Martini of the Month Club

    THE MARTINI . . .

Some say the most mysterious classic American cocktail. There are so many myths and legends surrounding the creation of this infamous drink . . . a bartender in San Francisco during the gold rush, a minor in the small town of Martinez, California in 1870, and a bartender at New York's Knickerbocker Hotel, all have been given credit. The English have even said that the name comes from the Martini & Henry rifle, invented by Friedrich von Martini, and used by the British Army between 1871 and 1891. Originally mixed with gin (and shaken not stirred, according to James Bond), the Martini enjoyed a short respite during the 1980s and early 90s, but has since made a spectacular comeback - but, mainly with vodka, not gin. So, in honor of this delicious treat, I've created the Martini of the Month Club. Each month, a different Martini recipe will be featured (and, believe me, I have quite a few). Feel free to try them, share them with your friends, and even modify them if you choose. Then, take the Martini of the Month challenge and send me your favorite Martini recipe - either your original concoction or, if not your own, then please give credit where credit is due. You can email me at cathleen@scrapitudes.com. Here's to you . . . and to your favorite Martini!

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December 2009: Pomegranate Martini

  

• 2 ounces vodka of your choice
• 2 ounces pomegranate liqueur
• 1 ounce triple sec
• 1 ounce simple syrup
• 1/2 lime, juiced

Shake all ingredients with ice; pour into chilled martini glass and serve with a slice of lime.

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November 2009:  Spicy Pumpkin Tini by Chef Dean James Max

• 2 1/2 oz Bourbon
• 1 1/2 oz. fresh pumpkin puree
• 1/2 oz. cream
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg (plus additional for rimming glass)
• 3 tablespoons of sugar (plus additional for rimming glass)

For pumpkin puree: cut a small roasting pumpkin in half. Scoop out the seeds and rub the inside with butter. Sprinkle with nutmeg and cinnamon. Bake the pumpkin face down at 375 degrees for about 30 minutes. Let cool and scoop out into blender with a 1/8 cup of water and sugar. Blend until smooth. Add more spice if necessary. Texture should be loose. For martini: rim glass with a mixture of nutmeg and sugar. Add ice to a shaker, then add Bourbon and follow with pumpkin puree and cream. Shake and serve in rimmed glass.

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October 2009: 31st Martini

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

• 1 oz. Vodka
  
• 1 oz. Cherry Brandy
  
• 2 teaspoons Dry Vermouth
  
• 1 tablespoon orange juice
  

Shake all ingredients together with ice, then strain into a martini glass. Don't let the ghoulies and goblins getcha!

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September 2009: Punch-A-Tini 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

• 10 cups cranberry juice cocktail (plus more for ice cubes)
  
• 3 cups orange juice
  
• 1 cup fresh lime juice
  
• Vodka to taste (this means lots and lots)
  
• Sugar to taste (optional)
  

Make ice cubes from the additional cranberry juice. Combine all other ingredients, including the vodka, in a large punch bowl. Mix well and adjust the sugar to taste. Add the ice cubes to the punch bowl and serve.

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August 2009: Key Lime-tini by Christine H. 

• 1 ½ oz. Citron vodka
  
• ½ oz. French Vanilla creamer
• 1 oz. Roses Lime Juice
• ½ oz. Licor 43
• Splash of sweet n’ sour mix
• Graham Crackers
• Sugar

Crush graham crackers and mix with sugar. Rim glasses with lime juice, then coat with graham cracker and sugar mixture. Mix all ingredients in martini shaker with ice. Shake, pour and serve. Mmmmmmmm . . .    

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July 2009: White & Red Sangria-tinis by Dina Menard

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For White Sangria-tinis:

• 1 apple
• 1 orange
• blueberries
• 1 1/2 cup mango schnapps
• 1/2 white sugar
• 1 bottle Chardonnay
• 1/2 cup orange juice
• 1 can ginger ale

Chill wine. Slice fruit into thin rounds and place in large pitcher with blueberries. Pour in schnapps and sugar. Chill. To serve, crush fruit lightly with wooden spoon and stir in wine, orange  juice and ginger ale. Photo courtesy of www.gulfcoastlivingonline.com.

 

For Red Sangria-tinis:

• 1 lemon
• 1 lime
• 1 orange
• 1 apple
• 1 1/2 cups rum
• 1/2 cup white sugar
• 1 bottle dry red wine
• 1 cup orange juice

Chill wine. Slice fruit into thin rounds and place in large pitcher. Pour in rum and sugar. Chill. To serve, crush fruit lightly with wooden spoon and stir in wine and orange juice. Photo courtesy of www.thesunblog.com.

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June 2009: Roy's Hawaiian Martini

• 3 bottles of your favorite Vodka
• 1 bottle Coconut Rum
• 1/2 bottle Vanilla Vodka
• 1 cup simple syrup
• Fresh pineapple cut into chunks

Mix all ingredients together and allow to infuse for 48 hours. Stir, shake and serve in iced martini glasses.

WARNING!!!!! This recipe makes 25-30 martinis!

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May 2009:  Mommy's Lemon-tini

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

• 1 1/2 shot of Grey Goose Vodka
• 1 1/2 shot Cointreau
• 1 squirt Lemon juice
• 2 shots lemonade

Shake well and strain through martini shaker into glass. Garnish with a twist (or slice) of lemon. Sit in chair on deck or patio with feet up. Snap fingers for faster service from hubby. . . Hey - it's your day!

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April 2009:  Anguillan Island Cosmo

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

• 1 3/4 oz Kettle One Vodka
• 1/3 oz Cointreau
• 1/3 oz Cranberry Juice Cocktail
• 1/3 oz fresh lime juice
  

Ever wish your Cosmo Martini had that perfect light pink color instead of looking like you're drinking Kool-Aid? Having just returned from a vacation "on island" as they say in Anguilla, a beautiful West Indies Island in the Eastern Caribbean, I have finally learned the secret to the  perfect light pink Cosmo Martini - - cranberry juice cocktail instead of cranberry juice! And a little bit of island music, mon . . .

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March 2009:  St. Patrick's Day Apple-tini

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

•  3/4 oz Kettle One Citron
• 3/4 oz Apple Pucker
• 1/2 oz Midori
• 1/4 oz Cointreau
• Splash of Pineapple Juice
• Mix with ice in a shaker; shake and pour.

Did you know that a Leprechaun is a type of a male faerie that is said to inhabit Ireland? Leprechauns usually take the form of old men who enjoy making mischief. They are most often cobblers or shoemakers. Leprechauns are said to be very rich, with much treasure that was buried during the war.  According to legend, if anyone keeps an eye fixed upon one, the Leprechaun cannot escape, but the moment you look away, he vanishes. So, here's to the Leprechauns - just make sure you keep your eye on your Apple-tini!

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February 2009:  Little Pink Martini by Christine H.

 

• 2 ounces Stoli Rubori (or any Raspberry vodka will due)
• 1 ounce Sweet & Sour
• 1 ounce Cranberry juice
• 1/2 ounce Fat Free Vanilla Creamer
• Optional:  raspberries to top

 Mix all over ice; shake and pour. If you haven't noticed . . . PINK is in this month!  

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January 2009:  The Vodka Martini

• 2 3/4 oz vodka
• 1-2 dashes vermouth

Pour the vodka into the glass with ice, add the vermouth.  Stir quickly and serve with an olive or two or a twist as requested.

P.S. Before James Bond asked for his Martini shaken and not stirred, the Martini was gin-based. But, the Vodkatini is now as popular (if not more so) than the gin dry Martini.

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Comments

[Lotti]

Love the white sangria...don't eat the fruit, LOL. Nah, go ahead and eat the fruit, it's the best part. =)