Banana Mango Smoothie
Enjoy the fresh taste of summer all year ‘round with my tangy and smooth Banana Mango Smoothie! Quick and easy to prepare – and healthy, too. The other day, I was looking at a very ripe large mango and banana on my kitchen counter, wondering how I could quickly and easily use them up. Why… Read more »
Robert’s Perfect Manhattan
Robert’s Perfect Manhattan cocktail is smoky and full-bodied, but isn’t as sweet as most – he uses rye instead of bourbon! To celebrate our anniversary one year, Robert and I visited the Palace Arms restaurant at the Brown Palace Hotel in downtown Denver. Opting to enjoy a pre-dinner cocktail in their beautiful lobby, Robert noticed… Read more »
Lemon Ginger Bourbon Cocktail
Lemon Ginger Bourbon Cocktail is an elegant, flavorful drink to serve as the “featured cocktail” at your next gathering. My mom loved bourbon – it was her alcohol of choice in the fall and winter (she drank vodka during the other seasons). I’m more of a vodka girl, but I do like bourbon when it’s… Read more »
Irish Cream Liqueur
Irish Cream Liqueur, most commonly known under the brand name Baileys, is my favorite after dinner drink to pair with dessert – or just drink as dessert! Two of my favorite flavors are chocolate and caramel, and my Irish Cream Liqueur recipe combines both tastes into a delicious drink. This rich, creamy beverage is super… Read more »
Perfect Sidecar Cocktail
Sidecar Cocktails are both delicious and deceptively easy to prepare, calling for only three ingredients. There are a few tricks to preparing them properly, which come from my good friends Deborah Shaw and Joan Perlow – and I’m sharing them with you now! A Sidecar is a classic cocktail that dates back to the 1920s,… Read more »
Red Carpet Martini
My Red Carpet Martini is elegant, colorful, delicious – and perfect for Oscar night viewing! Vodka is my liquor of choice when treating myself to a cocktail. I am especially fond of a good martini, and for the most part I like my martinis very dry – just vodka and maybe a drop of Cointreau,… Read more »
Frozen Brandy Alexander
Robert and I love Frozen Brandy Alexanders – it’s like dessert in a wine (or martini) glass! In fact, we like them so much that we served them in shot glasses at our wedding reception. They are an easy, make ahead drink/dessert that is made with readily available ingredients – perfect for a special celebration…. Read more »
Snowblower Cocktail
I found this recipe for a Snowblower Cocktail in one of mom’s kitchen files, which was surprising, since she wasn’t one for serving specialty cocktails. However, I’m so happy I found it, because it’s the perfect warm pick-me-up on a cold winter evening. Cranberry juice and apple cider are steeped in cinnamon and cloves, then… Read more »
Derby Day Mint Julep
For years, we’ve been in pursuit of the perfect Mint Julep to accompany our Kentucky Derby Day festivities, which are a big deal in the Clayton household as my mom was raised in Louisville. We think this recipe is just right – not too much bourbon, not too sweet and just enough mint. Give it… Read more »
Basil Lemonade
I first tasted this delicious lemonade at a Fourth of July party. The recipe comes from the hostess, Peggy Chandler, who is a fabulous home gourmet. I recently served it at a luncheon in Cincinnati promoting the cookbook, to rave reviews! You can serve it straight, or with vodka.
