Iced Espresso Martini

Confession time! Im actually not a big fan of coffee! I wish I was, because well I could use the kick that comes with caffeine, but I just can't get past the taste.  However, add some liquor and I'll make an exception. Every single time!

My very good friend and cocktail taster, Ros has an affinity for coffee and she put me onto the Espresso Martini.  It is 1 part sophisticated coffee culture and 3 parts untidy alcoholic! The exact opposite of Ros (that's what she tells herself!)

Ingredients

8 shots Vodka

4 shots Kahlua

4 shots espresso coffee (I'm reliably informed that the coffee has to be top quality)

1000gm ice

Sugar or syrup to taste.

Optional: You could mix this over milk if your so inclined.

Method

Add ice and alcohol to the bowl and mix on speed 9 for 20 seconds

Add coffee and sweetener to your taste preferences, mix on speed 5 for 10 seconds

Pour into Martini glasses, you could top with a little milk at this point if you prefer.

Rum Punch me in the Face

It's hot!  Stinking, sweaty heat that invades your personal space and drives you to drink. Way to be subtle weather, but you don't need to ask me twice. 

This is not your traditional Caribbean Rum Punch but it will knock you on your arse!

Ingredients

100gm White Rum (I used the new Bundaberg White Rum with pineapple and coconut)

50gm Coconut Rum (Malibu)

50gm Triple Sec (for an orange flavour)

500gm Ice

200gm Frozen fruit (pineapple, melon)

100gm Pineapple Juice

100gm Guava Nectar

Splash of Bitters

200gm Flavoured Mineral Water (I used Schweppes Guava and Pear)

Mint and lemon slices to garnish

Method

Add alcohol, fruit and ice to bowl, mix on speed 9 for 30secobds or until fine.

Add pineapple and guava juice and mix for 15 seconds on speed 5.

Transfer to a serving jug, top up with mineral water and add bitters. 

Garnish with fresh mint and lemon slices.

Take that El Niño! Right in the face!

Cosmopolitan

Today's cocktail is a simple, sophisticated one.  Timeless and classy, it embodies all the things that I am not but I will drink it anyway.  Give me a few and I'll not only be timeless, but I'll be shoeless, pant less and minus my credit card.

Ingredients - serving 4

500gm ice

300gm cranberry juice

60gm vodka

60gm triple sec or grand marnier 

Juice of 1 lime

Method

Add ice and alcohol to bowl

Blitz on speed 7 for 20 seconds, you want some chunks remaining.

Add cranberry juice and lime juice

Mix on speed 5 for 10 seconds

Serve in martini glasses and garnish with lime zest and dried cranberries

Enjoy this one with cheap Chinese food, you won't be disappointed!

Life's A Peach Iced Tea

It's getting warmer and what could be better than a cold glass of Iced Tea? Um, a cold glass of Boozy Iced Tea that's what!

You might think that making Tea in your Thermomix is a waste of time.  Sure you can boil a jug in 5 minutes and Be done, but when you brew in your Thermomix you can infuse any summer flavour you like.   With so much seasonal stone fruit about to hit the market, you will have plenty to choose from.

Ingredients

1.5L hot water (straight from the tap to save time heating)

60 gm  sugar

Juice of 1 lemon

Handful of mint

2 peaches, sliced

4 black tea bags

1/2 cup Vodka

1/2 cup Malibu

Ice to serve

Mint and fresh peach slices to garnish

Method

Add the water, sugar and lemon juice to your bowl

Mix on speed 1 for 10 minutes at 90 degrees

Add the peach, mint and tea bag to your basket.

After 5 minutes heating the water, pause the machine and add the basket to the bowl, tuck the tea bag strings over the bowl's edge and place the lid on

Re-start the Thermomix, increasing the speed to 4 for the final 5 minutes.

Leave the tea in the bowl to cool to room temp, infusing all of the flavours

Once cool, transfer to a jug with ice

Add your liquor and stir with a spoon.

Garnish with fresh mint and peach slices.

Enjoy from your whitewashed verandah in the Hamptons!

Blueberry Fruit Tingle

Ah this one brings back memories, I think!

The classic Fruit Tingle, usually served in jugs with a side of poor decision making and risky behaviour!

Well I've given it a contemporary, clean living twist, using frozen blueberries.

Ingredients

250gm ice cubes

25gm frozen blueberries

40gm Vodka

40 gm  Blue Curaçao 

Juice of half a lemon
A splash of red cordial/grenadine

100ml lemonade

Method

Blend the ice, berries and booze on speed 10 for 20 seconds until smooth.

Squeeze in half a lemon and a splash of red cordial or grenadine, mix on speed 5 for 10 seconds

Pour into a cocktail glass and top up with lemonade.
Crank up the tunes and dance until your feet hurt and that cute boy at the bar brings you another cocktail!