Royal Weddings, Martinis, The Space Shuttle Endeavor, and More!

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Check out all the posts we’ve added this week for events, martinis, cocktails, and events from across the US all the way to England!

Some of our favorite Maiden Martini recipes!

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We posted the Cinnamon Roll Martini most recently, which we heard many of you have already enjoyed. Others you might like include:

The Kryptonite Martini

The Shamrock O’ Tini

Espresso Triple Sec Martini

The Jelly Fish Martini

Roll with the Punches with the Cinnamon Roll Martini

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Okay, we say this every week. BUT, the Cinnamon Roll Martini is really, truly the favorite drink of the Martini Maidens. I had no idea, however, that people had so many opinions on what makes a good cinnamon roll. Some people like theirs simple and sweet – yeast dough, with a cinnamon-sugar mixture on top of butter. You know, Paula Deen-style! Others throw in raisins, chopped grapes, maybe pour a cup or two of confectioner’s sugar for icing (nah, I’m not exaggerating!), or some type of glaze. Wikipedia says it is not to be confused with the Danish pastry or the Honey Bun. Ok by me, I just know I love a yummy, slightly undercooked cinnamon roll every once in a while when I’m feeling reckless with abandon about my calorie counting.

Why the elaborate discussion about the varieties of cinnamon rolls? When we post a recipe that we name as a Martini Maiden recipe, we have created it ourselves. There might be several other varieties out there. Yea for variety! This is ours, and we hope you love it as much as we do.

So here we go with instructions. . .

Mix together:

2 oz DeKuyper Buttershots

2 oz Bailey’s Original Irish Cream

1 oz DeKuyper Hot Damn Cinnamon Schnapps

1 oz Smirnoff Premium Triple Distilled Vodka

Shake together gently and serve in a chilled Martini glass.

Garnish with cinnamon square candy. If this is not one of the smoothest drinks you have this week, we have an offer for you – let us know what you have found that is! We love hearing from you. As a plug, you can always find us on Twitter or our new Facebook page also. Enjoy!

You won’t get stung by this Jelly Fish Martini

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Many people love the beach. You might be planning a trip for your local beach, the Atlantic, Pacific Coast, or the Gulf Coast. Maybe somewhere tropical or beyond. We love the beach like most people. Once, our family was at a beach, enjoying the sunshine. Our toddler played innocently in the water while we soaked in the sun. Suddenly, a crisis hit. No, not a shark.  Jellyfish. He was stung multiple times. We knew nothing of the danger he was in, but a nurse nearby thankfully did. She kept us all calm while removing the stingers, then proceeded with the proper treatment. He was perfectly fine, and ready to go in a few hours.

April is when Jellyfish first begin showing up in waters, & are found in every ocean. Thankfully, not all species are toxic as we found. They did, however, inspire our latest drink.

The Martini Maidens were up one night creating another drink. This drink does not sting, and it sure isn’t toxic! However, when we finished with it, we looked at it and remarked that it looked just like a jellyfish in a martini glass. Hence, the Jellyfish Martini! We heard such comments from some of our taste-testers as ‘Every sip is different!’, ‘You could marinate something in that drink!’, and many more comments. ‘Wow!’ came back a lot. We’ll take that as a compliment!

To make this, you need to do mix the following: (Remember to chill the glass first)

• 2 tbsp Red Pepper Jelly (we used Blue Willow Inn brand)
• Dash of Chipotle Tabasco

Pour these into the bottom of your martini glass.

Then mix together:

• Martini & Rossi Vermouth – 1 part
• Million Vodka – 2 parts

Shake together and pour on top of the jelly/Tabasco mixture.

You can garnish with a jalapeno pepper or cube of cream cheese. Serve an abundance of chips and salsa or guacamole as a side dish, combined with great company, and you have taken the sting out of any rough day. Enjoy!

Espresso Triple Sec Martini

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If you are feeling the pressure and stress of completing your taxes, we have the perfect solution for you. We have created our very own Espresso Triple Sec Martini that is guaranteed to make things a lot more enjoyable while you work on the last-minute details before Tax Day. Maybe you are staying up late to get the last documents to your accountant’s office. Feeling the stress because you are wondering how to pay for that last bill?Perhaps you are the accountant, and cannot wait for this season to end. . . because of all the rest of us!

We created the Espresso Triple Sec Martini for each of you, and for those who love Espresso Martinis. We looked at a lot of recipes. We wanted to offer something with a little different flavor than what we had found, and wouldn’t give up until we were satisfied with the perfect blend.

Here is how we make our Espresso Triple Sec Martini:

• Stirrings Espresso Liqueur – 1.5 oz (136 calories)
• Godiva Chocolate Liqueur – 1.5 oz  (156 calories)
• Stirrings Orange Triple Sec – 1.5 oz (111 calories)
• Heavy Cream, to taste (45 calories per tablespoon)

We prepared this drink by gently shaking it to make sure the ingredients were thoroughly mixed. It is important to prepare your Martini glass in advance to enjoy it to its fullest. Be sure the glass has been properly chilled for several hours to best enhance the flavor.

Top it with a nice piece of Ghirardelli or Bailey’s Chocolate on the side for a drink that is sure to help you relax and unwind, with a nice treat at the end! And don’t forget. . . you have until April 18 to file this year. Enjoy!

The Masters Martini is Here!

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We did our research as promised, and this is what we learned about the favored drink for the Master’s Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club. The signature drink is the Azalea. We created our version, Martini-style! Be sure to check our recent post on how to properly shake a martini for details on this important step.

Shake together the following ingredients: 1 part pink lemonade 1 part canned pineapple juice 3 parts  Skyy Pineapple Vodka Enough Grenadine to color pink You can also add  in 2 parts heavy whipping cream for a creamier drink for a variety.

Again, shake with approximately 5 – 6 ice cubes per drink.  Garnish with a pineapple slice and 2 maraschino cherries on an extra-long golf tee – of course!

You can see the results of both martinis below. The martini on the left is without cream, and the martini on the right does contain the cream. You’ve been warned, though. . . This isn’t your mom’s Strawberry Quik!!

Texas BlueBonnet Martinis

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It’s been said countless times by now that no one saw some of these teams coming into the Final Four of the NCAA. I don’t know about you, but I enjoy some surprises occasionally. This tournament has brought out some teams that few expected. . . and we think you may be surprised by the martini we created in honor of Texas since they are hosting the Final Four in Houston.

One thing Texas is known for at this time of year is the Texas Bluebonnet.The bluebonnet is the state flower of Texas. These two things inspired us to create the ‘Texas Bluebonnet Martini’. Just like the song, ‘Deep in the Heart of Texas‘, this Martini is deep and rich. It looks dainty and sweet. Looks can be deceiving, so if you are in the mood for a strong, sipping Martini, you have come to the right place. Keep your eye on this one. . . we are making some changes for the others because we are sure this is one you will want to keep.

For the Texas Bluebonnet Martini, you will mix 2 parts Stirrings Triple Sec, 1 part Martini & Rossi Extra Dry Vermouth, and 2 parts UV Vodka. We have posted in the past the difference between a shaken and stirred Martini, which is your preference. Be certain to store the Triple Sec and Vodka in your freezer until ready to pour for the fullest flavor.  We added a hint of blue food coloring as well, for effect. Add a small number of fresh blueberries to the drink once mixing it, and pour into the drink. Garnish with 3 – 4 blueberries on the rim of the glass, and you have the sweet flavor of the blueberries with the unexpected deep flavors from the ingredients mixed together. One person who sampled our Texas Bluebonnet Martini added this comment, ‘It taught me to sip a fine Martini and not rushing right through it.’ Tell us what you think. We love to hear your opinion, via our blog, twitter, or join us on Facebook!

The Kryptonite Martini has Come – and it’s as strong as Superman

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If you are ready for a Martini as strong as Kryptonite, we have created one just for you. We worked on this one a LOT – maybe too much for our own good! This is definitely a sipping martini.  We hope it doesn’t have the same effect on you that green kryptonite did on Clark Kent in the ‘Smallville’ series.

On the show, not only is green kryptonite harmful to Clark Kent, but it can produce bizarre changes in humans, animals, and plants, typically turning them into powerful metahuman menaces, commonly known by the inhabitants of Smallville as “Meteor Freaks,” that Clark must oppose. These changes seem to be linked to the circumstances under which the subject was exposed to kryptonite and the subject’s emotional state (similar to how gamma radiation affects people in the Marvel Comics universe). Groups of people have been shown to acquire the same powers from kryptonite by exposing themselves to it in the same manner. (Thanks, Wikipedia!)

For your Kryptonite Martini, begin by filling the bottom of the Martini glass with a tablespoon of Cross & Blackwell  mint jelly. Follow that with equal parts of vodka, triple sec, and Godiva Chocolate Vodka.  If you like to have your martini shaken, be sure to check our blog on tips to help you. When finished, it will look like this!

Key Lime Pie Martini

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Key limes are the pink flamingos of Florida food, and they are a celebrated part of local color. Key West, Florida, is famous for its fabulous key lime pie, one of America’s best-loved regional dishes. Every restaurant in the Florida Keys, and especially in the city of Key West, serves this wonderful pie. There seems to be a key lime pie for every palate, with many versions made throughout the region. This pie is considered the official pie of the Florida Keys. The key lime tree, which is native to Malaysia, probably first arrived in the Florida Keys in the 1500s with the Spanish. Key limes look like confused lemons, as they are smaller than a golf ball with yellow-green skin that is sometimes splotched with brown. They are also known as Mexican or West Indian limes. When a hurricane in 1926 wiped out the key lime plantations in South Florida, growers replanted with Persian limes, which are easier to pick and to transport. Today the key lime is almost a phantom and any remaining trees are only found in back yards and their fruit never leave the Florida Keys. Key limes are also grown for commercial use in the Miami area.

• 3 heaping tablespoons Ciao Bella Gelato Key Lime Graham Ice Cream layered on bottom of martini glass
• Ke Ke Beach Key Lime Cream Liqueur – 3 oz
• Triple Sec – 1 oz
• Mix these ingredients together first, and pour into martini glass.
• Graham cracker crumbs sprinkled on top
• Slice of lime on rim for garnish

It’s the perfect blend of a key lime flavor with graham cracker crust in martini liquid form.

The Shamrock – O – Tini, A sure favorite for St. Patrick’s Day!

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We promised we were researching last night, and we did ~ late into the night ~ to come up with a few new recipes for St. Patrick’s for you.  Here’s one new drink for you to try out for St. Patrick’s day. You will need the following ingredients per drink:

• Edy’s Slow Churned Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream – 1 small scoop
• Bailey’s Mint Chocolate – 1 oz
• Godiva Chocolate infused with Chocolate – 1 oz
• Ghirardelli Premium semi-sweet shaved chocolate – 1/8 tsp
• Chopped fresh organic mint – take 4 mint leaves and one mint stem, arrange to look like a 4-leaf clover.

If you are serious about mint chocolate, this is a serious drink!