Ruby Root

Expand your palate’s horizon with this brilliant delight. Pair with a mediterranean salad generously topped with feta.

Beets

Basil

Tequila

Agave Nectar

Add ½ cup chopped fresh beets, ¼ cup lightly packed chopped fresh basil and ¼ cup water to small saucepot. Bring to boil, cover and simmer for 5 minutes. Strain liquid and chill. In serving glass add 3 tablespoons tequila and ½ tablespoon agave nectar. Finish with 4 tablespoons of chilled beet/ basil juice mixture. Garnish with single floating basil leaf.

NEXT WEEK: October invites you to try pumpkin in your drink.

Crazy Maize

Extreme fresh from the garden flavor.

Corn whiskey

White corn

Cucumber

Honey

Peel cucumber and save peel for garnish. Using a sharp knife remove corn kernels lengthwise down cob. Add ¾ cup peeled and chopped cucumber along with ½ cup fresh white corn kernels and ¼ cup 100% corn whiskey to blender. Blend for 15 seconds then pour through sieve into serving glass half filled with ice. Add ½ teaspoon honey and stir. Roll cucumber peel and hold together with toothpick for garnish.

NEXT WEEK: Ruby Root

Marathon

The Battle of Marathon was fought on a field of fennel. My husband’s generosity wins out over my stubbornness to use professional bartending equipment he gifted in this earthy infusion.

Ingredients:

Fennel

Lemon grass

Gin

I did use the shiny fancy pants tools for this recipe, but I refuse to measure in jiggers. Add ½ cup coarsely chopped fennel bulb to shaker. Select a green stalk for garnish and set aside. Peel off top layer of lemon grass and chop 1 tablespoon then add to shaker along with 1/3 cup gin. Grab muddler and macerate contents, about 20 strokes. Place strainer lid onto shaker and then cap on lid. Shake continuously for 15 seconds to sufficiently chill and dilute. Place sieve over decoratively slim glass. Remove cap and pour drink through strainer in lid into the glass topped with a sieve. (you will need both if you muddled properly) Slip in the garnish to finish.

shaker and muddler

NEXT WEEK: Crazy Maize

Blushing Maria

Welcome to the beginning of a month filled with intriguing and delish vege combinations.

With a delicate hint of heat, this cocktail promises clean uncomplicated taste.

Ingredients:

Jalapenos

Tomatoes

Carrot juice

Tomato paste

Vodka

Sea salt

Water

Remove seeds and add ¼ chopped jalapenos to small saucepot with ½ cup water and ½ teaspoon sea salt.  Bring to boil and reduce mixture uncovered for 5 minutes. In mixing cup add 1 tablespoon tomato paste and 2 tablespoons carrot juice. Pour jalapeno water through sieve into mixing cup along with 3 tablespoons Vodka then stir. Place thick slice of fresh tomato on bottom of short glass then fill with ice. Pour cocktail mixture into serving glass. Garnish with a tomato slice, jalapeno slices and radish tips.

NEXT WEEK: Marathon