First up I’d love to get these heart shaped silicone muffin and cupcake cups. Maybe I should buy them for myself to bake up some Valentine’s Day treats. This 18-pc. set could definitely make some gourmet cupcakes or muffins for someone special. The best part is mon-stick silicone molds are reusable and odor-resistant. I like that you can place them on any cookie sheet or baking pan, so they don’t take up as much space to store as a special heart muffin pan. They’re dishwasher safe, can be heated to 450`F, and are definitely affordable at $8.97.

Another favorite is this Silicone Giant Cupcake Cake Pan, if you buy one for your sweetie, maybe they’ll bake you a cupcake cake that looks like this, yum! Giant cupcake cakes are definitely popular for entertaining and parties these days. I really like that this one is silicone, and only $14.99.

Images: Collections Etc.

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Just in time for Valentine’s Day, PAMA® Pomegranate Liqueur and more® Cupcakes have teamed up to create a sweet treat that truly says “be mine:” PAMA Chocolate Cupcakes. Don’t they look yummy?

The Pama Chocolate Cupcake is a blend of Pama Pomegranate Liqueur’s sweet flavor and the legendary aphrodisiac allure of pomegranates with more’s finest baking ingredients to create one-of-a-kind cupcake that would be perfect for your Valentine’s Day celebration. This divine Belgian dark chocolate cake is filled with a rich Valrhona chocolate and PAMA Liqueur mousse and topped with a PAMA infused buttercream. This cupcake treat sounds like it will melt in your mouth with every delicious bite.

These fabulous confections have gained recognition from New York Times Magazine, Time Magazine, The Chicago Tribune and even earned a coveted spot on O, The Oprah’s Magazine’s “O-List” in the January 2010 issue.

A dozen cupcakes are priced at $66 and can be ordered at More Cupcakes.

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The King Cake is a Mardi Gras tradition. The cake is decorated in the traditional Mardi Gras colors of purple, gold and white colored sprinkles or sugars. There is usually a small plastic baby hidden in the cake for one lucky person to find.

Mardi Gras King Cake

Ingredients

Pastry:

• 1 cup milk
• 1/4 cup butter
• 2 (.25 ounce) packages active dry yeast
• 2/3 cup warm water (110 degrees F/45 degrees C)
• 1/2 cup white sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
• 5 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

Filling:

• 1 cup packed brown sugar
• 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
• 2/3 cup chopped pecans
• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup raisins
• 1/2 cup melted butter

Frosting:

• 1 cup confectioners’ sugar
• 1 tablespoon water
• Purple, Gold, and Green sprinkles
• Tiny plastic baby

Directions

1. Scald your milk then remove it from the heat and stir in the 1/4 cup of butter, and set it aside to cool to room temperature. Dissolve your yeast and one tablespoon of white sugar in warm water, in a large bowl. Let the mixture stand for about 10 minutes (or until it’s creamy).
2. When the yeast starts to bubble, combine it with the cooled milk mixture, then whisk the eggs in. Whisk and the remaining white sugar, salt and nutmeg. Slowly add the flour to the milk and egg mixture 1 cup at a time until it is all combined. When the dough is completely combined, turn it out onto a lightly floured surface and knead it for about 8 to 10 minutes or until smooth and elastic.
3. Put a little oil in a large bowl, and roll it around until it coats the bottom of the bowl, then add the dough and roll it around in the oil until the outside has a coating of oil. Cover the dough with a damp cloth and let it rise in a warm place until it has doubled in size, about 2 hours. Then punch it down and divide in half.
4. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Grease 2 cookie sheets or line with parchment paper.
5. Combine the brown sugar, ground cinnamon, chopped pecans, 1/2 cup flour and 1/2 cup raisins, then pour 1/2 cup melted butter over the cinnamon mixture and mix until crumbly to make a filling for the cake.
6. Roll the two halves of dough out into 2 large rectangles. Sprinkle the filling evenly over the dough and roll up each half tightly like a jelly roll, beginning at the wide side. Bring the ends together to make two oval rings. Place the two rings on a cookie sheet. Cut 1/3 of the way through the rings every 1 inch with scissors. Let the dough rise one more time until it’s doubled in size.
7. Preheat your oven, then bake the cake for 30 minutes. Before you serve the cake push the doll into the bottom. While the cake is still warm frost it with a royal icing (confectioner’s sugar mixed with a few drops of water until it is just a little runny. Then sprinkle with colored sugar sprinkles.

Image: Flickr

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I used a recipe adapted from GumboPages. I changed it up a little, but used most of the same ingredients.

Chicken and Sausage Gumbo

Ingredients:

• 1 cup oil
• 1 cup flour
• 2 large onions, chopped
• 2 bell peppers, chopped
• 4 ribs celery, chopped
• 4 – 6 cloves garlic, minced
• 4 quarts chicken stock
• 2 bay leaves
• 2 teaspoons of your favorite Creole seasoning
• 1 teaspoon dried thyme leaves
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
• About 1 lb of chicken breast (boneless skinless), cook and cut into pieces
• 2 pounds andouille sausage, cut into 1/2″ pieces
• 1 bunch scallions (green onions), tops only, chopped
• 2/3 cup fresh chopped parsley
• Filé powder to taste

Once your chicken is cooked and cut into pieces, season it with salt, pepper, and the Creole seasoning and set aside.

Heat the oil and the flour over medium heat to make a roux in a large heavy stock pan. Stir constantly until the roux is a dark red-brown.

Add your vegetables to the roux and stir while cooking constantly for about 4 more minutes,

Add everything else to the roux, then bring to a boil and let the gumbo simmer for about an hour.

Serve over rice.

Image (C) L Gerlach

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Any of these cocktails would also be wonderful for signature cocktail at a Valentine’s Day gathering of friends.

The Classic and Vintage Artisanal Spirits Portfolio is an unprecedented collection of rare small-batch gems, each with a unique story and diverse place of origin. The portfolio, a boutique spirits division of Domaine Select Wine Estates (DSWE), consist of growing small batch and artisanal brands from around the globe.

Here are some descriptions of some of these classic brands, along with a signature cocktail recipe to go with them.

Tuthilltown Spirits:
New York’s first whiskey distillery since Prohibition, distilling some of America’s most prized spirits in New York’s Hudson Valley.

Heart of the Hudson

• 2 oz Hudson Baby Bourbon
• 2 drops Pernod Absinthe
• 1 tsp apple butter
• .75 oz maple syrup
• 1 oz fresh lemon juice

Method: Combine all ingredients in a shaker.
Shake well. Strain into an ice filled cocktail glass.
Garnish with an apple slice

Manhattan Love Story

• 1.5 oz New York Whiskey
• 1 oz Dry Sake
• .5 oz ginger liqueur
• 2 dash peychaud bitters

Method: Combine all ingredients in a glass
martini glass. Garnish with an orange peel

Rhum J.M
Rhum J.M is an exquisite Rhum Agricole grown and distilled on Martinique’s smallest sugar cane estate. The unique terroir and production process of Rhum J.M impart an extraordinarily unique flavor profile to this fine Rhum Agricole, the only spirit outside of France with an A.O.C. classification.

Happily Ever After

• 1 3/4oz Rhum J.M. Blanc-
• 3/4 oz Cynar
• 3/4oz Cherry Heering
• 1/4 oz Averna
• 2 Dash Rhubarb Bitters
• 1 Dash Whiskey Barrel Bitters

Method: Combine all ingredients except bitters
into an ice filled shaker. Shake and Strain into an
crushed ice filled cocktail glass, drop bitters into
glass and stir.

Love Potion

• 1 oz Rhum J.M Gold
• 1 oz Clement Creole Shrubb
• .75 oz Lemon Juice
• 2 oz grapefruit juice

Method: Build in an old fashioned glass
over ice old fashioned. Garnish with a twist
of lemon.

G’Vine
Created in 2001, G’Vine is a unique, ultra-premium gin from France, establishing a chic new standard in the elegant super premium spirits category. G’Vine hit the market with two exceptional products – G’Vine Florasion is a modern-style gin generously infused with the vine flower as well as 9 different botanicals. The extended infusion of the vine flower produces a floral gin that brings intricacies to any cocktail it is used for. G’Vine Nouaison is also infused with the vineflower, but to a much lighter degree yielding a more London-dry style of gin ideal for Martinis and the like. The Nouaison reveals increased juniper and nutmeg components than its counterpart, and an elevated alcohol content of 43.9%, also making ideal for cocktails.

G’Vine:
Be Mine Mojito

• 1.5 oz G’Vine Nouaison Gin
• .5 oz Simple Syrup
• .5 oz fresh lime juice
• 3 mint sprigs

Method: Combine all ingredients in a shaker. Shake well. Strain into a highball glass highball Garnish: mint sprig

G’Spot

• 1.5 oz G’Vine Floraison Gin
• .5 oz Chambord
• .25 oz Simple Syrup
• .25 oz fresh lime juice
• .75 lemon juice

Method: Combine all ingredients in a glass mixing pint. Stir well. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass

Sombra
Sombra is a micro batch, single village spirit made from organically farmed heritage Espadin agave from the high Sierra of Oaxaca,Mexico. Sourced and imported by the innovative vinous trio of Betts, Bieler and Scholl, Sombra is a testament to spirited exploration and a continuing respect for traditional methods of artisan production.

Sombra Mezcal:
Mezcal Passion

• 1½ oz Sombra
• ¾ oz fresh lime juice
• ¾ oz passion fruit puree
• 3 muddled cucumber slices
• 1 barspoon of agave nectar
• 1 oz House Ginger Beer

Method: Add the lime, agave nectar and cucumber slices to a mixing glass, then muddle Add the rest of the ingredients, then ice. Shake and strain into a rocks glass filled with ice .Garnish with a slice of cucumber and a pinch of ground chili

Agave Kiss
2 oz Sombra
½ oz lime juice
½ oz grapefruit juice
½ oz St. Germain
1 barspoon of agave nectar
3 cucumber slices
Method: Add the cucumber slices, citrus and agave nectar to a mixing glass and muddle. Add spirits then ice .Shake and strain into a chilled coupe Garnish with a grapefruit wedge

Averna
Averna Amaro is Italy’s favorite digestivo, Sicily’s oldest licensed spirit and is one of the top Amaro(s) in the world. This herbal liqueur is uniquely delicate, with a balanced bittersweet taste deriving from infusion of plant roots, dried fruits and spices closely held secret by the Averna family.

Love Triangle

• 2 oz Averna
• 1 oz White Rum
• 1 oz Pomegranate juice
• .5 oz orange juice
• .5 oz lemon juice
• splash of pineapple juice

Method: combine all ingredients in a shaker and shake
vigorously over ice. Strain into a cocktail glass and garnish
with a pineapple wedge.

Midnight Rendezvous

• 1 meyer lemon
• 1 oz Averna Amaro
• 1 oz orange flavored vodka
• 2 oz ginger beer

Method:
Muddle blackberries in a shaker, add the juice of 1 meyer
lemon, Averna, and orange flavored vodka and shake over
ice. Strain over ice in a highball glass an add ginger beer.
Garnish with an orange wheel.

As always, remind your friends, and yourself to drink responsibly!

Images and recipes courtesy of Classic and Vintage Artisanal Spirits Portfolio

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Even if you’re not looking for love, you can serve these interesting Valentine’s Day cocktails at your Valentine’s Day dinner, and make them the center of the conversation. Tell your guests about the Aphrodisiacs, and the Goddess of love. It will definitely make for a great conversation.

Aphrodisiacs (derived from the Greek goddess of sensuality, Aphrodite) have been popular for centuries because they are supposed to increase sexual desire.

This Valentine’s Day pour on the passion and stir up some romance with these delicious cocktails using top aphrodisiacs such as Liquorice, honey, chocolate, honey and raspberries from Sidney Frank Importing Co., Inc.

Liquorice – The Chinese have used licorice for medicinal purposes since ancient times. The essence of the Glycyrrhiza glabra (licorice) plan, glycrrhizin, is 50 time sweeter than sugar. Chewing on bits of licorice root is said to enhance love and lust. It is particularly stimulating to woman.

Chocolate – The Aztecs referred to chocolate “nourishment of the Gods”. Chocolate contains chemicals thought to effect neurotransmitters in the brain and a related substance to caffeine called theobromine. Chocolate contains more antioxidant (cancer preventing enzymes) than does red wine. The secret for passion is to combine the two.

German Chocolate Cake

• ½ part Jägermeister (known for its black liquorice taste)
• ½ part chocolate liqueur
• Splash of coconut rum
• Splash of butterscotch Schnapps

Combine and shake all ingredients over ice. Strain into a shot glass

Honey – Not much sexier than HONEY, In fact Many medicines in Egyptian times were based on honey including cures for sterility and impotence. Medieval seducers plied their partners with Mead, a fermented drink made from honey. Lovers on their “Honeymoon” drank mead and it was thought to s “sweeten” the marriage

Hot Honey Crisp

• 1 Packet Apple Cider Mix
• 2 ½ Cups Hot Water
• 3 Ounces Bärenjäger Honey Liqueur
• 2 Ounces Jacques Cardin Apple Cognac
• Garnish w/ Cinnamon Stick and Whipped Cream

Makes 2

Frisky Whisky

• 1 part Michael Collins
• 1 part Bärenjäger Honey Liqueur
• 1 part fresh orange juice
• 1/4 part simple syrup
• 2 Dashes angostura bitters

Raspberries invite love and are described in erotic literature as fruit nipples. They are red, which is the color associated with love and passion, and are high in vitamin C.

St. Zipang

• 4 parts Zipang Sparkling Sake (sure to keep the romance from falling flat)
• 1 part St. Germaine Elderflower liqueur
• Raspberry Garnish

Tommy’s Valen-Tini

• 2 1/2 parts Tommy Bahama White Sand Rum
• 3/4 part orange liqueur
• 3/4 part sour mix
• 3/4 part raspberry liqueur sinker
• Sugar in the raw

Mix the rum, orange liqueur and sour mix. Shake 20 times. Pour into a sugar in the raw rimmed martini glass. Slowly pour in raspberry liqueur so that it sinks to the bottom of the glass. Garnish with a lime twist.

ZA ZA Zoom

• 1/2 oz Chambord
• 4 fresh Raspberries
• Muddle these two ingredients together
• 1.5 0z of JC APPLE Cognac
• 3/4 oz of Pineapple juice

Shake all vigorously. Strain into a chilled martini glass. Garnish w/ Raspberries

Between The Sheets

• 2 parts JC Jasmin VSOP
• ½ part Cointreau
• ½ part Tommy Bamaha White Sand Rum
• Freshly squeezed lemon Juice

Garnish with an orange twist in a chilled martini glass

L’Amour en Rose

• 1 ½ part. Tommy Bahama White Sand Rum
• 2 part SENCE Rose Nectar
• ½ part Triple Sec

Shake all with ice and strain in a martini glass.

JC Rose Nectar

• 1 ½ parts JC Cognac VSOP
• 1 ½ parts SENCE

Rose Champagne

Shake JC and SENCE with ice; strain and serve in a martini glass. Fill with chilled Rose Champagne.

As always, please drink responsibly, and never drink and drive.

Images: Sidney Frank Importing Co., Inc

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• If you didn’t already have your party you missed it, Groundhog Day was yesterday, February 2nd.
• The Super Bowl is this Sunday February 7th. We have a whole list of Super Bowl Party Ideas if you’re planning a big bash.
• The Winter Olympics start February 12th, we have Winter Olympics party ideas right here.
• Don’t forget about Valentine’s Day on Sunday February 14th, here are some ideas for your Valentine’s Day celebration.
• The Chinese New Year Celebration begins on February 14th and lasts for 14 days.
• President’s Day is February 15th.
• Mardi Gras Fat Tuesday 2010 is on February 16th, so if you haven’t started planning your Mardi Gras party, now is a great time to start.

What are you celebrating in February?

Image: L Gerlach

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Cruzan sent me some interesting Super Bowl stats from Book of Odds.  According to the Web site Book of Odds, 1 in 1.43 people will watch the Super Bowl (that’s 70%) and 27% or 1 in 3.73 Americans will attend a Super Bowl party.

If you’re trying to add a little New Orleans flavor, an Indianapolis twist to your Super Bowl celebration, below are some fun ideas for planning a party, specific to your favorite team.

New Orleans Saints

• City’s claim to fame: Mardi Gras
• What to drink (cocktail): Sazerac (see recipe here)
• What to drink (beer): Abita Amber
• What to eat: Spicy Chicken Bites (see recipe here)
• What to cheer: “Who Dat”
• Fan faux pas: A Saints tattoo

Indianapolis Colts

• City’s claim to fame: Indianapolis 500
• What to drink (cocktail): Colt .45 Cocktail (see recipe here)
• What to drink (beer): Colt .45 Malt Liquor
• What to eat: Hoosier “Fried” Pork Tenderloin Sliders (see recipe here)
• What to cheer: “Believe in Blue”
• Fan faux pas: A horse mask

For Those Who  Just Can’t Decide or Are Rooting for the Commercials

You can turn on the Gloria Estefan, hang up a Scarface poster and chill with a Cruzan Mango Mojito  all in honor of this year’s host city Miami.

Cruzan Mango Mojito

• 1 part Cruzan Mango Rum
• 4 chunks of fresh mango
• A dash of fresh lime juice
• A splash of simple syrup
• 4-6 mint leaves
• Club soda

Muddle mint and mango chunks with simple syrup in a tall glass. Add lime juice, Cruzan Mango Rum and ice. Stir and top with club soda. Garnish with a mint sprig.

As always, remind your guests to drink responsibly!

Images: istockphoto & Cruzan

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St-Germain is an artisanal French liqueur made once a year in the late spring. The liqueur tastes like tropical fruit, citrus and orchard fruits. It makes a delicious cocktail mixer with Champagne and and a variety of other spirits for these yummy Valentine’s Day cocktail recipes.

Bois De Rose

• 3/4 parts St-Germain
• ¼ part Aperol
• 1 part Gin
• ¼ part Fresh Lemon
• top with Brut Rosé Sparkling Wine

Method: Shake first four ingredients with ice and strain into a Champagne flute. Top with Brut Rosé Sparking Wine, and garnish with an orange peel or twist.

Dia Del Amor

• 1 part St-Germain
• 1½ parts Reposado Tequila
• ¾ parts Fresh Lime
• 2 dashes Hot Sauce

Method: Shake and strain into chili salt rimmed rocks glass. Garnish with a lime wheel.

Cherub’s Cup

• 1 part St-Germain
• 2 parts Vodka, Citrus Vodka, or Hendricks
• ¼ shot Simple Syrup
• 1 part Muddled Strawberry
• Top with Brut Rosé Sparkling Wine

Method: Shake and strain over fresh rocks in a collins glass. Top with Brut Rosé or Brut Champagne.
Garnish with a strawberry.

As always remind your guests (and yourself) to drink responsibly.

Images St-Germain

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The Winter Olympics are in Canada this year, so you should give your party a little flavor of the area. If you’re planning a Winter Olympic viewing party, here are a few ideas to help you plan, and some cocktails to go with them.

• Play Euchre, a traditional Canadian card game. This popular Canadian card game is said to have introduced the Joker into modern playing packs.
• Whip up some Canadian Butter Tarts. With their sweet, gooey filling, they are uniquely Canadian and always a favorite.
• Serve Canadian themed drinks with Canadian Whisky of course. Try these recipes:

Canadian Winter

• 1 part Canadian Club Whisky
• 1 part DeKuyper ButterShots Schnapps
• 3 parts Cream on the Rocks

Combine ingredients in shaker. Shake vigorously and pour into a 6 oz. rocks glass over ice.

The Burgundy

• 1½ parts Canadian Club Whisky
• 4 parts Ginger Ale
• Splash of Cranberry Juice

CC and Ginger

• 1½ parts Canadian Club Whisky
• 4 parts Ginger Ale
• Lime

Always remind your guests to drink responsibly!

Images: Canadian Club

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