Veggies Are the Secret Ingredient Your Cocktail Is Missing

This recipe looks healthy, but tastes divine.

I love serving a specialty sneeky, even when a neighbor is just stopping by. It makes it seem like you went the extra mile! This arugula cocktail is green, so it looks healthy, but it's soooo delicious.

Arugula Sneeky

Serves 2

• 4 ounces gin, vodka or tequila
• 1 ounces fresh lemon juice
• 2 ounces fresh cucumber juice
• 1 ounces herb simple syrup, plus more to taste (recipe below)
• ¼ cup fresh arugula leaves

Fill a shaker halfway with ice. Add all ingredients and shake-shake-shake, then strain into two glasses over ice. Garnish with slices of cucumber and rosemary sprigs.

Herb Simple Syrup

• ½ cup each of fresh rosemary, mint and basil leaves
• ¾ cup agave syrup
• ¾ cup boiling water

Combine all ingredients in a bowl, stir, cover and let stand for an hour. Strain syrup into a glass container and store in the refrigerator. It's also great drizzled on top of fruit, or for sweetening iced tea or lemonade.

This story originally appeared in the May 2017 issue of House Beautiful.

GET YOUR BAR CARTS READY FOR A VERY IMPORTANT MONTH!

May is going to be a big month, so get those bar carts stocked and ready. (I know mine is!)  

• Cinco De Mayo Margaritas? ✓
• Mother's Day Mojitos? ✓ 
• Memorial Day Greyhounds? ✓

All hosts should be prepared to serve a proper holiday-inspired sneeky on command, so I've made it a little bit easier by hand selecting some of my favorite bar carts and accessories here http://lulupowers.com/shop/

And speaking of sneeky's, take a look at the cocktail guide below.  Now you're just a few invites short from a great party. Cheers!

Sally's Quick Scrumptious Weekend Treats

"There is nothing like a soirée thrown by my childhood friend Sally Horchow" She is an incredible host. As I watched her walk around the party making sure everyone had a sneeky (a spicy Sally or glass of rose) asking if everyone was good. That's a good host. You want your guests to have a great time. C'mon everyone likes to feel they are being taken care of.

Sally is bringing back the Fritos along with her crab dip which was scrumptious. Simple prosciutto wrapped melon, and s’more bites.

Hey put some Fritos in a bowl with a big spoon and your good to go. Fritos are  ol school. Recently I was served Fritos in an ol silver gravy boat with a ladle looking spoon. First thought: chic presto bingo you have a "snack" for your guests. All it takes is keeping a bag of Fritos in your pantry.

Sally's Scrumptious Crab Dip

1 lb lump crabmeat

1 can quartered artichokes

2 8 oz. pkgs cream cheese, softened

1 cup mayo

Juice of 1/2 lemon

Tabasco to taste

Sea salt to taste

300 degrees in the oven for 20-30 minutes (stir halfway through) Serve with Fritos!

Sally's S’more Bites

3 tbsp butter

1 bag (10oz) marshmallows

6 cups rice-crisp cereal

1 cup melted semisweet chocolate chips

71/2 rectangular graham crackers (or 15 squares)

1 cup marshmallow creme (such as fluff)

In a medium saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Stir in marshmallows and cook, stirring until smooth, 2 minutes; remove from eat. In a bowl, combine marshmallows with cereal; mix well. In the bottom of a 9”x 13” pan, spread half of the cereal mixture into a thin, even layer. Top with warmed chocolate. Place graham crackers in single layer over chocolate, breaking crackers as needed to fit; top with creme. Spread remaining half of cereal mixture over creme; lightly press to cement layers together. Let s’mores sit at room temperature for at least 15 minutes before cutting and serving.

Spicy Sally Sneeky

1/2 lime

1/2 oz 100% agave tequila

2oz pineapple juice

1/4 oz agave nectar or simple syrup

3 fresh jalapeño slices, divided

2 to 3 sage leaves

Club Soda (optional)

Squeeze lime into cocktail shaker and add tequila, pineapple juice, agave nectar, 2 jalapeño slices, and sage. Muddle, add ice, and slake well. Strain into a Collins glass filled with ice. Top with Soda if desired. Garnish with remaining jalapeño slice.

*single serving

Oscar Inspired Cocktails

In honor of the 86th Academy Awards this Sunday, March 2nd, I'm serving up sneekys inspired by each Best Picture Nominated film. Host a viewing party with easy appetizers and these sneekys. With all the great films nominated, there's sure to be a sneeky that speaks to everyone. Cheers!

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12 Years a Slave : Blackberry Royale

In 12 Years a Slave, Solomon Northup tries to fashion a pen and ink out of wood and blackberries in a desperate attempt to reach his family in the North. I'm serving up a refreshing pitcher starring blackberries.

• 1 cup fresh blackberries
• 2.5 oz créme de cassis
• 1 lemon
• 1 bottle (12 ounces) ginger beer, chilled
• 4 cups ice
• 1 bottle (750 ml) chilled dry sparkling wine

1. In a large pitcher, combine blackberries, créme de cassis, and 1 tablespoon from half the lemon. Stir to combine, lightly pressing on berries to release juices.
2. Add ice to pitcher. Fill with ginger beer and sparkling wine and stir gently to combine. Slice remaining half of lemon in thin slices and add to pitcher as garnish.

Gravity : Kahlua White Russian

For a movie that has audience members thrilled and on the edge of their seats, George Clooney provides some comic relief by saying he knows where the Russian stash their vodka on board the Russian satellite. Inspired by the small role vodka plays in the movie, I'm serving up White Russians.

• 2 oz Kahlua
• 1 oz vodka
• 1 oz cream or milk

Philomena : Buck's Fizz

There are several food moments through Philomena as Philomena proves to be enthusiastic about food and drinks. The one that stood out to me is when she is offered a Buck's Fizz cocktail on the flight to Washington D.C.

• 1 (750 ml) bottle champagne
• 0.5 liter squeezed fresh orange juice

Chill your Champagne & Orange Juice. Select a tall and elegant shaped champagne glasses! Pour about one third of orange juice into the glass first and then top up with champagne.

Nebraska : No Frills Beer

Beer plays a big role in the film Nebraska. Bruce Dern consumes a great deal of beer throughout the movie and is drunk once or twice. For beer buffs I recommend a good American craft beer such as Brooklyn Lager.

Her : Grand Cosmo

This movie was a little difficult to come up with a sneeky. I was ultimately inspired by how sentimental and romantic it was so I'm serving up this sweet, classic cosmo.

• 0.5 oz grand marnier
• 0.5 oz Belvedere Vodka
• 0.5 oz cranberry juice
• 0.25 oz fresh lime juice

Dallas Buyer's Club : Skinny Man Margarita

A skinny margarita for Ron Woodruff, an AIDS patient who smuggled unapproved pharmaceuticals into Texas when he found they improved his symptoms and distributed them to fellow patient. Cheers to you Ron!

• lime wedge
• 1/2 cup kosher salt
• 3 oz. (90 ml) tequila
• 1 oz. (30 ml) lime juice, freshly squeezed
• 1 oz. (30 ml) agave nectar
• ice

Combine the silver tequila, lime juice and agave nectar in a cocktail shaker. Add ice to the cocktail shaker and replace the lid. Shake the drink until the ingredients are well combined. Pour the drink into salted  glasses.

The Wolf of Wall Street : Money Maker Martini

A lavish twist on a classic martini to accompany a movie based on a beyond lavish lifestyle.

• 1.5oz Vodka
• 0.5oz Chambord
• 0.5oz pineapple juice
• 0.5 oz champagne

American Hustle : After Party (pictured above)

• 6oz Basil Hayden’s Bourbon
• Juices of 1 lime
• 4 slices jalapeno
• 4oz pomegranate juice10oz. agave nectar or simple syrup
• Seltzer on top

Muddle lime juice, jalapeno, and simple syrup. Add pomegranate juice, bourbon, and shake well. Strain into ice filled Collins glasses. And top with seltzer. Garnish with lime wheels and pomegranate seeds.

*Recipe courtesy of Huffington Post

St. Patrick's Day Libation

Happy St. Patrick's Day! A day dedicated to sneaking a few sneekys is my kind of day. This is my favorite green libation for March 17th. Remember, it's 5 o'clock somewhere. Enjoy the day friends!

Fill the blender halfway with ice and add one 12-ounce can limeade. Using the now empty 12-ounce can, fill 1 can worth of gin or vodka into the blender along with 3 baby persian cucumbers and 1 can fresh mint leaves and blend until slushy. Add 1 can soda or ginger ale if you need to stretch it. Serve it in any glass you want!

2013 Oscar Inspired Sneekys

For those of you who are always looking to try a new sneeky, the Oscars are the perfect excuse. Attendees may not be able to drink during the show but you sure can while watching from the comfort of your own home! I LOVE these cocktails that are inspired by this year's Best Picture Nominees. I don't know about you guys but the Grey Goose Le Blanc inspired by Les Miserables is right up my alley! Sit back, relax, and enjoy the show! (Photos and recipes courtesy of Hello Magazine)

True Story Cocktail inspired by Argo

Mixing Hollywood and politics, a seriously sophisticated cocktail with fresh citrus, cherry notes and a splash of glamour.

Ingredients: 2 parts Grey Goose L'Orange 1 part Maraschino liqueur 2½ parts Freshly squeezed pink grapefruit juice 1 dash Dale DeGroff’s Pimento Bitters™

Method: Combine ingredients in a shaker filled with ice. Shake and double strain into a coupe glass. Garnish with pink grapefruit peel.

Coco Django inspired by Django Unchained

The Oscar-nominated film's snow-covered mountains and a lead character's love of a quirky coconut drink are the inspiration for an exotic Grey Goose cocktail with a hint of spice and a fresh mint garnish.

Ingredients: 2 parts Grey Goose Le Citron 2 parts Coconut purée 1 part Falernum liqueur ½ part Freshly squeezed lime juice Splash of tonic water

Method: Build in a highball filled with crushed ice. Swizzle and top with a splash of tonic water. Garnish with a sprig of mint, clapping it first between your hands to release flavour.

Grey Goose Le Blanc inspired by Les Miserables

A fizzy aperitif cocktail with two French classics at its heart: Grey Goose vodka and Noilly Prat vermouth, which this year celebrates its 200th anniversary.

Ingredients: Two parts Grey Goose vodka One part Noilly Prat Dry vermouth One wedge of freshly squeezed lemon juice Splash of ginger ale

Method: Measure two parts of Grey Goose vodka and pour over ice in a wine glass Add one part Noilly Prat which adds a touch of spice Pour in a splash of Ginger Ale Squeeze the juice of a wedge of lemon directly into the drink, using a pick Stir and serve

Monsieur Le President inspired by Lincoln 

To celebrate an iconic American with a love of apples, a long, tall cocktail mixing Grey Goose with two American favourites: apple and cinnamon.

Ingredients: 1½ parts Grey Goose vodka ½ part Applejack ½ part Freshly squeezed lime juice ½ part Cinnamon syrup 3 parts Cloudy apple juice

Method: Build in a highball filled with cubed ice. Garnish with a long, elegant cinnamon stick.

Lulu's Leprechaun

Lulu's Leprechaun

1 can limeade 1 can fresh squeezed cucumber juice 1 can of vodka 1 can of club soda

Use the limeade can as your measuring cup. Mix ingredients together and stir.

Ice Cubes

Fill ice cube tray with cranberries on bottom, pour a thin layer of water just to cover the cranberries. Make sure they do not float to the top. Freeze. Once frozen fill tray to top and put back in the freezer. This allows your cranberries to stay at the top of the ice cube.

Note: I use cranberries but you can use any kind of fruit you want. I also like to add mint to the ice cubes. My favorite ice cube trays are $7.95 from Sur La Table