Riding the Kentucky Mule

Recently I've fallen in love with ginger and Elton John's early 1970's recordings. Both have a changed my life. I avoided Elton John for most of my life because he sang "Nikita" and seemed more concerned with fashion and being a knight than music.

I never used ginger in the kitchen because I'm a son the Great Plains and ginger (especially in root form) would be considered to exotic for a Kansan's taste buds.

Now I'm trying everything with ginger in it. I'm especially into ginger beer, which is an invigorating, quenching, smooth drink. If you've never tried ginger beer, try the one brewed by The Ginger People. If you want to take ginger beer to the next level try it in the following cocktail:

Kentucky Mule

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 ounces of whiskey
• ginger beer
• splash of lime juice
• wedge of lime or lemon

Preparation:

• Fill glass with ice, add bourbon, dance a gig, top off with ginger beer, whistle, splash drink with lime juice, and garnish. Sip and count your blessings.

with a pirate's smile,
muddywaters

The Rhett Butler

I don't quite understand it, but my wife swoons each time she watches this scene from Gone with the Wind. She talks about how romantic it is, and how Clark Gable impressively takes two steps at a time as he heads to bed Scarlet. I tell my wife that I could take two steps at a time up our stairs, but she just rolls her eyes. Maybe I should build a grander staircase.

Here's what I don't understand:

1. Why doesn't Clark Gable have a Southern accent?


2. Why do women find Clark Gable attractive?


3. Why isn't Rhett's roughness with Scarlet a turnoff? He seems to be one step away from pulling an Ike Turner. I guess it's all about the context.

Today as I'm heading to Charleston, the home of Rhett Butler, I'll ponder these questions and the female mind and more or perhaps less.

For now I offer you the counterpart to the Scarlet O'Hara cocktail:

The Rhett Butler

Ingredients:

• 2 oz Southern Comfort


• 1/2 oz orange curacao


• 1/2 oz fresh lime juice


• 1/2 oz fresh lemon juice
  
  Mix, garnish with a lemon-twist, enjoy, and share dramatic interpretations of Gone with the Wind.

i give a damn,

muddywaters

PS. . . OK, maybe he's slightly attractive, but he's no Cary Grant.

Beermosa

Woody: Can I pour you a draft, Mr. Peterson?
Norm: A little early, isn't it Woody?
Woody: For a beer?
Norm: No, for stupid questions.

***From Cheers.

On a recent trip to Denver, we revisited Snooze, which bills itself as an "A.M. Eatery." Staring at Snooze's menu is like peering into a 64-count box of Crayola Crayons. It's full of possibilities that paralyze me with indecision and giddiness. I offer the following evidence, a partial menu of their breakfast cocktails:

Where does a fella start? Do I order the Booze Hound Dog or opt for the humorously named John Daly or maybe I get my coffee fix with the Cosmonaut? You see what I mean.

I know what you're thinking: Who does this muddywaters think he is quaffing alcohol for breakfast: Well, my friends, I normally don't order a drink with my meal because I must too cheap for such antics, but on vacation I live more unconventionally. I enjoy drinks on the porch of the Stanley Hotel. I eat pie for breakfast. I even wear a gas-station cowboy hat, something I'd never do in my real life.

Let's get back to that drink menu. After some enjoyable contemplation, I opted for the Beermosa, a mix of orange juice and New Belgium Trippel.

How did it taste? Wonderful. The flavors worked well together, and I can't think of a more "laid back" morning drink; it's much better than a bloody Mary. I'll be purchasing some New Belgium Trippel and making this drink a staple here at The Greasy Skillet. I hope it's something you'll enjoy too.

drink locally,
muddy

Salty Dog

When I drink
I say things I don't want to say
I do things I don't wanna do
I talk mean to you

But if I think I just might get something out of this
My parents taught me to learn when I miss
Just do your best
Just do your best

But when I drink
I spend the next morning in a haze
But we only get so many days
Now I have one less Just Do Your Best

In my late 20's, I drank a lot. This was the result of being a single guy in a college town. I guess, that's the excuse I'll use. Now I'm more likely to spend a Saturday night reading a cookbook, playing Princess-Opoly with my daughter, or folding laundry than hitting the bars. It took me a little time to realize what the Avett Brothers point out in the last verse of "When I Drink."

Last night I was in bed by 10:30, so I missed the Avett Brothers performing on Austin City Limits, but I did have one drink early in the evening.

I squeezed some grapefruit and fixed myself a Salty Dog.

I didn't plan on making a Salty Dog; the grapefruits in my fruit bowl made that decision for me.

It worked out well because I love the song "Salty Dog" by Flatt and Scruggs. Earl Scruggs, like the Avett Brothers, are from North Carolina, so I guess things have a way of coming full circle.

Salty Dog

• 5 ounces grapefruit juice
• 1 1/2 ounce gin
• 1 lime wedge
• salt to rim the glass.

1. Rim glass with salt.
2. Mix gin and juice.
3. Garnish with lime
4. Enjoy
   

The NASCARita

Before my daughter fell under the spell of Zac Efron and the music of High School Musical, she was content with the music on my Ipod. From the backseat, she'd request Dwight Yoakam or Johnny Cash or "Liquored Up and Laquered Down" by Southern Culture on the Skids.

(Southern Culture on the Skids)

The song "Liquored Up and Laquered Down" is a paean to big hair, booze, and white trash culture, but all this is lost on my daughter. She simply likes the song's danceable beat, sing-a-long lyrics, and vibrant mariachi horns.

The band's website contains recipes that showcase some of the culinary gems of trailer park cuisine. Incluced is the following drink recipe:

The NASCARita.

Ingredients:

• One part Tequila


• Two parts Mountain Dew
  

Preparation:

• Put it in a big ol' cup, forget the salt.


• If you want a frozen one, hit the 7-11 and get plain Slurpee ice first, then mix equal parts Slurpee, Dew & tequila.

Also known as the White Trash Margarita.

Here's a video for "liquored Up and Laquered Down" that uses clips froma movie called Sordid Lives. I'm not familiar with the move, but contains cross dressers, bars, Southern drawls, and Beau Bridges, so it's right up my alley. Enjoy.

Frozen Mudslide

My last cocktail of the week was a cucumber agua fresca, which I loved because it was a cool quenching drink with great flavor. Surprising Little Miss Picky Eater enjoyed the drink and has even requested I prepare it again. My wife, however, didn't care for it. Even though she's from Nebraska, she's like a lot of Kansans who don't like conventional flavors in unconventional places. While adulterating beer with tomato juice is quite acceptable in her book, don't add cucumber to her limeade. There's no accounting for an individual's tastes.

This past week I set out to prepare something that my wife would like because she's been working hard, and it's important to keep her happy. Fortunately, it's easy to make my wife happy. All I needed this week was the power of chocolate in the presence of a frozen mudslide. Don't worry about buying some fancy mixer. Just follow this recipe, and you'll quickly find yourself in the good graces of all who have a glass in hand.

Frozen Mudslides

Ingredients for two drinks with a tad leftover:

• 2 cups ice cubes
• 2 scoops or so of vanilla ice cream
• 1/4 cup vodka
• 1/4 cup Kahlua
• 1/4 cup Bailey's Irish Cream
• 1/8 cup chocolate syrup
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extra

Preparation:

1. Pulse all of the ingredients in a blender until the ice begins to break down, and then blend until smooth.
2. Pour and enjoy. It's a high calorie drink, but think of it as an occasional treat and drink only one.

Slip slidin' away,
muddy

PS. . . The vote for this week's fieldtrip ended in a tie with The Village Witch and Local Burger. Sorry, Christopher, but your vote came in after polls closed. At this time, I haven't decided how to break the tie, so I'll sleep on it.

An Ode to Front Porches: Cucumber Agua Fresca

Once upon a time the internet didn't exist, kids pedaled around neighborhoods without protective headgear, and I generated a modest income mowing lawns in Pomona, Kansas. Most of my customers were 70 or older, so after mowing a yard, it was common to be offered a a cold beverage. Often I would decline because I had more work to do, but occasionally I'd accept. Even at a young age, I knew the value of slowing things down, taking a break, and visiting with folks, so I spent a lot afternoons sitting on the front porches of Pomona, KS, drinking lemonade or iced tea (For some reason, I was never offered a can of soda) with senior citizens.

I miss those afternoons.

I miss front porches. As you know, they don't often build new homes with front porches. People like to hide out in their backyards. A lot has changed. Cadillacs are made of fiberglass. New churches don't look like churches. New barns don't look like barns. Trains don't have cabooses. I miss a lot about the past.

I miss those conversations with the senior citizens of Pomona, Kansas.

I live in a town full of beautiful front porches, and when I drive by one, I long to sit.I long for a conversation with the people of my past.
I long to slow down time.

I long for a cold drink.

I long for time on a front porch.

If you dropped by this afternoon, I'd fix you a nice cold drink -- maybe agua fresca -- and we'd slow time down and talk about the stuff that really matters in this life.

Cucumber Agua Fresca

Ingredients:

• 4 1/2 cups coarsely chopped peeled and seeded cucumbers
  
• 4 cups cold water
• 2 cups ice cubes plus more for glasses
• 1 cup sugar
• 2/3 cup lime juice
• 2 large pinches of salt

Preparation:

1. Combine 2 1/4 cups of the cucumbers, 2 cups water, 1 cup ice cubes, 1/2 cup sugar, 1/3 cup lime juice, and 1 pinch of salt in a blender. Blend until sugar dissolves and mixture is smooth but slush.
2. Pour mixture through a strainer and into a pitcher. Press all of the liquid out of cucumbers in the strainer.
3. Repeat the above with the remaining ingredients.
4. Place ice cubes in eight glasses and fill with cucumber drink.
5. Enjoy on a front porch. This is the perfect quencher for a summer day.

Enjoy the weekend,
muddy

PS. . . Be sure to cast a vote for my field trip destination. You have until 10:30 PM on Sunday, June 7th to vote.

Talkin' to Loretta and Drinkin' a Sloe Gin Fizz

When my daughter is old enough to begin learning the cold, hard, greasy facts about the nature of men, I'm going to have her listen to a steady mix of Loretta Lynn, Billie Holiday, and Nina Simone. I might also throw in a little Edith Piaf because it doesn't hurt to hear cautionary messages in another language. These women sing about the trouble men often bring, and sometimes they sing about how to deal with those troubles.My goal with my daughter is to keep the penis out of the picture for the next 20 years or so. We all know the penis is a damn nuisance, an albatross around the neck, figuratively speaking, of course.

However, I know I'm fighting a formidable foe, so I also need to arm my daughter with some advice. There is much she needs to know, but today I'll share the following with her:

Don't mix drinking and men, and stay clear of men bearing frou-frou drinks, appealing beverages that appear innocuous but pack a venomous punch. In 2004, Loretta Lynn recorded the Van Lear Rose with Jack White of The White Stripes producing the album. It's a fine album with several standout tracks, but one of my favorites is "Portland, Oregon", a song about the perils of consuming too many frou-frou drinks with a man.

Portland, Oregon

Well Portland Oregon and sloe gin fizz
If that ain't love then tell me what is
Well I lost my heart it didn't take no time
But that ain't all. I lost my mind in Oregon

In a booth in the corner with the lights down low
I was movin' in fast she was takin' it slow
Well I looked at him and caught him lookin' at me
I knew right then we were playin' free in Oregon

Next day we knew last night got drunk
But we loved enough for the both of us
In the morning when the night had sobered up
It was much too late for the both of us in Oregon

Well sloe gin fizz works might fast
When you drink it by the pitcher and not by the glass
Hey bartender before you close
Pour us one more drink and a pitcher to go

And a pitcher to go [repeat]

Sloe Gin Fizz

Ingredients:

• 1 ounce sloe gin
• 1 ounce gin
• 3/4 ounce lemon juice
• a splash of lemon-lime soda

Preparation:

1. Mix Sloe gin, gin, lemon juice in a glass. Top with a splash of soda. Enjoy.

What other frou-frou drinks should be avoided? Any advice about men for my daughter?

Don't come home a-drinkin' with lovin' on your mind,
muddy

Ramos Gin Fizz

(It masquerades as a glass of milk, but it's the frothy, citrus infused Ramos Gin Fizz)

If someone would have told me that a Ramos Gin Fizz tasted like a key lime pie, I would have tried this drink sooner. However, since this drink calls for an egg white, I allowed my unreasonable fear of salmonella to keep me from this cocktail.

Then last week I had an idea. I'm not a smart man, so ideas never come to me at a boil. It's always a slow simmer for me. This was the case with my idea to use dehydrated egg whites for this cocktail. Now I can sip on a Ramos Gin Fizz safe from salmonella.

In A.J. Rathbun's book Good Spirits, he makes the following comment about the Ramos Gin Fizz:

"This is not one to construct if you don't believe in your shaking ability, or if you're going to arm wrestle later in the evening and need to save your strength."

After I prepared the Ramos Gin Fizz, I realized he wasn't exaggerating. This cocktail takes time and energy, and there will be moments during the shaking when you'll feel like calling it quits. Don't. Keep striving and you'll be rewarded. This drink is an act of love, so make it for someone you love.

Ramos Gin Fizz

• 2 ounces gin
• 1 1/2 ounces simple syrup
• 1 ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
• 1 ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
• 1 ounce heavy cream
• 1 egg white or 2 teaspoon dehydrated egg whites
• a bit of orange zest
• splash of chilled club soda
  

Preparation:

1. Fill a cocktail shaker half full with ice. Add everything but the splash of club soda.
2. Shake for 3-5 minutes.
3. Pour, sip, and delight in the froth tickling your tongue.

I few readers wanted prom pictures, and since I aim to please, below are a couple of pictures:

take care,

muddy

Pink Magnolia

I know it's been a long week, and even though you want to snuggle into a cocoon this Friday evening, I'd like you to do the following:

1. Buy some good cheeses. I suggest three, a soft, semisoft, and hard cheese. Then pair up the cheese with some good crackers and salami.


2. Call some friends - you know, the ones who always boost your spirits. Invite them over after work tonight.


3. Prepare a nice cocktail. I suggest The Greasy Skillet's current favorite cocktail, a Pink Magnolia. This cocktail is a fresh, crisp drink that's perfect for renewing spirits
   

Tonight's about you reconnecting with what's important and reestablishing your own rhythm going into the weekend. I know you can muster enough energy to do this. If you can't do it for yourself, do it for others.

Pink Magnolia
(Adapted from the book Frank Stitt's Bottega Favorita: A Southern Chef's Love Affair with Italian Food)

Ingredients:

• 1 part gin
• 1 part apple juice
• 1 part cranberry juice
• wedges of lime and frozen raspberries for garnish.
  

Direction:

1. Mix all liquid ingredients.
2. Pour and garnish with lime wedge and raspberries
3. Serve and enjoy.

cheers,
muddy

Belfast Brownie

I have days when stress perches on my shoulder, digs its talons in, and prevents me from enjoying time with my family. I can usually shoo this beast away by doing any of the following:

1. Writing
2. Reading
3. Cooking
4. Praying
5. Walking or hiking
6. Lounging in my hammock
7. Listening to music
8. Taking control of my attitude and simply willing stress away.
9. Composing, choreographing, and performing an extemporaneous musical before my family gets home.

This is just a partial list of stress reducers. As I grow older, it seems like my arsenal for combating stress keeps expanding. For example, today my daughter taught me a new way to cope with stress. I decompressed simply by dressing Barbies with my daughter and doing a fashion shoot. Here's Barbie in a Jayhawk sweat suit that my mother created:

Here's Barbie looking casual in some of Ken's clothes:

I never thought that something so simple and somewhat feminine would relax me.

I usually don't turn to eating as way to deal with stress, but I have been known to reach for a beverage as a way to decompress. Sipping a good drink tends to slow time down and melt away the stress. The following are a few drinks I turn to when I want to mellow:

1. Hot chocolate
2. A good Kansas limeade
   
3. Iced tea with lemon
4. Sangria
5. In the fall, I love to drink a Guinness
6. A margarita

Last week I treated myself to a nice cocktail, the Belfast Brownie. I might add it to my list of stress-reducing beverages.

Belfast Brownie

Ingredients:

• 1 ounce Bailey's Irish Cream
• 1 ounce Godiva chocolate liqueur
• 1 ounce orange liqueur
• 3 tablespoons half & half or milk
  

Directions:

1. Fill cocktail shaker with a little ice. Add all of the ingredients. Shake. Strain into glass. Enjoy.

NOTE: The drink also calls for a strip of candied orange peel, but the staff at The Greasy Skillet wasn't resourceful enough to prepare this element of the drink. Heads will roll for this oversight.

What's your favorite way to banish stress from your day?

take care,
muddywaters

Red Beer

Geography profoundly impacts who we are.

My wife grew up in Southwest Nebraska marching to the rhythm of the mountain time zone. This explains why she doesn't mind eating dinner at 7:00 in the evening, a time which -- much to my chagrin -- conflicts with the 6:00 dinner time of youth. Her Nebraska upbringing explains her love of red meat, flyover country, and of course, her fanaticism for University of Nebraska football. And it might also explain her approach to eating corn on the cob.

Her love of red beer - the simple combination of beer and tomato juice - can also be attributed to her Nebraska roots. I know red beer is consumed all over the United States, but it seems to be more prevalent in Nebraska. I'm sure there's a reason for this, but I'll need to research it and get back to you. I think, it's just another way for Nebraskans to pledge their allegiance to the Nebraska football team. When my wife sips a red beer, I'm sure "GO BIG RED!" echos in her head.

I know it's my job as a husband to come around to my wife's way of thinking and doing things, but I haven't been able to embrace red beer. I prefer my beer naked, unadulterated. I want to embrace the flavor of the beer I'm drinking. Though once a year, I pull a frosted glass from my freezer, partially fill it with tomato juice, and top it off with a Coors Light.

I take a sip, and year after year, it's the same response: indifference. This boy from eastern Kansas just can't grasp the appeal of red beer. I'll give it a shot next year.

Cheers,
muddywaters

Drinks at the Stanley Hotel

(The beautiful view from the historic Stanley Hotel in Estes Park, CO.)

I apologize for the brief hiatus. I've been busy enjoying Rocky Mountain National Park and time with my family. I did consistently post blog entries on my family's blog in an effort to keep friends and family informed of our adventures, but I neglected The Greasy Skillet. I'll try to redeem myself this week. I do have much to report.

Part of our Estes Park tradition involves visiting the The Stanley Hotel and enjoying a cocktail on the hotel's front porch.

Every year I think long and hard about the drink I'll order. This year I chose to order a mojito, but much to my dismay, the bar informed me that they had no limes. NO LIMES! This still perplexes me. How can a bar have no limes? Anyway, I'm not good about making split-second decisions. It took me two weeks to decide on a mojito, and then I was forced to choose another cocktail without any forethought. What did I do when confronted with this stressful decision? I ordered the Redrum Punch, a pineapple-flavored drink spiked with several types of rum. It should be noted that the drink was inspired by The Shining, and it should also be noted that The Stanley Hotel inspired Stephen King to write The Shining. And this how I ended up on the front porch of The Stanley Hotel sipping on a cocktail that was a palindrone for murder. You never know where life will take you.

What's the kitschiest or cheesiest drink you've ever ordered?

I'm back in the saddle again,
muddywaters

PS. . . I apologize for the somewhat blurry pictures. Earlier in the day, I stumbled face first down a hiking trail, damaging my camera and pride. I'm now back in Kansas, walking on flat ground, and snapping pictures with a new camera.

Sunsplash

Yesterday I promised to post a new cocktail, and today I'm delivering you a Sunsplash, a perfect companion to a summer evening. It's a light, sipping cocktail that will slow down the hands of time.

Sunsplash

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 ounces of vodka
• 1/2 ounce of lime juice
• 1/2 ounce of triple sec or other orange liqueur
• 1/2 ounce orange juice
• 1/2 ounce cranberry juice
• lime wedge for garnish

Directions:

1. Fill cocktail shaker with a bit of ice.
2. Add all ingredients, except lime wedge, to the shaker. Close your eyes, visualize sunsets, and then shake ingredients until the cocktail shaker becomes frosty.
   
3. Pour into glass, garnish with lime wedge, and serve.
4. Enjoy the company of friends.
   

Skinny Dip

Beer, if drunk with moderation, softens the temper, cheers the spirit and promotes health.
***Thomas Jefferson

I'm currently rereading Ken Wells's Travels with Barley, a nonfiction book that shares the author's travels along the Mississippi River as he examines the brewing history of America and the culture of beer. Put this book on your essential summer reading list. I challenge you to read this book and not crave a cold beer. Needless to say, Travels with Barley inspired this week's cocktail of the week, Skinny Dip, a beer brewed by New Belgium Brewing Company in Fort Collins, Colorado.

Is there anything better than swaying in a porch swing, sipping on a beer, and enjoying unseasonably cool July weather?

Sangria

My goal today was to paint the guest bedroom, but one thing after another knocked me off course. Frustration brewed, and Mr. Cranky pants reared his ugly head. I took a little mental timeout, mixed up a batch of sangria, and the prospect of enjoying this refreshing beverage altered my attitude.

I successfully completed the painting, took a shower, prepared some guacamole, placed some Mavericks on the stereo, poured me a sangria, pulled up a chair on my back patio, and basked in the glory of a fabulous week.

Ingredients:

• 1 orange sliced thin
• 1 lemon sliced thin
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1 bottle red wine
• 1/2 cup fresh orange juice
• 1/4 cup triple sec
• the juice of a couple of limes.
  

Instructions:

1. In a large pitcher combine all of the ingredients.
2. Stir until the sugar is dissolved.
3. Cover tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 2 hours.
4. Serve before stirring. Pour over ice and serve.

Cherry Limeade

For the past five weeks, I've been on antibiotics, so I haven't been consuming alcohol because I desperately want to whip this bacterial infection that, I think, has been in my lungs since April. During this time, I still participated in the cock-tail-of-the-week ritual My daughter and I enjoyed a cherry limeade while everyone else enjoyed an adult beverage. It's a simple drink to make, so there's no need to get in the car and head to Sonic to get your limeade fix. My four-year-old daughter loves this drink.


Ingredients:

• 2 teaspoons of freshly squeezed lime juice
• 2 teaspoons syrup from a jar of maraschino cherries
• 1 maraschino cherry
• 1 drink umbrella
• 1 lime wedge - if desired.
• a can of lemon-lime beverage (Diet or regular)

Directions:

The recipe pictured is for a 10-ounce glass, so you might need to adjust the ingredients accordingly. I like more lime juice in my drink, but my daughter prefers sweetness over tartness.

1. Fill glass with crushed ice.
2. Add lime juice and cherry juice.
3. Fill glass with soda.
4. Add lime wedge, lean umbrella in glass, and gently place cherry on top.
   

Cheers,
muddywaters

Bourbon Slush

Once upon a time, I hated whiskey. Not only I couldn't stand the taste of it, the smell nauseated me. It reminded me of dirty old men, Old Spice, and desperation. It was the polar opposite of Tequila, which has a feminine, breezy, and jaunty scent. While Tequila inspired me, whiskey repulsed me.

My perception of whiskey changed during a weekend trip to Nashville. One day we took a little scenic drive to Lynchburg, TN, the home of the Jack Daniels' distillery. After an amazing guided tour where I was immersed in the history, culture, and lore of whiskey I was smitten. I was inspired to develop a love of whiskey.

I stumbled a bit in my quest because it was so difficult for me to get past the smell. I know this is quirky and anti man-with-no-name behavior, but I'm just being honest. Eventually, with the help of some great drink recipes on the Jack Daniels' website and this bourbon slush recipe, I developed a love of whiskey. It's an ingredient that I've gradually incorporated into my cooking. Down the road, I share a bread pudding recipe with a Jack Daniels' sauce.

Now this bourbon slush isn't a photogenic drink, so I didn't include any photographs. However, it is a great drink to sip under a shade tree on a hot, summer day. It's a sweet drink, so I can only drink one glass in a sitting, which is good because we all know that moderation is a good thing. The following is the recipe that inspired me to love whiskey (You have to start somewhere):

Ingredients:

• 7 cups water
• 3 cups bourbon
• 12 oz frozen lemonade
• 6 oz frozen orange juice
• 1 1/2 cups sugar
• 2 cups strong tea
  

Directions:

Mix all ingredients a day ahead and place in freezer. When ready to serve, take out of freezer and put desired amount in blender for a second or put in a bowl and mix till it is semi-liquified. Serve in old-fashioned glasses.

Cheers,
muddywaters

Cranberry Margarita

When I consume too much tequila, I have an alter ego that rears his ugly head. He's affectionately dubbed "Margarita Boy" by friends and family. Too many margaritas or shots of tequila transform me from a responsible, sensitive introvert into a raging extrovert who tends to engage in juvenile behavior and by the end of the evening, I'm stumbling around like Keith Richards circa 1975. I could regale you with stories of this behavior, but I don't want to sully my good name any further. Fortunately, Margarita Boy hasn't appeared in the last couple of years. This, I think, is a good thing.

My blogging alter ego, muddywaters, also loves tequila. However, he practices some restraint with this liquid libation. I love margaritas, but I'm a bit picky about how I prepare them. I don't care for overly sweet, slushy margaritas that mask the flavor of the tequila. I want my margarita tart, and I feel all the flavors should have equal billing. The following recipe meets my criterion for a good margarita:

Ingredients for one drink:

• 1/4 cup Tequila
• 1/4 cup cranberry juice
• 1/8 cup fresh-squeezed lime juice
• 1/8 cup triple sec or other orange liqueur

Directions:

1. Salt rim of glass.
2. Place crushed ice in glass
3. Mix all ingredients in cocktail shaker.
4. Pour into glass.
5. Garnish with lime and fresh cranberries.
6. Enjoy

Limoncello Mint Lemonade

For the record I don't watch The View. However, I remember hearing from someone about Dannny Devito's drunken appearance on the show. Apparently, he pulled an "all nighter" drinking with George Clooney and showed up on the set intoxicated. I don't find this strange or out of the ordinary. However, I find the fact that he got smashed doing shots of limoncello intriguing. This was my first introduction to limoncello, so I set out to learn about this magical elixir.

Limoncello is a aromatic sweet lemon liqueur that is made from lemon peels. It's not exactly "shot" material. For the record I don't advocate doing numerous shots of any liquor. However, Mr. Devito's made the mistake of doing too many shots of limoncello. Shortly after that infamous incident, Mr. Devito launched is own brand of limoncello.

Last year I made my wife a lemon drop martini using limoncello that smelled like Lemon Pledge and tasted like this cleaning product, so I moved the limoncello to the back of the liquor cabinet. Last week I dusted off the bottle and attempted to use it in a new cocktail, a limoncello mint lemonade.

Prior to this recipe when I thought about mint in my food or beverages, I turned my nose up. In my world mint was reserved for toothpaste, breath mints, and chewing gum. However, I believe in expanding my horizons, so I picked up some mint at my local grocery store and set out to try something new.

This cocktail was a hit. In fact, it knocked the ball out of the park. There's a lot I like about this cocktail:

• First, this drink just looks beautiful and refreshing. It begs you to drink it. A big batch of this cocktail in a glass pitcher would be the perfert centerpiece for a lazy afternoon with friends.
  

• This cocktail tastes great. It reminds me a lot of those bottled hard lemonade drinks they sell in the liquor store. It's not overly sweet though, and it's a drink that leaves me feel refereshed.
  

• The recipe is versatile. It can be adapted and morphed into a variety of cocktails. You could substitute the limoncello with rum and make a mojito. If you don't have mint leaves, you could leave them out. I actually prefer this cocktail with a limeade concentrate.

• I know it's not hip to embrace high fructose syrup, but the lemonade concetrate makes this recipe quick to make and it helps with the flavor of the beverage. Feel free to make your own simple syrup if you choose.

Limoncello Mint Lemonade

The following recipe makes a 10-oz drink:

• 2 tablespoons lemonade concentrate
• 1/2 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
• 6 or so mint leaves
  

Place the above ingredients in the bottom of a glass and using a wooden spoon, muddle mint leaves with lemonade and lemon juice - this will release the mint's oils. I like the idea of muddling. Usually when I muddle things up, I'm screwing something up. It's nice to know that I can muddle something up and it's part of the process. In addition, I get a drink out of the muddling.

Top the glass with the following:

• Ice cubes
• 1/4 cup limoncello
• 1/2 cup club soda

Stir and then garnish with:

• Lemon slices and sprigs of fresh mint

Cheers,
muddywaters