Wine and Spirits

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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Cranberry and Croissant Bread Pudding with Champagne Zabaglione Sauce

My grandparents are from all over; I’m a mixture of German, Scandinavian , English and Irish. So would someone please tell me why I love all things Italian? My theory is that a female in the family made a clandestine visit to Italy once, came home after a fling with a handsome Italian man and [...]

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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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French 75 – An Elegant Champagne Cocktail for New Years Eve

I wanted something a bit unique for New Years; something more than ‘just’ a glass of Champagne but not what has become my standard of adding Champagne to a liqueur either. I’ve done that a lot over this holiday season with the Cranberry liqueur I made. I love it but it was time for something [...]

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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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