Long Island Iced Tea

Long Island Ice Tea – created in the 1970′s on Long Island, New York doesn’t actually contain tea, but is supposed to taste similar.  It’s a hugely popular drink, served almost everywhere.  I’m sharing this recipe as Sander is going to be making these at his New Years Party this year, and needed to know exactly what was needed.  I’ve included a recipe for Sweet & Sour Mix, with some variations as well.

Long Island Iced Tea

1 part vodka
1 part  Tequila
1 part rum
1 part gin
1 part triple sec (or an orange flavored liquor)
1 1/2 parts sweet and sour mix (see recipe below)
1 splash Coke or Pepsi

Mix ingredients together over ice in a glass. Pour into a shaker and give one brisk shake. Pour back into the glass and make sure there is a touch of fizz at the top.  Garnish with lemon.

Sweet and Sour Mix

Variation 1

3 cups granulated sugar
3 cups water
2 cups lemon juice
2 cups lime juice

(or 4 cups lemon, or 4 cups lime)

Combine the water and sugar into a large sauce pan.  Stir over medium heat until the sugar dissolves.  Bring to a boil, and then boil for 5 minutes.  Cool.  Add in the lemon & lime juices.  Stir to mix and then refrigerate.  This can be kept for about a week in the refrigerator.

Variation 2

1 Cup lemon juice
1 Cup lime Juice
1 cup confectioners sugar (aka caster sugar or icing sugar – 10x sugar)

Mix together well, and allow to sit for 4-24 hours.  Stir occasionally, making sure the sugar is dissolved.

Variation 3

2 cups lemon or 2 cups lime juice
1 cup 1 cup confectioners sugar (aka caster sugar or icing sugar – 10x sugar)

Mix together well, and allow to sit for 4-24 hours.  Stir occasionally, making sure the sugar is dissolved.

Notes:

• To get the most juice out of lemons and limes, roll them around on the counter, using medium pressure, to break the cells holding the juice.
• Using only lemon juice is more akin to a sour mix for say, whiskey sour
• Using only Lime juice is perfect for Margaritas
• Using a mix of lemon and lime, works for just about everything you’d need a sour mix for.
• In the US, Sour mix is used quite a lot.  However, in Europe, sour mix is usually left out of drink mixes, being substituted for Lime Cordial, or lemon/lime juice.

Sweet and Sour Mix

Variation 1

3 cups granulated sugar
3 cups water
2 cups lemon juice
2 cups lime juice

(or 4 cups lemon, or 4 cups lime)

Combine the water and sugar into a large sauce pan.  Stir over medium heat until the sugar dissolves.  Bring to a boil, and then boil for 5 minutes.  Cool.  Add in the lemon & lime juices.  Stir to mix and then refrigerate.  This can be kept for about a week in the refrigerator.

Variation 2

1 Cup lemon juice
1 Cup lime Juice
1 cup confectioners sugar (aka caster sugar or icing sugar – 10x sugar)

Mix together well, and allow to sit for 4-24 hours.  Stir occasionally, making sure the sugar is dissolved.

Variation 3

2 cups lemon or 2 cups lime juice
1 cup confectioners sugar (aka caster sugar or icing sugar – 10x sugar)

Mix together well, and allow to sit for 4-24 hours.  Stir occasionally, making sure the sugar is dissolved.

Notes:

• To get the most juice out of lemons and limes, roll them around on the counter, using medium pressure, to break the cells holding the juice.
• Using only lemon juice is more akin to a sour mix for say, whiskey sour
• Using only Lime juice is perfect for Margaritas
• Using a mix of lemon and lime, works for just about everything you’d need a sour mix for.
• In the US, Sour mix is used quite a lot.  However, in Europe, sour mix is usually left out of drink mixes, being substituted for Lime Cordial, or lemon/lime juice.

Here We Come A Wassailing

Christmas Wassail

5 apples
1 1/2 cups brown sugar
1 cup port
4 12-ounce bottles of ale or dark beer, plus 1/4 cup
4 cinnamon sticks
4 cloves
1 Lemon, zest only
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground all spice
1/4 teaspoon ground cardamon
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger

Slice apples in half, and core.  Place the apples in a baking dish, and cover with one cup of brown sugar, 1/4 cup of ale, and the port.  Cover and bake for 30 minutes at 350F.

In a large pot, pour in the beer – 48 ounces (1.5 Liters).  Add in the cinnamon sticks, cloves, lemon zest, ground cinnamon, ground allspice, ground cardamon, and the ground ginger.  Bring to a simmer and then turn the heat to low.

One the apples have finished, pour the entire contents (including the juices) into the pot with the ale and spices.  Allow to simmer over low heat for 30-35 minutes.

Serve hot, garnished with a slice of fresh apple, and a cinnamon stick.

Christmas Wassail (Non alcoholic)

1/2 gallon (about 2 liters) apple cider/juice
1/2 gallon (about 2 liters) cranberry juice
1 quart (about 1 liter) orange juice
1/4 cup brown sugar
1-2 teaspoon ground cloves
4 cinnamon sticks
4 whole allspice

Add all the ingredients to a large pot, or a crockpot/all day cooker.  Stir well.

Over medium heat, continue to stir, to mix the spices in.  Reduce the heat to low, and simmer for 20-25 minutes. Keep this on low to keep warm, stirring occasionally.

Serve hot, with a cinnamon stick as garnish.

Below is the version of mulled cider that I have used a lot over the years.  The nice thing about this recipe is that you can leave out ingredients you might not have on hand, and it still comes out pretty well.  The only thing that is really necessary is the cider, cloves and cinnamon.  And even then, if you don’t have cloves, you can leave that out, too.

I like to serve this just as is – in good sized mug – one that isn’t too big, or too small.  Once it is strained to remove the spices, you can put it into a thermos and take it with you on Halloween, or while cutting down your Christmas tree.

This can be made, and then re-heated easily.  Just pour into a pitcher, or a serving container of some sort and refrigerate.  Either warm in a pot on the stove, or a mug in the microwave.

Autumn Hot Spiced Mulled Cider

1 gallon Apple Cider
12 Whole Cloves
2-3 cinnamon sticks
2 whole nutmeg
2 chunks crystallized ginger
1/2 lemon, sliced
1 tablespoon honey

Add Cider, clove and cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger to a large pot. Slice lemon into wedges, remove the seeds, and add them to pot.  Add honey.

Stir to combine and begin simmering, stirring occasionally.  You can simmer this for 10 minutes to 2 hours.  The longer (up to 2 hours) you simmer this, the better the flavors meld. Strain the cider before serving.

Alternatively, put cloves, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger and lemon in a tied cheesecloth bag and no straining is necessary.  Stir often so the flavors mix with the cider.

For the adults, add a splash of rum or bourbon when serving.

This is absolutely wonderful on a hot summer day.  Enjoy!

Orange & Lemonade Vodka Slush

4 Cups Sugar

6 Cups Water
750ml Vodka
2 12 ounce containers of Frozen Orange Juice

1 12 ounce containers of Frozen Lemonade
7-Up, Sprite, or Gingerale

Make a simple syrup:  Add the sugar and water to a sauce pan, and bring to a boil.  Allow to simmer for 3-4 minutes.  Remove from heat, and cool completely.

In a large mixing bowl, mix together the orange juice and lemonade concentrate.  Add in the vodka, and stir well to mix.  Add the simple syrup.

Put in a large container, and put into the freezer.  Allow to freeze at least 24 hours.

To serve this, use 1/3 Vodka Slush to 2/3 7-up, Sprite or Gingerale. Garnish with a slice of fresh sliced oranges or lemons.

This is absolutely wonderful on a hot summer day.  Enjoy!

Orange & Lemonade Vodka Slush

4 Cups Sugar

6 Cups Water
750ml Vodka
2 12 ounce containers of Frozen Orange Juice

1 12 ounce containers of Frozen Lemonade
7-Up, Sprite, or Gingerale

Make a simple syrup:  Add the sugar and water to a sauce pan, and bring to a boil.  Allow to simmer for 3-4 minutes.  Remove from heat, and cool completely.

In a large mixing bowl, mix together the orange juice and lemonade concentrate.  Add in the vodka, and stir well to mix.  Add the simple syrup.

Put in a large container, and put into the freezer.  Allow to freeze at least 24 hours.

To serve this, use 1/3 Vodka Slush to 2/3 7-up, Sprite or Gingerale. Garnish with a slice of fresh sliced oranges or lemons.

Watermelon Honey Cooler

6-8 ice cubes
2 cups watermelon, seeded
1 teaspoon honey
1 teaspoons lime juice
7-Up or Sprite

Crush the ice cubes in your blender, Add in the watermelon, honey & lime juice, and blend for 30 seconds to 1 minute, depending on your blender.  Pour into 4 glasses, and cover with the 7-Up or Sprite. 

A variations on this recipe:

Add 2 cups of Orange Juice

Change out the watermelon for cantaloupe or honeydew

For a non-virgin version, ad an ounce of vodka per serving ;)

Coconut White Russian

1/4 part Kahlua
1/4 part Piña Colada
1/4 part Vodka
1/4 Part Milk

Put the alcohol over ice, in a shaker if you have it, and then pour into a glass, add milk to fill the glass.

Be careful — it’s surprisingly strong — if you drink too much of it, you’ll be singing ‘Long Tall Glasses” in no time ;)

On the other hand, it might be helpful with getting laid – it is sweet and doesn’t taste like there is much alcohol in it – always advantageous for my boyfriend ;)

I did a two-step, quick-step and a bossa nova
A little Victor Silvester, and a Rudy Valentino
You should a seen me movin, right across the floor
Hand me down my tuxedo, next week I’m comin’ back for more
I can dance — oh yes! I can dance
Look at me dancin’ the floor movin’
I feel good — I can dance
I can dance, I can dance, I can dance.