Strawberries & Cream

Not your ordinary strawberry milkshake, this dairy-free delight will make you wonder where it has been all your life.

 

Ingredients:

Strawberries - frozen
Coconut milk
Crème de Fraise de Bois
Agave nectar
Strawberry

Use pure coconut milk in a can, not in a carton from the refrigerated section. Empty entire contents of coconut milk into a microwave safe dish and heat in microwave for 20 seconds. Whisk coconut milk with a fork until smooth and creamy. In separate dish combine ½ cup coconut milk, 2 tablespoons agave nectar and 3 tablespoons Crème de Fraise. Place 1 cup frozen strawberries and coconut milk mixture into blender. When thouroughly blended pour into tall glass. Garnish with fresh strawberry slice. Insert straw or grab a spoon!

NEXT WEEK: I’m sure those who love the sweet stuff have been enjoying these first 2 months. However, I’m ready to plunge into some more savoury fare. Get ready for the month of March featuring everything whiskey. I’ll be mixing this staple to create mouth watering concoctions. First up: Easy Medicine - See you then.

Sticky Cherry

This cordial gets it's color and sweetness from cherry preserves. Begins with an almond aroma, mingles with honey, and finishes distinctly cherry. Excellent paired with dark chocolate - but don't take my word for it.

Ingredients:

Cherry preserves
Honey
Almond extract
Brandy
Cherry

Take care to avoid fruit chunks and take 1 tablespoon cherry preserves with 1 teaspoon honey and ½ teaspoon almond extract. Mix and press through fine sieve to create a smooth thick syrup. Slice fresh cherry and place half in cordial glass. Add 2 tablespoons Brandy. Pour cherry mixture into Brandy and gently stir until fully incorporated.

NEXT WEEK: Strawberries & Cream

Pink Goddess

When the Inca Goddess of Fertility dances with the powers of cranberries, take a seat. Really. Just pour yourself a glass and relax.

Ingredients:

Gingerale
Damiana Guaycura liqueur
Cranberry juice
Cranberries

Slice 5 whole frozen cranberries in half and place into a large tumbler. Pour in 2 tablespoons liqueur di Damiana. Slowly add ½ cup chilled gingerale and ¼ cup ice-cold 100% cranberry juice (no sugar, please). Ice cubes optional.

                                                                   Isn't she lovely?

NEXT WEEK: Sticky Cherry

Pomgria

To kick off February with “Shades of Pink” let’s shake things up with this antioxidant filled sangria. Red wine and pomegranates sweetened with a drizzling of honey.

Ingredients:

Cabernet
Pama liqueur
Honey
Pomegranate juice
Pomegranate seeds
Mandarin

In a separate glass mix ¼ cup cabernet, ½ cup 100% pomegranate juice, 2 tablespoons Pama liqueur and 2 teaspoons of honey. In serving glass add 2 tablespoons of pomegranate seeds, a mandarin slice and fill halfway with ice. Pour prepared mix over ice.

I brought a pitcher to my good friends Val and Dave. They said it was “really good.” Were they just being polite? Let me know. If you would like to make a pitcher, too, check out below this pic of Val enjoying a glass.　
　

If you plan to make a pitcher here is the breakdown for 8 - 10 servings (depending on size of glass and amount of ice used):

Add 10 -12 mandarin slices and 1 cup of pomegranate seeds to pitcher. Pour in 2 ½ cups of cabernet, 5 cups 100% pomegranate juice, 1 ¼ cups Pama liqueur and 6 ½ tablespoons of honey. Stir until honey is incorporated.

Pitcher can be made hours ahead of time for flavor to enhance. Garnish glasses with 2 tablespoons of pomegranate seeds and a fresh mandarin slice each. Fill glasses halfway with ice and pour from pitcher.

NEXT WEEK: Pink Goddess