Sparkling Apple and Cranberry Champagne Cocktail

Happy New Year's Eve! How do you like to ring in the new year? Party? Bar hop? Curled up with a good book and asleep before the ball drops? Since I grew up in New York, I've always associated this night with Times Square. But I've actually never gone there for the annual ball drop.

Spiked and Spicy Hot Chocolate

Happy Christmas! Even though it's not my holiday, I can't help but enjoy the music and lights and festivities of this beautiful season. And, of course, the food. And the...um...drinks!

Hot Buttered Rum Nog

Not gonna lie. The first time I heard about hot buttered rum I thought the idea sounded nauseating. But over the years, whenever I heard the term, I started wondering why I thought so because I certainly like butter well enough. And I definitely like rum. And the idea starting sounding more appealing.

Cranberry Gin Fizz

If it's December, there must be a bag of cranberries in my refrigerator at all times. So many delicious possibilities.  Cranberry sauce, cranberry bread or my personal favorite, orange cranberry scones. So, which have I made? Um...OK, time got a little away from me this month.

Chocolate Covered Pretzel Martini

I like my sweets salty and my salty snacks sweet. In other words, I'm obsessed with chocolate covered pretzels. Anytime I find myself in a gourmet treat store, I know at least one giant coated pretzel will be coming home with me. And it's all I can do to not buy more.

Hot Cocoa Martini

So Thanksgiving is over.  You've feasted and indulged and slept it off.  And chances are you have some leftovers in the fridge to last throughout the long weekend.  Back to reality, sort of, but not yet. Perhaps just a bit more indulgence before heading back to real life on Monday.

The Rummy Pumpkin

Thanksgiving is one week away and I'm sure you've got your dinner menus planned. But what about your cocktail menu? Oh, were you just planning on putting out bottles of wine and some soft drinks? No thought of creating a house special cocktail? That's about to change!

The Maple Leaf

If you're not a bourbon drinker or don't have much experience with it, I can tell you that this is the cocktail that made me a fan.  It was on the specialty drinks menu at a great local restaurant a few years ago and it was just odd enough to be compelling.

Chocolate Chip Cookie Martini

If you've been reading Hungry Couple this week then you know it's Cookie Week! I've made Dark and Crunchy Peanut Butter Cookies and Maple Walnut Shortbread Cookies, there's an awesome giveaway and I also have an extra chance to win cookies from the Girl in the Little Red Kitchen Bakeshop. But today is cocktail day and....well...I had to do it!

Caramel Apple Martini

There are drinks that are downed in a hurry, maybe to relax or take the edge off, and others that are more of an event.  Personally, I'm all for cocktails that are special and deserve to be sipped and savored. Creative rims, fun garnishes, little touches that make them something to look forward to.

Bourbon Pumpkin Smash

There's a chill in the air, the leaves are changing colors and the pumpkin cocktails are flowing freely around here. Mixed with the warmth of bourbon, cinnamon and maple, this drink just typifies autumn.

Pear and Bourbon Ginger Snap

The other day I was poaching pears in a ginger syrup for a cheese course dish and the aroma was intoxicating. Even the next morning, my kitchen still a light ginger fragrance and the leftover pears on my counter were ripe and aromatic. I just had to do something more with all that!

Pumpkin Cheesecake Martini

In case you were concerned that we're already more than a week into October and there haven't been any pumpkin cocktails, rest easy.  We like our pumpkins in all forms and that definitely includes liquid!

Sparkling Lemon Pear-tini

We've been having a mini heatwave in New York the last couple of weeks.  The last bits of summer intruding into our fall. So the bounty of autumn pears in the market are begging to be used, but not exactly in front of a warming fireplace.

Maple Daiquiri

The basic daiquiri is a wonderfully simple and tasty classic.  Just three ingredients - rum, lime and sugar.  But those few components blend together so harmoniously.  Much more fun, though, is the fact that it's an easy drink to adapt.

Apple Pie Martini

I still remember the first time I heard about apple martinis. It sounded so unusual and intriguing and, when I was at a restaurant that offered it, I was excited to try. Until it arrived, all neon green and practically glowing in the glass. Hmm. Oh, it tasted nice, even if not exactly like apple, but somehow not quite what I expected.

The Fig and Bourbon

The temperature has finally fallen a bit around here.  Still warm but no longer hot.  The summer fruits are disappearing, replaced by lovely apples and pears and figs!  Yay for figs.  They have such a short growing season from late summer into early fall and are almost gone already.

Pear Cosmo

Now that Labor Day weekend has come and gone, we're in that place between mourning the passing of summer and the anticipation of autumn and a slight nip in the air.  And while many of the summer fruits are becoming scarcer, they're being replaced with juicy apples and fragrant ripe pears.  I'm actually a little obsessed with pears these days.

Bourbon and Thyme Peach Smash

Even though we're quickly coming up on Labor Day weekend, I'm taking advantage of the last bits of summer I can grab.  There's still plenty of beautiful ripe fruit to be had at the market and the August peaches are sweet and juicy.

Blueberry Lemon Drop

For the last few years, late August has meant vacation heaven on the coast of Maine.  We know where to stay, where to eat and definitely where to drink.  There are always at least a few meals at One Dock and we can't wait to see what specialty cocktail they've added to their menu.

Peach Cobbler Cocktail

I've been waiting for the August peaches!  In some ways, they're a frustrating fruit because they're available in my market all year long but they're not worth eating.  Hard as rocks with no flavor or aroma.  But there they are, on display, taunting me.  August, though, is when the peaches become peachy!

Icy Cold Blood Orange Cosmo

Once again I found myself planning cocktails in the produce aisle.  There's always a dazzling array of fruit these days but something usually jumps out.  This week, some blood oranges rolled into my basket and demanded to come home with me.  So ripe they practically juiced themselves and filled my kitchen with a lovely fragrance.

Cheesecake Martini

Yesterday was National Cheesecake Day and I celebrated with several dozen of my fellow food bloggers.  We each made our own perfect version of cheesecake and my Blueberry Ricotta Cream Cheesecake was definitely my ideal.  But whenever I have a killer dessert, I start to wonder if I can turn it into a killer cocktail.

Golden Kiwi Cocktail

Delivery people who come to my door usually have to contend with an eager tail wagger who assumes that they are there to play with her.  But today, the man who delivered my Fresh Direct weekly grocery order also had to contend with me practically ripping the boxes out of his arms.

S'mores Martini

Summer and s'mores just go together.  The smell of roasted, slightly burned marshmallows conjures up memories of summer camp and long lazy kid days.  Of course, grown-ups can eat s'mores, too, but it's kinda fun to drink them as well.  If you don't already have a bottle of marshmallow vodka, you need to get some.  Right now.  For one thing, you need it to make this drink and you do want to make this drink.  You can also use it to make a Frozen Fluffernutter and you want to make that, too.  Drinking it straight from the bottle is also an option.  Cheers!

Rummy Pistachio Milkshake

Last week I had the good, and tasty, fortune to sample a new line of Häagen-Dazs gelato flavors.  Yes, I realize it's a tough job but I'm only doing it for all of you.  Um, yeah, sure.  Anyhow, I ended up using most of the flavors to make mini crunch cakes but I still had some pistachio flavor left over in my freezer.

Icy Cold Watermelon Martini

So, remember a few weeks ago when I was in such a hurry for summer to arrive?  Yeah...um...OK.  We can check that off the list now because it's arrived and with a vengeance.  No, I'm not wishing it away.  Not at all.  But I am wishing for something tall and icy cold to drink.

Frozen Apricot Daiquiri

I love farmers markets and big displays of fresh produce and it's one of the many reasons to love summer.  Don't get me wrong, there are plenty of bags of frozen fruit in my freezer.  Those are perfect for smoothies and frozen cocktails.  But they don't have the ability, while I'm wandering through the fruit stalls, to grab me with their fresh aroma and demand to be purchased.

Cantaloupe Melon Martini

This recipe can now be found at: http://www.hungrycouplenyc.com/2015/06/cantaloupe-melon-martini.html

Lychee Martini

Do you remember when the world was supposed to end?  It was around May of 2011 when the rapture was supposed to occur.  Since we're all still here, the folks who were predicting it were clearly a little off...and maybe even more than a little off, if you know what I mean.  And before you start thinking that I've gone a little off, I guess I should explain what all this has to do with lychee martinis.

Pineapple Mojito

Spring is quickly giving way to summer around here with temperatures moving into 80's.  Still not oppressively hot, though.  Perfect for beach days and picnics, street festivals and afternoons in the park.  And, of course, tall cool drinks on the porch.

Thyme and Nectarine Gimlet

So, last week a made a nectarine cocktail because I couldn't resist the sweet aroma of them on display in my market.  Well, this week, I walked in there with the intention of buying pineapples but those were right next to the nectarine display, still sitting there, wafting nectarine smells in my direction.  Who could resist wafting nectarines?

Creamy Frozen Nectarine Blitz

Happy almost Memorial Day weekend!  The start of summer beach days and grilling and long lazy afternoons sitting on a porch sipping a cool drink.  Yes, I know that's somewhat idealized and there's still work to be done during the week.  But we still need to savor those lazy, cool drink times because they'll be gone before we know it!

Frozen White Pear Cosmo

I'm loving the spring weather we're having, even if it's a little on the rainy side this year.  But after such a long, cold winter, I'll take any relief.  And warm weather makes me want to put fruit in a blender and pour vodka on it.  Rum would work, too.

Vodka Sidecar (Balalaika)

Bala what?  Balalaika?  Such an odd name for a cocktail, isn't it?  And not one we've often heard being ordered across the local bar.  But it's actually a $25 dollar word for a very simple drink.

Tropical Fiesta Cocktail

It's just a few short days until we celebrate Cinco de Mayo and already I see tons of margarita recipes all around the internet.  The Mexican holiday is always a big deal in New York, mostly as an excuse to go out and eat delicious Mexican food and drink tequila cocktails.

Mint Julep

The famous Kentucky Derby has been run on the first Saturday in May since 1875.  And though the race itself only lasts about two minutes, the festivities and traditions make for a big party.

Gin and Cucumber Smash

The first time I heard of cucumbers being used in a cocktail, I was both intrigued and doubtful.  I mean, I really love cucumbers but the thought of drinking them seemed so odd.  But I guess the intrigued part won out because I looked up a recipe and quickly threw together the drink.  Nope.  Not remotely appealing.  Bitter and overly savory, it was more medicine than delightful refreshment.  I shelved the idea.

Pear & Thyme Gin Fizz

I seem to be a little obsessed with thyme these days.  Slow braised beef dishes, veggie sides, you name it and I toss a little thyme in it.  So why should cocktails be any exception?

Carrot Cake Cocktail

A few days ago, I got a package in the mail and it contained a whole lotta carrots.  This veggie largess was compliments of Grimmway Farms with whom I will be working on a project next month.  My immediate reaction was to get a tub of hummus and start munching away while I decided what else I could do with them.

Frozen Fluffernutter Martini

When I was a little girl, there were only two kinds of kid-approved sandwiches and both involved peanut butter.  The classic PB&J, of course, and the fluffernutter.  That ingenious combination of sweet marshmallow fluff and salty peanut butter was perfect on its own or with the addition of some sliced bananas.  OK, sometimes there was some chocolate hazelnut spread as well but the fluff was the constant.

Springtime Martini

Hooray for the first day of spring!  It may take a little while longer for the snow to melt and the cherry blossoms to flower but I'm happy nonetheless.  This winter has lasted way too long and I'm ready to celebrate its departure.

Lemon Meringue Martini

This drink dates back to when we finally broke down and bought our first bottle of whipped vodka.  We scoffed at first but suddenly all these vodka brands were getting themselves whipped and fluffed and we couldn't fight it off anymore.  So when we were browsing around the liquor store (yes, we are the kind of people who browse in liquor stores) one of those bottles went into our basket.  Back home we approached it with some doubt as to whether it would taste sweet or artificial but, it was good.  Really good.

The Manhattan

This recipe can now be found at: http://www.hungrycouplenyc.com/2015/05/the-manhattan.html

Strawberry Thyme Gin Fizz

Last year, my good friend Heidi created a line of flavored syrups, called Not So Simple Syrup, and I had the pleasure of trying a few of them.  She and I are bonded in our love of cocktails and natural flavors are important to both of us.  She works with a local bottler and uses only fresh ingredients.  I was impressed the first time I tried them.

Chocolate Hazelnut-tini

 

There are probably very few treats I love as much as peanut butter.  But chocolate hazelnut spread would come a close second in the 'just hand me a big spoon' category.  I actually grew up eating plenty of it on toast since it was a favorite of my European parents.  But I'm pretty sure they never thought to make a cocktail out of it.

Tiramisu Martini

 

It's a good day when free ice cream shows up in the mail, wouldn't you say?  What happened was that the nice folks at Breyers contacted me to let me know about a new line of Gelato Indulgences coming out this month.  They said there would be Vanilla Caramel, Raspberry Cheesecake, Tiramisu and Triple Chocolate and I said "yum."  Then they offered to send me some to sample, if that was OK with me.  Um...yeah...sure.  I mean, if you insist.

Lemon Drop Daiquiri

This recipe can now be found at: http://www.hungrycouplenyc.com/2015/05/lemon-drop-daiquiri.html

Pecan Pie Martini (and Easy Maple Roasted Pecans)

Recently, the nice folks at Pinnacle Vodka sent me a new flavor to test.  Brian and I already have quite a nice flavor collection but this is one that wasn't in our arsenal yet.  That's pretty amazing, actually, since we have trouble passing a liquor store without wanting to browse and those sweet blue bottles always seem to call to us.  We'll see a flavor we haven't tried before and we both look at each other and can almost see our cocktail making wheels spinning.  Otherwise, we're normal people.  Really.

Welcome

A very warm welcome to all you friends, old and new.  If you know us from Hungry Couple then you've noted that we shake a mean cocktail.  When we go to new restaurants, our first question is whether they have a specialty cocktail menu and we're disappointed if they don't.

We may order some wine with dinner and serve beer at summer outings but there's something so interesting about the perfect blend of ingredients in a fine cocktail.  We do a lot of...um...sampling around here and we're always trying to achieve the right balance between sweet, tart and spirit.

Some of the recipes you'll find here over time will be our favorite versions of classics and some will be recreations of delights we found on our travels but most will be our very own creations.  There may even be a review, here and there.  So, welcome.  We hope you'll follow us on social media and keep coming back for more rounds.  Cheers!