Weekly Cooking (and related issues) Thread

[Jamestown1630]

A couple of threads ago, several Freepers posted some interesting mixed drinks; so I thought we'd do our thread this week on Beverages.

I'm not much of a hard-liquor drinker - my favorite alcohol is beer, and my brand is pretty plebeian (they do make some excellent Superbowl commercial ads, though ;-). But I do have one punch recipe that I used to make for Christmas parties, and people liked it as much without alcohol, as with it.

When I've made this, I usually made an extra amount without the bourbon, and froze it in some pretty molds; that way you can float an "ice feature" in it, without watering-down the punch.

This is a very old recipe, which I haven't made in a while; but in the recipe "large can" referred to about 46 oz., and the frozen canned concentrates are the 'regular' size, not the larger ones. I can no longer find "large" cans of Apricot Nectar, but I still see the 11.5 oz. cans, and you can adjust.

Fruit Punch

1/2 large can Apricot Nectar

1/2 large can Pineapple Juice

1 whole can Frozen Orange Juice, undiluted

1 whole can Frozen Lemonade, undiluted

3 quarts club soda

1 fifth of Bourbon

Add the soda just before serving.

To make it without alcohol for kids and teetotalers, we used two cans of OJ, no lemonade, no bourbon, and 2 quarts of soda instead of three.

*******************************************************

Flaming Punch Bowl

This was apparently a favorite entertaining ritual of Charles Dickens; and in the beloved Capra film 'It's a Wonderful Life', the angel Clarence Odbody first requests 'Flaming Rum Punch' in the Bar Scene of the movie.

I've never made this, because I'm a fire-wimp, and only have glass punch bowls. But I think it would be a show-stopper, in a pewter or silver bowl at a Christmas party.

Here's an Esquire article on Charles Dickens' Punch Ritual; and after that a very short video-view of the flaming sensation in action:

http://www.esquire.com/food-drink/drinks/a17293/charles-dickens-holiday-punch-1212/?click=pp

Don't blink, or you'll miss this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lMPFqw72v_I

The Germans do something similar which they call 'Feuerzangenbowle' - AND I MUST WARN YOU: DO NOT TRY THIS AT HOME! This is '151' Rum, folks; please see the Wiki entry on Bacardi 151.

However, for your viewing pleasure and cultural edification:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0BBXu_62E1w

********************************************************

Someone gave me a Starbucks gift card for Christmas, a very thoughtful gift: Starbucks is a popular place. But I had never been in one, because I don't drink 'fancy coffee'.

I carried the card around for many months, until I happened to be shopping next-door to a Starbucks a few weeks ago, and decided to go inside and use my card for something. The atmosphere was lovely, and the folks very friendly. I think it must be a really fun place for young people to hang out and use the Wifi; and it was interesting to me to finally see what Starbucks is like.

Anyway, I ordered a Strawberry Smoothie. Unfortunately, I didn't like it very much. I've been making a better one at home for decades, and for a quarter of the price. (I will use what's left on my card for some pastry thing, the next time I'm down that way ;-)

Here's an easy Strawberry Smoothie that doesn't cost $4 or more. I usually keep some frozen bananas and frozen fruit in the freezer, for this: cut bananas in half and place in small baggies; freeze, and when ready to make the smoothie, just slice a banana. I've found that big bags of frozen fruit can be purchased inexpensively at ethnic food stores.

Place in blender:

1 Frozen banana, sliced

1 big handful of frozen Strawberries

Cold Apple Juice to cover the fruit.

Whizz until it's the texture of a 'Slurpee'. Add ice cubes to keep it nice and Slurpee-like. Drink through a straw.

******************************************************

And finally, a peculiar drink with an interesting history: Switchel

In the old days, Switchel was a farm-worker's thirst quencher - the old-fashioned version of Gatorade; and was also called 'Haymaker's Punch'.

Lately, it's actually been bottled and marketed as a 'New Thing'.

Here are some recipes from the Old Farmer's Almanac:

http://www.almanac.com/blog/cooking-blog/switchel-age-old-drink-rediscovered

And an article from the Smithsonian Magazine:

http://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/switchel-drinking-vinegar-to-stay-cool-98891755/?no-ist

I found this recipe on the Internet years ago. It is definitely an 'acquired taste'; but if you believe in the folk-medicine benefits of cider vinegar and molasses, it's right up your alley ;-)

Switchel

1/2 cup apple cider vinegar

1/4 cup molasses

1/2 cup sugar or honey

1 - 1/2 teaspoons ground ginger

Add water to make 2 quarts.

-JT

[Jamestown1630]

This week: Beverages, Adult and Virgin!

(If you would like to be on or off of this weekly cooking thread, please send me a private message.)

-JT

[LonePalm]

Try vodka and milk of magnesia. It's called a Phillips Screwdriver.

The chef is here. Good eats for everyone.

"Ceterum censeo 0bama esse delendam."

'La bonne cuisine est la base du véritable bonheur.' - Auguste Escoffier
(Good food is the foundation of genuine happiness.)
LonePalm, le Républicain du verre cassé (The Broken Glass Republican)

[trisham]

bfl

[who_would_fardels_bear]

Tall Glass
Shot of Gin
10oz Tonic Water (small bottle)
Splash of Limeade (Simply Limeade is great)
A jigger or two of grapefruit bitters (or similar)
Ice

Very refreshing on a hot summer day.

[Dr. Bogus Pachysandra]

Polish Potato Vodka, neat from the freezer. No hangover!

[Liz]

PEANUT BUTTER CUP COCKTAIL

No drink recipe b/c.....seriously,
who's gonna drink w/ all those p/b cups to munch on.

Oh, ok...of you must.....
use HnH, Godiva chocolate liqueur, and p/butter.

[Jamestown1630]

"Try vodka and milk of magnesia. It's called a Phillips Screwdriver."

Doesn't sound very tasty. A bottle of Guinness, on the other hand...

-JT

[Stand Watch Listen]

LUSCIOUS SLUSH PUNCH

INGREDIENTS
1 1/2 cups white sugar
• 6 cups water
• 2 (3 ounce) packages strawberry flavored gelatin mix
• 1 (46 fluid ounce) can pineapple juice
• 2/3 cup lemon juice
• 1 quart orange juice
• 2 (2 liter) bottles lemon-lime flavored carbonated beverage

OR Cranberry Splash Sierra Mist soda
OR Canada Dry (less sweet)

DIRECTIONS
1. In a large saucepan, combine sugar, water, and strawberry flavored gelatin. Boil for 3 minutes. Stir in pineapple juice, lemon juice, and orange juice. Divide mixture in half, and freeze in 2 separate 1 gallon (ziplock) containers.
2. Need to take out of freezer 3 hours prior to serving. When ready to serve, place the ‘slushy’ contents of one container in a punch bowl, and stir in 1 bottle of lemon-lime soda until slushy.

WARM AND SPICY AUTUMN PUNCH

INGREDIENTS:
• 2 oranges
• 8 whole cloves
• 6 cups apple juice
• 1 cinnamon stick
• 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1/4 cup honey
• 3 tablespoons lemon juice
• 2 cups pineapple juice
• DIRECTIONS:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Stud the whole oranges with cloves, and bake for 30 minutes
2. In a large saucepan, combine the apple juice and cinnamon stick. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to medium, and simmer 5 minutes. Remove from heat, and stir in the nutmeg, honey, lemon juice, and pineapple juice.
3. Serve hot in a punch bowl with the 2 clove-studded baked oranges floating on top

[JRandomFreeper]

Laudanum.

/johnny

[Aliska]

I've got a bottle of Angostura Bitters which has a little alcohol in it but years ago I made a key lime pie from a recipe I found and lost (I don't want the baked one with the sweetened condensed milk). Have saved several different ones from the web and wanted to add a tbsp or so of the bitters because the one years ago was sooooooo good (I'm the only one who thought so evidently).

Anyway I was watching a news video of Elian Gonzalez. His father works for a bar in Cuba. I'm sure I saw my bottle of Angostura Bitters sitting on the bar.

The drink would probably have lime in it or was garnished with lime, and I wonder what it was (I seldom drink and if I do a half a glass of Mogen David wine) but I could try one once in awhile.

While I'm at it, I bought some Creme des Violettes online (nobody around here had ever even heard of it). One popular drink they used to make with it, from searching the web, a Blue Moon. The liqueur isn't really a pleasant taste to me; I got it to flavor a cake and frosting I conjured up, and it wasn't very good but kind of pretty, has violets embossed on the bundt pan for molding a cake.

[Liz]

Now you can get a buzz on and be healthy, both at the same time.

Carrot Margarita / makes 4 margaritas

PREPARE GLASSES Moisten rims of 6 oz margarita
glasses w/ lime wedges; dip into coarse salt. Place glasses
into freezer to chill ice cold.

ASSEMBLE DRINK Layer in pitcher cup silver or gold
tequila, cup carrot juice, 1/3 cup lime juice, 1/2 cup
Cointreau. Then stir.

FINAL Remove glasses from freezer. Fill with ice.
Add Carrot Margarita mixture.

SERVE w/ shaved carrot curls threaded on decorative pick.

[two23]

This is a concentrate

Citron Presse

2 cups of Sugar (can use less)
Juice 2 lemons and reserve the juice.
julienne the lemon peels
2 cups water
mint sprigs (optional)

Boil water, lemon and sugar in saucepan for 5 minutes.
Let cool. Store all of it in a glass jar (peels and all)

Use 1 TBSP in a glass of water with a mint spring and a dash of the leftover 1/2 lemon.

I freeze the reserved lemon juice in ice cube trays to add to each glass.

[Jamestown1630]

That sounds very nice! (and I love your sig.....)

-JT

[CincyRichieRich]

So I haven’t talked about this with anyone...I love good craft beers...porter, stout, ales...I have noticed some breweries have labels with names and images with develops, and other disturbing images like Marxist salutes...fists in the air and such...mostly breweries in Colorado...Boulder...I guess these folks are against profit except when it is theirs...needless to say I won’t make my own six pack with any of these...I love making one with single bottles...

I think the U.S. has the best beers...I do still have a soft spot for Guinness stout and any Samual Smith English ales.

[Jamestown1630]

My husband says:

“Try Yeungling Porter”. Heavy, flavorful, wonderful.

It’s a ‘murrican’ beer, from the oldest, continuously operating brewery in America. (They survived through Prohibition by producing beers with 0.5% alcohol content).

Brewed in Pennsylvania, USA, Young Man!

-JT

[OftheOhio]

I tried Mulled Cider for the first time last winter, yeah where have I been. I got some cider from my local Amish store and they had some tea bags with all the spices in it.
Louisburg Cider Mill out of Kansas. Labeled spices for hot mulled cider or spiced wine. I like tea in the fall and winter and this was a welcome addition. We all can’t drink Kona coffee all the time, lol. Your homemade recipe sounds great.

[CincyRichieRich]

It is good...also any Dogfishhead, GooseIsland and Founders products...

[Stand Watch Listen]

Watermelon Agua Fresca
--8 servings

INGREDIENTS:
5 cups cubed seeded watermelon
1/2 cup water
¼ cup white sugar, or to taste
4 slices lime
24 fresh mint leaves
Ice

DIRECTIONS:
1. Puree the watermelon, 3 mint leaves and water in a blender until very smooth. Add sugar to taste.
Cut the lime slices in half. Place a half lime slice into each of 8 glasses along with 2 mint leaves. then fill each glass with ice. Pour in the watermelon agua fresca, and stir before serving.

Hints/Options:
--add Tequila and triple sec (instead of sugar) to the recipe and garnish with very thin slices of cucumber
--Or just add a splash of rum

[W.]

I love Guinness Extra Stout, and FReeped the New Millenium in here with 2 six-packs of it along with 2 bottles of Champagne, mixed 50/50. It was said to be ordered Champagne be drank as such to kill the sparkle due to the mourning period for Old Queen Vic. The power didn’t go out, but about 4am, I did... ;)