Summertime

I know, I know. I said I was going to do better, and it has been several months since I last posted. And that was after my sister, Megan, and her best friend, Emily, sent me an email telling me not to be a slacker! I would like to say that I haven't written because I have been drinking less...less cocktails perhaps, but not less wine. ;)

In the summer, I often lean towards drinks with nice light citrus notes. So, I decided to make Lemon Drop Martinis for an impromptu Monday night Happy Hour with my friend Julie. I find that most Lemon Drops made at bars, are either too sweet, or not really lemon-y. Making these at home will solve both issues.

This is also the first time I used my new martini glasses. I have been trying to find more classic martini glasses, like they actually used in the 1960s. I finally found some at Sur La Table, so I snapped them up. (Please feel free to admire in the picture!)



Summertime Lemon Drop (this makes 1 Lemon Drop):

-- 1 Fresh Lemon (for this version, I used Meyer Lemons, because Costco had beautiful ones, but regular lemons work great too)
-- granulated sugar (for rimming the glass)
-- 1 part vodka (I used Belvedere)
-- 1/2 part Limoncello (this is a great liqueur, made usually in Southern Italy)

Quarter the lemon. With one quarter of the lemon, run around the rim of the martini glass. In a small plate, place some granulated sugar. Gently dip the wet rim of the martini glass in the sugar.

Next, fill a martini shaker with ice. Squeeze half the lemon into the shaker, and drop in. Add vodka and limoncello. Shake well, and strain into the prepared glass. (Note, if you want your drink sweeter, feel free to add more limoncello). You want this to be nice and cold!.

Using the remaining lemon wedge, make a few slices. Float a slice, or two in the glass.

Enjoy!

Uncle Bud & Vodka Gimlets

Well, it has clearly been (almost) a year since my last blog post. I would like to use the fact that I stopped drinking as my excuse, but we all know that didn't happen. Instead it was an eventful year that seemed somehow had me distracted from my drink-making priorities. But - I have recommitted - and I hope my followers will recommit with me.

One of the 'events', was the loss of my uncle, Bud Cederburg. He died unexpectedly in December, and we all still feel his loss. He was the kind of uncle everyone should have - and we all have lots of memories of our time with him. When we were little kids, he would take us fishing - where he would put the worm on the hook, cast, reel it in, and the let you take credit for the catch. Each Christmas - for many, many years, Bud would select and send each of us a sweatsuit (it was the 80s, and very cool at the time - some of my best childhood photos are in those outfits!). One of the summers I lived with my Aunt Donna and Uncle Smitty, I worked two jobs as a waitress, and had buckets of coins laying around. I would come home from a shift, and Bud would have rolled them all for me. We took a family trip to Sweden, and during that time I took to calling Uncle Bud by his given name - Uncle Ivar (EE-Var). He always just shook his head and laughed. These are just small examples of the actions of a kind and generous man.

One of the other things Bud did for us was make the most amazing gimlet. We don't drink much gin in our family, and so we always make these with vodka. But - if you are gin fan, feel free to make it that way.



Uncle Bud's Vodka Gimlet

1 part Vodka (better quality is good)
1.5 part Rose's Lime Juice (this is sweetened lime juice)
Ice
Lime Wedge

Fill a short glass with ice
Add vodka & sweetened lime juice.
Mix well and garnish with the lime wedge.

Below is a slight twist on the gimlet. The Ivy is a restaurant in Los Angeles, where one can usually spot a celebrity or two. Their gimlet is awesome, and this is my version.

Nancy's Ivy Gimlet

1 part vodka
1 part Rose's Lime Juice
1 bunch fresh mint
1 tsp of sugar
Ice
Lime wedge

Place handful of clean and torn mint in the bottom of a short glass, and add the sugar.
Muddle the mint, simply by pressing & stirring the mint with a spoon.
Fill the glass with ice
Add the vodka & sweetened lime juice, and stir well.
Garnish with the lime wedge.




The gimlet is a bright, refreshing drink - perfect for spring. Enjoy!