Martini Maven

I recently received a request to blog about martinis. And what better time to do it than when I'm drunk off a couple??? Jokes, people. Twelve hours ago, maybe. But it's noon right now, and I have an Advanced Neuroscience Seminar to attend to in about two hours. The last thing I want to is attend a neuroscience class with a fried brain. Anywho, martinis! Here are a couple of my fave cocktails:

French Martini (Ina Garten's):

 *makes 6 servings

2 cups pineapple juice

2 1/2 cups vodka

1/4 cup Vermouth

2 teaspoons raspberry liqueur (Chambord is recommended)

Combine (shake, shake, shake!) all the ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice. Pour into glasses and sip like a lady.

Pomegranate Cosmos (Ina Garten's):

*makes 6 servings

2 cups vodka (good vodka people, don't skimp)

1 cup orange liqueur (Cointreau is recommended)

1 cup pomegranate juice (Pom)

1/2 cup freshly squeezed lime juice (about 3 limes)

Lime peel strips, to garnish

Combine the vodka, orange liqueur, pomegranate juice, and lime juice in a pitcher and refrigerate until ready to use. Pour the mixture into frozen martini glasses with a lime peel twist and serve.  

Juicy Juice Tini:

*makes 4-5 servings

3/4 cup orange juice

1/2 cup pink grapefruit juice

1/4 cup freshly squeezed lime juice

1/4 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice

1 cup vodka (again, no crap)

Combine all of the ingredients in a pitcher. In a cocktail mixture filled with ice, pour the mixture, in batches, into the shaker and shake, shake, shake. Use those muscles, ladies! (The beach is that way...) Fill into martini glasses and slurp away. For an extra special twist, dip the rim of the glasses in a shallow dish with one of the juices in it, and then in sugar. 

Word to the wise: I love to splash a little champagne on the top of this martini once it's already in the glasses. It gives it lovely bubbles and a little extra umph, as you can imagine.

Home alone? Want to shake things up? Try this tini for one:

Zingertini (Bobby Flay's):

1 tangerine-orange flavored tea bag (such as Celestial Seasonings Tangerine Orange Zinger tea)

3 ounces vodka (Do you like yourself? Then give yourself good vodka...)

1 ounce orange liqueur

1 orange or tangerine for garnish (optional--don't get carried away; who ya trying to impress??)

Steep the tea bag in the vodka for 5 minutes. Remove tea bag and squeeze. In a shaker filled with ice, combine the vodka mixture and orange liqueur. Shake well and strain into a martini glass. Garnish with an orange or tangerine slice if you want to make yourself feel extra special. 

Word to the wise: You can also pour the martini mixture over ice, but for the sake of a good-looking martini, I ixnay the ice-ay. 

Word to the wise x2: In any cocktail that calls for juice, freshly squeezed is always best. Good orange and grapefruit juices can be found in the grocery store, but freshly squeezed lemon and lime juice is essential.. 

Moral of the story? I'm no match-maker, but if you're looking for a way to swoon a lady- and/or man- friend, these martini masterpieces are sure to help. Because of how impressive they are; not because of their alcohol content, weirdo.

*photo courtesy of foodnetwork.com--Bobby Flay's Zingertini