Rhubarb Martini

Tired of Cosmopolitans and Margaritas? Want to wow your friends at your next cocktail party? Need a little something to lift your spirits? Is it 5:00?

There’s a simple solution! Make this syrup and add vodka.

Rhubarb Syrup

3 C chopped rhubarb
1 ½ C water
1 C sugar

Simmer for about 10-15 minutes, or until all the rhubarb has broken down and gotten all soft and mushy.  Cool a bit. Pour through mesh strainer – resist the temptation to press on the solids. You only want the gorgeous pink syrup. To really make a clear syrup, also strain the liquid  through cheese cloth. You'll be amazed at how much of the solids the cheesecloth will catch. The color just keeps getting prettier and prettier every time you strain it. 

I mix this with lemonade, ice tea, and seltzer water….but it’s best with vodka. It freezes like a dream.

What to do when you don't want to cook or blog.

 Day 17: Make or eat a traditional dish. 

I don't know about where you live, but here in Michigan, hard cider had taken over! It's so very, very delicious! I recommend! Lucky us, we have an excellent cider mill just one mile from our front door, so I admit, we indulge once in awhile. 

Here was our first serving. 

Here was our second serving. Then we split a black bean burger. 

Grapefruit Jalapeno Martini

V is for Variety and G is for Grapefruit Jalapeno Martini

Welcome to the Vegan Month of Food (VeganMoFo)  I intend to post 20 times during the month of September – all about vegan food. Check out the gals who organize the project here, and search out other fantastic vegan bloggers. I decided on the theme of “V is for Variety” because, honestly, once I quit the chicken breast – my food choices exploded! Join me!

Wow your friends or just drink alone. Either way, you won’t be sorry. I have been drinking these all week….sometimes with a touch of vodka and sometimes with extra soda water. Tart and spicy and totally refreshing!

Here’s what you need:

2 C grapefruit juice

½ fresh jalapeno, seeds and veins intact

Soda water

(vodka for you grown-ups out there)

Here’s what you do:

Simmer the juice and pepper for about 15-20 minutes or until it’s beginning to thicken and get syrupy just a bit. Strain out the pepper and any stray seeds. Chill. I used ¼ C of juice, one shot of vodka and then topped it off with soda water for my pretty martinis.  For a super refreshing afternoon drink, make it 50/50 juice and soda. 

My new Vitamix: VeganMoFo # 14

I'm a Veganwannabe: Post #14

Hail to the Vitamix. Seriously. Why did I wait so long to treat myself to one of these babies? This is a ‘reconditioned’ model, which I found on their site, by organizing my purchasing options from lowest price to highest price. Have you seen how much these guys cost?! My new blogger friend, Livvy, suggested this to me and I didn't hesitate to try it! I saved hundreds of dollars!!! No kidding.

First thing I made is found on page one of the Vitamix cookbook – Garden Fresh Cocktail. I actually laughed out loud when I heard how quiet the machine is and how fast is goes.

Question: Am I silly to believe that my Garden Fresh Cocktail would turn out as gloriously rosy as the one in the picture? I guess that's what spinach will do to a smoothie! 

Actually – it was A+ delicious. J  

Next Post: Cauliflower and Potato Soup...

all whirled to a wonderfully silky texture in my newest kitchen friend. 

Spice Rack Challenge: Mint

Well, I feel like I might be cheating on this month’s challenge…..

 1) I really don’t like mint. I only use it in a few things.

 2) Because I don’t like it, I didn’t even want to learn about it (that’s lame, I know)

3) I live in a small town with a small grocery store, so no hope for fantastic fresh herbs, just the          pre-packaged stuff.

 4) I have always wanted to taste a Mojito….. so, there was no real challenge for me this month!  

            Just a nice, warm, happy feeling after working on and tasting this delish drink.

Here’s what you need:

Fresh mint

Fresh lime

A bit of sugar (Next time I will leave out the sugar - rum is already sweet)

Light rum

Soda water

Ice

Here’s what you do:

Muddle the mint, lime and sugar. I used a large glass and a wooden spoon.

Add ice, rum and soda water. I strained my drink (well, drinks – plural….) into my favorite glass. Look at that gorgeous color.

Beautiful! Keep messing with the quantities until you get it how you like it. Practice makes perfect, right?