No-Waste Sour
Ingredients
Serves Serves 1
1½ oz (45 ml) Queensborough Dry Gin
1 oz (30 ml) Gewürztraminer Syrup*
¾ oz (22 ml) lemon juice
2 foraged or local rosemary sprigs (save 1 for garnish)
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker with cubed ice, combine gin, Gewürztraminer Syrup, lemon juice and 1 sprig rosemary. Shake vigorously and fine strain into a chilled rocks glass over new cubed ice. Garnish with remaining rosemary sprig.
- * To make Gewürztraminer Syrup, heat 1 cup (250 ml) leftover Gewürztraminer in a saucepan over medium-high heat. Once bubbling gently, reduce heat to simmer until wine is reduced by half, about 5 to 10 minutes. Add ½ cup (125 ml) granulated sugar and stir until dissolved. Remove from heat, let cool, then transfer to a bottle, seal and store in refrigerator for up to 2 weeks. Makes about 7 oz (210 ml).
Drink Pairings
Gratitude
Ingredients
Serves 1
1 oz (30 ml) Bacardí Superior White Rum
¾ oz (22 ml) organic, unsweetened cranberry juice
¼ oz (7ml) simple syrup *
5 mint leaves
3 oz (90ml) Villa Teresa Prosecco Rosé
fresh or frozen cranberries, for garnish
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker with ice, combine, rum, cranberry juice, simple syrup and mint. Shake vigorously to chill and "muddle" the mint. Fine strain into a flute glass, top with Prosecco Rosé and garnish with cranberries
- * 1:1 ratio of sugar dissolved in boiling water. Allow to cool before using.
Featuring
Gratitude (batch version)
Ingredients
Serves 10
40 to 50 mint leaves
10 oz (300 ml) Bacardí Superior White Rum
7½ oz (225 ml) organic, unsweetened cranberry juice
2½ oz (75 ml) simple syrup
5 oz (150 ml) water
2 x 750 ml bottles Villa Teresa Prosecco Rosé, to serve
fresh or frozen cranberries, for garnish
Instructions
- In a pitcher or bowl, muddle mint leaves, then add rum, cranberry juice, simple syrup and water. Stir thoroughly, then strain into a clean 750 ml bottle and chill before serving. To serve, measure 2½ oz (75 ml) into a flute glass, top with 3 oz (90 ml) Prosecco Rosé and garnish with cranberries.
Featuring
Aperol Spritz
Ingredients
Serves 1
3 oz (90 ml) Riondo Prosecco
2 oz (60 ml) Aperol Aperitivo
1 oz (30 ml) soda water
orange slice, for garnish
Instructions
- In a large wine glass half filled with cubed ice, combine Prosecco, Aperol and soda water. Gently stir to combine and garnish with an orange slice.
Featuring
Sangria Pops
Ingredients
Serves 10
2 cups (500 ml) red wine
1 cup (250 ml) lemon-lime soda
1 cup (250 ml) orange juice (no pulp)
Instructions
- In a large, spouted jug, stir together all ingredients. Pour into popsicle moulds, place sticks in moulds and freeze for at least 8 hours.
Drink Pairings
Bellini Pops
Ingredients
Serves 10
1 cup (250 ml) frozen sliced peaches
1 x 14 oz (398 ml) can peaches, with their syrup
2 tbsp (30 ml) strawberry jam
3 cups (750 ml) Prosecco, divided
Instructions
- In a large blender, combine frozen and canned peaches, strawberry jam and 1 cup (250 ml) Prosecco. Blend on high for 1 minute, or until smooth. Add remaining 2 cups (500 ml) Prosecco and blend for 3 to 5 seconds to combine. Let sit for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, to allow bubbles to settle.
- Pour into popsicle moulds, place sticks in moulds and freeze for at least 8 hours.
Drink Pairings
Chambord Punch
Ingredients
Serves 6
½ cup (125 ml) Chambord Black Raspberry Liqueur
1 bottle (750 ml) dry or semi-dry sparkling wine, well chilled
1 cup (250 ml) fresh raspberries
Instructions
- Pour Chambord into a large pitcher and slowly add sparkling wine. Add raspberries and give punch a quick stir. Divide between 6 flute glasses and serve immediately.
Featuring
Very Special Edition
Ingredients
Serves 1
1¼ oz (37 ml) Hennessy Very Special Cognac
¾ oz (22 ml) Aperol Aperitivo
¼ oz (7 ml) St-Germain Elderflower Liqueur
1 tsp (5 ml) citric acid syrup*
2 dashes lemon bitters
1 oz (30 ml) Segura Viudas Reserva Cava Brut, to top
grapefruit twist, for garnish
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients except Cava and grapefruit twist in a mixing glass with ice and stir. Strain into a chilled rocks glass over a large ice cube. Top with Cava and garnish with a grapefruit twist.
- * Combine ½ cup (125 ml) water and ½ cup (125 ml) white sugar and heat gently until dissolved. Add ½ tsp (2.5 ml) citric acid powder (available online or at specialty stores) and allow to cool.
Featuring
CHAI FIGGY CAKES WITH RED WINE CARAMEL AND PEAR CRISPS*
Ingredients
Serves 10 cakes. * Please note, this recipe should be started at least 1 day in advance.
2⅓ cups (575 ml) granulated sugar, divided
1¼ cups (310 ml) water, divided
1 tbsp (15 ml) lemon juice
½-in (1.25 cm) piece fresh ginger, sliced
1 small bartlett pear
½ vanilla bean, halved lengthwise
1 cup (250 ml) red wine
1 tbsp (15 ml) + ½ cup (125 ml) unsalted butter, room temperature, divided, plus extra for greasing
¾ cup (175 ml) chopped dried figs
¾ cup (175 ml) chopped dried dates
1¼ cups (310 ml) boiling water
1 tsp (5 ml) baking soda
3 chai teabags
1½ cups (375 ml) all-purpose flour
2 tsp (10 ml) baking powder
½ tsp (2.5 ml) kosher salt
¼ tsp (1 ml) ground cinnamon
¾ cup (175 ml) packed light brown sugar
3 large eggs, room temperature
lightly sweetened whipped cream, for serving (optional)
Instructions
- To make Pear Crisps, in a small saucepan, combine 1 cup (250 ml) sugar, 1 cup (250 ml) water, lemon juice and ginger and bring to a gentle boil over medium heat. Transfer to a large heatproof bowl and set aside to cool to room temperature. Using a mandolin or sharp knife, carefully cut pear into ⅛-in (0.25 cm) slices. Remove any seeds and submerge pear slices in sugar syrup. Allow to sit at room temperature for at least 4 hours or, even better, overnight.
- Preheat oven to 200 F (93 C). Place a wire rack on a baking sheet and top with a piece of parchment paper.
- Remove pear from syrup, letting any extra syrup drip off, then place in a single layer on parchment-lined rack. Bake, turning over every hour, until firm and crisped, about 4 to 6 hours. Turn off oven and prop open oven door with a wooden spoon, letting pear slices cool completely in oven. Once cooled, use for garnish or store in an airtight container in a cool, dry place for up to 2 days.
- To make Red Wine Caramel, scrape vanilla seeds from pod into a small saucepan, then add vanilla pod and wine. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat until wine is reduced to about ½ cup (125 ml), about 10 minutes. Remove from heat and discard vanilla pod.
- In a medium saucepan, stir together remaining 1⅓ cups (325 ml) sugar and ¼ cup (60 ml) water and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Boil, without stirring, and washing down any sugar crystals that form on side of pan with a pastry brush dipped in cold water, until syrup turns pale golden, about 6 to 10 minutes. Continue to cook, swirling pan occasionally, until deep golden, about another 1 to 2 minutes. Remove from heat and carefully pour red wine reduction down side of pan into caramel. Take care, as it will steam and sputter. Return saucepan to medium-low heat and stir continuously until caramel is smooth and has thickened slightly, about 4 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in 1 tbsp (15 ml) butter. Set aside or transfer to an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 1 week.
- To make cakes, preheat oven to 350 F (180 C). Grease 10 cups in nonstick popover pans.
- In a medium bowl, stir together figs, dates, boiling water and baking soda. Add tea bags, submerging in mixture, and set aside for 10 minutes to soak. Discard tea bags.
- Meanwhile, in a small bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, salt and cinnamon.
- In bowl of a stand mixer fitted with paddle attachment, cream together remaining ½ cup (125 ml) butter and brown sugar until pale and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Add fig and flour mixtures. Stir until just combined. Spoon batter into prepared cups until ¾ full. Place popover pans on a baking sheet and bake until a wooden skewer inserted in centre comes out clean, about 25 to 30 minutes. Allow cakes to cool about 10 minutes in pan before turning out onto a wire rack.
- Divide warm cakes onto serving plates. Drizzle with Red Wine Caramel and garnish with a couple of Pear Crisps and a dollop of lightly sweetened whipped cream, if desired. Serve immediately. Any extra cakes can be frozen. Allow to cool completely, wrap well in plastic wrap or an airtight container, and freeze for up to 1 month. To thaw, leave out at room temperature for several hours, warming in a 300 F (150 C) oven for 5 to 8 minutes before serving, if desired.
Drink Pairings
CLEMENTINE BUBBLE
Ingredients
Serves 1
¾ oz (22 ml) Absolut Vanilia Vodka
2½ oz (75 ml) freshly squeezed clementine juice (Can substitute mandarin juice.)
½ oz (15 ml) fresh lemon juice
3 oz (90 ml) C Sharp Sparkling Brut
whipped cream, for garnish
orange zest, for garnish
Instructions
- In a mixing glass with ice, combine vodka and juices and stir to chill. Strain into a Collins glass, add sparkling wine and top with ice, leaving room for a dollop of whipped cream. Garnish with orange zest.