Two years ago, I attempted making a frozen drink, which was served as a dessert, Minty McFreeze.  Made with only a splash of milk or cream, it wasn’t too heavy, but it also was pretty minty.  I had considered adding ice cream to it, which would make it heavier but might help with the overwhelming presence of mint.  That led to the creation I will be serving this year as dessert in a glass.

To reduce the mint flavor, vanilla ice cream seemed like the perfect choice.  However, for those of you that love chocolate, I would think you could replace vanilla with chocolate quite successfully.  For aesthetic appeal and a little extra indulgence, we will be topping the shake with whipped cream and crushed Thin Mints.  A nice benefit to this drink is that it easily can be made into a non-alcoholic version by replacing the liquor with a small amount of mint extract and chocolate syrup.

Enjoy this dessert beverage and have a happy St. Patrick’s Day!

Minty McFreeze Shake Deluxe

1-1/2 oz. creme de menthe, green

1-1/2 oz. creme de cacao

1 oz. vodka

2-3 scoops vanilla ice cream

whipped cream

Thin Mints, crushed

Combine creme de menthe, creme de cacao, vodka, and vanilla ice cream in a blender.  Cover and blend until smooth.  (If shake is too thick, add some milk.)  Pour into a tall glass, and top with whipped cream and sprinkle with crushed Thin Mints.

Normally I am not a huge fan of frozen drinks; they’re simply too filling.  However, on a warm weekend afternoon, they make the perfect indulgence.  What could be a better way to spend an hour?  Put your blender to work, and then enjoy your frosty beverage on your front porch swing.

Here’s to hoping for warm, sunny weather this weekend!

Fiery Fiesta Margarita

6 oz. pineapple juice

1 mango, peeled, seeded, & sliced

2 cups Jose Cuervo Golden Margarita Mix

3 cups ice

3 large frozen strawberries

1/2 jalapeño pepper, seeded & cored

4 Tb. Jose Cuervo Tequilla Gold

Garnish: minced jalapeño

Place the pineaplle juice, mango, margarita mix, and ice in a blender, and blend until smooth.  After it is combined, add frozen strawberries and 1/2 jalapeño.  Blend again until it looks like confetti.  Divide among 4 margarita glasses, and garnish each with 1 tablespoon of tequila gold and minced jalapeño.

Enjoy!

A normal Car Bomb is 12 ounces of Guinness in a pint glass, or a full pint if you are brave, and a shot glass with 3 parts Bailey’s and 1 part Jameson.  Drop the shot into the beer, and drink as quickly as possible before the cream curdles; a lot of work for about 10-15 seconds of enjoyment.

For this beverage you need a large glass, two scoops of Guinness ice cream, a nip of Jameson, a shot of Bailey’s, some milk and chocolate syrup.  Coat your glass with some chocolate syrup, and scoop in the ice cream.  Pour in all your liquids and mix with a spoon.  Drop a straw in your glass, and, presto, we have a Frozen Car Bomb.  This is by far easier to drink, and there is no pressure that the Bailey’s will curdle.

You might have to make a few of these to get the measurements correct.  I just went with my normal milkshake recipe and added in the alcohol.  This is the perfect dessert after a dinner of corned beef and cabbage.  If you have a copy of John Wayne’s classic film, The Quiet Man, you’re all set.  Happy St. Patrick’s Day, folks!

Strawberry Margarita Fizz

Sugar for coating rims of glasses
1-1/2 cups softened strawberry ice cream
1/2 cup chopped strawberries, plus whole strawberries for garnish
1 ounce tequila, or to taste
1/2 teaspoon fresh lime juice
1/3 cup chilled club soda
Garnish: lime slices

Rim edges of two highball glasses with sugar, and set aside.  Place ice cream, chopped strawberries, tequila, and lime juice in a blender.  Mix until all ingredients are combined and smooth.  Divide strawberry mixture between the two glasses, and top each with half of the club soda.  Stir gently to combine.  Garnish with limes and strawberries, if desired.

Makes me want to get some ice cream and umbrellas and head to the beach!

However, polling has ended, and our readers have spoken.  We are pleased to announce that the Pumkinlicious Martini from ECO-BAR was chosen as the favorite drink for Thanksgiving.  In order to create this delicious beverage for your Turkey Day celebration, we have posted the recipe below.

Thank you to all who voted.  Don’t forget to check back for more cocktail recipes and contests.

toPumkinlicious Martini
1/2 oz. Organic Vanilla Vodka (TRU Organic Vodka)
1 oz. pumpkin spice liqueur
3/4 oz. butterscotch schnapps
1/2 oz. Kahlua
1/2 oz. half-and-half
Crushed graham crackers and raw sugar
Cinnamon stick (garnish)

Add all liquids in a shaker filled with ice. Shake and strain into large martini glass rimmed with crushed graham crackers. Garnish with a cinnamon stick.

We solicited recipes for Thanksgiving-inspired cocktails.  Our editors have chosen their ten favorite and now are seeking our readers’ thoughts.  Which cocktail is the most tantalizing for Turkey Day?  Read their descriptions, then cast your vote.

1. Gobble-Tini- (Smirnoff Cranberry Twist, Chambord, & cranberry juice) Courtesy of SMIRNOFF

2. Pumkinlicious Martini (TRU Organic Vanilla Vodka, pumpkin spice liqueur, butterscotch schnapps, Kahlua,  half-and-half, & crushed graham crackers for rimming) Courtesy of ECO-BAR

3. Maple Cinnamon Nog (Bourbon, clove & cinnamon infused maple syrup, spiced rum, egg white, & cream) Courtesy of Deborah Harris of Harbour Restaurant

4. Hot Rum Cider (apple cider, orange juice concentrate, lemon juice, honey, cinnamon, whole cloves, coriander seeds, whole nutmeg, & Zaya Rum) Courtesy of Zaya Rum

5. Carrot-Ginger Martini (Stoli Vodka, spiced rum, Stoli Vanilla, carrot juice, & ginger beer) Courtesy of Ben Provost of The American Bar at The Stafford

6. Feel Like a Holiday (vodka, raspberry eau-de-vie, & sparkling wine/champagne) Courtesy of Sara Gaum of VendorBar.com

7. Pumpkin Pie Frappe (Mount Gay Rum Eclipse, pumpkin puree, sugar in the raw, cinnamon, allspice, half-and-half, & vanilla ice cream) Courtesy of Jonathan Pogash

8. Holiday Pie (Canadian Club Classic 12, Tuaca, apple cider) Courtesy of Canadian Club

9. Autumn Side Car Wine-tail (Yellow Tail Chardonnay, brandy, agave nectar, orange slices, basil leaves, Grand Marnier, & orange twist garnish) Courtesy of Trudy Thomas

10. Pumpkin Margarita (pumpkin puree, agave nectar, lime, tequila, Crema’s signature spice blend, & white and black sesame seeds for rimming) Courtesy of Crema

Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll.

The winner will be announced on Thursday, November 19th!

So, I guess I will spin this one as best I can.  I am helping everyone to be ready for next year’s St. Patrick’s Day celebration 11 months early. . .

A few notes about this drink.  It is a frozen drink, so it can be a little heavy.  I would suggest serving it as a dessert or an appetizer but not with your corned beef dinner.  Frozen drink + boiled dinner = very heavy!

This drink has an intense mint flavor.  Depending on your level of appreciation for mint, you can add more milk or cream.  Because of the mint flavor, I prefer it served as a dessert, kind of like the mint you receive with your bill.  To give it more of a dessert feel, you can top it with some whipped cream and a sprinkling of cocoa powder.

Happy early (or late) St. Patrick’s Day!

Minty McFreeze

1-1/2 oz. creme de menthe, green

1-1/2 oz. creme de cacao

1 oz. vodka

1 oz. milk or cream

ice*

Pour creme de menthe, creme de cacao, vodka, and milk in blender.  Add 6 ice cubes.  Cover and blend.  Add more ice, if needed, to create your desired consistency.

*For a more decadent drink, you can replace the ice with vanilla ice cream for a Minty McFreeze Shake.