The latest recipes - page 421

One night I was enjoying a couple of these cocktails with a friend who got to the bottom of his glass quicker than expected. I warned him that the blend of fino sherry, citrus juice, Cointreau, and allspice liqueur is dangerously easy to gulp, explaining that I’d made that mistake before at the start of an evening and it was soon the end of me. He laughed and said, “Well, then this cocktail is your alpha and omega … your beginning and end!”

In this mulled cider recipe, apple cider is simmered with orange, honey, cloves, and cinnamon, then given a mild boozy kick from amontillado sherry added just before serving. Keep this sweet-smelling punch warm in a slow cooker at a holiday party or winter cocktail party, or let it simmer while you throw together our classic Pumpkin Pie recipe. What to buy: Amontillado sherry, made in the town of Jerez in southwestern Spain, is aged longer than fino (or dry) sherries.

A mint-flavored simple syrup made with leftover holiday candy canes. Use it as a topping for ice cream, or as a cocktail mixer.

The original Dark ‘n’ Stormy (dark rum, ginger beer, and lime) comes from Bermuda. We give it the American convenience-store treatment, with ice and enough time in the blender to make it slushy and super-refreshing. Warning: You will get a brain freeze, so sip slowly!

This blended summer drink was given to us by Tres Restaurant (formerly known as Tres Agaves). It comes together in only a few minutes and can easily be doubled or tripled to serve a crowd. Just blend tequila, watermelon, lime juice, and agave nectar and pour over ice. A basil leaf garnish adds a bit of fragrant spice.

Marinating chicken breast in green curry and coconut milk gives these kebabs a Thai twist. Buy a green curry paste with lots of flavor (we like the Mae Ploy brand). Make sure you don’t pack the skewers too tightly or the chicken will dry out on the grill side before it’s done all the way through. Serve with steamed jasmine rice and something crisp and refreshing, like this snap pea salad.

The combination of orange, black olives, fennel, and whole-grain mustard gives these chicken kebabs an assertive French personality. Thighs are our favorite cut from the bird—they stay juicy even over the high heat of a charcoal grill. Pair these skewers with a fluffy rice pilaf and a dry French rosé, served very cold.

A tangy, slightly sweet marinade of lemon, soy sauce, brown sugar, and ginger adds sparkle to salmon, and asparagus balances the richness. Pack up these kebabs for a summer cookout, or grill them on the back deck for a casual but stepped-up dinner party. Wild salmon in season is leaner than the farmed variety, and friendlier to the oceans.

Korean kalbi was the inspiration, but these skewers have their own personality. Soy sauce, rice vinegar, garlic, sesame oil, and a kick of Sriracha give boneless beef short ribs tons of flavor. Unlike chunky kebabs, the meat gets threaded on the skewers satay-style. Serve with sautéed Asian-style broccoli and a mountain of steamed rice, or beside some sundubu jigae.

The Old Fashioned is a beautiful thing. At its best, it’s a careful balance of whiskey, sugar, and bitters, with a little dilution from water, often in the form of melting ice. Here, the classic goes pool-friendly, with a slushy blender version that relies on lots of ice, as well as fresh cherries to lend a little brightness and color.

The Mojito (white rum, lime, simple syrup, and muddled mint leaves) is arguably the most cooling drink ever invented. Turn it into a slushy, and it reaches arctic levels of refreshment.

This blended mix of lemon juice, simple syrup, fresh strawberries, ice, and vodka refreshes like a 7-Eleven Slurpee for grown-ups. Drag the blender out to the patio, put on some summer tunes, and kick back in the lounge chair.