Five days ago, on February 10th, I told you about the best chocolate martini I have ever made. Because confirmation never hurts, I repeated the recipe on the 11th and then again on the 12th. I will also be having one today during cocktail time. Which will commence at exactly 3:45pm CST.
This has become my February cocktail. From now until forever. I made it the same way each time, except that I saw in the photo I showed you a bottle of Contreau and then told you I used Gran Marnier when if fact I used Contreau. It could be that both will work just the same, but in the name of full transparency I wanted to call that to your attention.
The other thing you MUST know about, right now, passed on to me by Dottie just this morning, is below. I have already watched it 7 times.
Happy Saturday, happy listening, happy chocolate martini month.
The end.
Happy hearts, flowers, candy, pink and red, streamers, ruffles, and chocolates to each of you.
With love, on every day, but especially on Valentines day.
I tried, and tried, and tried some more to come up with a great "Roses are red...." poem for the occasion.
But I can not for the life of me get this one, from 3rd grade, out of my head. "Roses are red, violets are blue, your nose is shaped like a B-52". As a result, nothing else will come to me. Please don't let that stop you from sharing your best ones with all of us.
Since returning from Palm Springs, Sister and I have resumed our regular FaceTime SketchTime sessions. While she has been making masterpieces I have been having great fun spreading paint on pages.
Some outcomes more pleasing than others. None less enjoyable as a result.
Current status of my inspiration board. Things I want to make, do, consider, delight in, and dream about.
From the Writers Almanac Sunday, "Art is not a mirror held up to reality but a hammer with which to shape it". Bertolt Brecht
Today my partner in life, crime, walking/hiking, cooking & cleaning, driveway clearing, movie watching, museum going, and about 100 other things, is having a birthday.
I wrapped his present early and put it on the table so he could think about what it might be.
The cake was also purchased in advance. We started eating it Saturday.
Birthday cake should be eaten on the day before the birthday, the actual birthday, the day after the birthday, and then each subsequent day until it's been consumed in it's entirety. It's a rule.
It's from the "Cake Lovers Guide to Birthdays".
P.S. Isn't this 4 inch layer cake cute? Perfect for a family of two. If you live in the area, we got it from McClains Bakery in Lawrence.
It's been a month of Sundays since a drink recipe appeared on this blog. That is a serious oversight,
that is about to be rectified. Just in time for Valentines Day.
The idea got in my head when the Pioneer Woman make a chocolate martini this morning. Except this isn't that recipe. Which did look really good, and I would drink it in a second if you put it in front of me. But I did not have any chocolate ice cream or orange flavored vodka on hand. So, this is kind of a mash up that got changed even further when I went to pour the Godiva chocolate liqueur and discovered it was curdled.
Here goes: 1 ounce vodka, 1 1/2 ounces of creme de cacao, 1/2 ounce grand marnier (oops forgive me, I used Contreau) and 1 1/2 ounce half and half. Pour it all in a shaker full of ice and shake well. Then let is rest for a second. While it's resting grate some chocolate with a microplane zester and add 1/2 tsp sugar, mix together on a plate or other surface for rimming your glass. Run a slice of orange around the rim of your glass and then twirl the glass in the chocolate/sugar mixture. Give that cocktail shaker one final mix and strain into your freshly rimmed glass.
I think this is the best chocolate martini I have ever made. It is now the only one I will make. Serve with pistachios, pretzels, popcorn, all thee, or nothing at all. Sometimes (as in this case) necessity is the mother of a very good invention.
This morning, while the red house finches frolicked in the front garden, investigating the greenery in my fountain, as they chirped away like nobody's business, the hearts marched up from the basement.
Along with some other stuff.
And insisted upon being installed.
Above the dining room table.
Where they normally reside in February.
Last year it looked like they were on their last leg. But today I decided they are only getting better with age.
If you have old calendars, papers, or cards, that you don't want to throw away because they are so pretty, but don't know what to do with them... make hearts!
It's serious fun. And you can do lots of things with them. Touch them. Look at them. Smile at them. String them together or leave them single. You get the idea.
As I worked, the birds moved to the back yard. There were 12 on this bush until I tried to take a photo, and they all flew away.
Or it could have been Harvey that scared them away. He wanted to help with the heart activities, he didn't mean to frighten them.
Other morning activities included a bowl of steel cut oats with cherry jam, blueberries, apples, walnuts, and greek yogurt on top. After which I texted Steve (#1 Mulvenon Jam Maker) to be sure I am on the list for another jar next year. If you haven't tried jam instead of other sweeteners on your oatmeal you don't know what you are missing.
The Alchemist was written way back in 1988, and while familiar with the title, my investigation into it never went any further than that. Until last week. When I spotted it at the library, sitting out on a shelf of books to consider. And I bit.
It's a different sort of story, and took me back to the old days of reading. When I would race home from the library as a 10 year old kid and find a spot all alone in the house to begin a new book. I remember being spellbound by tales. Not certain where they were going, but knowing I was along on an adventure that was totally out of my realm of being.
About half way through I did some searching on line and discovered the author is Brazilian, and it was originally written in Portuguese. Ah. That's why it felt mysterious. The best way I can describe it is as a fable. Which I was totally open to and thoroughly enjoyed.
It's a quick read/listen. Just a bit over 4 hours. If you are on a quest to discover your personal legend maybe you will want to read it. I loved it. Highly recommended.
I am curious what others thought of it. Do tell us.
