Sangria

This might just be my new favorite summer drink!! I love red wine, but the fruit gave it that summertime feeling and some added sweetness.

Sangria
by Emeril Lagasse

1/2 cup sugar
1/4 cup water
1 large lemon
1 large orange
1 small apple
1 750ml bottle dry red wine
1/2 cup Grand Marnier (I used Cointreau)

Combine the sugar and water in a small saucepan over medium heat and cook until the sugar dissolves.
Remove from heat and allow to cool.
Thinly slice 1/2 of the lemon and 1/2 of the orange.
Add the lemon and orange slices to a large pitcher.
Juice the other halves of the lemon and orange and add the juice and the rinds to the pitcher.
Core and thinly slice the apple, and add it to the pitcher.
Add wine, Grand Marnier, and the chilled syrup to the pitcher and stir.
Refrigerate until chilled, about 2 hours.
Serve straight up or on the rocks with some of the fruit.

Hot Apple Cider with Rum

This is the perfect way to end a long chilly day. A nice mug of warm apple cider with rum. Mmmm!!

Hot Apple Cider with Rum

1 oz rum

6oz apple cider

Pour into to mug.

Microwave for 90 seconds.

Enjoy!!

Steak Diane Dinner Party

My brother in law and sister in law came over for a dinner party. We all had a tough week (some of us worse than others). We had a lot of great food. Some was premade. Here are the recipes for what I made.

Menu

Shrimp Cocktail

Gouda cheese and crackers

Spinach dip and crackers

Smashed Garlic Cheddar Potatoes

Grilled Corn

Steak Diane

Chateau Gravat Medoc bordeaux 2005

Frappuccino Martinis

Angel food cake with berries and whipped cream

Strawberry Shortcake Cheesecake

Smashed Garlic Cheddar Potatoes

2 lbs red skin potatoes

3 cloves garlic, smashed

1/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese

3/4 cup milk (more or less for desired consistency)

salt and pepper

Dice potatoes into 1 inch chunks.

Boil potatoes and garlic for 20 minutes until fork tender.

Drain potatoes and add cheese, milk, salt and pepper.

Mash with potato masher until mostly smooth.

Grilled Corn

6 ears corn

butter

salt and pepper

Remove husks and silks from corn and pat dry.

Grill on medium high for about 8 minutes (turning every 2 minutes).
Drizzle with butter and salt and pepper.

Steak Diane

Inspired by Paula Dean, but with much less butter

3 tbsp butter

1 tsp extra virgin olive oil

2 cup sliced mushrooms

1/2 cup diced red onion

3 cloves garlic, minced

1/2 of lemon

2 tsp Worcestershire sauce

pinch salt

1/2 tsp pepper

3 tbsp fresh parsley leaves

4 ribeye steaks

Add butter and oil to pan.

Add mushrooms, onion, garlic, lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce, salt, and pepper to pan.

Cook until mushrooms are tender (about 7 minutes).

Stir in chopped parsley.

Salt and pepper the steaks.

Grill steaks on medium high heat for about 4 minutes per side.

Drizzle sauce or steaks.

Frappuccino Martini's

9 1/2 oz bottle Starbucks frapaccuccino coffee drink

1 1/2 oz Absolut vodka

chocolate syrup

Drizzle martini glass with chocolate syrup.

In a cocktail shaker, mix coffee and vodka.

Shake and pour into martini glass.

Passion Fruit & Pomegranate Cocktail

This might be one of my new favorite cocktails. Perfect for sitting on the deck on a hot summer night. It wasn't too sweet or too strong, but perfect. They were so good that they were dangerous.

Passion Fruit & Pomegranate Cocktail

1/2 cup vodka (I used Absolut)
1 tbsp Cointreau (use could substitute Triple Sec)
6 oz passion fruit juice
6 oz pomegranate juice

Combine ingredients into a shaker with ice. Shake and serve!!!

Pomegranate Martini

I had this martini at Carrabba's Italian Grill, and knew I had to try and remake it at home. They used Absolut Apeach Vodka, but I didn't want to buy a whole bottle for just one drink. I made my own with a can of peaches and Grey Goose vodka.




Pomegranete Martini

1&1/2 oz Grey Goose vodka/peach blend
3 oz 100% pure pomagranate juice
2 oz orange juice
1&1/2 oz 7-Up

I blended the Grey Goose and peach mixture in blender until smooth. Mix ingredients into shaker with ice, and serve in chilled martini glasses!!! Enjoy!