Recipes

Milk and Cookie Shots

We make one hell of a pair, like PB and J, Salt and Pepper, Bonnie and Clyde, Bacon and Eggs, Burgers and Fries. The list goes on and on. But, let’s be honest. The most famous food pairing of all is Milk and Cookies.

Fun Fact: Did you know that there is actually a scientific reason why Milk and Cookies taste so good together? According to an article written by NPR and QUARTZ Online, a chemist from America University stated that, “When we taste something, different chemicals in food slather our tongues and waft up to our noses. There, the different molecules are picked up by receptor proteins that alert our brains that we’re experiencing a particular flavor. We sense all of the flavor and aroma compounds at once. When we taste things, it’s really an integrated sensory experience.” For years, scientists and chefs have been finding other unique foods and flavor pairings based on chemical compounds and textures.

When I found this recipe in a Delish Cookbook, I fell in the love with the idea of pairing my two favorite childhood dessert into a revamped chocolate chip cookie experience.

Ingredients that you will need for the cookie portion:

• Cooking Spray
• 1 (32 ounce) log refrigerated chocolate chip cookie dough
• 1 cup of semi-sweet chocolate chips
• 2 tablespoons of butter or coconut oil

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees and grease two large muffin tin trays with cooking spray.
2. Fill each cup with a small ball of cookie dough. Press down until you have formed a well in each muffin tin.
3. Bake cookies until golden brown for 10 to 12 minutes.
4. Next, spray a shot glass with cooking spray, and press the bottom of the shot glass down into the dough, to form a cup.

5. After letting the cookie cups cool down in the muffin tray, take a knife, and scrape around the edges of each cookie cup. They should be able to pop out of the muffin tin. Place each cookie cup onto a cooling rack or plate (They should look like this).

6. Now, place your 1 cup of semi sweet chocolate chips and 2 tablespoons of butter into a microwavable safe bowl, and microwave in increments of 30 seconds, until smooth. Or, you can take the microwavable safe bowl, and place it on top of a boiling pot of hot water, and stir the chocolate and butter until the chocolate looks smooth and creamy.

7. Line each cookie cup with melted chocolate, and place into the refrigerator for 15 to 20 minutes. This will harden the chocolate into the cookie cup.

After the cookie cups have cooled in the fridge, now we have to make a difficult decision. Do we want just plain milk and cookie cups? Or, do we want to add something a little extra? Live your life to the fullest, as they say.

For the milk:

• You can just use plain milk
• OR, you can add sweet liquor to the milk! I added Bailey’s, but you can add anytime of chocolate liquor, Frangelico, etc.
• Enjoy!

Top 3 Elderflower Cocktail Recipes

Today, you will learn 3 very easy Elderflower Liqueur Cocktail Recipes. These 3 recipes use a variety ingredients such as; Elderflower Liqueur, Gin, Rose Vodka, and more! Re-create these 5 ingredients or less cocktails at home to leave a lasting long impression on your guests.

Elderflower Liqueur is a french liqueur that is made with over 1,000 Elderflower blossoms, after they have been hand picked once each year. The decadent flavor of the Liqueur depends solely on the time that the blossoms have reached their desired aroma. The delicate taste of Elderflower makes this liqueur versatile with it’s subtle tasting notes of peach, pear, grapefruit, citrus, and a hint of honeysuckle.

Elderflower Rosemary Gin and Tonic
After surviving a weekly store run with gloves and face mask in hand, I grabbed a couple fresh grapefruits that were sitting on the kitchen table. Perfect for a gin and tonic. First, slice the grapefruit in half and squeeze out 1.5 ounces of fresh grapefruit juice into a shaker glass. Add in one sprig of rosemary, 1 ounce of Elderflower Liqueur (or more to taste), 1.5 ounces of your favorite gin, and muddle the rosemary into the gin and grapefruit juice. Now, add ice to the shaker and shake it like a salt shaker! Tip: Slap the rosemary in your hand before placing the rosemary into the shaker. This will release the aromatics of any fresh herbs to enhance the flavor and smell of the drink. This can be done with lavender, basil, mint, etc. Lastly, top with your favorite tonic.

• 1.5 ounce of fresh grapefruit juice
• 1 ounce of Elderflower Liqueur
• 1.5 ounce of gin
• Fresh Rosemary
• Tonic
• Garnish with fresh grapefruit or lemon

French 77 Sparkling Cocktail
When I was first introduced to the original French 75, I fell in love! The cocktail was light and full of citrus, thanks to the lemon and added Prosecco. I have researched so many ways that a French 75 can be made i.e. add lavender, grapefruit, earl grey tea syrup, and Elderflower Liqueur! While having just bought a bottle of St. Germain, I decided to try this 3 ingredient cocktail.

First, take .5 ounces of fresh squeezed lemon juice and add it to a shaker. Next, take 1.5 ounces of Elderflower Liqueur and add it to the shaker, filled with ice. Shake the two together for about 30 seconds. Take a flute or champagne glass and pour the mixture into your glass. Top it off with your favorite kind of sparking wine, like Prosecco.

• .5 ounces of fresh lemon juice
• 1.5 ounces of Elderflower Liqueur
• Prosecco
• Garnish with lemon

Elderflower Rose Martini
The Rose Vodka stars in this refreshing cocktail, and the Elderflower Liqueur adds a burst of floral notes to this straight forward martini. For anyone who loves Rose, then you will definitely #RoseAllDay with this cocktail. There are a couple different brands of Rose Vodka. Hanger 1 came out with their version of a Rose Vodka not too long ago, and Svedka was not too far behind developing their own branded Rose flavored Vodka. The original vodka that I will use is Four Olives Rose Vodka, which is perfect for a frozen Frose any day. This Rose Vodka has notes of tart cherries, refreshing strawberries, and fresh oak.

Once you have your selected Rose Vodka, we can get started. First, take 1 ounce of your selected Rose Vodka and add it to your shaker. Then, add in 1 ounce of fresh grapefruit juice, .5 ounce of lemon juice, 1 ounce of Elderflower Liqueur, add ice and shake hard for 30 seconds. Shake and strain the mixture into your coupe or martini glass and top with rose wine or Prosecco.

• 1 ounce of Four Olives Rose Vodka
• 1 ounce of fresh grapefruit juice
• .5 ounce of lemon juice
• 1 ounce of Elderflower Liqueur
• Top with Rose wine or Prosecco
• Garnish with Rosemary or Thyme

Homemade Espresso Martini

On Monday, March 16th Michigan’s Governor signed a Stay At Home Order, which consisted of non essential employees to stay home, unless purchasing essential supplies and goods. As most of our restaurants are shut down, this is when I am starting to regret not venturing out and taking the time to explore a new restaurant, or grab a drink with friends. I think the band Cinderella said it best, “Don’t know what you got, till it’s gone”. Or, I can look at this in a positive light and take this time to use a cocktail shaker that has been sitting in the cupboard untouched for the past year.

Deciding to take the higher road, I dusted off the cocktail shaker and looked on Pinterest to look for inspirations. Even if that means creating a Pinterest Board called, “Hobbies During Pandemic”. While scrolling through Pinterest, I saw a recipe for a Homemade Espresso Martini, then a light bulb went on over my head. I quickly rummaged through another cupboard and there, I found an unopened bottle of Mammoth Distillery’s Coffee Liquor. I had forgotten that I had purchased this bottle during a trip through Bellaire, while traveling up to the Upper Peninsula (U.P.). Mammoth Distillery also has a storefront in Traverse City, Michigan.

Excited with my long lost found liquor, I decided to tweak the recipe. If you are a coffee connoisseur, I recommend either using brewed coffee or instant espresso. The recipe calls for:

• 2.5 ounces of instance espresso or brewed coffee
• 1.5 ounces of vanilla vodka
• 2 ounces of Coffee Liquor (I used Mammoth Distillery’s liquor)
• 2 ounces of Creme De Cocoa, Kahlua, Baileys, or Godiva Chocolate Liquor

After adding all ingredients to the shaker, add ice, and shake it like it’s hot! I coated my martini glass with chocolate sprinkles. Delicious!

When the ban finally lifts, and we are able to venture out, I will be going to one of my favorite restaurant to have an espresso cocktail. The Paisley Pig in Grand Haven/Holland has one of the best espresso martinis that I have had called, The Inner Circle. This martini has Van Gogh Espresso Vodka, Jackson Morgan Brown Sugar & Cinnamon Southern Cream Liquor, house made vanilla syrup, and topped with four coffee beans. Perfect for a night cap.

So, if you are looking for an espresso martini that is a little more creamer in texture and taste, I recommend that you use a cream coffee liquor like Bailey’s, Jackson Morgan Brown Sugar & Cinnamon Southern Cream Liquor, or a Godiva Liquor. Espresso martinis taste and texture can really differ from person to person depending if they enjoy more coffee flavor, or more a chocolate base.

During this Stay At Home ban, I will be enjoying a martini from the comfort of my own home. Do you have a favorite espresso martini? What advice would you give to anyone making an espresso martini at home? We would love to hear from you!