Mixology Monday: Spice — Cranberry Spice Sidecar

This month, Mixology Monday is hosted by Craig of Tiki Drink & Indigo Firmaments. The theme this time around is Spice. I use spices and herbs often in cocktails, so this theme gave me a chance to explore variations in my favorite recipes. My first thought was a cranberry variation on the Blackberry Gin Daisy …

Eat, drink, share

Quick thoughts: 1. The photo above is of a loaf of no-knead bread I made over the weekend. The recipe (from the New York Times, "No-Knead Bread") was as easy as promised. I didn’t give the bread quite enough time to cool, because I was running late, but my family gave it very high marks …

A certain letter that’s shaped sort of like a hook

Some time back, Andrea of Lip Smacking Wit wrote a post on this meme: Leave a comment and I’ll give you a letter. Post ten things you LOVE that begin with that letter.  Then give a letter to anyone who leaves a comment for you… and the cycle will continue. Pretty irresistible, is it not? …

MxMo XXXII: Guilty Pleasures — Lynchburg Lemonade

It’s Mixology Monday again, hosted this time by my Gold Coast buddy Stevi Deter. Our theme this month is “Guilty Pleasures.” It’s tempting in these neo-Puritanical times to list all alcoholic beverages under such a category, but Stevi has something particular in mind: …in the world of cocktail bloggery, we are often pronouncing certain drinks, …

Happy birthday, Dorothy Parker

Dorothy Parker was born August 22, 1893. Celebrate this date with a Martini; two at the very most. Here’s a Parker poem to enjoy as well: Interview The ladies men admire, I’ve heard, Would shudder at a wicked word. Their candle gives a single light; They’d rather stay at home at night. They do not …

Mixology Monday: Local Flavor

The theme for this month’s Mixology Monday is Local Flavor. Our host is Kevin of Save the Drinkers, and while I don’t despise globalization as he does, I echo his affection for local flavors and specialties. Living here in western Pennsylvania, particularly in summertime, I’m lucky to have delightful, fresh ingredients right at hand. Corn …

Mixology Monday: New Orleans

Pat O’Brien’s Courtyard, originally uploaded by Gary J. Wood July’s Mixology Monday was postponed a couple of times, first to coincide with the Tales of the Cocktail conference in New Orleans — which city is the theme for this month — and then to coincide a little less, so that those who attended the conference …

Thinking Pennsylvanians, unite!

Regular readers of this site know I hold no love for the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board and this state’s monopoly on wine and liquor sales. I’ve thought about starting a movement to get these things thrown out. It turns out I don’t need to, because someone else already has. As part of this, he’s compiling …

Mixology Monday: Bourbon

Bitter Bourbon   2 oz bourbon (drier varieties preferred) .5 oz Campari .5 oz green Chartreuse dash orange bitters   Combine in a shaker with ice. Strain into chilled cocktail glass. Serve with orange rind garnish. It’s Mixology Monday again, and our hosts this month are the Scofflaw’s Den, lovable ruffians and scoundrels that they …