The other day I talked about aphrodisiac cocktails, today I have the ultimate aphrodisiac for you to give to your Valentine, Pama Chocolate Cupcakes with Pomegranate Liqueur.

Just in time for Valentine’s Day, PAMA® Pomegranate Liqueur and more® Cupcakes have teamed up to create a sweet treat that truly says “be mine:” PAMA Chocolate Cupcakes. Don’t they look yummy?

The Pama Chocolate Cupcake is a blend of Pama Pomegranate Liqueur’s sweet flavor and the legendary aphrodisiac allure of pomegranates with more’s finest baking ingredients to create one-of-a-kind cupcake that would be perfect for your Valentine’s Day celebration. This divine Belgian dark chocolate cake is filled with a rich Valrhona chocolate and PAMA Liqueur mousse and topped with a PAMA infused buttercream. This cupcake treat sounds like it will melt in your mouth with every delicious bite.

These fabulous confections have gained recognition from New York Times Magazine, Time Magazine, The Chicago Tribune and even earned a coveted spot on O, The Oprah’s Magazine’s “O-List” in the January 2010 issue.

A dozen cupcakes are priced at $66 and can be ordered at More Cupcakes.

Mardi Gras is coming up in a few days, and since King Cake is a Mardi Gras staple, I thought I’d share a recipe. This recipe is adapted from AllRecipes.com.
The King Cake is a Mardi Gras tradition. The cake is decorated in the traditional Mardi Gras colors of purple, gold and white colored sprinkles or sugars. There is usually a small plastic baby hidden in the cake for one lucky person to find.

Mardi Gras King Cake
Ingredients
Pastry:

1 cup milk
1/4 cup butter
2 (.25 ounce) packages active dry yeast
2/3 cup warm water (110 degrees F/45 degrees C)
1/2 cup white sugar
2 eggs
1 1/2 …read more

This is a wonderful last minute recipe for your Super Bowl party (in celebration of the Saints), but it’s also a great recipe for any winter gathering. Everyone loves a warm and hearty gumbo.
I used a recipe adapted from GumboPages. I changed it up a little, but used most of the same ingredients.

Chicken and Sausage Gumbo
Ingredients:

1 cup oil
1 cup flour
2 large onions, chopped
2 bell peppers, chopped
4 ribs celery, chopped
4 – 6 cloves garlic, minced
4 quarts chicken stock
2 bay leaves
2 teaspoons of your favorite Creole seasoning
1 teaspoon dried thyme leaves
Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
About 1 lb of …read more

I’ve shared quite a few Valentine’s Day cocktail recipes over the last few weeks. But today I have some wonderful cocktails to share from the Classic and Vintage Artisanal Spirits Portfolio. They sent me several love-themed cocktails to share from Averna Amaro, G’Vine Gin, Rhum J.M, Sombra Mezcal and Tuthilltown Spirits which are the ideal way to celebrate with a sweetheart.
Any of these cocktails would also be wonderful for signature cocktail at a Valentine’s Day gathering of friends.
The Classic and Vintage Artisanal Spirits Portfolio is an unprecedented collection of rare small-batch gems, each with a unique story and diverse place …read more

Are you looking for love in the air this Valentine’s Day?
Even if you’re not looking for love, you can serve these interesting Valentine’s Day cocktails at your Valentine’s Day dinner, and make them the center of the conversation. Tell your guests about the Aphrodisiacs, and the Goddess of love. It will definitely make for a great conversation.
Aphrodisiacs (derived from the Greek goddess of sensuality, Aphrodite) have been popular for centuries because they are supposed to increase sexual desire.
This Valentine’s Day pour on the passion and stir up some romance with these delicious cocktails using top aphrodisiacs such as Liquorice, honey, …read more

If you’re looking for a month to have a party, February is the month for you. It’s the middle of winter, so why not plan a fun gathering of friends, just because. There are many reasons to celebrate in February, here are just a few:

If you didn’t already have your party you missed it, Groundhog Day was yesterday, February 2nd.
The Super Bowl is this Sunday February 7th. We have a whole list of Super Bowl Party Ideas if you’re planning a big bash.
The Winter Olympics start February 12th, we have Winter Olympics party ideas right here.
Don’t forget about Valentine’s Day …read more

So who are you rooting for in this year’s Super Bowl? My son’s rooting for the Saints, but I’m definitely undecided yet. If you’re still undecided, or still working out the details of your party, don’t forget to add a little something to represent the teams.

Cruzan sent me some interesting Super Bowl stats from Book of Odds.  According to the Web site Book of Odds, 1 in 1.43 people will watch the Super Bowl (that’s 70%) and 27% or 1 in 3.73 Americans will attend a Super Bowl party.
If you’re trying to add a little New Orleans flavor, an Indianapolis …read more

I have a couple more Valentine’s Day cocktails to share with you today. These cocktails are from St-Germain, and they’ll be perfect for that romantic dinner for two, or a small cozy Valentine’s Day dinner party with friends.
St-Germain is an artisanal French liqueur made once a year in the late spring. The liqueur tastes like tropical fruit, citrus and orchard fruits. It makes a delicious cocktail mixer with Champagne and and a variety of other spirits for these yummy Valentine’s Day cocktail recipes.

Bois De Rose

3/4 parts St-Germain
¼ part Aperol
1 part Gin
¼ part Fresh Lemon
top with Brut Rosé Sparkling Wine

Method: …read more

There are so many great reasons to throw a winter bash coming up in the next few weeks, from the Superbowl, to Mardi Gras, Valentine’s Day, and the Chinese New Year. One that only comes around every 4 years is the Winter Olympics.
The Winter Olympics are in Canada this year, so you should give your party a little flavor of the area. If you’re planning a Winter Olympic viewing party, here are a few ideas to help you plan, and some cocktails to go with them.

Play Euchre, a traditional Canadian card game. This popular Canadian card game is said …read more

One of the most popular Superbowl party foods is pizza! Instead of calling for pizza delivery this year, why not make your own? Today I have some pizza recipes for you courtesy of Real California Cheese.
For a couple festive and easy-to-make Super Bowl snacks, try these recipes including a Tangy Barbecue Pizza recipe featuring Real California Cheese. This version of a fan favorite features Monterey Jack or Cheddar. The pizza can be sliced into bite-size portions and served on a tray for the perfect finger food or pre-game snack – and the kick of barbecue is sure to land you …read more