Maldita

Hafez- (Peach champagne cocktail)

I learned about this drink at Lala Rokh. It's very easy to make and makes a refreshing accompaniment to a salad. I would serve this in lieu of Bellinis during sunday brunch. 

2 oz. peach liqueur

prosecco (italian fruity sparkling wine)

peach slices for garnish

Place  a couple small slices of peaches at the bottom of the glass. Pour the peach liqueur in a chardonnay wine glass. Pour the prosecco all the way.

 

Skinny Lychee (or Rambutan) Martini

I stopped by the Super 88 Store on Packard's Corner after my free trial boxing class at the Ring. There,I picked up a couple cans of preserved rambutans (in lieu of lychees), as well as spices such as paprika and frozen ginger and lemongrass.  Super 88 looked like it had just upgraded its facilities- it looked very spacious, very bright and very clean but the shelves were bare...

Rambutans and lychees are both tropical  stoned fruits and are easily found in the local markets in south east asia. Both have a translucent fleshy fruit, except that lychees tend to be sweeter;  The rambutan skin is also thicker and hairier than the lychee skin. Outside of those superficial differences, their flavours are very similar. 

When I got home, I decided to make skinny  Lychee/Rambutan Martinis based on Bethenny Frankel's recipe but with my own modifications: (Note, I use the cap of my martini shaker as the measuring cup, so I refer to 1 part= 1 martini shaker cap). Don't consume more than 2.

Ingredients:

- rocks glass half filled with ice

-  2 parts grey goose vodka (i used the citron bec. that's what i had at home)

- 1 part lychee liqueur (these are really difficult to find so my wine store recommended St Germain (an elderflower liqueur as a substitute

- 1/2 c. club soda

-1/4 c. diet sprite

- 3 parts lychee/rambutan juice (from the can) (I recommend you adjust the soda, lychee/rambutan juice combo depending on your desired sweetness).

- 2-4 lychees/rambutan and mint for garnish

Tip: Chill your martini glasses in the freezer

Combine all ingredients (except for the lychees/rambutan and mint garnish) with the ice  in a cocktail shaker. Shake well and strain into  2 chilled martini glasses.  Garnish. Voila, enjoy your cocktail.

Breezy Mango Martini

I love fresh mangoes and enjoy my martini now and then. My recipe for Mango martini can taste like an alcohol infused sorbet or a fruity cocktail depending on how much frozen mangoes you add in.

In a blender, combine:

1/2 cup frozen mangoes

2 oz orange vodka (grey goose is a fave) or smirnoff vanilla vodka 

1 oz grand marnier

1/2 cup diet sprite/ 7up

1/2 cup soda water

(Note: you can also add mago ice-cream for a creamier texture. I;v done this when I wanted to serve this as an alcohol infused dessert. )

Garnish with a sprig of fresh mint