Beverages

Scharffen Berger Chocolate Liqueur and a Valentine Martini

I’ve done a lot of liqueurs lately haven’t I? Cranberry Liqueur and Coffee Liqueur for the holidays and in my case made to give to friends and family as holiday gifts. I’ve got Limoncello in my brewing facility (OK, garage) that will be ready for summer but for right now? How about Chocolate Liqueur made [...]

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A Classic Manhattan Served with Mushroom Paté

I recently started working with The Daily Basics, an online lifestyle magazine where I’ll be their cocktail/appetizer contributor each month. Either a cocktail or appetizer will be shared here on Creative Culinary and the companion will be featured on their site. This month, I was inspired to make a Classic Manhattan, which became the tale [...]

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Cuba Libre – Not just a Cocktail but a Story of Bacardi, Coca Cola and Cuba

This is a simple cocktail but it’s one of my favorites; simple to make and so refreshing it’s something I can drink year round. The truth is that long before I ever tried a Cuba Libre I was long hooked on Coca Cola with a slice of lime. Somewhere along the way (of course not [...]

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Grapefruit, Lime and Maraschino Martini

The winter solstice this past year was December 21; when the sun reaches the most southerly declination. It marks the day of the year with the least hours of daylight; the official start of winter. Though we can certainly anticipate more winter weather in Colorado, for me the winter solstice also signals the beginning of [...]

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Bacon and Caramelized Onion Tart and the Best of 2011

Hello and goodbye. That time of year when we look at the past 12 months and search for accomplishments and meaning and face toward the new year with both anticipation and maybe some trepidation. Did we accomplish all we wanted to; did we grow, provide, serve enough? Will we make changes to how we manage [...]

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Kahlua, Eggnog and Jameson Irish Whiskey Cocktail

I’ve long had a holiday love affair with the decadence of Kahlua and Cream; it was the first ‘adult’ drink I was served in the safety of my parents home on Christmas Eve. I didn’t have the typical adolescent tendency to want to get drunk before I was old enough to legally imbibe but I [...]

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Tequila Smash – A Tequila Cocktail and Homemade Maraschino Cherries

This is a very special Happy Hour Friday. A sweet friend I’ve met on Twitter is getting married this Saturday and I’m part of a large group that wanted to celebrate with Nelly (Cooking With Books), even if only in a virtual sense. I remember seeing her tweet, not that long ago, ‘And…I said YESSSSS!‘ [...]

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Cosmopolitan Cranberry Sauce – Is it a Cocktail or a Sidedish?

Like so many, my childhood memory of cranberries is centered on the canned, jellied version of cranberry sauce. I can’t say I hated it, but I just don’t care for anything ‘jelloish’; preferring jam in a heartbeat to jelly. Still I was unprepared for how much I would LOVE cranberry sauce made from scratch. Talk [...]

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The Howl – A Signature Cocktail for the Di Rosa Winery Auction X Event

I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving. Mine was a bit fractured with family far and wide and the plans I had made falling through at the last moment. My sweet friend Karen invited me down to her home for dinner but after dealing with family issues I just sort of wanted to stay home, [...]

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