Tag: Cranberry

Cranberry, Spice, and Everything Nice

I know that I’m not alone when I say that I love the Holidays!  From Thanksgiving (ok, if I’m being honest with myself, from Halloween) through Christmas and New Year’s Eve I love the Holidays.  All of the decorations, the cool-to-cold weather, the first snow, and all of the amazing food!  This time of year, we make all of those special recipes that define Thanksgiving and Christmas to our taste buds.  The Cranberry Sauce simmering away on the stove.  The Snickerdoodles baking in the oven.  The Apple Pie cooling on the counter. 

I don’t know about you, but I always end up with some odds and ends left over from a flurry of holiday cooking and baking.  An apple or pear too bruised to use in a pie.  About half a bag of cranberries that I didn’t use.  I always over buy cinnamon sticks because I love cinnamon and I can always find someway to use it.  So I gathered all of my leftover Thanksgiving goodies and threw them in a pot and let it simmer away for an hour or so… the kitchen smelled amazing as the flavors mingled and the liquid reduced. 

Once cooled I mixed it with some Maker’s Mark and topped it with Fever Tree Ginger Beer.  Honestly, it would mix well with almost any liquor, it just depends on what your feeling and what you have on hand.  But your favorite vodka or rum (I would go with a Spiced Rum over a Silver Rum) or even a nice tequila would all be a nice addition to this reduction.  If you don’t have Ginger Beer, Ginger Ale, Club Soda, or even just Sprite would be good.  Or you could spike some Champagne or Sparkling Apple Juice to make a festive Mimosa.  This juice is incredibly versatile.  I was really tempted to reduce some of it down to a syrup to serve over pancakes- but that will have to wait for the next batch! 

Let me know what you think and how you use this concoction!

Cranberry-Pear-Cinnamon-Maple Reduction

  • In a 5 quart pot combine-
  • -6 cups water
  • -12oz fresh Cranberries
  • -2 Pears (or Apples or one of each) cored and chopped
  • -2 Cinnamon Sticks
  • -5oz Demerara Sugar
  • -4oz Pure Maple Syrup
  • -and if you have an orange lying around, throw a slice or two into the pot

Bring it all to a slow boil, stirring occasionally.  Reduce heat to low and simmer for about 45 minutes.  Taste test for desired sweetness/flavor concentration.  Either continue reducing or allow to cool and strain into a storage container and chill.

Spiked Cranberry and Spice

  • In a Collins glass, over ice combine
  • 1.5 oz Maker’s Mark (or your favorite spirit to get you in the Holiday Spirit)
  • 2 oz Cranberry-Pear Reduction
  • Stir to combine
  • Top with Fever Tree Ginger Beer
  • Garnish with an Orange Wedge, Cranberries, or nothing at all.

Enjoy!

#WhatchaMakinWednesday (Part One)

Every Wednesday I try to create a new cocktail.  I call it #WhatchaMakinWednesday.  Sometimes it’s recipe testing for a competition drink.  Sometimes it’s for a new seasonal menu.  Sometimes it’s just something that I’ve been wanting to try.

I will (almost) always share the Wednesday recipe.  But, I’ll be honest, sometimes my ideas just plain don’t work.  I will try to share the #fails but no promises.  And other times I prefer to keep my recipes a bit of a secret.  I am always open to feed back and ingredient/flavor ideas.  Or names for my cocktails.  I’m SOOOO bad at naming them! 

This weeks WhatchaMakin concoction was inspired by a few things.  First, the PERFECT little Pears that I saw at the Farmer’s Market.  Second, the Brown Sugar Simple Syrup that I made earlier in the week that is so good I want to take a bath in it!  Third, it’s almost Fall and I’m craving some of those flavors.  Thus, this bourbon-based libation sprang forth from the first fallen leaves fully formed and ready to be consumed. 

What do you think?

  • 1.5 ounces Maker’s Mark
  • 1.5 ounces Pear Juice
  • 1 ounce No Sugar Added Cranberry Juice
  • ¾ ounce Brown Sugar Simple Syrup
  • ¼ ounce Lemon Juice
  • Combine all ingredients in a shaker with ice.  Shake for 10-15 seconds and either serve over ice or strain into a goblet/snifter and garnish with a slice of pear.

*Brown Sugar Simple Syrup Combine Equal Parts Dark Brown Sugar and Water over medium high heat.  Stirring occasionally bring to a boil.  Allow to cool and keep in the refrigerator until ready to use.

P.S. What would you name it?

“Something Fruity” Part 1

One of the biggest requests that I get while bartending is “I want something fruity!  I want it strong but I DON’t want to taste the alcohol!!!”  In my mind I’m thinking, “Well, I’ve never met you before and I have no idea what you like or don’t like or might be allergic to…. But sure, let me whip you up something AMAZING! (Insert eyeroll here.)”

One of the first tips I’ve given to the bartenders I’ve trained is to have a couple of “fruity” drinks ready to suggest.  They can be some old standbys like a Sex on the Beach or a Malibu and Pineapple OR you can take this opportunity to create a signature offering. 

One of my signature “something fruity” options is the Dragonfly.  One of my favorite flavored rums is the Bacardi Dragonberry.  It’s a Dragonfruit and Strawberry flavor that is fruity without being cloying or overpowering and it mixes well with tons of things.  Plus almost everyone likes rum.  Rum is a fantastic base for so many drinks.  (And who doesn’t love a good rum & coke?) The Triple Sec gives it another layer of Citrus without adding anymore tartness.  The sour mix keeps it from being too sweet.  The Cranberry Juice is a familiar ingredient in the “something fruity” category of drinks.  Plus it makes the drink a really pretty color!     

I call this the Dragonfly.  There is no great story behind the name.  I’m really, REALLY bad at naming my drinks and one night I had to think of something to call it, so Dragonfly it was! 

  • Dragonfly
  • *Build this directly in a Collins Glass (10 ounce glass, or close to that) filled with ice
  • 1.5 ounces Bacardi Dragonberry
  • 1 ounce Triple Sec
  • Splash of Sour Mix
  • Top with Cranberry Juice
  • Stir to Combine and Enjoy!