This is an often asked question with a simple answer.

Here’s what to do

Combine:

1 Cup Sugar
1 ½ Cups Water

In a heavy pan on low heat, stir to with wooden spoon until all the sugar is dissolved. Run the spoon around the edge of the pan to keep the sugar from crystallizing. Next, bring the mixture to a boil for 3–5 minutes, scoop of any accumulated scum and remove from the heat. … Read more

Here’s a fun contest from chow.com and Square One Vodka comes a great opportunity to bring out the inner cocktailian in all of us, the Organic Cocktail Square Off. There are two categories, professional and amateur, so if you are home bartender like me, you’ll be among company.

Contestants are to make a pitcher cocktail made with Square One Organic Vodka and 75% organic ingredients. From there the sky’s the limit, so hot up the … Read more

Fo …Read More

From the Thinking Mom comes this enormously creative and fun list that can keep you in videos and cocktails for some time to come. Enjoy classics like Steel Magnolias with “The Magnolia” or Flashdance with “The Dreamcatcher” and, my favorite (from YumSugar), The Devil Wears Prada with the “Devil Pears Prada.” What a great excuse to grab some girlfriends and have a party?

Read more.

This appetizer is a quick, easy and tasty way to spice up your cocktail party. These olives make a nice nibbler and a wonderful accompaniment to a vodka or gin martini. Instead of adding olives to the drink, serve these alongside.

Ingredients

2 cups green or black pitted olives (not canned ones, get the fancy imported olives. We like Kalamatas.)
Chili powder to taste (1 – 3 tsp. depending on desired heat)

Instructions

Drain olives … Read more

As we slide into the heat of August (actually it is cold a foggy here in ess-eff) we found this great collection over on at FoodNetwork.com. They have 3 years worth of cool cocktails to go through, we love the Long Island Green Tea (pictured: photo FoodNetwork.com).

Enjoy!

Summer Cocktails 2007 – Food Network

More Independence Day drinks from the DIY Maven. These five drinks capture the day with Patriotic name (Yankee Doodle, Stars & Stripes Forever) and most are made with UV’s blue raspberry or cherry vodkas. The bright red and blue colors of these vodkas are perfect for your Fourth of July party.

Here’s a taste:

Patriotic Punch
Ingredients

1 part UV Red cherry-flavored vodka
3 parts lemonade

Instructions

Combine and serve in a rocks glass over … Read more

Time to take a midsummer pause to celebrate Independence Day. It may mark our struggle against tyranny and taxes, but for the majority of us it means fireworks, parades and food! This means drinks for all that celebrating and washing down those eats. We’ve assembled a fun collection of cocktails with an American theme.

Here’s a few to get you started:

All American
American Sweetheart
Americano
Red White & Blue

Seen at a recent family wedding. Whereabouts unknown. Uncle Don (not sure who’s side of the family) whipped this together to keep the crowd well quenched. That’s my kind of wedding!

Richard writes, ”When you’ve got a small-block 400, a trailer, assorted parts and the ability to custom fabricate a 6-inch tall replica of a blender blade out of stainless steel, what do you do with your spare time? Make the world’s fastest margarita machine.”… Read more

 Elephant Garlic is a larger version of the wonderful spicy clove we all love. (If you don’t think so, stop reading.)

Emeril created this quick, easy treat to complement his Bloody Bull recipe. We think they are great by themselves.

Ingredients

6 cups canola oil, for deep frying
1 cup very thinly sliced elephant garlic cloves (about 1/8-inch slivers)
4 rosemary branches
Salt

Instructions

For the Fried Garlic: In a heavy 2-quart pot, heat the … Read more