Today’s Friday Find actually found us and asked to write a guest post for us. We love the idea so here goes a fantastic post by our very first EVER guest blogger Michelle Pino
My name is Michelle and I work at a spa called Skana, in a small town in Upstate NY. My personal passion for DIY projects, cooking and wellness has inspired me to write about my experiences in hopes to share my knowledge with others.
I’ve recently taken a keen interest in weddings and event planning (thank you Pinterest!). With access to some profound chefs and expert event planner’s because of where I work, I thought it would be a neat way for me to combine my passions with the expertise and knowledge of those around me. I would love to share an exclusive signature drink for your blog that your readers could try at home.
– Michelle Pino
Create a Signature Cocktail: A Modern Take on the Bellini
Professional mixologists the world over revel in the opportunity to create a signature cocktail that might one day be added to the IBA (International Bartender’s Association) official compendium of drinks. Every cocktail on the IBA list has a recipe, a history and a name, and these facts are often both surprising and fun. When hosting your own party, or searching for ways to add a little creativity to your wedding reception, signature drinks are a great way to get festive while having lots of fun and engaging your participants. Fun drinks are welcomed everywhere, and if you want the title of Host with the Most, dreaming up a signature cocktail is a fantastic place to start.
With spring finally in full swing, the air is crisp and warming up, signaling that summer is not too far behind, so what better fruit to infuse into our cocktails than peach? The gorgeous, delicious and classic cocktail known as the Bellini is a refreshing summer drink that is dying for a modern twist. Created in Italy in during the first half of the 20th century, the classic Bellini is made from Prosecco, which is an Italian sparkling wine, and peach puree. The drink was named after 15th century, Venetian painter Giovanni Bellini. Its inventor, Guiseppe Cipriani, said that when the drink was first created, the color was the same as the robe of a saint painted by Bellini, which happened to be a muted shade of peach. A lovely twist on this simple, yet elegant summery drink is to turn it into a springtime martini.
While usually made using peach puree, when making any type of Martini, smoothness is desired in the liquid. The following recipe from the event experts of the Turning Stone Resort, a Central New York wedding venue, stays true to the sweet, Italian original, but turns this popular long drink into a stronger, signature party cocktail that is sure to please your guests. Feel free to experiment with different measurements and garnish. You can even use gin instead of vodka since both variations still qualify as a martini, and the flavor of Juniper berries which gin imparts is set off quite nicely by lemon juice.
Photo credit: Wearenotmartha.com
Ingredients:
3 oz Vodka or Gin
2 oz of Champagne or Prosecco (or any sparkling white wine)
1.5 oz Peach Schnapps
1 oz of Peach nectar
1 Squeeze of fresh lemon juice
*Optional: *Raspberries for garnish
*¼ cup of Caster sugar for the glass
Preparation:
1. Fill a shallow dish with half an inch of water and dip the rim of your martini glass in it, coating the entire rim.
2. Pour the sugar onto another dish and dip the rim of your martini glass into it.
3. Set the glass aside and fill a shaker 1/3 of the way with crushed ice.
4. Now add the vodka or gin, Prosecco or Champagne, schnapps, peach nectar and lemon juice into the shaker.
5. Shake all the contents of the shaker together until condensation forms on the outside.
6. (Optional) Pour the contents into your sugar-rimmed glass through a cocktail strainer.
7. (Optional) Garnish with fresh raspberries and serve.
Be Marry,
C C & GB
{ Our First Ever Guest Blogger Michelle }
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