Suburban Bliss:: Birth Control Via The Written Word

12 (ish) Days Of Christmas Cocktails: Kindergarten Graduation

Based on drink called the French 75, this cocktail looks impressive and tastes delicious. I mean, you really should have toasted the new year with this drink -- if only we had stayed on schedule. Save it for the next job promotion or anniversary perhaps!

 

Most simple syrup recipes will tell you to boil or simmer the water and sugar combination. Not necessary! Simply add 1lb (a box) of superfine sugar to 2 cups of warm tap water. Stir and wait. The sugar will dissolve on its own. Bottle and refrigerate.

1oz lemon juice
1/2oz simple syrup
1/2oz homemade grenadine (here's how you make it)
2oz Gin (I use Plymouth)
Champagne (we used the champagne we had at our wedding, we had it on hand to celebrate my new job. However, we couldn't find time to drink it because of new job. Irony.)

Shake first 4 ingredients with ice, pour into flute and top with champagne. Enjoy!

 

 

Twelve Days (sort of) of Christmas Cocktails: The Sledding Hill

It was a whirlwind month of December. A thousand pardons for the drink recipe delay, to those of you who were looking forward to reading them daily. A new job brought unexpected long hours leaving little time for anything else. However, all missing days will be accounted for!* Rest assured all recipes are equally delightful in January as they would have been in December.

*Not necessarily on consecutive days.

Let's pick things up with "day 6." To make up for the delay, it includes not one but FOUR drinks. Variations on a theme -- hot cocoa. Not just any hot cocoa but the recipe Melissa uses. I've never had better. Do yourself the favor of making this hot cocoa for these drinks, you will not regret it.

The hot cocoa recipe, adapted from the recipe on the Hershey's package

1/2 cup sugar
1/4 cup Hershey's Cocoa (unsweetened, see product photo below)
1/3 cup hot water
4 cups milk
1tsp real vanilla (optional) 

Mix sugar and cocoa in a saucepan; stir in water. Cook and stir on medium heat until boil. Boil and stir for 2 minutes. Stir in milk and heat, but don't boil.

This hot cocoa is excellent on its own, but using the following recipes it is irresistible, truly. 

Bailey's hot cocoa: To 2oz hot cocoa, add 1oz whiskey (I used Maker's Mark) and 1/2oz Bailey's. I don't know that I've seen a drink that mixes chocolate and whiskey -- if you know of one please send it along. The combination is delicious.

Hazelnut hot cocoa: To 2oz hot cocoa, add 1oz vodka, 1oz Godiva liqueur, 1/2oz Frangelico (a hazelnut liqueur). Like Nutella in a mug...

Orange-y hot cocoa: To 2oz hot cocoa, add 1oz vodka and 1/2oz Cointreau.

Peppermint hot cocoa: To 2oz hot cocoa, add 1oz vodka and 1/2oz peppermint schnapps.

Add up all the times I've written "cocoa" in this post. Ridiculous.

12 Days Of Christmas Cocktails: Precocious

Based on the Alexander (with Gin) and the Brandy Alexander (with Brandy), this drink made with Grand Marnier is sweet and delicious. I tried adding a shot of vodka and it lost no appeal whatsoever (I wouldn't do that with the Brandy or Gin versions).  

1 oz Grand Marnier (or Brandy or Gin)
1 oz heavy cream
1 oz crème de cacao 

Gently shake all three ingredients with ice, pour into cocktail glass and enjoy!

12 Days Of Christmas Cocktails: 24 Hour Flu*

(Logan's hit the ground running at this new job. 15 straight days of working 10-18 hour days.

We met Logan for dinner tonight before he had to go back to the office and Maddie's face when she heard he had to go back to work was enough to ruin all your Christmases. So sorry about the missing cocktails, but we're in absolute maintenance mode over here with the flu, inhuman deadlines, Christmas, the first migraine of my life and a naughty dog.

You guys are so nice I know you undertand.)

If I'd had time for additional research (drinking) I'd have come up with something wickedly strong and numbing to address the current state of affairs at the Sub Bliss household. Instead I came up with the first apple cocktail I think I've ever made -- in honor of the diet both our kids are on right now (the BRAT diet, otherwise known as  the "try to keep your kids from losing their lunch while they have the 24 hr flu" diet). I still want to try an apple brandy recipe but this is a good first foray. I used Plymouth gin in this. I'd be interested to know how a more juniper-y gin would affect the taste.  Enjoy!

1 oz Grand Marnier
1/2 oz lemon juice
1 1/2 oz gin
2 1/2 oz apple juice

Add all ingredients in a shaker and shake with a generous amount of ice. Pour into glass and enjoy! Also works well on the rocks.

*This drink will not give you the 24 hour flu but will rather help you survive it a little number to the pain. I suggest drinking it while you scrub your area rug.

12 Days Of Christmas Cocktails: The Hot Toddler

A variant of this drink (known as the hot toddy) was used in my home growing up. The mixture of whiskey or rum, honey and lemon juice is a soothing combination when you're under the weather. Kids don't like it much, but with a couple additions it makes a great cold weather drink. 

I've served this drink a few times recently and without fail, it is met with genuine surprise. Seems like most folks either haven't had a hot toddy or haven't had one as an adult when it can actually be appreciated. It's a drink easily adjusted to individual taste — just add more of the flavor you like. Cheers!

1 1/2 oz Rum or Whiskey
1/4 oz Grand Marnier
2 teaspoons lemon juice
1 overflowing tablespoon honey
1/4 cup boiling water
Cinnamon stick

In a heat-proof glass, add honey and lemon to boiling water. Stir to dissolve honey. Add rum or whiskey (I used Sailor Jerry Rum with great success) and Grand Marnier and stir. Garnish with cinnamon stick. 

 

12 Days Of Christmas Cocktails: Knitting Night

Read recently about amaretto and cranberry being a good combination. Sounded really sweet to me, but I tried it and the flavors do work well together. It was very sweet. And a friend suggested it was a little on the weak side.

Enter vodka and wild turkey for flavor and strength, and a small amount of lemon juice to cut the sweetness a little. If you like a rocks drink, try adding a splash of tonic water. Delicious.

1 oz Cranberry juice
1 oz Amaretto
± 1 oz Vodka
1/2 oz Wild Turkey Bourbon
1/2 oz lemon juice
Tonic water optional 

Add all ingredients in a shaker and shake with a generous amount of ice. Pour into glass and enjoy! Also works well on the rocks with a splash of tonic water.

12 Days Of Christmas Cocktails: Mommy's Juice Box

 

Gin and juice. But not that simple… Gin and orange juice (freshly squeezed please!) are just the base for this drink. Grand Marnier and Sailor Jerry Rum add great flavors. If you don't have Grand Marnier, Cointreau works too. If you don't have either, you have some shopping to do…

A lot of drink recipes call for a small amount of lemon or lime juice, and for good reason. Try this drink once with, and once without the lemon juice, and you'll taste the difference — even though the amount is small. A lot of great drinks are great because there's a good balance between sweet and sour. Mommy's Juice Box strikes that balance. Snoop would agree… Enjoy!

2 tsp fresh lemon juice
1 oz Plymouth Gin
3/4 oz Grand Marnier
1 oz fresh orange juice
1/4 oz Sailor Jerry Rum

Add all ingredients in a shaker and shake with a generous amount of ice. Pour into glass and enjoy! Works well on the rocks too.

 

12 Days Of Christmas Cocktails: Winter Break

The elusive link between tiki drinks and Christmas… This cocktail uses coconut cream. Coconut isn't universally loved, but I've taken steps to ensure that this drink has widespread appeal. Liss's knitting circle approved of this recipe. One of my best guy friends approved of this recipe. Success!

No fake coconut flavor… No heavy texture… No cloying sweetness… This drink mixes both flavor and mettle and satisfies a wide range of drinkers. The key is adding a bit of bourbon and amaretto. The bourbon cuts through the sweetness of the coconut cream and the amaretto adds a faintly nutty flavor. Welcome to the island of Christmas…

If you're new to coconut cream, be sure to soak the can in hot water before using it. It doesn't pour well otherwise.

.25oz Bourbon
.25oz Amaretto
1oz vodka
1oz vanilla vodka
1oz coconut cream

Add all ingredients in a shaker and shake with a generous amount of ice. Pour into glass and enjoy!

12 Days Of Christmas Cocktails: The Snow Day

Hey! Let's try having some content on this here website. Logan to the rescue!

Logan's new job is currently in what we're hoping is crisis mode and not the normal. He worked all weekend and came home last night, exhausted. And yet? He made you all this cocktail.

He's a robot.

*Foot Note: I ordered my replacement camera on Saturday! EEEEEE!)

From Logan.

Suburban Bliss' Annual Twelve Days of Christmas Cocktails starts with an impossibly delicious drink, setting the bar high for the next 11 days. We drew inspiration for this recipe from a cocktail we've had at a favorite restaurant of ours -- The Clarkston Union in Clarkston, Michigan. The highlight of this cocktail is the coffee. Use fresh brewed from freshly ground beans if you can. It's very well-balanced as-is, but if you like chocolate flavored drinks, increase the Godiva -- if you like the flavor of Bailey's, increase that. 

Snow Day

1.5 oz Vanilla Vodka
1 oz espresso (or strong coffee)
1 oz Godiva Liqueur
.5 oz Bailey's Irish Cream

Add all ingredients in a shaker and shake with a generous amount of ice. Pour into glass and enjoy!

12 Days Of Christmas Cocktail: The Happy Holidays!

It’s a bourbon-y Christmas this year. Bourbon glazed carrots with dinner, bread pudding with bourbon soaked raisins (and the most potent and delicious bourbon sauce I’ve ever had), and now this cocktail — based on a drink called the Bourbon Crusta.

As Robert Hess puts it, “the "Crusta" is a style of drink which harkens from the early 1800's. While it never gained the same level of notoriety as the "Cocktail", today's cocktail revival is allowing it to once again make it's way onto drink lists again.”

I say a cocktail by any other name is still a cocktail. And this is a delicious one. I’m always on the lookout for a cocktail that includes maraschino liqueur, because I always have some on hand to make maraschino cherries.

12 Days Of Christmas Cocktail: The Sleepless Christmas Eve

The Sleepless Christmas Eve adds a touch of orange flavor to the classic Black Russian.

Kahlua has a great flavor and makes so many good-tasting drinks. The black and white Russians are the most well-known, and I like them both. I lean toward the Black Russian for its straight-forward simplicity, but wondered if a variant might be worthwhile.

This drink is served in a cocktail glass or on the rocks. Ms Sub Bliss prefers a less “syrupy” drink and taking this cocktail on the rocks allows some dilution via ice meltage.

12 Days Of Christmas Cocktail: Daddy's Home!

Daddy’s Home!

Got any of that apricot nectar left from the 1-2-3 Time Out? Or any of that home made grenadine from the 7 O’Clock Bedtime? Today’s cocktail is a variant of the Scofflaw (a drink called the Scofflaw can’t be bad). The guys from the bowling team tried both of today’s drinks out after league play last night. Thumbs up all around.

If you’re not typically a fan of whiskey drinks but are open to trying one, this is a good choice. It’s not too strong and the whiskey flavor isn’t overpowering. Once you’ve had the Daddy’s Home, you can move up to the original Scofflaw cocktail — which packs a bit more punch.

12 Days Of Christmas Cocktail: 1-2-3 Time Out

Liss is a big fan of Prosecco. Sparkling wines add an air of festivity to any occasion — and not just holidays. Pop a bottle on the occasion of junior’s next uncomplicated bedtime to celebrate the silence! Or the next time you successfully put the adorable little monster into time out. You’ve got a girlfriend coming over to drop off the book for next book club? Any activity plus Prosecco becomes pleasurably memorable.

The 1-2-3 Time Out is based on the Bellini, a champagne and peach pureé cocktail. I like the flavor of apricots, hence the switch from peach to apricot (you could also use peach nectar if you like). I added grenadine (for a bit of sweetness and flavor) and orange bitters (for a little spiciness and aroma).

12 Days Of Christmas Cocktail: The Security Blanket

If you live near Detroit, I have a great restaurant suggestion: Zingerman’s Roadhouse in Ann Arbor. The food is excellent, the atmosphere is perfect, and most of all — they have a great cocktail menu. We went to a cooking class at a local “gourmet market” last year; the subject was cocktails and hors d’oeuvres. Our cocktail learnings were led by the chap who developed the cocktail menu for Zingerman’s Roadhouse, and he was 1) very knowledgeable and 2) very into traditional cocktails (like Ms Sub Bliss and I are)... Anyway, he really impressed us, and we’ve had some great nights at the restaurant.

If you don’t live near Detroit, we are here to bring to you one of the best cocktails we’ve had at the restaurant. I like serving a drink that might be new to folks — this one gets rave reviews. Based on the Knickerbocker, this cocktail looks and tastes great. Know that there are many variations of this drink. I took a recipe that looked solid and changed it up just a bit. Ms Sub Bliss appreciated the changes and loved the outcome.

Thanks to Melissa for the early Christmas gift that has this photo looking so much better than some of the earlier ones! A tabletop studio light can do wonders.

12 Days Of Christmas Cocktail: The Ferberizer

I’m excited to share this simple, delicious and refreshingly light drink with you guys. Are there Trader Joe’s markets everywhere? There’s one here in our town and we love it. I was perusing the soft drink aisle and came across their sparkling juices. I bought a couple bottles knowing there was a good cocktail waiting to happen. The featured drink today combines sparkling cranberry juice (100% juice), a small amount of lemon juice (lime could work too) and gin. The gin is Plymouth brand (Winston Churchill drank Plymouth gin). It’s one of the milder gins, and it mixes really well. It won’t won’t overwhelm you with the piney juniper taste.

I’m sharing some drinks that include liquors that most people don’t necessarily keep stocked. If you want to try one of these cocktails but won’t use an entire fifth of one of the ingredients, buy the airplane size bottle (usually around 50ml or 1.75oz) — just enough to make a drink. If you like it, you can get an entire bottle.

12 Days of Christmas Cocktails: Gift Overload Meltdown

Eggnog gets a mixed reception in our group of friends. I made a pitcher of this last night for our euchre party. Some folks wanted nothing to do with it. Those who did try it, loved it. I admit that my experience with store-bought eggnog has left me cold. It can be cloyingly thick, and some have an odd color that I find unappealing. That said, if you find a good recipe and make it yourself, it is delicious. Here’s the best recipe I’ve found. Fairly simple to make and really good. It does pack a punch from the port and bourbon. You can decrease the amount of those 2 ingredients if you like. Don’t skip the nutmeg though, it’s a good addition.

I hastily tried this recipe with vodka and Frangelico instead of bourbon and port, to see if hazelnut eggnog has any merit. I haven’t fully vetted this idea -- I’ll report back later.

This recipe does include egg yolks and that can freak people out. I’m comfortable with the very small chance of getting sick from consuming raw eggs but a quick web search yields many ways to minimize the risks.

Listening to Eric Reed’s Christmas Blues today. Awesome.

 

12 Days Of Christmas Cocktail: Mommy's Colic Reliever

Amaretto has a great flavor. It’s pretty sweet to drink alone -- though Amaretto on the rocks after dinner is pretty awesome. A cocktail like “Mommy’s Colic Reliever” makes good use of that flavor but adds citrus to bring some tartness. If you’ve had an Amaretto sour, this is based on that drink — BUT only if it was made with lemon and orange juices. No sour mix necessary or desired. Nothing make a cocktail great like fresh-squeezed juice!

Compared to some Amaretto Sour recipes, I decrease the lemon and orange juices a bit (for more Amaretto flavor) and add vodka to 1) make it a little less thick and sweet, and 2) give it some mettle.

Want a maraschino cherry in your Mommy’s Colic Reliever? You can make your own: get a bag of frozen tart cherries from your market, and a bottle of maraschino liqueur (Luxardo is a brand I’ve used). Add the cherries to a jar and fill with the maraschino liqueur, enough cover the cherries. You can add cherries to the jar as you use them. I admit that I get a mixed response to these cherries. They are pretty strong and not nearly as sweet as the ones we’re used to. The great thing about making these though, is you also get to use the liqueur the cherries have been soaking in for other drinks. Add a tablespoon to your Manhattan.

12 Days of Christmas Cocktails: The Play Date

The very best rum and cola drinks are about to be revealed! The following recipes have been tested time and time again, and have been met with 99.9% enthusiastic approval. We have a monthly 4-table euchre party that lasts twice as long as it should due to the frequent refills of these drinks. Folks can’t get enough of ‘em. If you think you’re not a fan of rum and cola, try one of these and see what you think.

Sailor Jerry is my brand of choice. It’s vaguely similar to Shcaptain Schmorgan (like cold is similar to hot). Sailor Jerry has a slight vanilla-y flavor. It’s not a tropical, coconut-y rum. I keep a bottle of Sailor Jerry in the freezer for these drinks. 

12 Days of Christmas Cocktails: Mom, Look!

For anyone who’s ever enjoyed a screwdriver, I present this drink as a challenge.

This cocktail is to the screwdriver as Sun Valley (Ernest Hemingway finished For Whom the Bell Tolls while staying in the Sun Valley Lodge in 1939) is to Mt Brighton (a ski hill in the midwest, built upon piles of refuse). Ever heard the Christmas song “Sun Valley Ski Run” by Esquivel? Good tune.

I’m not a huge fan of flavored vodkas, per se. However, in these festive 12 days of cocktails, I’m making room for this vanilla vodka drink. It’s 12:14am and I am struggling to resist making another one before bedtime. I’m not kidding. That’s how good this drink is. Stoli vanilla (Stolichnaya Vanilla) is one of the top vanilla vodkas in my book. It’s not expensive and it mixes well. Vanilla vodka drinks break out in boisterous approval when they see Stoli vanilla being poured into themselves. You could use a cheaper triple sec than Grand Marnier, but I don’t recommend it. Buy a small bottle and give it a try.

We’re calling this one the Mom, Look! This cocktail will help put things in perspective when junior is showing you that super cute monster face he’s making for the 20th time. (Recipe after the cut.)

12 Days Of Christmas Cocktails: The Overnight At Grandmas

I've had some chocolate flavored liqueurs that have a fake chocolate taste I’m not fond of. Not the case with Godiva Chocolate liqueur. They have a few flavors including milk chocolate and white chocolate. I like the original. Godiva Chocolate liqueur fits into the category of "I haven't tasted a cheaper version of this that I like as well." Godiva ain't cheap, but sometimes its worth spending a little more for the good stuff. Thankfully today's other ingredients are very reasonably priced (the small bottle of peppermint schnapps I bought cost me $2, $15 for the Frangelico). Onto the drinks...

The 12 Days Of Christmas Cocktails: "The 7 O'Clock Bedtime"

Many years ago, each Thursday a bunch of friends would gather at our house to eat pizza and drink beers and hang out. We called these nights BeerZa and they happened at our house since we were the only ones with a kid. Maddie learned to tolerate a lot of laughing and talking while she slept during those nights.

At some point Logan developed an interest in cocktails. He wanted to develop his palate beyond beer, and didn't especially love wine but didn't want to order something stupid like Sex On The Beach at the bar. Everyone else thought that sounded fun, so each week Logan would prepare a new cocktail for us to try.

Overall this was a good experiment and it gave me a much larger catalog of tasty drinks to sample at our favorite watering holes. I mean aside from that unfortunate Gin incident in Chicago (sorry about drinking all your Gin Chicago!) (Sorry about throwing up all night Logan!)

Since then Logan's become pretty good at mixing drinks, knowing how much sour or sweet a drink needs before it's perfect. He's very specific about everything from FRESH ingredients to making his own grenadine to the perfect ice cube. (When we moved here and lost the freezer that crushed the ice, it was nearly a deal breaker).

I've become pretty good at picking and juicing fresh limes. And having a cocktail without drinking all the Gin in the state of Illinois.

All this to say, for the next 12 days Logan's going to be sharing one cocktail with us every day. He's doing this because he enjoys it and because a lot of the time you walk up to the bar and don't know what to order. This is a way of getting more familiar with what's out there.

You should make his drinks though, because they're really delicious. (Unless you're an alcoholic or pregnant, a mormon, or a kid...I mean you know what I'm saying.)

Here it is, from Logan:

The 7 O'Clock Bedtime
(you know you love it.)