Gosh where have the weeks gone

 

Well its been 3 weeks since I wrote a blog and posted my cocktails, this has mainly been due to;

1. being very busy at work

2. struggling with work/life balance

3. Being quite unwell 

First lets get the cocktails out of the way.

First picture 

Big Red

Vodka

Cherry Brandy

Cranberry juice.

Served with cake sale ( which I have become very good at making)

Second picture

The Robinson 

Yes they named a cocktail after me!!!!

Brandy

Extra Dry Vermouth 

Pineapple juice.

Very nice cocktail and one that I will definitely come back to.

Last pic

The Star

Brandy 

Gin

Extra dry vermouth

Rosso Vermouth.

I had this on my camping trip, drinking a star whilst star gazing.

As for the being unwell, it sort of crept up on me, starting with overwhelming fatigue, which I could not shift, and then followed a couple of weeks feeling 'under the weather' until last week I just felt so ill that I was very worried.

Turns out that I have had a virus ( yes the virus thing comes out again, this time when they know you don't have Covid but aren't sure what's wrong).

I had planned to go camping for Bank Holiday weekend and decided to still do it. It did turn out to be the best idea, I slept a lot and felt very much better when I got home.

So hopefully this will continue.

By the time you read this there will be another cocktail hour due.

Champagne Friday

 

As cocktail hour approached on Friday, I was  busy  preparing for my afternoon tea party to raise money for 'Breast Cancer Now' the  following day. I was up to my eyes in bread, butter and fillings.

So I hurried through and then set about sorting out my cocktail.

Champagne Cocktail.

Brandy

Sugar cube

Champagne.

Put sugar cube in bottom of champagne glass, add brandy, just to cover the cube.

Top up with champagne

Voila champagne cocktail.

I love this, its quick and easy to make and tastes amazing

This was the champagne of choice on Friday

Saturday was humid and wet so it was a good thing that I had cancelled the original garden party and brought in tea 'slots'.

These were booked upand I had a steady stream of guests. In all I raised £350 ( last count) which is beyond fabulous.

I am now taking a  few weeks of very little at weekends to try to get my breath back.

Have a great week.

Last cocktail hour of July

Last weekend of July and last Cocktail hour  took place on Friday.

I opted for a Dirty Martini but decided to push the boat out and make Cake Sale ( should have an acute accent over the E but this is an English keyboard), a popular French apero, a cross between cake and bread.

I have been wanting to make this for a few weeks but never seemed to have the time. I will be making it again.

Dirty Martini

Gin

Extra Dry vermouth

Brine from olive jar

Garnish with olives

Shake over ice, strain and serve.

Its that easy!

Cake Sale 

200g self raising floor

200g butter melted

3 eggs

This makes the 'batter'

Add to this  savoury items, I used, red onion, mature cheddar ( grated), rosemary (chopped)smoked ham ( thin strips) tomatoes (chopped) and Olives sliced in 'O's

Add  to the batter and stir together.

Pour into a loaf tin.

Bake for 20-25 minutes at gas mark 4

This is a great make and very tasty.

August cocktail month is now beginning.

Sunshine and cocktails

 I am going all typically British now, oh my goodness how hot was it last week!

It was unbearable in the office and virtually impossible to get a decent nights sleep, so by the time it was Friday and cocktail hours, I was ready for a drink and a bit of relaxing in the garden.

I had been given a very 70's garden set last week, for extra seating  when I have my charity tea party in a couple of weeks, so I have been enjoying using them all over the weekend.

I also was dog sitting for the lovely Micky Bell, who is an absolute treasure ( and a very funny little fella).

However I digress, lets get to the cocktail of the week.

Georgia Mint Julep.

Cognac

Mint

Ice

Muddle some mint in a shaker and add the cognac, stir around and leave for a few minutes to infuse.

Add ice to glass and fresh mint leaves.

Strain cognac over ice.

Sit in a sunny spot and enjoy.

Have a great week 

Late cocktail review

 Super late with my cocktail hour picture and recipe, not sure where the week has gone to be honest.

Last Friday ( 9th July) I decided that after a rough week at work, I would have a quick and simple cocktail and opted for a Brandy Alexander.

Brandy 

Creme de Cacao

Single cream.

Put all ingredients into a just and stir over ice.

Strain into a glass.

I had dipped the glass in chocolate and served with some sweet treats.

It hit the spot and was well worth making.

If you try it I hope that you enjoy it.

The best hour of Friday

 

 

I really like Fridays, not just because obviously it is the start of the weekend, for me I have an early finish from work, time to mooch around the supermarket and get my weekly provisions, and then home for Cocktail hour.

I have spent the last year ( lockdowns) cooking 3-5 course French meals at weekends  and suddenly this year, due to my working week being totally chaotic, I decided on cocktail hour and all that it entails.

I love to plan the cocktails and any nibbles that will go with them.

Friday was extra special this week as it was the T20 Roses Game  ( and yes Yorkshire won)

Cocktails and cricket are a perfect combination.

So the cocktail du jour was

Midnightini

Blue Curacao

Vodka

Cranberry juice

( Sprite or 7up if desired)

Ice

This can be shaken or stirred your choice.

To the vodka add a dash of curacao and dash of cranberry, do this until you get the desired colour.

I ended up with a dark purple /blue colour, like the skies here at the moment at midnight as we are  still on longish days.

Either shake with ice or stir with ice.

If you think this is too strong add a dash of  7up or Sprite.

It really was a fabulous cocktail

Fleur de Sureau mousseux

 Every year sometime between May and July ( depending on the amount of sunshine) you will find me clambering into hedgerows, to pick elderflowers ( fleur de sureau).

I can also be found begging screw top wine bottles from friends, neighbours and work colleagues, washing, scrubbing off labels and sterilising said bottles.

I found an Elderflower 'champagne' recipe many years ago and have made it nearly every year since.

Its not difficult to make, and I tend to put the bottles away and forget about them until Christmas when they go into hampers.

So if you still have elderflowers where you are and fancy making some mousseux (fizz)  then here is the recipe.

20-25 flower heads, ( shaken to remove insects) pick away from road sides.

10 litres of water

1kg sugar

2 lemons ( juice and zest)

2 tbsp white wine vinegar

very large bucket.

wash and completely sterilise the bucket.

Add 1 litre boiling water and sugar. stir until it all the sugar has dissolved.

fill bucket with 9 litres of cold water. add lemon juice and zest. white wine vinegar and flower heads.

put into a cool place and cover with a tea towel.

Check and stir every day.

After 7 days strain through a funnel and piece of  sterilised muslin, into sterilised bottles.

It may be cloudy but does usually clear in a couple of weeks.

It will be ready to drink in 3 weeks, but will last........., well I have some in the shed from a couple of summers ago and they are very nice when served well chilled.

Now I wait for the elderberries so that I can freeze them to use in pies, stuffing and chutney through the winter.