Christmas Cosmos and mistletoe...

Just 10 days until Xmas and I think I am finally in the holiday spirit. It took me awhile this year, but the holiday parties are now in full swing and that means plenty of holiday-inspired cocktails to sip. Here are a few of my favorites.

Christmas Cosmo
Courtesy of RecipeZaar.com
1 1/2 oz. rosemary-infused vodka
1/2 oz. triple sec
1 oz. cranberry juice
1 inch rosemary sprigs, for garnish
Cranberries, for garnish

To make the rosemary-infused vodka, coarsely chop 1 bunch of rosemary and put it in a fifth of vodka overnight and then strain out the rosemary. To make the drink, shake all the liquids in a cocktail shaker and then strain into a martini glass. Garnish with 1 cranberry and a little sprig of rosemary.

Sugar Plum Fairy
Courtesy of Stirrings
2 oz. Stirrings Sugar Plum Martini
1 oz. Ciroc Vodka
Splash sparkling wine or dry Champagne

In a champagne flute, top Sugar Plum Martini and vodka with sparkling wine or Champagne.

Eggnog Martini
Courtesy of Stirrings
2 oz. Stirrings Egg Nog
1.5 oz. Captain Morgan Spiced Rum
Stirrings Egg Nog Rimmer Garnish

Shake with ice and serve straight up in a Stirrings Egg Nog rimmed glass.

Thanks for the martini...

It's November, and that means that my favorite holiday is just around the corner: Thanksgiving. For some reason there just seems to be less stress associated with this day (maybe that's because I'm never the one doing the cooking!). Seriously though, for me Thanksgiving is all about coming home and catching up with good friends and family over bottles of Beaujolais Nouveau and a few martinis. So while we wait for the 2007 vintage to hit wine shops, here are some seasonal cocktails (courtesy of Martini Talk, Part IV) to sip:

Candy Apple
Courtesy of Stirrings
1 part Stirrings Apple Martini Mixer
1 part Players Extreme caramel-flavored vodka
Caramel sauce
Stirrings Apple Martini Rimmer

Rim glass with caramel sauce and Apple Rimmer. Combine Apple Mixer and vodka with ice in a martini shaker. Shake and strain into martini glass.

Manhattan in the Fall
Courtesy of Stirrings
1 1/2 parts bourbon
1/2 part sweet vermouth
1 part Stirrings Pear Martini
Pear slice
Cherry

Stir all ingredients together in a mixing glass half-filled with ice. Strain into a chilled martini glass and garnish with a pear slice and a cherry

PomeTini
Courtesy of Hiram Walker
1 part Stolichnaya Vodka
1 part Hiram Walker Pomegranate Schnapps

Shake and strain into martini glass, garnish with lemon wedge.

Two years, five photo shoots, and counting...

It's hard to believe that almost two years have gone by since I finally made the move to New York (and my brother and Jenn got married!) Time truly flies. And just this past week, The Knot TV posted some of the photo shoots I've worked on since I started working there. These projects are really what makes my job all worth it (despite the gray hairs they give me!). So much fun -- enjoy!

1) Wedding Style: Modern Ocean Motif

2) Wedding Style: 5 Color Combos (video) or (slideshow)

3) Wedding Style: 4 Hot Trends and Couture Cakes

4) Wedding Style: Precious Metals

5) Wedding Style: Spring Ahead

It's the martini talking...

This past Friday night I met a friend for a drink after work at one of the most fabulous places in New York: Flat Iron Lounge -- very old school, very Art Deco, very Frank Sinatra. A colleague recently told me that this place serves the most fantastic cocktails in the city, and it did not dissappoint (thank you Mr. Victor Thompson). My martini was a lovely sensation of vodka infused with pearls of jasmine and white peach and garnished with the prettiest orchid...hello, deliciousness! Of course I had two ;) The recipes, of course, are a secret, but I thought I'd share two fall-inspired cocktails to kick off the season (and to tide you over until the 4th Annual Martini Talk). Cheers!

Gingered Pear
Courtesy of Stirrings
3 oz. Stirrings Pear Martini Mixer
2 oz. Captain Morgan Spiced Rum
1 oz. Stirrings Ginger Ale
Stirrings Spiced Apple Rimmer Garnish
Slice of fresh ginger

Build in an iced highball with Stirrings Spiced Apple Rimmer and a slice of pear, short shake, and top with Stirrings Ginger Ale.

Pomegranate Mimosa
Courtesy of POM Wonderful
1/2 oz. POM Wonderful® 100% Pomegranate Juice
1 glass of dry champagne
1/2 oz. Cointreau®

Pour champagne into a champagne flute. Add pomegranate juice and float the Cointreau on top.

A little martini talk:
"There is something about a martini,
A tingle remarkably pleasant:
A yellow, mellow martini:
I wish I had one at present."
-- Ogden Nash

"I love to drink martinis,
Two at the very most.
Three I'm under the table.
Four I'm under the host!"
-- Dorothy Parker