Not Sober - - Page 9

by Twin Tastes

Horror Movies, Here We Come: Halloween Popcorn and Cocktail

With Halloween falling in the middle of the week this year, and a Frankenstorm a-brewing, it’s definitely time for a classic horror movie fest. You’ll need Kubrick’s The Shining, Spielberg’s Jaws, and any Hitchcock film—plus a big bowl of popcorn and some frightfully delicious cocktails to get into the spooky spirit.

Our take on an espresso martini is inspired by the delicious version we order at Lucca on Hanover Street in Boston. It’s a combination of vodka, espresso, slightly sweet Kahlua and a splash of velvety Baileys Irish Cream. While sipping the eerily dark libation, we nibble on decadent sweet and salty popcorn that incorporates two of our favorite guilty pleasures: peanut butter and marshmallow fluff. The combination of the nutty, sticky sweet crunch of the popcorn with the exhilarating zing of the drink is the ideal combination for any movie gathering, especially on a chilly weeknight.

Peanut Butter and Marshmallow Fluff Popcorn

by ML

Drunk Cooking: The Best Fall Cider

I call this “cooking” because a pot and a burner are involved, but this is really mixology.

Situation: I wasn”t sure what to do. One of my party guests had brought a kick-ass apple cider, and everyone wanted more long after it was gone. I stood in my kitchen while the guy I am dating encouraged me to step away from the stove and my female guests encouraged me to try to make more. I looked at the clock: 7:30pm. We”re all wasted. Do we need more alcohol? Obviously I am too drunk if I”m even asking myself that question. I looked in the fridge: apple cider. I looked at the liquor shelf: at least 8 bottles. Enough to work with.

I poured a gallon (or s0) of this apple cider into a big pot and set the flame to medium (I think). Then went in about a cup or two of the only dark rum I had: Appleton Estate VX, leftover from my Jamaica trip. I just stared at the pot, that had to be fine, right? The man friend, realizing he had no say in if I continued cooking, somehow had the idea that we needed something else in this cider. He thrust a bottle of Fireball Whisky in my hands.

Fireball cinnamon whisky is suddenly all the rage (at least in my neighborhood in Philadelphia) and it seems most people think it”s a “new” product. But let me tell you how many times my parents drove our family to the so we could purchase Fireball by the case (not kidding) in the early 2000s. Turns out, it”s also the perfect addition to apple cider since it gives the cider a strong cinnamon flavor without being too sweet. Also, more alcohol.

The Best Easy Fall Cider

in Drinks / Recipe 6 comments

by ML

The ES College Drinking Dictionary

The last month was back-to-school time for a lot of college students, including a slew of newly 21-year-olds (and their underage friends with fake IDs), who have infiltrated my favorite neighborhood bar with their mid-week miniskirts and five-inch heels. After my dad told me about a new revolutionary way of taking shots (ice luge) last month, I realized it is my duty to educate parents and elders on what the hell their kids are doing at college, and more importantly, the “cool” terms to use while discussing it:

shotgun: stabbing a hole in a beer can with a sharp object (usually a house key), to suck the beer out of it quickly. Best done outside, or if you’re underage, in a bathtub.
keg stand: hand stand (don’t worry – your friends will hold you up) on top of a keg while drinking out of the spigot.
bankers: one of the cheapest, drinkable bottom shelf brands of liquor. Sold in plastic jugs. Enjoyed ALWAYS with a mixer of some sort. “Enjoyed” is relative.
jello shot: jello made with liquor instead of water (or in addition to, depending on strength) spooned out into cups (or cut into jello gigglers) and served at a party.
beirut: another name for beer pong. Don’t use this.
civil war: a variation of beer pong that includes three people per team instead of the traditional two. Each team member has their own triangle of cups. Instead of taking turns, shooting is a complete free-for-all and once a player’s cups are knocked out, they are done playing. Used as an excellent pregaming tool. Not recommended while already drunk (injuries can occur while diving for balls).

in Drinks 3 comments

by snebbu

Apple Cider Gone Wild! Top 10 Cider Recipes

I had my first real fall moment of the year this morning: drinking apple cider. The crisp, cool, thirst-quenching drink is the perfect inauguration for autumn. You can have it with any meal, for a snack, or warm it up and froth it if you want to go frou-frou. But did you know it can be enjoyed in more than just a glass?

10. Apple Cider Gravy

Though a bold choice for Thanksgiving, a little sweetness may go a long way with your savory turkey. Not convinced? Have you ever put apples or cranberries in your stuffing? Or enjoy spreading some sweet cranberry sauce on your turkey sandwich? Well now your gravy can do you a personal, sweet, favor.

Recipe: Nourish Network

9. Apple Cider Upside-Down Cake

Summer is over. Pineapple is no longer the seasonal fruit, and apples are in. So what do you do with that huge bag of apples sitting in your garage? Make cake…apple cider upside-down cake.

Recipe: Mid-Century Menu

8. Apple Cider Caramel Cake

More cake. This time, adding some creamy icing and caramel will make this a true dessert. Think of it as an alternative to carrot cake. No chunks of orange…just smooth, sweet and creamy cake. Does it feel like fall for you yet?

Recipe: Simply Fine Living

in Desserts / Featured / Fowl / Lists / Recipe / Top 10 Lists 3 comments

by ML

Endless Road Trip Germany: Capri-Sonne, Anyone?

Not soon after I made a joke about not being able to funnel vodka into a Capri Sun, I found myself in Cologne, Germany at BackWerk (which I was disappointed to find out means “bake and take”) looking at all the drink options to accompany my sandwich. I spotted a Capri-Sonne with the words “cola mix” and a photo of a a sea of soda with a lemon raft. LEMON SODA CAPRI SUN? Sign me the fuck up.

As I sat on our American flag blanket and consumed what I thought would be a delicious treat, I realized that, unfortunately, the words I neglected were “koffeinfrei” and “ohne kohlensäure.” Caffeine free. Without carbonation. We can probably all agree that Germans are strange, but why why WHY would anyone want to drink COMPLETELY flat lemony soda, out of a foil packet, that won’t even increase alertness? This wouldn’t fly in America (how many times have you heard someone at a restaurant/bar complain about the level of carbonation in their drink?) but as I thought about it more, I realized the Germans are on to something.

Cola Mix Capri Sonne and Rum? A portable, low sugar cocktail with no artificial flavors, artificial sweeteners or preservatives that won’t fill you up or keep you up at night but WILL get you drunk? Like I needed another way to consume alcohol in Germany.

in Drinks / Food Travel 0 comments

by Twin Tastes

Cocktail O’Clock: Waquila

One of the best things about summer is buying a big, ripe striped green watermelon on a scorching afternoon. While a few slices are great, the remaining bright pink interior remains, calling to you on the kitchen counter. So what do you do with it? Make it booze!

Last summer, we decided to feature the leftover fruit in a cool and refreshing cocktail, pureeing the watermelon with tequila and a splash of lime. Our friend, Kristen thought of the clever name, ‘Waquila.’ It has since become a summer staple for us, perfect for any summer fiesta.

Waquila

in Drinks / Endless Cocktails / Recipe 1 comments

by ML

Cooking Tips from an ES Parent

My parents and I always celebrate my birthday in non-traditional ways, which usually ends up in overeating, leftovers for days, and hangovers. Since my birthday is in late August, it’s always the perfect time for crabs. This year, given that the price of lobster has dropped dramatically ($4.99/lb at our local market!) I suggested a seafood extravaganza. The mistake, or maybe point of brilliance, was when I texted Russell:

“My dad backed me into a corner in the kitchen and shoved a live crab in my face and it almost bit me”

“Why wasn’t mom taking photos, can you do it again? (I’ve never seen a live crab/lobster being dunked)”

My father, having both a deep-seated family history in “show business” and an obsession with Russ’s twitter, sprung into action and suddenly we were making videos to show the Brit how to kill crustaceans.

If you’re interested in learning how to make the best shrimp, want to see what happens when two generations of drunk people try to steam lobsters, or are curious about how to properly name your crustaceans, head on over to my YouTube channel to check out Sonny himself.

in Personal 3 comments

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