Magical Martinis

Impress your friends with these martinis.  Perfect for any occasion, any time of year, these spirits are fun to make and even more fun to enjoy!


Dirty Martini
A Dirty Martini is a classic vodka or gin martini that is made with olive juice.

Ingredients

2 1/2 oz vodka or gin

1/2 oz vermouth

1/2 oz olive juice (brine solution from a jar of cocktail olives)

Cocktail olives
Ice

Add ice to a cocktail shaker. The shaker should be filled about half to three-quarters full.

Stir the ingredients in the cocktail shaker with a bar spoon for five to ten seconds. Stir carefully and gradually so as not to overly agitate the ingredients or break the ice cubes.

Strain into the cocktail glass.

Garnish with the cocktail olive.

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Key Lime Martini
If you like key lime pie, you'll love this liquid version! A delicious combination of key limes, pineapple juice, and vanilla flavored vodka, it will bring back memories of time spent in the Key West!

Ingredients

Sugar

1 lime, or 2 key limes – using key limes gives the drink a slightly different taste

4 oz pineapple juice

2 oz vanilla vodka

Ice

Pour some sugar on a plate and run the rim of the glass in the pile so the sugar can stick to the lime juice on the rim.

Using a wide rim glass allows for more sugar on the rim. The sugar rim helps the taste of the drink and so it is important that with each sip the drinker has sugar left on the rim to taste.

Place the lime wedge back on the glass rim for decoration.

Squeeze the rest of the lime into the glass for juice.

Measure out 4 ounces of pineapple juice (about 4 shots worth) and pour into glass.

Measure out 2 ounces of vanilla vodka (about 2 shots worth) and pour into glass.

Stir, add ice, and enjoy.

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Apple Cider Martini
A vodka martini made with apple cider and sweetened with cinnamon and a mix of sugars makes the perfect drink during apple season, or whenever the fancy takes you. Purchase locally made apple cider for the best seasonal flavor.

Ingredients

2 oz apple cider

2 oz vodka

1 oz brandy

1 oz  triple sec

1/2 tbsp lemon juice, freshly squeezed

1/4 tsp cinnamon, ground

1/4 tsp brown sugar

1/4 tsp superfine (caster) sugar

Cinnamon stick (optional, for garnish)
Ice

Combine the cider, vodka, brandy, triple sec, lemon juice, ground cinnamon, brown sugar and superfine sugar in a martini shaker, stirring with a spoon.

Fill the martini shaker 2/3 full of ice.

Attach the lid and shake the drink until condensation appears on the outside of the martini shaker.

Strain the drink into a martini glass.

Garnish the finished martini with a cinnamon stick.

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Godiva Chocolate Martini
Chocolate martinis are delicious and they're the perfect drink for the chocolate lover or for romantic lovers. There are different ways for making chocolate martinis, and this article suggests a few to inspire your mixologist flair!

Ingredients

Chocolate sauce and sugar for rim of glass

2 oz Godiva chocolate liqueur

1 1/2 oz vodka

White chocolate shavings

Fresh raspberries
Ice

Dip the rim of the martini glass in chocolate sauce.

Dip the chocolate rim in sugar.

Fill a large tumbler with ice cubes.

Pour the Godiva chocolate liqueur into the glass.

Pour in the vodka.

Pour all the ingredients into a shaker. Shake well.

Pour the mix into the martini glass that you rimmed at the beginning.

Garnish with shaved white chocolate.

Add some fresh raspberries. Slide the raspberries onto half a skewer for ease of adding to the glass.

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Gummi Bear Martini
Contrary to its name, this martini does not actually contain gummy bears. You can, however, use them as a garnish or side dish to accompany this deliciously fruity drink!

Ingredients

2 oz vodka

1 oz raspberry schnapps

1 oz cranberry juice

1 oz lemon-lime soda

Crushed ice

Use ice to fill your shaker about halfway.

Pour the vodka, schnapps, juice, and soda over the ice.

Place the lid on your shaker and shake the drink until all the ingredients are blended.

Pour it into your martini glass through a cocktail strainer. Serve.

Garnish with gummy bears


Enjoy Responsibly 

A Quick Guide to Rums

August 16, 2012 – National Rum Day

A Quick Guide to Rums

Did you know that there are over 900 different rum drink recipes listed on Google??

The grades and variations used to describe rum depend on the location where a rum was produced.

            Light rums, also referred to as silver or white rums, in general, have very little flavor aside from a general sweetness.  They often serve as bases for cocktails.  Light rums are sometimes filtered after aging to remove any color.  The majority of light rums come from Puerto Rico.  Their milder flavors make them popular for use in mixed drinks, as opposed to drinking them straight.

            Gold rums, also called amber rums, are medium-bodied rums that are generally aged.  These gain their dark color from aging in wooden barrels (usually the charred, white oak barrels). They have more flavor and are stronger-tasting than light rum, and can be considered midway between light rum and the darker varieties.

            Dark rums, also known by their particular color, such as brown, black, or red rums, are classes a grade darker than gold rums.  They are generally aged longer, in heavily charred barrels, giving them much stronger flavors than either light or gold rums, and hints of spices can be detected, along with a strong molasses or caramel overtone.  They commonly provide substance in rum drinks, as well as the drink color.  In addition, dark rum is the type most commonly used in cooking. Most dark rums come from areas such as Jamaica, Haiti, and Martinique, though two Central American countries, Nicaragua and Guatemala, produced two of the most award-winning dark rums in the world: Flor de Caña and Ron Zacapa Centenario.

            Spiced rums obtain their flavors through the addition of spices and, sometimes, caramel.  Some are significantly darker, while many cheaper brands are made from inexpensive white rums and darkened with caramel color.  Among the spices added are cinnamon, rosemary, absinthe/aniseed, or pepper.

            Flavored rums are infused with flavors of fruits, such as banana, mango, orange, citrus, coconut, or lime.  These are generally less than 40% ABV, serve to flavor similarly themed tropical drinks, and are also often drunk neat or on the rocks.

Always enjoy responsibly.

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How to Save Money on Wedding Photography

In general, one excellent way to save money on the cost of your wedding photography is to hire your photographer on an hourly basis.  All images are turned over to you for printing.  This will save you lots of money, although it will require more work on your part.

Also, consider leaving disposable cameras on each table for guests to take their own snapshots, and then of course, be sure someone collects and develops the film after the wedding.

Here at Bill Hansen Catering, we've worked with many photographers over the past 30 years and have developed great relationships with them.  They're people you can trust with your special day.  Remember, just because your paying a lot of money for pictures, doesn't necessarily mean they're better.  Be sure to shop around and see lots of sample before you choose.  Most photographers offer the same services, so its worth your time and effort in finding one that fits your budget.

For a more non-conventional route, if you're really looking to save some money, Do It Yourself Weddings Web Site offers this advice:

1.   If you are lucky enough to know someone who is skilled with a camera, consider asking them to shoot your wedding photos for you. If it is a person who would have been invited to your wedding anyway it could be your wedding gift from them! This person doesn’t have to be a professional photographer either, but make sure it is someone who would be comfortable in that role because you want them to have a good time too! If you are doing it this way, it is an even safer bet to ask two people to be in charge of taking photos, because it takes the pressure off. Also, especially during the reception, both of them could end up taking great candid shots from different areas of the celebration. Be sure too that they take photos of both sides of the family, not just yours.

2.   Call a community college or University’s art department and speak to one of the professors. Ask them if they have any students that would be interested in shooting a wedding, give them the date and then state your price. They’ll ask around for you and likely hook you up with a student (or several) that is willing to accept the discounted price because they need to build their portfolio.

3.   Newspapers (especially smaller newspapers or ones in small-medium towns) often employ several photographers at a time. A call to the local paper is a great way to find photographers that are skilled and talented but don’t necessarily specialize in weddings. This means they’ll be cheaper! Trust me, you tack the word “wedding” onto any service and you are guaranteed to pay more. A lot of photographers don’t specialize in weddings because although the money is good, they don’t want to be busy every weekend doing the same thing. However, a lot of them are more than willing to do a wedding for some extra cash every once in a while!

4.   Yet another way to find an affordable wedding photographer is to put an ad on Craigslist.org or any other local community based board. Again, you are likely to find students or other photographers that are willing to work at a decent price to gain experience and portfolio material. Many of these boards have photographers that will post their services and state their price too! Get references.

National Garlic Day

National Garlic Day – April 19^th

We all know that garlic can be found in just about every kitchen, well, all but Dracula’s...  It enhances our food with that unique and unforgettable flavor.  Bill Hansen's Signature Beef Tenderloin even gets some of its rich and delicious flavor from garlic.  Garlic has its many uses in and out of the kitchen.  Here are a few uses of garlic you may find handy:

1. As Treatment for Acne: Tired of your tea-tree oil solution that seems to cause more acne? Try garlic. It has blood cleansing and antibiotic properties that can be effective against acne and other skin ailments. Some people say that you can get rid of persistent pimples by rubbing raw garlic cloves on your face. You may also crush garlic cloves and extract their juices. Dip a piece of gauze into the garlic juice and apply it on your acne.

2. As Mosquito Repellent: The notion that vampires are afraid of garlic may have come from the fact that mosquitoes are repelled by garlic. It’s not clear why they can’t stand it but it is said that the plant’s compounds are harmful to mosquitoes, so they have evolved to avoid them. You’ll be warding off more than mosquitoes however, if you use garlic as a mosquito repellent at daytime. You can use it to repel nighttime mosquitoes by placing cloves where there are mosquitoes, or by applying extracts on exposed parts of your skin.

3. As Protection for Your Pets: Garlic not only repels mosquitoes, but it also repels ticks, fleas and other parasites. Some brands of pet food contain dehydrated garlic to repel parasites that feed on pets. Horse owners even rub their horses with a garlic mixture to keep harmful insects away. While you can’t do the same for your pooch, always make sure that it has a constant amount of garlic in its diet to keep it protected from insects.

4. As Garden Pesticide: Many commercial pesticides are harmful to the environment. Garlic though is all-natural but it can be as effective as any of these commercial variants. Simply mix garlic cloves and extracts with pepper and a bit of soap to make your own garlic pesticide. Some gardeners even use garlic mixtures to keep animals such as rabbits, deers, and groundhogs away from their vegetables.

5. As Antibiotic: It’s not advisable to substitute garlic for commercial antibiotics, but there are times when it may come in handy. When accidents happen, medical professionals are usually not around to administer first aid to patients. If you or someone else gets wounded and there are no antibiotics around, try looking for garlic cloves. Crushed raw garlic is a powerful antibiotic that can kill strains of staph bacteria. Gently apply the garlic on the wound to prevent it from getting infected.

6. As Fish Bait: Put a bunch of small marshmallows in a bowl of garlic powder or crushed garlic, and make sure that they are well covered. Use the marshmallows as bait, and toss them into the water. You can catch bass, trout, and other kinds of fish this way.

7. As Glue: If you don’t have a bottle of adhesive or glue in your house, don’t fret. As long as you have a bunch of garlic cloves in the fridge, then you can make instant glue. Take the cloves out and crush them. Garlic glue can be made by rubbing garlic juices on paper or glass. Adhesives made of garlic have been used to repair glass in China.

8. As Cosmetics: You can also create homemade cosmetics from garlic. For example, you can concoct a face cleanser by mixing garlic and lemon extracts with water, cider vinegar, and lavender flowers. You can even make a scalp and hair lotion by combining garlic juices with water, vodka, and rosemary. Before applying garlic-based cosmetics on your body, try applying a diluted solution first on the inside of your arm to check if you have any irritation or sensitivity to garlic.

9. As Cough Syrup: Garlic’s antibacterial properties are so potent, it can even help treat your sore throat if you have the flu. It can also ease your cough and help you recover faster. To make garlic cough syrup, boil a quarter pound of garlic cloves in a cup of water. Add honey and sugar to the formula to improve the taste. You can also make garlic tea by soaking a clove of garlic in a cup of water.

10. As Aphrodisiac: Finally, the potency of garlic as an aphrodisiac has been confirmed by Aristotle and ancient Indian writings. The Talmud, a collection of Jewish laws, ethics, and customs, even instructs husbands to eat garlic before Sabbath and before making love to their wives. Many Hindus avoid garlic because they believe that it distracts them from reaching a high spiritual plane. If you’re going to have a romantic date, consider putting a little garlic on the menu, just enough to keep the passion flowing without the odor getting in the way.

Love the taste of garlic, but hate the odor?  Try chewing on something sweet or even some parsley.  Both have been known to neutralize garlic's pungent odor.

La Bella

Renowned photographer Beulah Anne recently stopped by Villa Woodbine with a special guest, Miss Venezuela, Romina Palmisano.  They spent the afternoon taking advantage of the Villa’s picturesque views.  It was such a pleasure having their company within our midsts. From one natural beauty to another... thank you Romina and Beulah!

See more of Beulah’s work here...

http://www.beulahanne.com/

http://www.wedbybeulah.com/

Wedding Wheels

Thinking about ways to make a grand entrance or options to transport your wedding party? Here’s some ideas to get yourself, wedding guests and wedding party from one place to another!

The Family Car: Decorating the car or truck you two will share is one of the old standards in wedding transportation. However, this lot almost always falls to the groomsmen, who may or may not keep tact in mind. If you don’t want your car splashed in paint and dragging tin cans, be sure and ask a responsible bridesmaid to keep everyone else in check.

Limousines: Even limos are coming with more and more personalized options. You can travel in a standard stretch, spring for a Hummer limo, or choose a sleek, luxury sedan. Depending on how many people you need to accommodate, you can consider any of the above options. Remember, too, that paparazzi-style shots of you emerging from the limo are always a great addition to the wedding photos.

Non-Traditional Options: Some of the best wedding travel ideas take place a little off the beaten track. Hop onto a motorcycle or Vespa (taking care of wedding dress issues ahead of time), ride a two-person bicycle, or even walk or roller skate away to a car parked just down the street. Although these kinds of ideas work best for the husband-wife departure rather than the arrival of the whole bridal party, they can add a cute and personal touch.

Mass Transit: If you are coordinating a large number of guests (especially out-of-towners), you might want to offer shuttle buses or minivans to help them move from the hotel to the wedding site, or from the wedding site to the reception. This can be a great way to make your guests feel truly welcome and taken care of.

Horse and Carriage: If you are really getting into the theme of your Victorian-themed Utah reception site, the traditional horse and carriage provides an elegant touch. This also makes for incredible wedding photo opportunities.

Give Your Groom a Gift: If your husband-to-be is a fan of vintage or sports cars, this can be a great opportunity to surprise him with the gift of a lifetime. Rent a BMW, Rolls Royce, or Ferrari and toss him the keys on your way out of the wedding or reception site. These kinds of rentals can typically be made for just a few hours or the day to accommodate weddings.

Wedding transportation needs vary depending on your wedding. Maybe you and your groom want to arrive and depart in style. Perhaps you need a way to move a large bridal party from one venue to another. Maybe you even want to keep your guests together by providing travel options for them. Whatever your needs, be sure and plan ahead. During the busy wedding season, limo and carriage rentals can fill up fast! Whatever you do…don’t forget the “Just Married” on the back!

 

I Love the Shiny and the Pretty Stuff!!

Hello!! The last couple of weeks have been hectic but good. I am working on both Weddings and Corporate events and am grateful to be busy and love what I do. Speaking of things I love, I have to tell you about one of my favorite places to take clients. If you are a lover of all things shiny and gorgeous then you must not walk, but RUN to Twinkle Twinkle at 40 Miracle Mile in Coral Gables and visit Alicia Balmelli.

For those of you who do not know me personally, I NEVER recommend a vendor unless they are great and there is NEVER anything in it for me. I do not accept commission from any vendors. With that said, I will tell you why I think Twinkle Twinkle is such an amazing shop. First, Alicia, the owner, has amazing taste. She knows exactly what to order and what Brides want. When I take my clients to visit vendors, I make sure Twinkle Twinkle is my last stop because once they walk in, it is difficult to get them out. From the minute you set foot into the shop, you are in sensory overload. If you're lucky, you will be greeted by the Twinkle Twinkle mascot, Josh. You will need to go in and meet him as words cannot describe him properly. Take your time and peruse the beautifully lit glass cases. Not only does Alicia pick out great high-end costume and silver jewelry but she has a gorgeous collection of handbags, cake accessories, gifts for the groomsmen, and more. I could go on for days!

Here is what you need to do. If you tell Alicia that "Ana Cruz Rocks!", you will get a special gift with purchase. Try on my faves, Alicia knows exactly what they are, headpieces, bracelets, handbags, all of it! It is important to look at yourself wearing these fab items in what I call the "mirror of death." This mirror is located at the rear of the store and has the power to compel you to buy everything you see yourself wearing. Hence, the mirror of death (to your bank account). Do not worry the jewelry is not as expensive as it looks. It is a great place to shop for quality accessories with out really killing your bank account. The service is phenomenal and every client gets the star treatment but the paparazzi are not allowed in the shop. Photos are prohibited in the kingdom of Twinkle Twinkle but the shiny and pretty stuff is abundant.

Ana M. Cruz

Ana Cruz Event Planning

www.anacruz.com

305.788.5540