Creamy Dreamy Cocotini

I came up with this when I wanted to make the Key Lime Pietini and was out of a key ingredient - the Key Lime liqueur!

So I did the following:

1 part Lime Vodka

1 part Malibu

2 parts Pineapple & Coconut Juice

1/2 fresh lime squeezed

Swirl the lime around the edge of the glass and then dip it in toasted coconut. Shake the shaker with all your ingredients and pour into the glass. As with the Key Lime Pietini, finish the top off with coconut cream - I shape mine like a spiders web and it always gets a good "oooh" and "aahh" from my guests!

Pearadise

Anissa came up with this great name in our contest, and we love it because when you drink it, you really feel like you are in paradise!

1 part Pear Vodka
2 parts home made Pear Nectar
1 part store bought Pear Nectar
1 part Vanilla Liqueur
1 fresh Lime
Lemon Juice
Chocolate Syrup (optional)

This one does take a while but it is well worth it! We took about 8 pears, cored and diced them and put them in a pan with one teaspoon of lemon juice for each pear. Pears that are overripe work the best. Heat them on medium and as they soften, gently mash them up until it all looks like apple sauce.Bit by bit, take some of the pear mixture and push through a sieve into a bowl, not forgetting to scrape the underside of the sieve as a lot of it gets caught there. What you will be left with in the bowl is perfect pear nectar! But it is extremely thick, so we purchased some organic pear nectar from Raley's and added a little of that to thin it out but retain the pear flavor. We also added Van Gogh vanilla liqueur to the pear mixture to allow it to absorb. Let this mixture chill overnight in the fridge in a sealed glass container.

When you are ready to make the martini, put ice in your shaker, add the vodka (we prefer Grey Goose La Poire Vodka but Absolut also make a pear vodka too), the pear nectar and squeeze the juice of half a fresh lime. Shake, shake, shake!!

Rim your glasses with Stirrings pear rimmer and add some chocolate syrup to the bottom of your glass. Pour your pear martini into the glass and watch it mix with the chocolate syrup to give you a beautiful chocolate pear martini. This drink can also be enjoyed without the chocolate syrup if you just fancy a plain pear martini, but we like the chocolate version the best!

Add a very thin slice of pear to the top of the glass for decoration and sit back and relax. You are now in Pearadise!

White Chocolate Martini

This really has to be my favorite and a classic!

1 part Vanilla Vodka
2 parts Godiva White Chocolate Liqueur
1/2 part Half & Half or Heavy Cream (whichever your preference)

All of the contents must be ice cold!

Put ice (fresh ice!) in your shaker and add the ingredients. Shake for about ten seconds - no point in over doing it!

Take some dark chocolate and grate it, dip your martini glasses in vodka and then in the shaved chocolate to rim your glass. ALWAYS rim your glass, it finishes the martini off. Taste is of course the ultimate goal, but presentation is necessary!
Pour your martini into the glass and then grate some chocolate on top for that finished touch.

Consume large quantities and thoroughly enjoy!

Key Lime Pietini

This is a lovely summer drink and is just like key lime pie, so it's very desserty!

1 part Lime Vodka
1 part KeKe Beach Key Lime Cream Liqueur
1 part Malibu

2 parts Pineapple & Coconut Juice
1/2 part Cream of Coconut (either in the drinks aisle or the Asian food aisle)
1/2 fresh lime squeezed

Put ice in the shaker and add your freezing cold
ingredients and gently shake.

Dip your glasses in either lime juice or vodka, then in Graham Cracker Pie Crust Mix or Stirrings Pie Crustini rimmer and pour your martini into the glass.

I use a squeezy bottle and fill it with coconut cream and then drizzle it on top of the martini. Finish off with adding a slice of key lime to the side of your glass.

Delicious!

Raspberry Martini

Raspberry martini is delicious and fruity for the summer. Bunny and I think this is perfect for the beach - we like to relax and forget about the kids!

1 part Raspberry Vodka
1 part Pallini Raspicello Raspberry Liqueur
2 parts Cranberry Juice
Fresh Raspberries

As with everything, make sure the vodka is a good, quality vodka (cheap vodka = major hangover!). And the cranberry juice should be 100% or as close to that you can get.

I rimmed the glasses with a Cosmo rimmer from Stirrings because it has that nice pink look to it.

Add ice to your shaker, plus your ingredients except the fresh raspberries. In a separate bowl, muddle the raspberries and then spoon a little bit into the bottom of your martini glasses. Add your martini mix and then throw in a raspberry on top and voila! a perfect Raspberry Martini for a day at the beach!

Chaitini

This is just the best martini for the Fall and Winter seasons - sit by the fire and sip away!

1 part Vanilla Vodka
1 part Baileys
1 part Chai Tea (undiluted)
1 part Half & Half


Dip the glasses in either the Vanilla Vodka or the Baileys - whichever your preference - and then dip in this fabulous vanilla rimmer from Martini Art.

Add fresh ice to your shaker followed by all of the ingredients which should be freezing cold, and shake your booty (and the shaker!). Pour into your glasses and pop a Cinnamon stick in there for decoration.Bliss!

Chocolate Martini

A chocolate lovers dream! The same as the White Chocolate Martini, but using the original Godiva Chocolate Liqueur.

1 part Vanilla Vodka
2 parts Godiva Chocolate Liqueur
1 part Half & Half
Dark Chocolate

Grate the dark chocolate, dip your glasses in the Vanilla Vodka and then the chocolate shavings to rim your glass. You can add a small amount of chocolate syrup to the empty glass if you want, just for effect and if you are a die hard chocolate fan (who isn't?)!

Shake your ingredients lovingly over ice and pour into your pretty glass. Grate some chocolate on top, or if you would like to go to Cost Plus World Market and purchase a Cadbury's Flake, you can add this baby to your glass instead!