Thursday cocktail

It's fall. The air is chilled, the ground echos with the sound of crunchy leaves and the mixed drink menus have been tweaked from tastes of summer mango mojitos to fall ciders and pumpkin brews.

As much as I adore the "Dark & Stormy" from Luxe (www.luxecleveland.com), a mixture of ginger beer, rum and lime...over the weekend I was flipping through the pages of foodie magazines and discovered what could be my favorite fall concoction; shaken not stirred called "a perfect storm."

Hope you enjoy!

1 vanilla bean
1/2 cup super fine sugar
1 ounce ginger beer (Reeds is the best!)
1 1/2 ounces apple cider
2 ounces dark rum

Split a vanilla bean lengthwise, scrape out the inside and add it to the sugar, stir until the sugar is speckled with bits of vanilla. Dip the rim of the glass in water, then in the vanilla sugar to coat. Mix the ginger beer, cider, & rum in a cocktail shaker. Shake. Pour over ice in prepared glasses. garnish with half the vanilla bean.

Sip slowly...it is super yummy! Happy cider. Happy fall. :)

Straight Up! (6/19)

Thursday June 19th, 2008

Happy National Martini Day Cleveland!

This evening head to your favorite chic bar and sip to the tune of your favorite martini. Whether it be Gin, Vodka or Cosmo, they are all tasty. Enjoy the recipe below! Although this martini will certainly qualify as a standard martini, you'll often find that every bartender will create the drink with a slight (or perhaps not so slight) variation.



Vodka Martini Ingredients (because in my opinion gin tastes like perfume)

3 ounces of freezing Absolut or Grey Goose vodka.
1 teaspoon of vermouth.
3 Big olives stuffed with crumbled bleu cheese.
1 fancy schmancy toothpick.

Combine Vodka & vermoth. Stir. Strain your freezing vodka into your glass. Spear your olives and gently slide them into the glass. Have a seat in your favorite chair. Sip and relax.

Silver Spoons (5/15)

Thursday, May 15th, 2008

Don't miss one of Cleveland’s most premier and highly anticipated events, the 14th Annual Cleveland Magazine Silver Spoon Awards Party, featuring over 20 of Northeast Ohio's Silver Spoon award-winning restaurants. Proceeds will benefit the Arthritis Foundation of Northeast Ohio.

> Sample cuisine from over 20 Silver Spoon award-winning restaurants, as featured in the May issue of Cleveland Magazine.
> International vintners pour several of the most delicious wines in the world.
> Spectacular silent auction items, including a hot air ballon ride for two and a stay in a 10,000 sq/ft tropical Mexican Villa that sleeps 12 and includes a pool and full servant service.
> The Private VIP Martini Lounge will be separate from the main event with a unique “see and be seen” vibe. The swanky space will feature signature Ketel One pomegranate and espresso martinis, live jazz entertainment and exclusive cuisine, all of which can be experienced only in this area of the party.

6-9 p.m. InterContinental Hotel 9801 Carnegie Ave., Downtown Cleveland.
For more information visit www.clevelandmagazine.com/ME2/Sites/Default.asp

Lovin "The Bin"

Last Saturday, as I was outdoors enjoying the fresh spring weather, (raking up enough leaves to fill more than a dozen lawn bags) I developed quite the appetite. As I didn't want to get side tracked with my "project," I thought I would run out and pick up something healthy and quick, so off to Nature’s Bin in Lakewood I went...

The produce glistened..the "healthy" cookies were calling my name...the fancy vitamin-packed waters were literally jumping into my basket. And then...I came upon the newly expanded prepared foods section, which is where my new obsession began. When all was said and done, along with my sandwich (with fresh sprouts), I had also purchased 2 pine nut & golden raisin empanadas (which I ate for dinner that night), a tomato & goat cheese tart (which I ate for dinner the next night), a container of peanut chicken whole wheat soba noodles (which made for a great bring-to-work lunch) and a lemon chive quinoa salad (which I ate for dinner last night!), my quick trip to a local favorite turned out to be way more than a lunch pick up, it literally has fed me all week. If you haven’t been to the remodeled Nature’s Bin, there is something waiting to fill your fridge, so stop in on the way home tonight.

Did you know that Nature's Bin is much more than just a natural foods store? This comfortable place where many Cleveland area residents have shopped for years is really a rehabilitation training facility in disguise. Its mission is to "help people with disabilities achieve successful integration into the work place," and they do an amazing job at it. Everyone was so pleasant and welcoming I couldn't help but think, why don't I do all of my grocery shopping here?

As always, a trip to Natures Bin wouldn't be complete without a new tube of organic, natural, super shiny and very tasty lip gloss. If nothing else, I would stop in just to check out the spring selection of flavors! :)

Nature's Bin is located on the west side of Lakewood on Sloane Ave - right off of West Clifton. 18120 Sloane Ave. Lakewood, OH, 44107 216-521-4600

Parisian Cuisine (4/17)

Thursday, April 17th, 2008

Welcome spring with a celebratory feast just like the French do. Join Chef Ruth Kostadinov of Gatherings Catering where she will create an exquisite food experience. The evening's menu consists of creamy mushroom soup with a french baguette, carmelized onion & gruyere tart, bibb lettuce salad, rack of lamb with buttered noodles and fresh berry napoleons.



Space are filling up FAST! For reservation contact Gayle at 216.362.9200. $20 per person. Hosted by Trevarro, 12610 Corporate Drive, Parma, OH 44130.

Minty Goodness Recipe (3/17)

Monday, March 17th, 2007

Happy St. Patrick's Day Cleveland! Top 'O the morning to ya!

I used to absolutely love it when McDonald's brought out their Shamrock Shakes around St. Patrick's Day. The past couple of years I haven't been able to either find the special treat or want the extra calories...so I was thrilled when I found this copycat recipe!

Ingredients (makes 2 large glasses0
2 cups vanilla ice cream or soy ice cream
1 1/4 cups 2% low-fat milk or soymilk
1/4 teaspoon mint extract
8 drops green food coloring

Directions
1) Combine all ingredients in a blender and blend on high speed until smooth.
2) Stop blender to stir with a spoon if necessary to help blend ice cream.
3) Pour into 12-ounce cups and serve each with a straw.
4) Happy St Patrick's Day!

So, if you aren't out "celebrating" with a green beer (or 2), stay in this evening and whip up a pitcher (or 2) of "healthy" Shamrock Shakes. Enjoy.

Winter Mojito Madness

Oh the weather outside is frightful but cocktails are so delightful...and since Starbucks has makes their own liqueur...let it snow, let it sleet, let it snow!

Since it's March and still blistery outdoors, here's the plan. Call your pals, crank up the heat to 70 degrees and create your own little cabana haven with a Starbucks Liqueurs Coffee Mojito. With a sparkling cocktail in your hand and the warm air blowing through your swanky pad, it will be like a relaxing vacay in your living room!

Here's the how-to...
- 1 part Starbucks™ Coffee Liqueur
- 1 part Cruzan Light Rum
- fresh mint sprigs
- sugar
- ½ lime
- club soda



Muddle mint and sugar. Squeeze lime, add Starbucks™ Coffee Liqueur, rum and ice. Fill with club soda and garnish with more mint. Enjoy. You now have a mojito infused with the best tasting coffee liqueur!