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!

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!