Drink of the Moment: The Pah-Rum-Pah-Pum-POW

Don't you just love my Secret Santa and all of his to-die-for holiday beverages?!?  I know it really made my Christmas that much more spirited and magical to have all of those little gifties sprinkled throughout the past few days.  If you missed any of them, you can check them out (or re-visit them) by clicking here, here, and here.


Because I couldn't let the holidays pass without sharing one last Drink of the Moment with you for the year, I came up with an extra special one to send us into 2012.  Except to say that this isn't technically a drink, but instead a layered spirited trifle kind of dessert shooter, the name really does all the rest of the talking.  Now you can't say that I had no gift to give.  Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!

The Pah-Rum-Pah-Pum-POW   
Poundcake
Gingerbread (Cookie) Ice Cream
Kahlua, regular or cinnamon and spice
Bailey's Irish Cream
German Chocolate Whip-a-hol, or Chocolate Cool-Whip
Ground Cinnamon
Ginger Crisp Cookie

Cube pound cake to fit into the bottom of your serving dish.  

Scoop Gingerbread ice cream on top of pound cake.  (I used Homestead Creamery Gingerbread Cookie ice cream ... yum). 

Pour Kahlua (I used Cinnamon Spice Kahlua) & Bailey's Irish Cream over your ice cream topped pound cake.

Top with German Chocolate Whip-a-hol (obviously my choice), or chocolate Cool-Whip, and sprinkle with cinnamon.  Garnish with Ginger Crisp cookie as seen in picture above.

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ABSOLUT Folly - Holiday Series - Absolut Christmas Chocolate Truffle

YUM YUM YUM!  Those Absolut Caesars were delicious this morning, but now it is time for some lighter Absolut cocktails as we move into the afternoon hours.  Absolut Christmas Chocolate Truflle is a spectacular cocktail that my niece fell in love with after I created it.  We've have 2-3 already, and I am LOVING IT!  Nothing like unwrapping gifts with an Absolut buzz.  So simple.  So refreshing.  So Absolut!  Bottoms up (hahahaha)!

Absolut Christmas Chocolate Truffle
2 ounces Absolut Vanilia
2 splashes of Crème de Cacao (colorless)
1 white wine glass filled with ice
Fill the rest of the glass with ginger ale

Mix lightly .. and it is going to knock your Christmas slippers off!!  Keep unwrapping!!!!

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ABSOLUT Folly - Holiday Series - Absolut Caesar

Good Morning and Merry Christmas to all of you from the Secret Santa guest cocktail-er!  Traveling internationally has limited the time I have had to check in with delicious Absolut holiday cocktails, but it is not for naught:  I promise to spoil you silly!  It is important not to mistake my busy travels with neglect of Absolut.  No, no, no!  So with whom should you be spending your day today?  With Absolut, of course!  I have my favorite holiday cocktails coming up throughout the day - so lets's get started!

Ever heard of an Absolut Bloody Caesar?  Well, I have adapted it for the United States, which is where most of you probably reside.  Usually, this cocktail is made with Clamato, but we are going to change this up a bit.  If you like Bloody Marys, you'll love the Absolut Bloody Caesar.  Enjoy!

Absolut Bloody Caesar

Fill a 16oz red cup (or equivalent) to the rim with ice.  Very important!
2 oz of Absolut Vodka
4 dashes of Worcestershire sauce
2 dashes of Pete's Hot Sauce
1/4 teaspoon of ground horseradish
1 -2 teaspoons of pickle juice
salt and pepper
Finish filling the cup with Sting Ray Bloody Mary mix!

Stir or roll from glass to glass lightly and garnish with a lemon wedge and celery stalk!  Oh que c'est délicieux!  Bonne journée!

Wait until you see this afternoon's Absolut Cocktails!  OH WOW!   Amazing!

If you like what you see, let me know!  Just click the 'Join This Site' button at the top right of the homepage to make sure you have a drink for every moment.

ABSOLUT Folly - My Secret Santa Holiday Series

Ho! HO! HO!  Do I ever have a surprise for you (and kind of for me too)!  With the holidays shifting into full gear this week (in chronological order: Happy Hanukkah, Merry Christmas, Happy Kwanzaa, Happy New Year, etc), it appears I have a drunk elf Secret Santa stopping in as a guest blogger to deliver fabulous little gifts straight from the package store. Picking up from where my 'Drink of the Moment' series left off, I hope you enjoy this 'ABSOLUT Folly'.  Don't you just love holiday surprises?

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Well Hello!  I have the distinct pleasure of being a guest blogger for this fabulous blog, with my specialty: Absolut cocktails made with the most wonderful vodka in the world, Absolut Vodka.  The posts will be grouped by theme so let's get started right away!

For the first (well, ok, second - see Absolut Snowy Cranberry Martini) cocktail I would like to present the delicious Absolut Mistletoe!  To have the greatest impact, you may wish to fire up the bombastic version of Justin Bieber's Mistletoe.  Not required.  But fun!  After all, we are having fun, right?  Moreover, having your holiday honey at your side will give even more excitement to this lovely libation.  I may have had one too many already, but to you my favorite readers, you must know that Absolut Vodka flows constantly through my veins.  And arteries.    What were we talking about?  Ah yes, the Absolut Mistletoe!

Absolut Mistletoe
1 part Absolut Vodka
2 parts cranberry juice
1 part swanky glass, filled with ice
splash of fresh lime juice
splash of lemon-lime soda
garnish with a mint sprig

Sip it down, and steal a smooch!   Gâtez-vous, chers amis!

(Did I mention my name?  No?  Well how about this ... tell me about your experience with Absolut Mistletoe in the comments section, and I will consider it.  Maybe!)

If you like what you see, let me know!  Just click the 'Join This Site' button at the top right of the homepage to make sure you have a drink for every moment.

Drink of the Moment: Snowy Cranberry Martini

I don't know about you, but I can't keep up this holiday season!  Decking the halls, buying, wrapping, visiting, and this marathon cold I can't shake ... it can all get so overwhelming (and cause serious lapses between blog posts).  Thank goodness for good friends and good booze to help take that edge off all of that, as well as helping manage the added face-time with family too!  This week, my stunningly handsome and fabulously gifted friend Jeff has provided the inspiration for the 'Drink of the Moment'; one gift that will keep on giving.  I hope you enjoy!

Snowy Cranberry Martini   
2oz of your favorite vodka (I used Stoli) 
1 1/2 oz white cranberry juice
Splash of club soda or Perrier 
Lime wedge, fresh cranberries, & powdered sugar for garnish


Vigorously shake vodka and cranberry juice with ice in a shaker.  Pour into a glass rimmed with lime juice & powdered sugar (unless you have a better way to achieve the look of snow); top with a splash of club soda or Perrier.  Garnish with fresh cranberries and lime wedge.  Festive!


And for those of you who like a little variation on a theme ...

The Yellow Snowy Cranberry Martini
2oz of your favorite vodka (I used Stoli)
1oz white cranberry juice 
1/2 oz fresh lime juice
Splash of club soda or Perrier
Lime wedge, fresh cranberries, & powdered sugar for garnish


Vigorously shake vodka, cranberry juice, and lime juice with ice in a shaker.  Pour into a glass rimmed with lime juice & powdered sugar; top with a splash of club soda or Perrier.  Garnish with fresh cranberries and lime wedge.

If you like what you see, let me know!  Just click the 'Join This Site' button at the top right of the homepage to make sure you have a drink for every moment.

Over the River and Through the Woods; A Rugby Ralph Lauren Holiday

Even if you don't have to actually travel over any rivers, or through any woods to your Grandmother's house; we all have those family-oriented holiday gatherings where your sequin and tulle party dress doesn't fit the bill, yet you wouldn't be caught dead wearing a holiday sweater (or even worse, a holiday sweatshirt - ew).  So, what to wear that's still festive, family-appropriate, AND on trend?  Check out these cool pieces brought to us compliments of my friends at the Vogue Influencer Network from the Ralph Lauren Rugby holiday collection.

Long Pointelle Arm Warmers: The folks at Ralph Lauren are mad about pointelle, so they tailored open-worked knit arm warmers for super-chic results.

Wool-Angora Cardigan Coat: This heritage-inspired wool knit boasts a Fair Isle pattern at the oversize spread collar and hem. Although meant for the outdoors, you’ll find it has a special cozy-up-on-the-couch potential – all you need is a good book!

Penywern Cadet Jacket: Proudly giving a salute to chic military-inspired fashion with their Ralph Lauren rendition of the cadet jacket, featuring crest-embosses buttons, a banded collar and requisite epaulets in a tailored feminine silhouette.

Satin & Shearling Trapper Hat: Brave the cold in this super-chic satin and shearling trapper hat—a favorite style to keep you warm and winter-blues free.

So what do you think?  I think my favorite thing has to be that once you're done at 'Grandmother's house', each of these pieces will also work overtime to redefine that sequin and tulle number you have ready to hit the town, and keep you warm doing it.  Want to check out the entire Rugby Ralph Laurent Collection?  Click right on over to the site here, to keep those warm fuzzies going!

If you like what you see, let me know!  Click the 'Join This Site' button at the top right of the homepage to keep up with Vogue fashion exclusives, new product launches, events, beauty reviews and more.  See it first, hear it first, know it first.

Happy Headcold ... er, I Mean Holidays!

The holidays are here, and how do I know this?  Might it be all of the hustling and bustling?  The light-up renegade reindeer that take over the town?  The social calendar bursting at the seams?  No, I know it's the holidays because I have come down yet again with my annual holiday head cold which makes me feel like my head is inside one of those bells that are ringing incessantly joyfully on high.  In the interest of spreading some holiday cheer though (instead of snot and bad karma), I thought I would share a little soup recipe that has me curled up and purring on the couch with a smile.  In full disclosure I should throw it out there that even though I am a self-proclaimed soup junkie, I did not make this soup myself, nor have I ever made this soup myself.  Apparently I am so pathetic that on every occasion I've had it, it has been fully due to Jay's efforts to ensure that I don't become a miserable bitch grinch.  He is a good man, and seems to know that the gift of a good soup will go far in benefiting my well-being, and subsequently, his as well.  So, here's to holiday colds, good soup, and the way they manage to point out the true gifts in our lives.  I hope you enjoy!

Roasted Garlic Tomato Soup 

Ingredients

• 
  4 whole heads of garlic
• 3 tablespoons olive oil 
• 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 2 medium onions, chopped 
• Salt and pepper
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh thyme
• 1/4 cup all-purpose flour 
• 4 cups chicken broth
• 1/2 cup to 1 cup heavy cream (per your preference)

1. Preheat oven to 375°F; line a small baking sheet with foil. Use a sharp knife to cut about 1/4 inch off top of each garlic  head. Place garlic cut side up on baking sheet and drizzle olive oil over heads. Roast garlic until softened, about 45 minutes. Allow to cool slightly. When cool enough to handle, squeeze soft cooked pulp from each clove into a small bowl. (You should have about 1/2 cup soft garlic pulp.)  Note:  We prefer to roast the garlic in peeled, separated cloves for convenience & exceptional garlic dipping oil for later. 

2. Melt butter in a large pot over medium-high heat. Add onions and 1 tsp. each salt and pepper and cook, stirring often,until onions have softened, about 4 minutes. Stir in thyme (though fresh works best for flavor, dried can also be substituted successfully) and reserved garlic. Sprinkle in flour. Cook for about 1 minute, stirring, to incorporate flour. Pour in chicken broth and cream, increase heat to high and bring to a boil. Boil rapidly, stirring often, until slightly thickened, about 10 minutes.

3. Remove from heat and puree soup with an immersion blender in the pot, or in batches with a food processor, or blender. Return to pot, if applicable, and bring to a simmer over medium heat.  Season with salt and pepper and garnish with thyme. 

P.S. - That garlic infused olive oil that is left in your roasting pan?  It's kind of like the stocking stuffer to the whole soup thing.  (Jay really is a genius sometimes).  I highly recommend topping it with a dash of crushed red pepper flakes and enjoying it with some rosemary foccacia bread alongside your soup. :)