The X-rated Flirtini

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It’s Friday! No, we aren’t going to break out in song with Rebecca Black about it being ‘Friday, Friday, Every day is Friday!’ We do love Friday, though. Who doesn’t? For most people, it’s the end of the week. The night you’ve waited for to relax with friends or family. Whether your plans are to go out for the evening or stay home and relax at home, we wanted to share one of our favorite recipes from a favorite blogger of ours. Here’s to Friday!

The X-rated Flirtini

Be Mine Forever Cocktail

We have been busy, busy, busy making changes to our site. If you have visited in the past and feel a little lost, feel free to ask us where your favorite things are.  One thing we are adding is others’ cocktail recipes to try. We promise this is in addition to what we are already doing – creating our own Martini Maiden recipes, writing about events near you, great restaurants to try, and of course. . . tweeting to keep you updated on everything.  These are still found on the right-hand side of our site – I get directionally challenged. Hey, you gotta do what you gotta do!

Today’s drink we want to show you is named the ‘Be Mine Forever’ cocktail. Get out your shaker for this one. This is a win, win, win, win blog for you because there are actually four recipes included in this post. We just felt like trying something healthy. Hope you enjoy this or one of the other three posted in the suggested recipe we have linked for you.

Be Mine Forever Cocktail . . . or at least for tonight

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!

So you haven’t had a Dirty Martini? We have some thoughts for you

We posted a few days ago about the Dirty Martini and its popularity. As mentioned, it was the very first martini I ever had. After some discussion with friends, we discovered that some people haven’t had one, or are interested in a few recipes. There is a standard recipe, but with everything in life, people like to throw in their opinions and make some variations! We are not the IBA, so we are going to throw out some thoughts for you who are interested. (NO disrespect to this fine organization!!)

Our previous article, noted above, lists the ingredients and requirements for a Dirty Martini per the IBA (International Bartenders Association).  Here are some links to others’ versions, which may look strikingly similar. Or not. If you like to be strict with your version of the Dirty Martini, definitely go with the original recipe. Otherwise, enjoy a few options below. No matter what, enjoy a nice Martini this evening. Relax and enjoy your weekend with friends or family. That”s what we have on our agenda!

All Recipes version

About.Com – includes a video

Epicurious.com

Dirty Cajun Martini

Dirty Horniti

Dirty Martini with Bleu Cheese Olives

The Color-Changing Martini

The French Martini

So. . . the Purists of the Dry Martini are offended by now. And that’s okay. We wanted to make some options available that maybe you haven’t found yet for your list. Let us know which one you like best.  You can always email us at MartiniMaidens@yahoo.com, or follow us on Twitter or Facebook. We love hearing from you!

That Martini looks so Dirrty!

You may wonder by now why we haven’t discussed the Dirty Martini. Good question, with a simple answer. The recipe can be found anywhere, it is likely the most common martini, and when we post a new drink it is always something that we honestly created ourselves.

However, there are some things worth mentioning about the Dirty Martini that we thought we would discuss for review.

It calls for gin and dry vermouth, with a five-to-one ratio of gin to vermouth, with a splash of olive juice added. The Martini then turns cloudy, hence making it turn ‘dirty’. The olive juice gives the dirty martini a unique and tasty flavor.

The fictional spy, James Bond, always asked for his vodka Martini to be “shaken not stirred”.  Noel Coward said the perfect martini should be made by “filling a glass with gin then waving it in the general direction of Italy”, meaning the less vermouth added to the gin the better the final drink.

The olive garnish is almost a universal standard, however.

My first martini was a Dirty Martini, with my father-in-law. I may be the only person who did not like a Dirty Martini, and he makes a mean drink. I said I would never have another martini in my life. Then I found The Algonquin, and the rest is history. . .

Everybody has a story with their Dirty Martini. What is yours?

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!!

Gin Cantaloupe Martini with Organic Pink Peppercorns

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Try this recipe out that we found for a refreshing taste. Use the sweetest cantaloupe possible for the best results. Try making it with pureed cantaloupe for a big difference. Follow the link below for the ingredients needed, as well as a YouTube video on how to make this great Martini.  You will definitely want to enjoy this one with friends!

http://twitter.com/#!/exceptionalfood/status/53272818514796544

Road to the Final Four – What are your thoughts?

If you are watching the games this weekend, be sure to check out our newest Martini added, the Texas Bluebonnet!

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!