However, much as I love a good flute of champagne, I know plenty of people who prefer a tasty cocktail instead. Of course, the colors of the day are pink and red – so it makes sense to go with something like a Cosmopolitan. Below is a recipe by created by ZYR Russian Vodka and AperiTea^TM tea-infused mixers. Fruity and refreshing, the Red Square Cosmo is sure to inspire extra love and romance this Valentine’s day!

RED SQUARE COSMO

2 oz ZYR Russian Vodka
1 oz Chamomile Citrus Berry AperiTea^TM
½ oz Cointreau
Juice of half a lime
½ oz Grenadine

Ingredients
Shake and Strain into a Martini Glass
Garnish with a lime wedge or wheel

Image: AperiTea^TM

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Valentine’s Day Red Square Cosmo

“Oh, you mean an Earl Grey Misto. Sure.”

But now all of a sudden the London Fog has taken off. Starbucks has grabbed on and even brought in specialty Earl Grey tea swathed in silk bags. A big step up from the well known TAZO tea line.

But with such luxury comes a price. A fancy grande London Fog will set you back almost five dollars. Yes – think about that for a second. Tea + milk + vanilla = five dollars? I don’t know about you, but to me that seems a little crazy.

Lucky for me, Christmas brought a Nespresso machine to our kitchen. With it is a neat little machine – the milk frother. This is something I wouldn’t have considered purchasing separately, but here it is and now I can make my own version of a London Fog with Lady Grey Tea.

Lady London Fog

Ingredients
16 oz milk
1 bag of Lady Grey Tea
1/2 cup water
1 pump vanilla syrup (optional)

Directions
1. Brew the small amount of tea and let it steep for 2-3 minutes.
2. Heat up the milk (this is where the milk steamer comes in handy).
3. Add the vanilla syrup.

I find that Lady Grey is light enough that no syrup is necessary, but it’s up to you. If a London Fog is a favorite of yours, now you can easily make it yourself with the right tools – and save a great deal of extra cash at the same time.

Image: Nespresso

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Make Your Own Lady London Fog

Quick and easy, these Tequila Herradura-based cocktail recipes only require your guests to take their eyes off of the screen for less than 60-seconds (just long enough for a time out).

Herradura Football

• 2 oz Tequila Herradura Silver
• 2 spoons of sugar
• 1 lemon cut in quarters
• crushed ice

In an “old fashion” style glass, put two spoons of sugar and the lemon. Crush these ingredients. Finally add Tequila Herradura and stir to mix.

AFC Herradura Paloma

• 2 oz Tequila Herradura Silver
• 5 oz grapefruit soda (or juice)
• 1 oz lemon juice and salt

In a big ball glass put the ice and Tequila Herradura. Add salt, lemon juice and grapefruit soda (or juice).

If you are rooting for the NFC, try the Herradura Margarita with the great taste of orange and lime in one delicious cocktail.

NFC Herradura Margarita

• 2 oz Tequila Herradura Silver
• 2 oz orange liquor
• 2 oz natural syrup
• lime juice to taste
• 1/4 oz crushed ice

Frost the rim of a glass with sugar. Mix all ingredients in a blender for a few minutes. Decorate with a lime slice.

The Super Bowl is just a few weeks away, so get ready by planning your food and drink menu! Super Bowl XLIII takes place in Tampa Bay on February 1, 2009.

Images and recipes courtesy of Herradura

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Super Bowl Cocktails

p.i.n.k. vodka is an ultra-premium imported vodka from Holland that is infused with caffeine and guarana. Unlike energy drinks, p.i.n.k. has no unpleasant after taste and no additional carbs. You can mix it with soda, add it to martinis or drink it on the rocks.

p.i.n.k. is popular among celebrities including Jay-Z, Beyonce, Eva Longoria, Demi Moore, Ashton Kutcher, Pamela Anderson, Prince and many more.

Here’s a couple recipes using p.i.n.k. that are great for your New Year’s Eve party.

p.i.n.k. peppermint martini

Ingredients

• 2 1/2 oz p.i.n.k. vodka
• 1 oz white crème de menthe
• 1/4 oz peppermint schnapps
• 1 pink peppermint stick

Directions

1. Pour all ingredients into a shaker with ice.
2. Shake and strain into a chilled martini glass.
3. Garnish with a pink peppermint stick.

p.i.n.k. bubbles

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 oz p.i.n.k. vodka
• 1 oz Cointreau
• splash of pomegranate juice
• splash of champagne

Directions

1. Combine p.i.n.k. vodka, Cointreau and pomegranate juice over chipped ice and shake well.
2. Strain into a champagne flute.
3. Top with champagne.

You can learn more about p.i.n.k. vodka and find a retailer near you by visiting pinkspirits.com.

Photo credit: pinkspirits.com

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Enjoy p.i.n.k. Cocktails for New Year’s Eve

The just-released beverage comes in three flavors: Brazilian Samba (passion fruit-lime), Tahitian Tamure (mixed berry), and Mediterranean Fiesta (black cherry). The flavors are subtle, more like flavored water than traditional soda. They come in four-packs of 12oz cans or plastic bottles.

My grocery (Giant Eagle in Ohio) had them for $2.50 for the four-pack and you can print a $1.50 coupon from the TAVA Web site. A refreshing thirst-quencher for $1 and it’s heartening to know that companies like Pepsi are starting to think about healthy alternatives to their traditional offerings.

^{(photo courtesy of Pepsico)}

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Should You Try Tava?

POM teas also go well in cocktails. Below is a recipe, courtesy of the POM Wonderful people for a late summer festive libation:

POM Springs
Ingredients:
2 oz. Pomegranate Peach Passion White POM Tea
1 oz. light rum
1 oz. Myers’s® Dark Rum
1 1/2 oz. cranberry juice cocktail
1 1/2 oz. fresh orange juice

Garnish:
slices of orange, lime and peach

Directions:
1. Assemble all the ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice and shake well.
2. Strain into a goblet or tall glass over ice.
3. Garnish with orange, lime and peach slices.

^{(Photo courtesy of POM Wonderful)}

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POM Tea – POM Springs

Instead of cooking I made you some tea today. I love this recipe for a quick refreshment on a hot day.

Iced Mint Tea Recipe

10 Sprigs of fresh mint (lemon balm works well too)

1 brown tea bag

honey to taste

Optional: lemon juice, or citrus zest

I make a cup of tea with the mint and tea bag. I put the mint in a tea ball, but you can put it directly in the hot water. Steep for 7 to 8 minutes. Add the zest or lemon if you like. Strain the mixture if you put the mint directly in the water, otherwise remove the tea bag, and the tea ball. Add the honey to taste, and chill or pour directly over a glass of ice. Garnish with fresh mint leaves. Enjoy!

Iced Mint tea Image (c) L Gerlach all rights reserved

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Iced Mint Tea

We’ve talked about the health benefits of Pomegranate juice before. Here’s a fun way to celebrate the end of summer and get your pomegranate juice as well, courtesy of the folks at POM:

POM Julep

1 oz. freshly squeezed pomegranate juice* or
POM Wonderful® 100% Pomegranate Juice
1 1/2 oz. vodka
1 1/2 oz. grapefruit juice
1/2 oz. honey syrup (mix two parts honey with
one part hot water and stir to dissolve, cool)
4 mint leaves, mint sprig for garnish

Directions:
Bruise 4 mint leaves in bar mixing glass with honey syrup. Add remaining ingredients and shake over ice. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass up, or over ice. Garnish with fresh mint sprig.

^{(photo courtesy of POM)}

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Celebrate Summer with a POM Julep

The dual pitchers, designed by Tea Forte founder, Peter Hewitt, are sleek, attractive and crafted from hand blown, heat-resistant glass. The top pitcher brews the iced tea while the lower pitcher holds the ice for flash-chilling. It can go right from kitchen to table.

Tea-Over-Ice systems are available at kitchen speciality retailers and at Amazon.com for $39.99.

^{(photo courtesy of Tea Forte)}

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Tea-Over-Ice: A New Ice Tea Brewing System

One of my favorite juices is POM, the 100% Pomegranate juice that comes in the hour glass-shaped bottle. Not only does it taste good, but Pomegranate juice is a great source of antioxidents and potassium. However, you can’t always drink it straight. Fortunately, the folks at POM have shared with us the recipe for their own special cocktail, the POMtini.

POMtini™
1 oz. POM Wonderful® 100% Pomegranate Juice
1½ oz. vodka
1½ oz. grapefruit juice
½ oz. sour mix OR ½ oz. freshly squeezed lime and ½ oz. simple syrup (equal parts sugar and cold water dissolved together)
orange peel for garnish

1. Assemble all ingredients in bar or mixing glass. Shake well with ice and strain into a chilled martini glass.

2. Garnish with orange peel.

(editor’s note: I’m going to garnish mine with a spear of blueberries for a truly patriotic–and healthy–touch.)

^{(recipe and image courtesy of POM)}

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A Healthy Cocktail for the Fourth