcake pans with liners and pour in the cupcake batter. The cups should be about two thirds of the way full.
3. Bake the cupcakes according to the cake mix box instructions. I did mine at 325 degrees for 17 minutes. Let them cool completely before frosting.
4. Decorate with conversation hearts if desired. (You could also use fresh strawberries.)

Happy Valentine's Day!

Spiced Apple Beer Cupcakes

I've been seeing lots of recipes for Blue Moon beer cupcakes on Pinterest lately.  Blue Moon isn't my favorite beer, so I went with Shock Top's new Honeycrisp Apple Wheat instead.  Add some apple pie filling to kick up the delicious apple cinnamon flavor!  Makes about 20 cupcakes.

Ingredients:
1 box Betty Crocker Spice Cake mix
1 cup Shock Top Honeycrisp Apple Wheat beer (room temperature)
1/2 cup apple pie filling
3 eggs
1 tub cream cheese flavored cake frosting

Directions:
1. Place cake mix in a large mixing bowl.
2. Chop up the apples from the pie filling into bite-sized pieces so they will distribute evenly. 
3.  Add beer, apple pie filling and eggs to the cake mix.  Stir until well combined. You don't need the other ingredients listed on the cake mix box(water, oil, etc.).
4.  Place cupcake liners in your cupcake pans and pour in cake batter.  Cups should be about two thirds full.
5.  Bake according to cake mix directions, or until a toothpick inserted into the cakes comes out clean.  Cool completely before frosting.

Note:  You can try other flavor combinations as well!  Orange or raspberry wheat beers would do well in yellow or lemon cakes.  Dark beers like Guinness would do well in chocolate cakes. 

Independence Day Sunrise

Celebrate the Fourth of July with this red, white and blue cocktail.  This drink is for adults only.

Ingredients:
Ice
1/2 shot blue curacao
1 1/2 shots coconut rum
Sprite
1/2 shot grenadine

Directions:
1.  Add a handful of ice to a clear glass.  Pour in blue curacao.
2.  Fill the rest of the glass with Sprite.
3.  Carefully pour in the grenadine- it will settle in the middle.
4.  Enjoy the pretty layers, then stir and enjoy!

Mango Margaritas

I love margaritas, but sometimes they are a bit too sour for my taste.  This is a good way to balance the sweet and sour flavors.  See the instructions below the recipe to make a large pitcher-sized batch instead of one drink.  This is an alcoholic drink, and intended for adults only!

Ingredients:
salt and lime juice (optional)
1 shot tequila
1 shot triple sec
1 shot margarita mix
1 shot mango juice (I used Kern's brand, available in cans or a large carton)
Ice cubes

Directions:
1.  If you like your margaritas with salt, wet the rim of a margarita glass with lime juice and then dip it in a plate full of salt.  Add some ice cubes to your glass and set aside. 
2.  Combine liquid ingredients and a handful of ice cubes in a shaker.  Shake until well mixed, then strain into your margarita glass.

NOTE: For large parties, try making a pitcher of margaritas.  Simply add equal parts of all liquids (I start at eight shots of each) to a pitcher, then place it in the refrigerator.  When you're ready for a drink, give the pitcher a quick stir (to evenly mix the alcohol) and then pour into glasses filled with ice.  Easy!

Fifty-Fifty (More or Less)

Who doesn't love the nostalgic taste of oranges and cream?  This tasty drink is for adults only!

Ingredients:
4 shots orange juice
3 shots milk*
2 shots vodka
1 shot triple sec
dash vanilla extract

Directions:
1.  Pour all ingredients in a shaker over ice.  Shake until well combined.
2.  Strain into a pint glass, garnish with orange slice if desired.

*Note: My hubby suggests using vanilla soy milk instead of milk :-)

Chicken Cordon NOM

A modern twist on an old classic! Instead of cooking whole chicken breasts, I chopped up the chicken to mix the flavors together.  Works well paired with egg noodles, or broccoli florets for the low-carb eaters.  Serves two.

Ingredients:
4 strips bacon
2 chicken breast halves, chopped
1 can cream of mushroom soup
2 tablespoons water
1/4 cup dry white wine
1/2 cup shredded swiss cheese (or 4 slices, chopped)
2 cups broccoli florets (pictured) or cooked egg noodles

Directions:
1.  Cook bacon in a large pan until slightly crispy. Remove bacon, leaving grease in pan.
2.  Add chicken to pan and cook for approximately 10 minutes, stirring frequently.
3.  Stir in soup, water, wine, cheese, and bacon. Cover and cook on low heat for 5 minutes or until chicken is cooked through.  Stir in broccoli or noodles.  Divide mixture between two bowls and serve.

Optional: top the bowls with shredded cheese and/or cracked black pepper.  Enjoy!

The Frooty Leprechaun Cocktail

It's March, and we're celebrating with delicious green recipes!  This drink is for adults only!

Ingredients:
Ice
1 1/2 shots vodka
1/2 shot Midori
1/2 shot apple pucker
1/2 shot sweet and sour
Sprite or 7up soda

Directions:
1. Fill a glass with ice cubes. 
2. Add alcoholic ingredients, fill with soda and stir. Enjoy!

Holiday Rum Nog

Many people like eggnog during the holidays, but it's pretty plain tasting and super rich.  Why not make it better with alcohol?  This festive drink is for adults only!

Ingredients:

Ice cubes (optional)

2 shots milk

2 shots eggnog

1 shot spiced rum

1/2 shot hazelnut liqueur

dash of nutmeg (optional)

Directions:

1.  Place a few ice cubes in a glass.  Add milk, eggnog, rum and liqueur.

2. Stir well, sprinkle nutmeg on top if desired.  You could also dress it up with a cinnamon stick garnish if you have any on hand. 

Berry Sangria

I tried the Triple Berry Sangria at Red Lobster, and was inspired to make my own.  You can adjust the flavors to suit your tastes. And before I forget, this drink is for adults only!

Ingredients:
1/2 cup brandy
1/4 cup triple sec
Two 750ml bottles merlot wine (I used Yellow Tail brand)
1 64 oz bottle berry fruit juice (I used Pomegranate Blueberry)
1 lb strawberries, hulled and quartered
1 orange, sliced

Directions:
1. Pour brandy, triple sec and wine into a large pitcher or punch bowl, stir.
2. Add juice to taste and stir.  This will allow you to adjust the "booziness" of the drink.  Start with about half the bottle of juice, and add more if it's too strong for your liking.
3. Add strawberries and orange slices.  Chill for at least 2 hours.
4. Serve over ice and enjoy!

Root Booze Float

I came home from a long day of work (and shopping), and I wanted something sweet with booze in it.  This is an adult version of the classic Root Beer Float, just as sweet but with that extra kick of rum and schnapps.  Oh, and I should mention here that this drink is for adults only.  :-)

Ingredients:
4 ice cubes
1/2 shot butterscotch schnapps
1/2 shot root beer schnapps
1 shot spiced rum (Captain Morgan is my buddy)
Coca Cola soda
2 tablespoons vanilla ice cream

Directions:
1.  Fill a glass with ice cubes.
2.  Add butterscotch schnapps, root beer schnapps, and spiced rum.
3.  Fill with Coca Cola and stir.
4.  Add spoonfulls of ice cream, and enjoy!