A cup of hot chocolate, spiked with Kahlua if you like, and spiced with cinnamon, nutmeg and cayenne.

Spiked and Spiced Hot Chocolate

This Spiked and Spiced Hot Chocolate came about thanks to the frigid cold weather that moved into most of the eastern part of this country last weekend, including the deepest of The Deep South, and my apparent need to warm up from the inside out. It was bone-chilling cold for this southern gal, and although I was wearing two pairs of sweats, two long sleeved shirts, socks and slippers, and had the central heat going, none of it seemed to help at all. It was definitely a hot chocolate kind of night, and we have another couple of those heading in tonight for the weekend. Just in time for that last minute Christmas shopping, brrrr!

I love hot chocolate and when I want it, I usually break out a saucepan and make the good ole familiar and well loved, old fashioned Hershey's cocoa recipe that many of us have been making all of our lives. This time, there on the counter sat these inviting packages of semi-sweet chocolate chips waiting for holiday treats, and just begging for a feature spot in a steaming cup of hot chocolate.

I also had those nice roasted McCormick spices in the cabinet from our BlogHer Food swag, so I thought why not spice things up a bit too? And of course, why not a little pinch of cayenne pepper to help boost up the good ole circulation while we are at it?  What resulted was a delicious blend of spicy flavor, all of which complimented the chocolaty goodness. I probably used somewhere in the middle of 1/8 and 1/4 teaspoon of cayenne and it was a very nice, healthy lip tinglier.  Feeling adventurous? Go ahead and stir in a bit of Kahlua or bourbon.  Give it a try!

Weekend Cocktails: Hot Buttered Rum

Hot Buttered Rum

Hot Buttered Rum

Hot buttered rum. A warm drink made from butter, brown sugar and a few typical spices - cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, allspice - oh yeah. And rum.

It's a delicious, heartwarming winter drink that is just perfect for the adults over the holidays. Though it is traditionally made with plain water, I thought why not make it with apple cider?

Careful. These go down real smooth, especially on a cold night, but they are rich and with a punch. Enjoy, but drink responsibly!

 

Take lime and mint, the classics of the mojito, and combine them with strawberry and watermelon, for a cooling summer beverage.

Strawberry Watermelon Mojito

Just a quick fly-by since I promised to post this in the 4th of July recipes post.  My computer is runnin' slow as Moses tonight anyway. I'm pretty sure its memory is a bit sluggish and I know how it feels.

A refreshing summer beverage, that borrows the classic lime and mint of the mojito and marries it with strawberry and watermelon - a great adult cocktail for any summer celebration.

Here's how to make one.

Weekend Cocktails - Watermelon Pomegranate Rum Cooler

Chunks of watermelon along with pomegranate juice, grenadine, lemon-lime soda and rum, makes for a great adult beverage.

Watermelon Pomegranate Rum Cooler

I have talked before about the benefits of pomegranate juice and specifically the quality of POM Wonderful brand of pomegranate since being introduced to it last year. Back in the fall, I made several recipes using POM, so I was delighted when the POM Wonderful folks offered to send me another case to try some summer recipes. Loaded with powerful antioxidants and frankly pretty great just straight up, if you haven't gotten around to trying POM Wonderful, you should!

Weekend Cocktails - Southern Iced Tea Cocktail

 

A very refreshing adult beverage, this cocktail is somewhat of a cross between a Long Island Iced Tea and an Arnold Palmer. A perfect beverage for porch sittin'!

Southern Iced Tea Cocktail

With summer unofficially here, and certainly by mother nature's standards, I set out to make a refreshing weekend cocktail perfect for hanging out on the porch under the ceiling fan and with the absolute intention that it needed to be composed of southern iced tea in some manner.

Weekend Cocktails - Strawberry Banana Shake Shooters

One of my most favorite Food Network peeps is Sunny Anderson. She is one great gal, super friendly and let me tell you, the girl can cook! Plus when you watch her, it's like she's sitting across the kitchen counter talking to you and I like that. (Did you know she has her own blog? And, she's interactive with her followers too. Check it out and tell her Mary sent ya! She is a BFF in my head don't you know?)

Weekend Cocktails - Mint Julep

How to make a proper Mint Julep, plus recipes for Skinny Julep and Mint Julep Martini

Mint Julep

When it's Derby Day, mint juleps are definitely on the menu, with somewhere around 120,000 of the minty sweet bourbon drinks served over the two days at Churchill Downs, though Louisville locals will tell you that it's really a tourist thing.

Weekend Cocktails - Pineapple Lemonade Spring Sangria Blanca

A blend of white wine, lemon, pineapple, orange, apple and strawberries, it's a perfect party cocktail for spring and summer!

Pineapple Lemonade Sangria

I just love a good sangria for a party don't you? And this one is perfect for any party you're planning. This goes super fast so double it up, at the least!

You may have seen my Cranberry Pomegranate Holiday Sangria that I posted back around Thanksgiving. Made with a combination of cranberry and pomegranate juices and fruit, apple, orange and lemon, it's a perfect fall and winter sangria.  Well, spring is finally upon us, and so I think it's a perfect time to introduce a Spring Sangria for our weekend cocktails series - lemon, pineapple, strawberries, orange, apple - so fresh and delicious. I just love it!

Weekend Cocktails - Vodka Collins

It's cocktail time! Isn't it funny that spring hasn't even officially made an entrance, and yet here I am already thinking of summer cocktails!?  My apologies for the lack of photo styling folks, but eh, we were working in the yard today and I was tired, so maybe next time I'll do a nice, pretty, styled picture.

I don't imbibe in alcohol much these days, heck, I don't even have the proper bar tools except for what is leftover from my younger years, though I keep saying I'm gonna remedy that. But, for now, my shaker is a quart Mason jar, the same thing that we very often drink sweet, iced tea in, or build a bbq sundae in from our leftover picnic fixin's. My strainer? I use a regular ole kitchen strainer.  Simple living.  That's how we roll Down South. 

Basic Homemade Sweet and Sour Mix

A basic, general purpose bar mixer that can be easily adapted for desired sweetness or tartness by adjusting the amounts of simple syrup and citrus juices. Can also be made with only lemon juice if desired, though the mixer with lime included is perfect for margaritas and mojitos.

Weekend Cocktails - Mardi Gras Milk Punch

Mardi Gras Milk Punch

Mardi Gras Milk Punch

Milk punch, in one form or another, is a popular adult beverage in the deep south during the winter months. An old fashioned drink that has been around forever, it is still enjoyed in many households from the Mississippi Gulf Coast up to the Delta, and is served at most every restaurant in New Orleans.  Thanks to the multitude of celebratory events of the season, including those surrounding Christmas, New Year's, and, of course, Carnival season, there are plenty of opportunities to enjoy one.

Usually served in the wee hours of the morning as a tummy soother following a long night of over-indulgence, a milk punch is intended to be slowly sipped to help pleasantly greet the sunrise of the morning after. It is rich and delicious, and like it's close cousin eggnog, a bit deceptive, so be careful. It is easy to forget it too contains liquor.

Weekend Cocktails - Cranberry Pomegranate Winter Sangria

This winter sangria combines the best of what is available during the season - cranberry, pomegranate, orange, apple, and of course a good red or white wine - and is perfect as a Thanksgiving and Christmas sangria. Plan to double it though!

Cranberry Pomegranate Winter Sangria

I adore a good sangria, especially over the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays and let me tell you. They go fast so you might even want to double this, depending on how many folks you have around. We'll add this to our Weekend Cocktail Series, a little bit early so that you can enjoy it with your holiday meal - and I am here to tell you that this is goooooood!

A cosmopolitan adult cocktail made with citrus vodka, triple sec, pomegranate juice, cranberry juice and lime.

Pomegranate Cosmopolitan

Here's our next adult beverage in the Weekend Cocktail series - The Pomegranate Cosmopolitan

Looking at that blood red, makes me think this would've been a great cocktail for Halloween weekend. Oh well, it'll have to wait till next year!

Weekend Cocktails - Pat O'Brien Hurricane Cocktail Copycat

 

A homemade copycat version of the famous Pat O Hurricane using two kinds of rum, grenadine, orange & fresh lime juice & a little simple syrup. Watch out - these sneak up on you!

Hurricane Cocktail

I can't even count the number of times that I have been to Pat O'Brien's in New Orleans, both as a tourist from Mississippi and as a resident of New Orleans, but one thing is for sure. It is a ritual for most everybody to have at least one Hurricane when you go there. 

One is generally enough for me, because the fruity sweetness of this drink is very deceiving. Like drinking shots of tequila on a barstool and then suddenly standing up and thinking ya might have wanted to stop 2 or 3 shots back!

Not that I would know anything about that...

Weekend Cocktails - Lemon Drop

If I keep doing this weekend cocktail series, I guess I'm going to have to invest in a basic bar set, because frankly these are what I'm using for shaking and straining. Pretty darned sophisticated, huh?! Well, I guess that would be what you call southern ingenuity! Make do with what you have. So, please also forgive my use of the margarita glass for what clearly should be in a martini glass. I'll try to redeem myself on the next martini glass worthy drink.

My Perfect Mojito

 

Making a fresh mojito is so easy! Here's how.

Mary's Perfect Mojito

I have loved mojitos since the first time I ever tasted one, and while Cuba may have been the birthplace of the mojito, they always make me think of Miami and the Florida Keys.

What a beautiful drive that is between the two, and that 7-mile bridge to Key West, a place so laid back that even the dogs saunter around so slowly they appear to be sleepwalking and the few traffic lights seem almost lazy. Where people get around on bicycles and scooters and nobody is in any kind of a hurry.

Weekend Cocktails - Vodka Slush

Vodka Slush, a refreshing adult drink made from a mixture of frozen lemonade, orange juice and limeade and vodka, or rum if you like. After freezing the mixture is combined with 7-up or Sprite to make a slush. 

Vodka Slush

This one's for you Deb, because and it was you and Trish that inspired me to seek out this slushy drink after having a taste of Trish's freezer slush many, many years ago! (Hey, and send me your recipe would ya?)

Weekend Cocktails - Whiskey Sour

I've always loved a whiskey sour - the combination of the sweet simple syrup with the tartness of the lemon juice is just so darned tasty - and just one does me fine.

Seeing as I'm not much of a drinker, most of the liquor I have is well, pretty old. I have cathedral ceilings in my family room that extends into the kitchen, so way up on top of the kitchen cabinets in the top of the ceiling is where whatever liquor we have lives. Most of that stuff has been up there since the early 2000s; some even longer. But the whiskey I used in this is found whiskey, so yep ... there's a story here!

Basic simple syrup mixture for beverages, cocktails and glazes.

How to Make Simple Syrup

This is for a medium thick simple syrup with a 2:1 ratio, which will cover most of your beverage needs - such as lemonade, iced tea, cocktails and coffee. You can also do a 1:1 ratio and a 3:1 ratio, depending on the thickness needed. A thicker ratio would be used in baking for glazes. A thinner ratio might be used for some cold drinks.

Weekend Cocktails - Frozen Pina Colada

Whew! It's soooooo hot down here it's insane. The heat index temperature with humidity factored in was 105 degrees today!

It's been awhile since we've seen a good rain - about a month or near about. I know, I know, back then I was complaining about there being too much rain after days and days in a row of the stuff. Well, seems there is never a happy medium with Mother Nature around here - she either withholds completely or she smothers us. Hmmmm..... sounds like a few relationships I've had before hahaha!

I have literally been having to water my larger containers that are in full sun - like the one with the watermelon - every, single day, and sometimes twice a day! Went out one day this week at about 2 o'clock to find it all drooping all over on the ground! I almost cried because I thought I had killed it! I quickly doused it down with several gallons of water and it recovered thankfully, but I don't want to end up with weird misshapen watermelons, so I've been much more careful to make sure that does not happen again!

Well, I don't care who ya are ... a nice, tall, icy drink really helps to cool things down quick on hot, hot days like we've been havin', when not much else will work, not even cold iced tea! This icy drink really fills the bill and if ya close your eyes you might imagine that you're sittin' on the beach down in Key West. Now I have some mighty fine memories that fit that just fine!

Make it non-alcoholic, or make the adult version ... just watch out for those 'ice cream' headaches!

Frozen Pina Colada
From the Kitchen of Deep South Dish: http://deepsouthdish.com/

• 1 can of pineapple chunks or slices, with juice
• 1/2 cup of cream of coconut
• Juice of one lemon
• 1/4 cup of sugar
• 1/2 cup of rum
• Ice cubes
• Cherry and/or wedge of pineapple for garnish, optional

Put pineapple into blender and process until pureed. Add the remaining ingredients filling the pitcher with ice cubs. Blend and pulse until smooth. Serve immediately.

Substitute water for rum for a non-alcoholic version.