Charlie the Unicorn

There are a lot of places that have closed temporarily for the lack of clients coming into their businesses – cafes, restaurants, nightclubs.. but people are still getting together – just at our homes, and not so much in public places.

Now, you can buy a few bar basics and make your friends really feel like they’re at their favorite posh dive bar or fancy shmancy restaurant that expects us to pay top dollar (sometimes literally) just for the pleasure of gracing the premises.  Here are a few suggestions that make use of some of those basic  recipes from much colder climates that you can use during these three, terribly long months of winter. It gives a classy touch and a refreshing change from beer or the Fernet and Cola, that can sometimes be overdone at parties and get-togethers here.

THE HUNTER

Although we’re not near the campo, you can still make this for your “casador” friends. With chillier weather you are going to want a great drink to warm you up from the inside out – especially if you’ve spent any amount of time outside lately. This lowball cocktail has the outdoorsman in mind, what with whiskey, brandy and a hint of cherry, it is a perfect way to relax after walking up and down the streets of Palermo Soho or the Recoleta, helping your “Huntress” shop for clothes. For the ladies there is also a slightly more delicate version, the Huntress Cocktail. Good luck!
Ingredients:

* 1 1/2 oz whiskey
* 1/2 oz cherry brandy
* maraschino cherry for garnish

Preparation:

1. Pour the whiskey and cherry brandy into an old-fashioned glass with ice.
2. Stir well.
3. Garnish with a maraschino cherry.

THE HUNTRESS

This lowball cocktail is perfect for the hunting woman. Imagine, after a day of shopping on a chilly autumn day and returning home to a Huntress Cocktail waiting for you. What a lovely thought. You might also want to try the Hunter’s Cocktail.
Ingredients:

* 1 oz bourbon
* 1 oz cherry liqueur
* 1 oz cream or milk
* dash of Triple Sec

Preparation:

1. Pour the ingredients into a cocktail shaker with ice.
2. Shake well.
3. Strain into a chilled old-fashioned glass.

MANHATTAN

Rumor has it that the Manhattan was the first cocktail made using Vermouth as a modifier. As with a Martini, there are variations of the drink that are a matter of taste and preference (see the list below).

Although some insist that a Manhattan should be made using only rye whiskey, use what you have.  I personally always keep some Johnny Walker Red Label in my cabinet.  (Although, that technically makes my Manhattan drink a “Rob Roy”), don’t let the lack of a specific ingredient deter you from experimenting. And check the Cocktail Times to see what you can use as a substitute for anything you might not have.

View Video: Manhattan Cocktail Recipe
Ingredients:

* 2 oz rye whiskey
* 1/2 oz sweet vermouth
* 2-3 dashes Angostura bitters
* maraschino cherry for garnish

Preparation:

1. Pour the ingedients into a mixing glass with ice cubes.
2. Stir well.
3. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass.
4. Garnish with the cherry.

Variations on the Manhattan:

* Dry Manhattan- Use a dash of dry vermouth and garnish with a lemon twist.
* Perfect Manhattan- Equal parts of sweet and dry vermouth. Garnish with a lemon twist.
* Brandy Manhattan- Replace whiskey with brandy.
* Scotch Manhattan- Replace whiskey with Scotch.
* Southern Comfort Manhattan- Replace whiskey with Southern Comfort.

HOT PEPPERMINT PATTY

You have got to love spiked hot chocolate and this is one of the best recipes out there for it. Both peppermint schnapps and crème de menthe add that minty snap to this intensely chocolate warm drink. There’s also a Peppermint Patty on the rocks that you might also enjoy, it has all the same wonderful flavors without the warmth.
Ingredients:

* 1 oz peppermint schnapps
* 1/2 oz dark crème de cacao
* 1 tsp crème de menthe
* hot chocolate
* whipped cream
* shaved chocolate or chocolate sprinkles for garnish

Preparation:

1. Pour the liqueurs into an Irish coffee glass.
2. Fill with hot chocolate.
3. Top with whipped cream.
4. Garnish with shaved chocolate or chocolate sprinkles.

GODFATHER

You could probably easily make the connection between The Godfather movies and this drink which uses the sweet Italian liqueur, amaretto, and the robust, hard flavors of a smooth Scotch. Appropriately, the Godmother is a little softer with vodka. I like this one because it is a slightly more complex Scotch on the rocks but it doesn’t ruin or overpower the whiskey.
Ingredients:

* 1 1/2 oz Scotch
* 1/2 oz Amaretto

Preparation:

1. Build the ingredients in an old-fashioned glass with ice cubes.
2. Stir well.

HONEY DOVE

Servings
One Drink

Ingredients
3 ounces of cognac
2 spoonfulls of honey
2 splashes of Vanilla Soy Milk or Vanilla Skim Milk (use a splash of milk and a drop of vanilla extract)

Instructions
Pour the ingredients over ice into a shaker cup.
Shake until frothy. Strain into a martini glass.

CHERRY SMASH

Servings
One Drink

Ingredients
brandied cherries
1.5 oz. cognac
1 oz. orange curacao
3/4 oz. fresh lemon juice
1/4 cherry liqueur

Instructions
Muddle brandy-soaked cherries in bottom of a glass. In a shaker glass, add other ingredients and shake, then stir. Pour into glass and garnish with the brandied cherries.

BLOOD MARTINI

Servings
One Drink

Ingredients
Fresh limes
2 ounces fresh squeezed beet juice
2 ounces of orange juice
1 ounce of vodka
Triple Sec to taste

Instructions
Cut a lime open and run it around the rim of a martini glass.  Squeeze the excess juice into a shaker.  Add vodka, orange juice, and beet juice. Depending on the sweetness of the beet juice, add Triple Sec (if the juice is very sweet, omit Triple Sec). Shake with ice and strain into glass.  Garnish with fresh lime.

And well, this isn’t the only way to keep warm on these cold winter nights… just ask Frankie…
I\'ve got my love to keep me warm

I remember going to these parades since I was old enough to walk (although surely I went before, too). My cousins on my mom’s side would all go, along with some aunts and my grandfather (oh right, I should mention that they’re the Irish side of my family) and we would spend the afternoon watching the parade and I would do a little jig every time one was played on a passing float. I spent all the rest of my Saturday mornings during those years at my Irish step dancing classes or in competitions for which I earned a lot of gold metals. I think I ticked off a lot of moms of redheaded girls who thought that the judges would favor children who “looked the part”.

The downtown Chicago parade never held a torch to the South Side Parade though – although it’s fun to watch the Chicago River getting dyed green. Although the dye wears off within a few days, the river stays green all year long. So here are a few videos that I thought you might enjoy – wishing everyone a very happy Saint Patrick’s Day…

Saint Patrick’s Day – South Side Irish style!!

I finally borrowed the torch for the brulee part of the creme brulee from my friend Claire – YOU’RE A LIFESAVER, SWEETS!!  Javier really wanted to do the honors of burning things, so I let him at it.

At first he suggested that we take some of the alcohol from the bathroom and pour it on the creme and sugar to make the brulee, and light it with a lighter.  (He thinks that’s what they use in restaurants here).  He also thinks that rubbing alcohol is used to make liquor as in “Creme de cassis” or the like.  uh… no, loving.  no.

So then he wanted to try the butane lighter fluid recharger.  As he sparked the recharger with a lighter, almost half the kitchen went up in flames.

Anyway, everything’s okay now.  Javier has tried his first Creme Brulee and loved it.  Although he kept calling it “flan”, one day, he’ll learn.

Honestly, it was really really really really really good.

finishing touches on the creme brulee