Cocktail Friday: Zucchini + Sea Salt Vodka Soda

I am ready for Spring now. It was warm and sunny yesterday and I thought I was going to burst with happiness despite my lack of sleep thanks to a late night ER trip with our little guy who has croup. (All is well now - just waiting it out at this point.) Don't get me wrong. I still love winter and won't complain when we get our inch of slushy stuff tomorrow, but there comes a time in the year when I, along with everyone else, am ready for things to grow and be green. Or as green as things can be here in Colorado.

So, although St. Patrick's Day has come and gone, I have another green cocktail to share with you in honor of Spring. Admittedly, this is not a convenient cocktail to just whip up. I made some zucchini-farro cakes the other night and the recipe required me to shred 2 1/2 pounds of zucchini, sprinkle with salt, then squeeze out the extra juice. I saved the juice because it was so vibrant and beautiful it just broke my heart a little to think of discarding it without a second thought.

I'm so happy I saved it because this is a great trick that will come in very handy this summer. Added to a vodka soda with some lemon juice and a sprinkle of flaky sea salt, this juice makes a lovely, fresh twist on a sometimes boring cocktail. My sister would be offended that I called a vodka soda boring. It's her favorite. I just think everything needs a little sprucing up sometimes.

So, if you find yourself with some leftover zucchini juice (said no one ever), go ahead and give this fun drink a try! You could do something similar with carrot juice, cucumber juice, or even tomato water. What a great way to incorporate veggies into cocktails, right?

OK- that's my contribution to the list of unrealistic-but-super-awesome-cocktails. But seriously, once zucchini season kicks it into high gear I bet you'll find yourself with some leftover juice at least once or twice!

Zucchini + Sea Salt Vodka Soda

Ingredients

• 2 oz zucchini juice (recipe follows)
• 1 1/2 oz vodka
• 3/4 oz lemon juice
• flaky sea salt
• club soda
• 2 lbs zucchini, shredded
• 1 teaspoon salt

Instructions

1. Combine the zucchini juice, vodka, and lemon juice in the bottom of a cocktail glass. Stir to combine.
2. Fill the glass with ice and top with club soda.
3. Sprinkle with a little sea salt and serve immediately.
4. Place the shredded zucchini in a large bowl and sprinkle with the 1 teaspoon salt. Toss to combine.
5. Let sit for 10 minutes.
6. Collect the shredded zucchini in a large, clean dish towel. Squeeze the shredded zucchini over a small bowl until about 1/2-2/3 cup juice has been removed.
7. Save the shredded zucchini for making zucchini bread, zucchini fritters, or to toss with stir-fries.
8. Keep the juice in a jar in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.

Cocktail Friday: Meyer Lemon + Vanilla Gimlet

About 10 years ago, I used to think that a Lemon Drop Martini was the height of sophistication when it came to cocktails. I'm not saying there is anything wrong with the cocktail itself. When done well, it can be quite tasty. However, they tend to be heavy laden with sugar and artificial lemon flavor/color. Yuck. This cocktail, made with Meyer lemons, vanilla, and a flavorful simple syrup is a classier, more complex cocktail that I would be proud to serve to the rest of my grown-up friends. I went the gimlet route, using equal parts gin and a combination of Meyer lemon juice and simple syrup. (A traditional gimlet uses gin or vodka and Rose's lime juice, which is crazy sweet.) Then, on a whim, I added just a touch of vanilla extract. That last addition took this cocktail from good to great and made it perfect to serve as a holiday party aperitif.

Citrus cocktails are actually very appropriate for winter. Lemons are in season in these chilly months, so featuring them in recipes this time of year is a must!

TGIF everyone. I hope you have a weekend full of fun and love and laughter. And perhaps a Meyer Lemon and Vanilla Gimlet on the side.

Meyer Lemon & Vanilla Gimlet

Ingredients

• 2 oz gin (My favorite is Prairie Gin for this cocktail, but whatever you have will be fine. You could also use vodka)
• 1 1/2 oz Meyer lemon juice
• 1/2 oz Meyer lemon simple syrup
• 2 or 3 drops of vanilla extract
• zest of 1 Meyer lemon
• 1/2 cup water
• 1/2 cup sugar

Instructions

1. Combine the gin, lemon juice, simple syrup and vanilla extract in a shaker filled with ice.
2. Shake for about 30 seconds until thoroughly chilled and pour into a cocktail glass.
3. Garnish with a slice of lemon if desired.
4. Combine the zest, water and sugar in a small saucepan and bring to a simmer, stirring until the sugar has dissolved.
5. Let the syrup come to room temperature before using or storing in the refrigerator.

Cocktail Friday: Classic Bourbon Sour with Orange Bitters

When I first started blogging in 2009, I didn't know much about how it all worked. I hadn't been an avid follower of any blogs in the past and I wasn't even sure where to find new ones to read. Fortunately for me, I stumbled upon White on Rice Couple. I was in awe of their photos, recipes, and their fun personalities that came through in every post. I've been following them for nearly 5 years now and it has been so fun watching their passion for food, photography, and life turn into such a great success.

bountiful

Their combined talents are showcased beautifully in their cookbook, Bountiful. If you don't have a copy already, you need to order it asap. If for no other reason than to make this cocktail so you can sip it while gazing at the lovely images and recipes on each page. The amount of love that went into this book is glaringly obvious from the moment you open it.

Bourbon Sour Cocktail | Set the Table

As soon as I saw this Bourbon Sour recipe I knew I needed to make it. I'm on a bourbon kick lately- can you tell? I believe this is the third straight week with a bourbon cocktail and I'M NOT SORRY.

If you follow White on Rice Couple, you know they have amazing green thumbs. In fact, I'd say all of their fingers are green. Their citrus fruit bounty is what makes me swoon every time. This recipe features lemons, which add a beautiful tartness to the warm bourbon. A hint of sweetness from simple syrup and a little complexity from a splash of orange bitters makes this cocktail perfectly balanced.

Bourbon & Lemon Cocktail | Set the Table

There are so many recipes to try from Bountiful, but this is a great place to start. Congratulations, Todd and Diane, on a marvelous work of art! And thank you for being such a huge influence in my own blogging career. You are inspirational!

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