I know there are a lot of gin haters out there. I myself was a hater of gin for a good chunk of time. However, I have gotten passed that and even prefer a gin martini over vodka now. Of course, it has to be good quality gin, not the stuff that comes in a plastic bottle and sits on the bottom shelf in the supermarket. Bombay Sapphire is so smooth and clean tasting. Nothing beats it in my opinion!

If you like Greyhounds (vodka and grapefruit juice), and want to branch out into gin, then this is a good place to start. The Southern Bride is like a Greyhound, but with gin, and a splash of grenadine.  It is pretty, slightly sweet, and fruity, but is not an over the top foo foo drink.

These make a great drink for cocktail parties, because they are pretty in color, and even the men like them!

Ingredients:

• 2 ounces gin
• 4 ounces grapefruit juice
• dash of grenadine
• lime and cherry to garnish

Directions:

1. Combine all liquids with ice in a cocktail shaker. Shake.

2. Strain into chilled martini glass. Garnish.

When I first start planning my parties my first few thoughts are; who to invite, what I will wear, and what the theme will be. I always like to have a theme for my parties, it helps everything come together, adds a special element of fun for you and your guests, and makes you look like a master in the craft of entertaining.

A theme doesn’t mean that if it is “South of the border night” men come wearing sombreros, or if it is “Hawaiian Holiday” the women show up in grass skirts and coconut bras. This simply means that the food, music, and most importantly, drinks, are influenced by the theme. So break out the rum, slide the coffee table against the wall, and get to partying, Havana style!

Guests
Guests are probably one of the first thing you will want to think about when planning your party. If it is a sit down dinner, consider inviting only people who have met before, or you know would be able to have a good conversation. Because of the intimate setting of a dinner party, guests need to feel comfortable being involved in the conversation. Nothing makes for a more uncomfortable party than a bunch of people who have never met, and have no common interests.

For a cocktail party, guests don’t need to have that familiarity that you would want in a dinner party. The drinks will get the guests talking, even if they don’t share many common interests. Besides being able to open up over a few drinks, the nature of a cocktail party allows your guests to walk around and mingle, and get to know the other guests at the party.

Food

For a real retro Cuban fiesta you need hearty, full of flavor dishes. Ropa Vieja is one of my all time favorite dishes, and can be made hours ahead of time and placed in a crock pot, which makes for extra simple menu planning. If you aren’t big on the red meat, Jerk Chicken is a wonderful, tasty, and very spicy option, that will definitely put your guests in the mood for mambo. For a dessert you could serve up this delicious flan, or some sliced up pineapple, mangos, and star fruit on the side of some ice cream.

For some Cuban appetizer ideas, check out Taste of Cuba.

Drinks
With the wide array of flavors that Cuban, and other Caribbean foods provide, guests are going to want something cool, and slightly tropical to drink. A Mojito, Daquiri, or Cuba Libre can provide the ambiance, along with fun that is needed for a themed party. Make a large pitcher of your drink, so guests can help themselves. Use garnishes such as cherries, limes, and pineapple slices to make your drinks even more festive.

Decor
The key to decorating is lots of rich, vibrant, and contrasting colors. Nothing in the world says party like some bright, colorful streamers and they aren’t just for kid’s parties anymore. A bowl full of tropical fruits on a table make an incredibly beautiful, colorful, and simple centerpiece on any table. Hang some colored lights around the room to set the mood or dim the over head lights to help set the mood.

Music
Music is one of the easiest, and also one of the trickiest ways to set the mood for any party. What you put on your record/CD/i Pod player can really make or break your party. I have a very extensive collection of both records and MP3’s, however, if the guest list is more than four or so, I prefer to use the i Pod. The reason for this is obvious, it’s easier. With the i Pod I can plan out a play list ahead of time, hit the play list when guests arrive, and sit back and enjoy the music.

My very, very favorite record, which guarantees to get people up and dancing is A Touch of Tabasco by Rosemary Clooney and Perez Prado. Look for vintage mambo and cha cha music, such as Yma Sumac and Perez Prado. For some great compilations, check out the Ultra-Lounge collections, Mambo Fever and Cha Cha de Amor.

Today could possibly be renamed from New Years Day to Hangover Day. Unfortunately along with the fun of ringing in the New Year comes the consequences, a throbbing head, achy eyes, and a shaky body. The only real cure to a hangover is time, but following the tips below will help you get through the day.

♥ Lots and lots of water. I can’t stress this one enough. The reason you are feeling so bad is because of dehydration

♥ Eat a banana. The potassium in bananas will help revitalize your system.

♥ Avoid coffee and other caffeinated beverages. These will only dehydrate you further, and extend the length of your hangover.

♥ Exercise. As unappealing as that may sound when you are suffering from cold sweats, a short walk around the block will help rid your body of toxins, and increase the blood and oxygen to your brain.

♥ A Bloody Mary works wonders for me….but not too many, or you will be in the same boat tomorrow!!

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 ounces vodka
• 4 ounces Clamato (I much prefer this over regular tomato juice, it really adds to the flavor)
• 1 1/2 teaspoon lime juice
• 1 teaspoon lemon juice
• 3 dashes Worcestershire sauce
• 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon horseradish
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon pepper

Directions:

1. Combine all ingredients with ice in a cocktail shaker, and shake.
2. Pour over ice, serve with celery, olives, or your choice of garnish.

Tips for avoiding hangovers in the future
♥ Drink at least two glasses of water after a night of drinking, right before falling asleep.

♥ Take two Advils (or other pill made with ibuprofen) before falling asleep. Don’t take Tylenol with alcohol, as it will further destroy your liver, and the combo has been known to be fatal.

The biggest party day of the year has arrived, and what better way to celebrate than with a bottle (or two, or three) of bubbly?

Uncork that bottle, and get to mixing, and make sure to have a happy, and safe New Years!

Pink Slip
Fill a wine glass with 1 ounce of coconut rum and 1 ounce of cranberry juice. Fill remainder of the glass with champagne.

Bird of Paradise
Fill a champagne flute ¾ full of champagne. Fill the rest of the glass with pineapple juice. Add a dash of grenadine and enjoy this tropical cousin to a mimosa!

Flirtini
In a cocktail shaker with ice combine 1/2 oz Cointreau, 1/2 oz Vodka, and 1 oz Pineapple Juice. Shake, and strain into a chilled martini glass. Top with 3 oz Champagne.

What are your plans this New Year?

I have always heard that when throwing a fondue party you only want to have one pot of fondue a night, either cheese or chocolate. Not both, or it is considered tacky, and fondue overload.

I disagree.

Unless you and your friends are genuine food snobs, I say the more fondue the better. When I throw fondue parties I usually make three different types of fondues. Fondue is such a fabulously kitsch style of dining, that allows your inner kid to come out and play with your food. What better way to get your guests talking and laughing while at the same time developing their “keep the food on the fork” skills.

Foods to dip
♥ Steamed or boiled broccoli, carrots, baby potatoes, and cauliflower are great for dipping. Make sure not to cook the broccoli or cauliflower for too long, they should still be slightly firm so they don’t fall apart in the pot.

♥ A French bread baguette is a classic accompaniment to fondue. When cutting French bread for fondue, cut about one inch pieces. Make sure each piece has some of the crust, so the fork can hold on to the bread easier.

♥ Meats such as chicken grilled on little wooden skewers, frozen meatballs or little smokies are great meat options for dipping. If you want to get more creative, you could wrap little smokies in bacon, and secure with a toothpick.

♥ Strawberries, donut holes, marshmallows, sliced apples, and tiny baked goods such as bites sized brownies are excellent for dipping in dessert fondues.

Other Tips
♥ When serving chocolate or cheese fondues use a ceramic fondue pot as apposed to the metal ones. You can even find metal ones with a ceramic insert (you put water in the metal part, to act like a double boiler). The metal fondue pots are for broth based fondues, and will burn the chocolate and cheese fondue. Believe me, that is quite a task to clean up if it happens.

♥ Because the dinner and dessert is already so colorful and fun, you really don’t need more than a few bottles of wine and some beer to serve your guests. Choose your wine according to the cheese you use for your fondue.

♥ Count on having about four to six people per fondue pot. There are forks for more, but you don’t want your guests to be scraping the sides of the pot to get the little bits of cheese. Not including the fondue expect each guest to eat about 1 1/2 pounds of food throughout the evening. Plan accordingly.

♥ Set the fondue pot in the middle of a small table so guests can gather around it. I like to have the dipping food on a different table, and have small plates, so they can fill up and return to the fondue pot. To make it even more intimate, sometimes I put my fondue pot in the middle of my coffee table, and we all dine cross legged in our stockinged feet.

♥ If you use wine in your cheese fondue plan on serving the same kind of wine to drink.

Fondue Etiquette
♥ Never touch your mouth to the fork and absolutely NO double dipping!

♥ According to tradition; if you lose your food in the pot, you owe the group a round of drink!

Recipes
Swiss Cheese Fondue
Ingredients:

• 1 Clove of garlic halved
• 1 Teaspoon lemon juice
• 1/3 cup dry white wine
• 1/2 cup Gruyere cheese, grated
• 1/2 cup Emmenthaler cheese, grated
• 1 cup Cheddar cheese, grated
• 1 tablespoon flour

Directions:

1. In a medium sized pot, rub the halved garlic along the sides.
2. Add wine, lemon juice and flour, stirring to break up any clumps that may be in the flour. Add cheese, stirring. Place pot over low heat.
3. Stir every few minutes, until cheese is melted and a good consistency for dunking. Transfer to a fondue pot.
4. Serve with cooked chicken or beef chunks and vegetables such as broccoli, cauliflower, and baby potatoes, cooked not too soft, so they don’t fall apart in the fondue pot.

Chocolate Fondue
Ingredients:

• 1 small bag milk chocolate chips
• 1 tablespoon Frangelico
• 1/3 cup half and half

Directions:

1. In a double boiler (or like I used a metal bowl, with a towel in my hand over a slightly smaller pot), bring water up to a boil.
2. In the bowl combine all ingredients, stirring frequently, until melted.
3. Transfer to a fondue pot.

For lots more fondue recipes go to Go Fondue or Fondue Bits.

It seems to be that time of year again. Time for the sniffly nose, sinus headaches, tummy aches, and sore throats. At least here in the Northern hemisphere. I, along with many others have fallen victim of this horrible cold going around. However, with a few little changes hopefully we can all be up and kicking for all the New Years festivities.

♥ For a sore throat mix 1 tablespoons honey and 1 tablespoon lemon juice. Drink slowly, and allow to coat throat. repeat two or three times throughout the day.

♥ Drink lots of hot herbal teas. Loose leaf is always better than the bagged teas, because it is less processed, and you get more of the nutritional benefits of the leaf.

♥ Get plenty of rest, more than you would on an average day. If you don’t have to work spend the day resting, and doing only light activity.

♥ Get lots of vitamin C, drink lots of orange and grapefruit juice, or better yet, eat the fruit.

♥ Make sure to drink lots of water. During times of illness it is really easy to get dehydrated. Make sure to drink at least one glass of water an hour.

♥ According to the hubby a shot of Jameson and a greyhound cures even the worst of colds…. I’m not sure if I buy that though.

♥ Garlic is one of the best cold fighting foods there is. It has antibacterial qualities, that can aid you in getting over your cold. Most of us cringe at eating a whole clove of garlic, but if you cook a lot of garlic rich foods, that is the next best thing.

♥ Chicken Noodle Soup! Not only is the salty broth of this soup southing on your sinuses, but the vegetables are packed with important vitamins to help repair your body. Below is the recipe to my chicken noodle soup, which is bubbling away on my stove right now!

Ingredients:

• 2 cups of cooked chicken, cubed or shredded (About one large chicken breast)
• 1 1/2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 3 stalks of celery chopped
• 3 carrots, peeled and chopped
• 1 onion
• 12 cups chicken stock
• 1/4 teaspoon marjoram
• 1 bay leave
• 1 teaspoon dried parsley
• 1 teaspoon salt
• pepper to taste
• 6 ounces egg noodles

Directions:

1. In a large pot add oil, celery, carrots, and onion. Cook until tender. (I usually put the lid on for about five minutes, to speed up the process)
2. Add water, bouillon, marjoram, parsley, salt, pepper, chicken, and bay leaf. Simmer for about twenty minutes.
3. Add egg noodles, and cook for about ten minutes, or until tender.

The first time I heard of a Brandy Alexander was a few years back while watching Days of Wine and Roses, starring Jack Lemmon and Lee Remick. The film is a sad tale of a couples descent into alcoholism. When the two meet in the beginning of the movie, Jack Lemmon buys Lee Remick her first drink, a Brandy Alexander. She admits that the drink “made me feel good” and is quick to order another. From there it is a downward spiral as their lives and addictions get more and more out of control.

Now if that isn’t inspiring enough to try a new drink, I certainly don’t know what is!

The Brandy Alexander is a take on the traditional Alexander (which is made with gin), and became popular during the 1920’s. It is said to be the preferred drink of John Lennon during his “lost weekend”, an 18 month period when he was separated from Yoko, and went on a binge drinking spree.

This classy drink really is not just for alcoholics and binge drinkers. It is a creamy and slightly sweet cocktail that is perfect for after dinner. It goes well with desserts, or can be made into a dessert by using vanilla ice cream instead of milk, and blending. It’s flavor is somewhat like that of Egg Nog, which makes this an excellent winter time drink.

To make the Brandy Alexander fill a cocktail shaker with ice. Fill with 1 1/2 ounce Brandy, 1/2 ounce Dark Creme De Cacao, and 2-3 ounces milk or cream. Shake and strain into a chilled martini glass. Sprinkle nutmeg on top. The drink is traditionally made with more milk than alcohol, but I like to use a little bit less milk so I can taste the Brandy a bit more.

With the New Year right around the corner, I thought now would be the perfect time to share my cocktail party guide. Of course, cocktail parties are fun any time of year, but in the midst of the biggest holidays of the year, everyone has an excuse to throw one of these swanky events.

Food
Because the focus of your party are the drinks, cocktail food should be quick, easy, and prepared as much ahead of time as possible. Dips such as my roasted red pepper hummus or crab dip are great because they can be prepared ahead of time, and put out, next to a mixed vegetable platter, or some crackers, minutes before guests arrive. A plate full of various cheeses along side of some crackers may sound unoriginal, but unless all your guests are vegan, no one ever turns down cheese and crackers.

Because this isn’t a sit down dinner, it can be very tough to determine how much food you need to make without running out. It is pretty safe to estimate one pounds worth of food per guest. Always have more food than you think necessary.

As a rule of thumb for cocktail food, it should be no more than two bites. I like to offer a variety of food, from savory, to sweet, to healthy (I know, when drinking cocktails you rarely think of your health, but I like a big plate of veggies!). Things such as chocolate dipped strawberries, pigs in a blanket, and kabob skewers are some great options for bite sized snacks. If you are feeling a bit more adventurous, and have the free time, why not make these darling cream puff swans?

Drinks
Since this is a cocktail party, a stocked bar is key. If you don’t have the a liquor cabinet already built up, you can get away with just buying vodka, gin, whiskey, and a few mixers such as tonic water, orange juice, vermouth (for martinis), cola, and lemon lime soda. If you have a bit more cash, tequila, brandy, rum, and various liquors and juices really make for a swingin’ party. It is good to also have a few bottles of red and white wine, and various beers for the beer and wine drinkers.

If you are short of cash like I am, hiring a bartender is completely out of the question. Setting up a table or counter space with your liquor, mixers, ice, garnishes (limes, olives, cherries, etc.), cocktail shaker, straws, and glasses is ideal. I usually set a bar tending book nearby so that guests can look up their favorite drinks and make them, without interrupting the flow of the party. I highly recommend the Bartender’s Black Book. It is the most in depth and comprehensive bar book I have found. The back of the book contains a great index where you can look up any type of liquor, and see what drinks can be made with it. The book also has a section where they list all the different types of martinis, hot alcoholic beverages, blended drinks, shots, etc. for easy navigation through the land of liquors.

Having a specialty or “house” drink really helps save time, and confusion for those guests that don’t know what to drink. This can be made ahead of time in a big pitcher, or punch bowl, and guests can help themselves. It is much easier, and quicker than having each guest pour their own drinks. I love making a big pitcher of Sangria and setting it out with some wine glasses. Any drink could be made as your specialty drink, but make sure it is something that most everyone would like. Things such as punches, margaritas, daiquiris or other tropical drinks work well in big batches.

Estimate two drinks per guest per hour.

For a great and very retro How To guide in garnishing cocktails, click the thumbnail below.

Music
For a real swingin’ cocktail party, a good selection of music is ideal. Artists like Dean Martin, Peggy Lee, Nancy Wilson, Ella Fitzgerald and Charlie Parker are all great for creating the perfect cocktail ambiance. I also really like the Ultra Lounge collections, because they do all the hard work for you. They now have over twenty different albums, each with a theme (such as Saxaphobia, A Bachelor in Paris, & Mondo Exotica), and various artists. Just put on one of these discs, and you don’t need to worry about playing DJ the entire evening.

Other Important Tips
♥ Ice, lots and lots of ice. I start making ice about a week before the party, and keep it in grocery bags in the freezer
♥ Plan on hosting your party for about two to three hours. I like to host mine from 7-10, so people have a chance to eat a light dinner, and are out of your hair before the neighbors go to sleep.
♥ Have at least two glasses per guest or one per guest per hour. Try to have a variety of different glasses, martini, wine, rocks, and shot glasses.
♥ Having at least two cocktail shakers really helps to unclog the crowd at the bar. Reserve one for sweet drinks, and one for unsweetened, that way the shakers don’t need to be rinsed between each use.
♥ Learn how to make a few basic drinks like the traditional martini, Southern Bride, or a white Russian, just to impress your guests who are unsure about making their own.
♥ Don’t provide too much seating, it is good to have your guests up and mingling.
♥ Hire a babysitter. Cocktail parties are not family events, and nothing can kill a grown up social event like screaming children.
♥ Have on hand the number for at least one or two local cab service, in case any of your guests take full advantage of your bar!