Big Green Apple Juice It’s apple juice! Yes, it’s cold-pressed juice made from Granny Smith apples. It’s sweet, tart, and clean. Vodka is always optional. Remember that Appletini 2.0? An apple cider vinegar float adds a zing. You can also add a jalapeño or two for spice, or maybe some fresh ginger. You could add lots of things. Today, I’m only voting for apples—good ol’ (classic) apple juice. Because sometimes you don’t want orange juice. Before we get to it, you may be wondering: what is cold-pressed juice, and why cold-pressed? No heat, for starters. It’s just better for you. Nutrient retention. The shelf life is 2-3 days when refrigerated. Drinking it immediately isn’t necessary, although I recommend it. Your cocktails and mocktails will thank you too, and the guests will enjoy them, of course! Big Green Apple Juice Ingredients 6 Granny Smith apples Method Thoroughly wash the Granny Smith apples under warm running water to remove any wax, dirt or residue. Sometimes I use a spoon to scrape the apple shiny coat. If they have one. Cut the apples into smallish pieces, removing the stems and seeds. Leave the skin on as it contains nutrients and adds flavor. Set up your cold-press juicer according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Feed the apple pieces into the juicer. Place a container under the juicer’s spout to collect the freshly pressed apple juice. My juicer comes with two containers. One nestles up against the base of the juicing machine. The other in front of that. If: Strain the apple juice through a coffee filter, fine-mesh sieve or cheesecloth to remove any residual pulp or floaty solids. I love it. Probably won’t be much anyway. Optional. Once the apple juice is ready, refrigerate it for a few hours to chill or serve it immediately. Note: Cold-pressed apple juice may separate slightly, with a layer of foam on top. Simply give it a gentle shake or stir before serving. Where to buy the juicer and other tools?? Blonde Behind the Bucket Storefront, of course. I may receive compensation for eligible purchases. Thank you.
For Orange H Day The cloves are from the Diaspora. They aid in digestion after a meal when chewed, not swallowed. They also make a great mouth for the garnish of this frozen goodness. This smoothie tastes like pie! So good! I mean so good! The citrus flavored activated charcoal liquid seals the deal—it’s too good to believe it’s healthyish. It really brings all the flavors together. And who doesn’t love a chocolate orange combo? Hey pumpkin hey! I did extra tests to confirm the first try wasn’t just a stroke of great luck. Just a great each time after; and because it was, again, so good! For a thicker consistency, use less liquid; for a thinner consistency, use more. I left the little half peeled Dracula oranges in the refrigerator for a day so they could develop a bit of skin and become firmer. A little extra security for the cloves. They are still juicy inside. I mean aren’t they the cutest little pumpkin garnishes ever? If there was ever a smoothie that caters to the inner child, this is it! Nothing has to be perfect in the decorating—that was my thought process. And because I piped the zigzags with hotter than recommended chocolate in the piping bag. Have fun! It’s so good! For Orange H Day Ingredients 1 single serve packet of Ancient Nutrition multi-collagen protein powder 10 grams collagen per serving 1 CYMBIOTIKA single serve lemon cream citrus activated charcoal (inside of the the glass and top swirl) Melted 74% Ghirardelli chocolate pieces add a little coconut oil for fluidity and shine 1/2 cup of goat milk 1 cup of filtered or distilled water 1 single serve pouch of vanilla Truviani protein powder Some cloves for decorating and chewing A pastry bag or zip locked bag to pipe a chocolate zizag pumpkin mouth 2 1/2 frozen baby Dracula oranges 1 baby Dracula orange for decorating 1 1/2 to 2 cups of Whole Foods 365 frozen mango chunks (use your best judgment regarding size). If you have fresh mangoes, freeze them ahead of time and use them when ready. Method This a second test. Are you real zig-zag mouth or zig-zag side eye? For the chocolate zigzags Melting, piping and chilling. Melt chocolate chips in a double boiler (Ban-Marie) or microwave. Let it cool slightly. Place ziplock bag or pastry bag into the glass and fill with chocolate. Make zig zag shapes onto a plate. Place in the freezer to set. For the chocolate cover orange(s) Peel the oranges, keeping one half intact. Dip the top half into chocolate and place it in the freezer to set. Once set, decorate with the cloves. Use a cocktail pick to fasten it to the glass. Blending decorating consuming Snip with scissors or tear open the top of the charcoal single-serve packet. Roll the glass while adding some of the liquid to coat the inside. Reserve the remainder for the top of the smoothie swirl. Blend all ingredients until smooth. Pour the mixture into the glass coated with charcoal. Add more liquid charcoal and swirl it using a toothpick, fork, or your fingers. Add pumpkin garnish. Glass: bucket glass Garnish: little orange pumpkin Where to buy the goods? Blonde Behind the Bucket Storefront. Please know I may receive commission from eligible purchases.
Pourquoi? I started testing smoothies and thought they couldn’t be that good. I didn’t even set up for the photos, but they turned out so dang delicious. Tossing ingredients into a blender and crossing my fingers sometimes works. Why did it happen like that? It just did. Lucky us. Stay cool. Pourquoi? Ingredients 1 cup pomegranate juice 2 1/2 cup frozen pineapples 1 single serve package of Blue Majik spirilina on-the-go singles powdered superfood extract (equals a tablespoon ish) 2 tablespoon of ground of flaxseed 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon 1/4 teaspoon cayenne (less spice to taste if you don’t care for it) 2 oz sweet passion syrup (1:1 passion pure and rich simple syrup) 1 tablespoon ish of bee pollen (I use a local to California) Method Add all ingredients into blender except bee pollen and blend until smooth. Glass: bucket glass Garnish: bee pollen Bar Chef Notes: bee pollen is packed with antioxidants nutrient rich energy boosting goodness. Where to buy the goods? Bucket glass and stuffs? Blonde Behind the Bucket Storefront. I may receive commissions from eligible purchases. Thank you!
Stirred Not Shaken The elegance of a stirred martini or cocktail is its smooth and velvety texture. The methodical stirring process ensures a crystal-clear appearance (unless it’s dirty of course) and a harmonious integration of the spirits, generally speaking. Shaken drinks typically include citrus juices, jams, jellies, egg whites, and creams, making blending easier. Unlike stirring, which may cause ingredient separation with these types of ingredients, shaking awakens the drink, especially with citrus variations. Be careful not to over-shake, as citrus can turn bitter and creams may froth over. Negronis, old fashioneds, boulevardiers, and martinis are usually stirred; to name a few. Some prefer the shaken martini for the ice crystals on top and I imagine subconsciously the dilution and mouth feel. I have a regular guest at my bar who drinks a Negroni up instead of the classic on the rocks. Exceptions can always be made. However, excessive shaking can dilute a martini by about 5-10%. Stirring just enough opens up the spirits for a balanced cocktail. You can stir in a mixing glass or for a colder martini, use a mixing tin. There is less surface area by volume. Recently, some guests switched from shaken to stirred martinis, finding the stirred version perfect for them based on my suggestion. They have taken this up at home too. Yay! One for ‘team stirred’. The intention of this post post is that I wanted to highlight the difference between shaken and stirred cocktails and emphasizing the elegance of a stirred martini. Now, the only question is: dirty, olives or a twist? Bar Chef Notes: Although martinis traditionally combine gin and vermouth, the lots of vodka, no-vermouth versions are most popular these days. Global variations may serve vermouth on the rocks as a martini, deviating from the classic recipe most of us know today. Martinis used to be served in smaller glasses to keep cooler, as I like to call them “tiny tinis,” but we’ll save that for another post. Side Note: I had some fun with anchovies and capers garnish. If you haven’t seen that post yet, check it out here. Cheers! Where to buy the goods? You know martini glasses, shakers, stirring spoons anchovies capers garnish and stuffs? Blonde Behind the Bucket Storefront of course. Please know I may receive commissions from eligible purchases. Thank you!
The Flower Star The day I received the email was the last day to enter the contest. The Bombay Sapphire Creativity contest. I didn’t read the fine print? I worked on the cocktail for a week, maybe two. Gin and non-gin drinkers tested all the drinks. This recipe a winner. Working title: The Flower Star Ingredients 2 oz of Bombay Sapphire1/2 oz Hibiscus Syrup1/2 oz of Green Chartreuse1/2 oz of Fresh Lemon Juice2 Bar Spoons of Agave Method Add all ingredients to a mixing tin. Add ice. Shake and fine strain. Glass: chilled Coupe glass Garnish: Gold dipped hibiscus flower or edible gold glitter hibiscus flower (gold leaf is best) *the how-to for this garnish here **agave should be fluid dilute with little water if needed sparkling hibiscus Please drink responsibly Where to buy? Blonde Behind hthe Bucket Storefront ***I may receive commissions from eligible purchases I originally posted this October 2022. An evergreen flashback Friday! Cheers! Cheers!
Bacon Fat Washed Tequila for the The Quick Test Drink Let’s talk fat washing. It’s a surprisingly simple process that packs a flavor punch, uh-huh. Picture this: a few sizzling slices of bacon in a pan, the aroma filling the kitchen as I whip up a delicious sandwich to pass the time faster than you can say… Once the bacon grease has cooled just a bit, not too much, a bit, I mix it with tequila and let the magic happen. After a few hours of infusing on the counter in a sealed container, I label it and pop it in the freezer for a dayish. Voilà! An exciting bacon-infused tequila ready to elevate your cocktail game, almost immediately. Why fat wash at all? What is fat washing?There are several reasons. Fat washing alcohol is a versatile technique that allows you to experiment with different flavors and create customized spirits for cocktails. Specifically, fat washing not only removes some color but also creates a softer,less potent, flavorful spirit and changes the mouthfeel of your drink. Various techniques exist for fat washing, including using agar agar (a vegetarian gel version), freeze-thaw methods with egg or meat fats, or clarifying with milks and acids. Or clarifying with milks and meat fats and so forth. I know! At the end of the day, you combine the fat with the alcohol and let them infuse. The fat is then separated from the alcohol, leaving behind the desired flavors. In fairness to my “it’s easy,” some are a little more complicated than others but that’s the gist and THIS particular version, making it easy. Bacon-infused tequila. I chose Reposado tequila for its age and translation. Reposado tequila is older than silver or blanco (aged for only two months) and younger than Anejo (aged for one to three years). Reposado tequila is aged in oak barrels for a period ranging from two to twelve months. The term “Reposado” translates to “rested.” Used a couple of different types of bacon. All worked the same slight subtle flavors difference This is a 4 oz bacon fat wash. Cook bacon: Start by cooking a few (or eight) strips of bacon until they are crispy. Who’s counting? I don’t often eat bacon so when I do, I do. Remove the bacon from the pan and set it aside to cool on a cooling rack over a parchment or aluminum foil lined sheet pan is best to collect any drippings and for easy clean-up. Collect bacon fat: Pour the bacon fat from the pan into a clean heat safe container that contains the tequila. Make sure to strain out any bacon bits or solids, as they can affect the final flavor and texture of the tequila. Some say fresh hot bacon grease and some say slightly cool. Warmer is better. Just make sure it’s still liquid. Best for infusing the flavors. After you eat your sandwich half let’s say that’s a good time to combine the tequila and bacon fat. I use a quart deli container with a lid for storage. Little large but whatever. Infuse the tequila: Let the tequila and bacon fat mixture sit for at least 2-4 hours, or overnight if possible on the counter. This will allow the flavors to wed together and infuse the tequila with the sweet yet smoky, savory taste of bacon. Separate the fat: After the infusion period, place the container in the freezer for a few hours or overnight. I like a 24 hours day. The bacon fat will solidify and rise to the top, making it easier to remove. Check periodically. I did the first time I made it to make sure it was working. Strain the tequila: One hunk of fat is removed from the top, then the liquid needs a strain. Using a fine-mesh strainer or cheesecloth, strain the tequila to remove any remaining bacon fat. This will result in a smooth and pale yellow bacon-infused tequila. The filtering process can sometimes be a repeat two to three times situation but after magnifique. Worth the extra effort. Your bacon fat-washed Reposado tequila is now ready to be used in this cocktail or enjoyed neat or on a rock(s). For the cocktail I don’t have a name for this one. I’ll call it “The Quick Test.” You will either love it or hate it. If you have reached this far in the post, I’m guessing you’re going to try it and I’d say, love it! Ingredients 3 oz of fat washed tequila 1 bar spoon of fresh squeezed lemon juice 1/4 oz maple syrup 1 bar spoon (teaspoon) of agave Squeeze of orange to finish 1 stick of bacon 1 brûlée dehydrated orange Method Add a large ice cube to a bucket glass and set it aside. In a tin shaker, add all the other ingredients except the bacon strip and dehydrated orange. Give it a wake-up shake (or two) and pour it into the bucket glass. Squeeze a wedge of orange over the top, then add the bacon strip and dehydrated orange wheel. Glass: bucket glass Garnish: bacon dehydrated orange wheel Bar Chef Notes: maple agave candied oranges are also a great garnish if having the fat washed tequila on ice only. The fat clump that formed from the freezer can be removed by hand or using tongs. Where to buy the goods? Strainers, tins, cheese cloth, bar books, and stuff? Blonde Behind the Bucket Storefront of course. *please know I may receive commissions from eligible purchases Last look. Isn’t it a beauty! Please be of the legal drinking age and please drink responsibly.
fully loaded hemps seeds cherries smoothie This smoothie is earthy, bitter, slightly sweet, and packed with goodness. It’s fully loaded. Where to buy the goods? Glasses, SAKARA and other ingredients, blender and stuffs? BlondeBehindtheBucket Storefront of course. Please know I may receive commissions from eligible purchases. Thank you. fully loaded helps cherries smoothie for the rim/garnish Gather the necessary ingredients and materials: honey, hemp seeds, a small plate or shallow dish, and a glass. Pour a small amount of honey onto the plate or shallow dish. The amount will depend on the size of the glass rim you want to coat. Spread the honey evenly on the plate, making sure it covers an area slightly larger than the rim of the glass. Take the glass and dip the rim into the honey, gently rotating it to ensure the honey coats the entire rim. Lift the glass out of the honey and allow any excess to drip off. Immediately after dipping the glass rim in honey, dip it into a separate plate or shallow dish filled with hemp seeds. Again, rotate the glass to ensure the hemp seeds stick to the honey-coated rim. Gently tap the glass to remove any excess hemp seeds. Place the glass upright and allow the honey and hemp seeds to dry and set for a few minutes. Once the honey and hemp seeds have dried and set, your honey hemp seeds glass rim is ready to use. Note: Make sure to handle the glass carefully to avoid dislodging the honey and hemp seeds. Additionally, be mindful of any allergies or dietary restrictions when serving drinks with a honey hemp seeds glass rim. for the smoothie: 1 scoop Sakara metabolism protein (can be purchased in larger or smaller “travel” size packet) 1 cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk 1 scoop Holi (mane) Agent Nateur collagen powder 1 tablespoon 200+ manuka honey (plus extra for glass rim) 3 tablespoons hemp seeds (plus extra for glass rim) 1 cup frozen black cherries 1/2 cup frozen pineapple chunks 1 tablespoon ground cayenne pepper 1 tablespoon Ceylon cinnamon 1 sambazon original açaí frozen packet 1 tablespoon of avocado oil 1 tablespoon sea moss gel (prepared according to packet instructions) I use Erewhon dried sea moss. Add all ingredients to a blender. I use Cuisant to-go. Blend until smooth. Glass: bucket glass Garnish: honey hemp seed rim and maybe a few hemp seeds for the top bar chef notes: additional goodness and a tang, add a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar Where to buy the goods? Glasses, blending machines, hemp seeds, and other stuffs? My Blonde Behind the Bucket Storefront of course. *Please know I may receive commissions on eligible purchases. Thank you.
a softer side of a gentleman (Jack) I entered this one into a whiskey sour contest. It was one of two drinks required. This, the second assignment was be as creative as I wanted staying true to sour and using what I have learned from whiskey’s past to present. I clarified and chose a gender neutral color yellow. I added clarified lemon juice and brûléed the foam to remove any egg smell. Who wants a nose of egg white straight away? The flavors add simple complexity to the drink. With each sip the liquid dissolves the foam. All pleasantly pleasing and excite the palate. Think charred wood with ginger black pepper flavors of whiskey. The syrups add just the right amount of sweet and the citric acid brings back the pucker. The white chocolate was going to be slats of chocolate bark up and around the sides of the glass but I thought it too much and added the white chocolate shavings instead. The sugar pearls could indicate a wedding, a new year or perhaps just the intention, added texture. This one goes down easy. Another question of is there or isn’t there alcohol in this sour. There is. It’s clear. It’s pretty and pale yellow. May I introduce A Softer Side of a Gentleman (Jack) sour. softer side of a gentleman 3 ounces of Gentleman Jack (goat milk lemons limes orange clarified) 1/2 ounce and a bar spoon of homemade fresh ginger simple syrup (bar spoon for the foam recipe below) 1/2 ounce of homemade toasted black peppercorn agave syrup (you can purchase a pre-made if you don’t want to make it) generous pinch to 1/4 teaspoon of Cultures for Your Health citric acid powder (depends on how much pucker you want) For the foam 1 chicken egg egg white for the foam dash of cream of tartar (if using kitchen aid whisk attached mixer instead of canister) 1/2 ounce of clarified lemon juice (1 1/2 teaspoons of agar agar to 8 ounces of lemon juice freeze 24 hours and throw using coffee filter fastened to a freezer safe lid container) bar spoon of ginger syrup pinch of pink salt Add egg whites to a mixing bowl or canister cylinder. If using a mixing bowl and whisk add cream of tartar. Add salt and lemon juice and ginger syrup once soft peaks have formed in the mixing bowl. For the cocktail. Add all ingredients to a bucket glass. Add large clear ice cube (if you can). Crushed ice is great too. Add egg white foam.! Garnish the cocktail with chocolate shaving, SLO food gold leaf for garnishing, Bamboo skewers and toothpicks to work with the gold, Vanilla candy pearls optional (sometimes I get carried away) Butane torch to brûlée to give that charred campfire smell and taste Glass: clear bucket glass 1 large clear cube ice cube Enjoy! Please drink responsibly where to buy the goods to make this? Many available at Blonde Behind the Bucket Storefront I made this drink with two different foam toppings. One gold white chocolate brûlée and the other gold white chocolate brûlée add white sugar pearls
Raspberry Amaretto Sour One egg white (Vital Farms chicken egg) 10 raspberries 1/2 oz fresh lemon juice 1/2 oz fresh lime juice 2 bar spoon of simple syrup 2 bar spoons of agave nectar syrup 2 1/2 ounces of Amaretto (make your own from my almond liqueur recipe here) 3 dashes of Angostura aromatic bitters Settled Angostura garnished foam. Small shiny bubbles. Egg whites and coil. This coil is larger than I usually use. This one was in the space I was working. Second visual. You don’t need a coil to get foam like this. Shaking harder is necessary. Last bit of foam before letting the cocktail settle. Remove the coil from the strainer. Place into a mixing tin. Crack the egg and remove the egg yolk adding the whites to the tin. Dry shake the egg until soft peaks form. In another mixing tin add raspberries. Muddle. Then add raspberries with all other ingredients to the egg white foam. Dry shake some more. Remove the coil and add ice. Shake until the tin is cold. Double stain using a fine strainer to eliminates any particulates. Three dashes of Angostura bitters once the foam settles. Swirly swirl a design. * Bar Chef Notes: an excellent foam can be achieved without a coil. A longer shake is required. Express citrus peel. Aquafaba can be a substitute for vegan version. Glass: Coupe Glass Garnish: Angostura Bitters Swirl Raspberries Amaretto Sour Please enjoy responsibly Look at that color. Almost too pretty to drink. Almost. Where to buy the goods? Blonde Behind the Bucket Storefront of course. I may receive compensation from eligible purchases.
DYTC Frozen Tequila date cocktail created: March 2022 DYTC Frozen Tequila What will you need? A blending machine, frozen pineapple chunks (I am a big fan of the 365 Whole Foods brand), water, rosemary, beet sugar, granulated white sugar, kumquats to make the 8-kumquat crystal sugar syrup, and one for the garnish (totaling 9 kumquats). Additionally, tequila, limes, smoked salt, rosemary sprigs, a pan, and a glass. A few spoons are also helpful. 2 ounces of Asombroso Silver Tequila 1/2 ounces Rosemary Simple Syrup 1 juice of fresh squeezed lime and the skin of that same lime 1 1/2cups of frozen pineapples cubes 3 pieces of kumquats and heaping tablespoon of crystallized sugar from that batch of 8 kumquats syrup For the 8 Kumquats Syrup 8 kumquats 1/2 cup of beet sugar 1/2 cup of water juice of a whole lemon (if it isn’t that juicy, use two or three) if you don’t have lemon lime is great too 1/8t of Himalayan pink salt (little more is better) You will need to boil the kumquats in water. After boiling for two minutes, they will need to be strained using a colander. Repeat this process several times – boiling, waiting two minutes, and straining. After that, add the softened kumquats (the reason for the boil/repeat) to the pan with sugar and water. Let them cook on medium heat until the sugar begins to crystallize or take shape. There is some science in cooking terminology here. Crystallize – what a great word. Reduce the heat to a simmer and squeeze a whole lemon. Stir well. The fruit and sugar will begin to form a thick jelly consistency. The sugar will be in larger, chunkier, and perhaps clumped-together sugar crystals. This crispy, chunky, gelatinous mixture is a good thing. This is how the syrup should look. After sitting in the cooling, seeds and all will be blended with the drink. many things happen almost always at once when making drinks For the Rosemary Syrup 4 ounces of water (1/2 cup) 1/2 cup white granulated sugar 3-5 sprigs of Rosemary. Depend on how full and how strong you would like your syrup. Place ingredients into a pan. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 30 minutes. Keep in mind the longer you steep the stronger the rosemary flavor. Strain your springs out of sugar water with a mesh drainer. Let syrup cool before adding to drink. Toss all ingredients into a blender and blend until smooth. Pour into a smoke salted rosemary glass. Glass: bucket glass of choice Garnish: three slices of a fresh kumquat Add smoked salt sugar and rosemary to a saucer. Mix together. Rim a glass using citrus or agave and dip the glass rim into the salt rosemary mixture until evenly coated. Toss a pinch over your shoulder. Right hand left shoulder. For luck. Where to buy the goods? Bucket glasses and blending machines? Blonde Behind the Bucket Storefront. *I may receive compensation for eligible purchases, thank you.