Creative Culinary – A Denver, Colorado Food & Cocktail Blog

Chocolate Raspberry Martini for #FridayCocktails

by Creative Culinary on June 1, 2012 · 22 comments

First things first. I know that some people are sticklers for convention and if a cocktail is called a martini it HAS to be one made with gin and vermouth. So calling this a martini is a sacrilege in their (Michael Ruhlman) eyes. I get that; I like tradition as much as the next guy. But I also know that calling something a vodkatini sounds silly and the deal breaker for me is this. I buy glasses that are called martini glasses. I put this beverage in those glasses. Hence I think it’s appropriate to call any beverage I serve in them a martini. Sometimes a girl has to say, ‘ The heck with convention!’

Italian Focaccia Bread with Olive Oil, Rosemary and Garlic

My buddy Lora at the Cake Duchess is the hostess this month for a group event put on by her and a couple of other friends. Breaking Bread Society was launched by Lora, Shulie and Marnely and this could not be a more perfect month for Lora to host; she’s an Italian through and through [...]

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The Best Limoncello is Homemade Limoncello!

Limoncello. ‘The Elixir of the Gods.’ Tart, sweet, served bracingly cold; it’s the perfect liqueur for sipping after dinner. Add some Prosecco and berries like I recently did with this Limoncello Cooler and you’ve got an a gorgeous apertif. It’s well known the very best is made in Sicily but that should not stop you [...]

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Corn Muffins with Poblano Peppers & Queso Fresco Cheese for #baketogether

Let’s just cut to the chase. I hate green peppers. I don’t recall picking them out of dishes as a kid so I’m thinking one or both parents felt the same way. My ex-husband didn’t like them which was convenient and both of our daughters hate them too. My sister shares the same proclivity. So…nature [...]

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Caprese Margarita from the Crimson Canary

I’ve written before about joining a group of Denverites for #TwEATDrink and I finally made my way downtown again last week for another event organized by my Twitter pal Sarah Gore. This time the destination was the Crimson Canary on Broadway (certainly one reason for my attendance…it’s close!). I had called and talked to a [...]

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Limoncello and Prosecco Cooler with Raspberry Ice Cubes

I can’t drink Limoncello without thinking of Boston. After my daughter Emily graduated from college her first job as a teacher was at a private school in the small town of Milford, CT. The summer after her first year of teaching, I traveled from Denver to New York City, met my sister Laura there and [...]

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Sausage and Pepper Sandwiches from Denver’s Paisano Sausage

Italian Sausage Sandwich with Italian Sausage, Onions, Red Bell Pepper and Balestreri Sangiovese Red Wine

Earlier this spring I was contacted by Erika Kerekes with Deluxe Corporation, based in Shoreview MN, wanting to know if I could help put together an event for one of their clients, a local Denver sausage maker. Kathy Laurienti, the owner wanted to introduce their newest product, a dry Italian sausage that they sell along with [...]

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The BEST Fresh Margarita

When I made this blood orange margarita in February I mentioned that I normally reserve margaritas for the summer. And this cocktail is the one I save until then. The first touch of warm weather and I start to think of margaritas; there is something about warm weather, a barbecue and having friends over that [...]

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How Chocolate Angel Food Cake with Bourbon Caramel Sauce became Brownies with Bourbon Caramel Frosting

If you’ve visited this blog for a bit, you know I live in Denver, Colorado. One mile high. Five thousand two hundred and eighty feet above sea level. Sea level being the place where recipes are written and then folks ‘up in the air’ have to revise for our altitude. I get it; I’ve been [...]

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Watermelon Martini

Doesn’t this Watermelon Martini look amazing? I think it does…but I was in no mood to make it myself! No,after a torturous week of dealing with food poisoning I’m not in the mood to eat or drink…and you know I love both.

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Strawberry Squares

This recipe for strawberries that are mixed with egg whites, whipping cream and sugar and then frozen between layers of crunchy nuts was a favorite of mine a long time ago. I still remember the reason I didn’t make it very often though and why it eventually lost favor with me. It was a mess [...]

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Gin and Tonic – A Quintessentially Classic Summer Cocktail

I’ve enjoyed this venture into cocktail making but can I share something with you? I don’t drink a lot…no, really I don’t! I come from a family with a history of alcoholism and as a result I’m as cautious as any one person could be to be aware of my drinking habits. So…do I drink [...]

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Panzanella (Tomato and Bread) Salad for April Recipe Swap

Panzanella (Tomato and Bread) Salad with Garlic and Parmesan

Fate must have played a strong hand in this month’s Recipe Swap; a group event where we are given an assignment that consists of an old recipe from a vintage cookbook; we’re currently working out of a book called The Ford Treasury and this recipe is from the Hotel Dilworth which the recipe itself indicates [...]

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Jalapeno Pepper Patty Melt for National Grilled Cheese Month

When the folks at Tillamook approached me several weeks ago to participate with them and other blogs in celebrating National Grilled Cheese Month in Grilled Cheese Recipepalooza of course I said yes; who doesn’t love that combo of butter toasted bread with some gooey cheese melted inside. I hoped that they would love my take on [...]

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Bacardi Cocktail – Another Classic for #HappyHourFriday

I might have had a moment in college when I tried an underage drinking experiment but the truth is, drinking to excess has never been my thing and worrying about getting into trouble kept me from having too many of those experiences. So turning 21 was actually a big moment; when I could order a [...]

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