happy hour: low-cal cocktail formula

{this post is just a taste of vegetables & vodka, my FREE e-cookbook!  download it below!}

cocktail 101

…the easiest low-cal creation in cocktail land…

we all love our cocktails.  but, we don’t always love (or need) the calories that lurk in their liquidy goodness.  whether you’re at home, at a friend’s party or at your local watering hole,  here is a simply fabulous cocktail formula that will keep you smiling while sipping.

1 shot liquor (vodka, rum, gin) in a glass over ice

splash of juice or liqueur (cranberry juice, triple sec, orange juice, amaretto, cassis, etc.)

top off with club soda

garnish with citrus (lime, lemon or orange wedge)

this simply fabulous combo is utter low-calorie perfection, clocking in at a mere 125 calories per serving.  the hint of juice or sweet liqueur is just enough to infuse a bit of festiveness while the club keeps it super low-cal and fizzy.  the final squeeze of fresh citrus brightens the flavors. 

no shot glass handy?  count to 4 while pouring to approximate a shot’s worth of liquor.

happy friday!  enjoy your weekend - and your(low-cal) cocktails!

.

happy hour: how to become a regular

as many of you know, craig and i love bobby's.  bobby simone's is a great little bar in nearby doylestown that has become our happy hour hot spot.  when we walk in the door, the bartenders know us and always greet us with a smile and sometimes even a cheer : )  bobby's has become our cheers.

it's amazing how a little customer service - like them remembering us - impresses and impacts and keeps us coming back for more.  (not to mention sandy mixes a mean cosmo...which is only $5 at happy hour.)

so, how does one become a regular?  we didn't initially set out to achieve anything special, but after frequenting the same place for a while, you do get certain perks.  a complimentary drink or two or three, special service (like when i ask for just a 1/2 martini) and the thrill of being "known".

here are my tips if you're looking to carve out a special place:

1. don't settle.  craig and i checked out a few bars in doylestown that offer happy hours before choosing bobby's.  (tough job, but someone's gotta do it.)  see who has the best drinks, the best deals and the best crowd.

2. slow but steady. you don't have to go multiple times a week or even every week to get remembered.  the slow and steady method is better (for you and your wallet).  that way you can "ease" yourself in.

3. sit at the bar.  if you have the option of seats at the bar or a table, go for the bar.  that way you can get to know your bartenders and strike up a rapport.

4. ask their opinion.  if you always order the same thing (like me), ask what other drinks they recommend that would please your palate.  good bartenders know how to make good drinks, and they'll appreciate being recognized as an expert.

5. tip well.  this one's kind of obvious, but tip well.  happy hour is already cheap, so it's not a big deal to leave a little extra.  we like to leave 25-35%.  good tippers are remembered and treated well.

6. go after hours.  after hitting up several happy hours, and if the bartenders are starting to remember you, go after happy hour.  this will let them know that you're not always looking for a deal and that you like them/the bar/the drinks even if you have to pay full price.  and this is most likely when you'll reap the benefits of regularity...often the monetary kind...

so, i think it's about time to go out and find your happy place!.

muttinis {guest post}

Hello, Mavens!

My name is Alice, and when Cailen announced that she was looking for cocktail-themed guest posts, she had me at the word “cocktail.”  I don’t have a blog of my own (yet), but Cailen was gracious enough to let me try my hand at blogging on hers. So here we go…
 

How to Make a Muttini (moo-tini)

One of my favorite summertime drinks is a nice cold Muttini: a simple cocktail that’s really easy to make but tastes delicious and looks pretty (it’s pink)!

So…what the heck is a Muttini, you ask?

Muttinis were my maternal grandmother’s signature cocktail. My grandparents didn’t drink often, but when they were served a variation of this drink at a church friend’s party (back in the late 60’s / early 70’s when “sours” were the libation of choice), my grandmother liked them so much she asked for the recipe. She started to serve these cocktails at her own gatherings, and (here comes your “a-ha” moment) since my family calls my grandmother “Muttie,” the drinks soon became known as “Muttinis”.

Isn’t this a great picture of my grandparents? Those lovebirds were married for 67 years!

To make a Muttini, all you need is a can of frozen lemonade (pink or regular) and scotch. (I know - I was a little wary myself, but trust me, it’s delicious)!

All you do is pour the can of lemonade into a blender, then use the can to add 1 can of scotch and 1 can of water, add some ice and let the blender do its job. (Or if your blender is broken like mine, you can mix everything in a pitcher, but be sure to add a lot of ice or it might taste too sweet). Serve over ice, add a cherry to make it fancy and voila! You have a Muttini.

I served my Muttini in a super-classy martini glass.

My Mom tells me that because Muttie rarely drank liquor, she was very sensitive to it. Whenever she drank Muttinis she would get a silly grin on her face and say, “I can feel it in my fingers” – and that’s when you knew she was happy-happy.

This is one of the original glasses Muttie always used to serve Muttinis in – it has etchings all around the inside of the silver band.

Muttie was a loving, happy and humorous lady – she loved to laugh and tell us silly stories, and she made everything fun. Unfortunately by the time I was of age to enjoy a Muttini with her, Alzheimer’s had taken away her vibrant personality, and she passed away last year.

When my family and I came home after Muttie’s funeral, my dad made a batch of Muttinis as we sat in the living room. After a long weekend of tears and goodbyes, it was nice to just relax, enjoy each other's company, tell silly Muttie stories and share a lot of laughs - just like Muttie would have wanted.

Let’s all make a batch of Muttinis and celebrate the wonderful women in our lives – past & present.

Cheers!

Alice

Special thanks to my Mom, Aunt & Uncles for sharing their Muttini knowledge. (You can check out my Aunt’s blog).

lovin' alice's muttini?  you can follow her on twitter @alicewhitney

.