Never Enough of Too Good a Thing

Last night I posted a recipe for the Coffee-tini, a coffee based martini. I suggested that the ingredients be doubled to create two drinks at the same time so you could share the Coffee-tini experience with a friend ...

... while the idea of doubling the recipe was a HUGE hit with my readers, there seems to be a bit of confusion among them about the concept of "sharing" ...

... we'll talk more at another time about sharing, especially sharing the good life, but for now, I think it best that I post a revised formula for the mixing of the Coffee-tini using mearsurements suitable for the Gathered masses ...

The GatherSized Coffeetini

• For starters, forget the espresso! You'll burn out your poor little machine making enough shots for this recipe, just brew up a whole pot of extra thick Joe.
• While the coffee is brewing gather together all other ingredients, glassware, and bar accessories. You will need one bottle of vodka (regular or flavoured), another bottle of coffee liqueur, 5 pound bag of ice, a handful of chocolate candies or giant Hershey Bar, bamboo barbeque skewer, rocks glass or Pyrex mearsuring cup, two (2) cocktail shakers (unless you have one of the 1 gallon commercial sized ones) and finally ... a Rubba-dub-dub sized Martini glass to fit everything in!
• Fill both cocktail shakers 2/3 full of ice, then fill oversized martini glass with remaining ice.
• Pour one rocks glass worth (or mearsuring cup) of vodka into one of the cocktail shakers.
• Pour same amount of coffee liqueur into the other shaker.
• If there is any room left in the shakers, add coffee to each shaker until almost full.
• Grasp one of the cocktail shakers in each hand and violently shake them up and down, then shake them over your head, and finally give them a twirl across your open palms while hopping around the room. (Note: This would be a very opportune time to start a conga line if your party guests have not done so already.)
• Dump ice from the Gathersized martini glass and immediately strain contents of both cocktail shakers into the glass.
• Since we aren't firing up the espresso machine for this drink, there won't be any frothed milk, but you can top the Gather-Sized Coffeetini with canned whipped cream for ease. Plus it's always fun to suck some of the nitrous oxide of the top.
  
• Stab chocolate olives ..er.. candies onto the bamboo skewer for garnish. (if you are having difficulties getting the candy on the bamboo skewer, toss the skewer and just throw in the chocolates, at this juncture if you just can't wait to start slurping down the coffeetini it's your choice whether you even bother to unwrap the chocolate olives.)

!!! Now, ENJOY YOUR GATHER-SIZED COFFEETINI !!!

Remember, don't share your Gatherized Coffeetini with anyone, it would just defeat the whole purpose of all of these revisions and contorted gyrations!

Please note: The really big book of Shakespeare in the accompanying photogragh is only for visual effect and so I can post this to the Coffee & Books photos. Do not try to read Shakespeare, or anyone else for that matter, while attempting to scull a Gatherized Coffeetini! You're gonna need both hands free to tip that glass, and besides, you'd probably get a hernia trying to pick up a book that big.

Three Planets Line Up With Moon For New Year's Eve Spectacular!

Celestial Show Set for New Year's Eve

There will be no need for tickets to this celestial event where three planets - Venus, Mercury, Jupiter - will all be lined up with the moon. This display of planets and the moon occurs tonight! New Year's Eve! and should be visible for anyone who steps outside and looks to the southwest horizon just after sunset.

Venus is the planet that shines brighter any of the other planets and brighter than most stars (what we call the "Morning Star" is actually Venus). Venus will dangle just below the thin crescent moon in the southwestern sky. It'll be visible and almost impossible to miss just as the sun goes down if the skies are cloud-free in your area.

Just after sunset Mercury and Jupiter can be seen hugging the southwestern horizon (just above where the sun went down) and will be right next to each other. Jupiter is very bright and easy to spot, Mercury is fainter and more difficult to see, but it'll be just to the left of Jupiter. Jupiter and Mercury will set less than an hour after the sun sets, and you will need to time your viewing for just after sunset. A location with a clear view of the southwestern horizon without buildings, trees or mountains, and away from city lights will give you the best view.

And Saturday morning, about 3:00 AM EST, there is a chance for glimpsing some falling stars in a spectacular display by the Quadrantid meteor shower! With the moon a mere sliver the sky should be quite dark and show off the meteors. So if you are out late Friday night, or up early Saturday morning don't miss this chance to start off the new year with a big wish on a falling star!

What a great way to begin the new year with these celestial events!

Coffeetini ~ Coffee comes to Happy Hour!

Coffeetini ~ Coffee comes to Happy Hour!

The Coffee Martini

1 fresh espresso
1 shot vodka
1 shot coffee liqueur

Combine fresh streamed espresso, vodka, and your favourite coffee liqueur with ice in a cocktail shaker. Shake to mix and chill, then strain into cocktail glass. Top off with frothed milk foam, and garnish with chocolate olive.

I recommend doubling up on this recipe and pouring it into two glasses ... it is best when enjoyed with a friend! (-;

Notes:

The chocolate olive is actually a small solid chocolate "egg". Just stick one on each end of a toothpick for a garnish. The Chocolate Oranges that split into wedges are a great visual and tasty too!

If you like flavoured vodkas, use your favourite. Vanilla vodka is currently very popular.

Also other liqueurs can be used in place of the coffee liqueur. Irish Cremes, like Bailey's and Caroline's are a nice change, or try a shot of Gran Marnier, Amaretto, or Frangelica.