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.

Nantucket Bike Basket Co.

I know it may not be Spring time yet but I'm already craving the great outdoors, specifically days spent in Nantucket. The island has such a special place in my heart and this family owned, Nantucket based company is sweet as candy. Started by Brittany McCann along with her father and sister, Nantucket Bike Basket Co. is a huge hit. Yes, they're baskets are great additions to any beach cruiser but they can also be used in unique and unconventional ways. Why not turn them into planters for your flowers, storage bins, or mail boxes. Check out their gorgeous photos for inspiration. And fret not, you don't have to be a local to get your own basket. They have an online store where you can buy their entire product line. For all the dog lovers out there, they even have doggy baskets!

DIY Candle Holders

Now you can have your oysters and eat them too! Oysters are a favorite dish of them but their exteriors are just as appealing as their interiors. Instead of throwing out the pretty shells, try turning them into candles using these simple steps.

You’ll need:

• clam or oyster shells (deep enough to hold some wax, similar size to a tealight)
• a double boiler
• beeswax
• waxed and wired tealight wicks with tabs

Melt the beeswax in a double boiler and prepare the seashells by washing them thoroughly. Carefully pour wax into the shells, making sure they stay level and wax doesn’t pour over the edges. (Here's a trick: sit the shells in sand so they don't slide around while you're pouring the hot wax.) Place a wick in the center of each one. The wicks are short and should easily stay in place without the help of a glue gun. Then let the cool and cure for a full 24 hours. It's so simple and shabby chic. Happy crafting!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Happy Valentine's Day! For all the hopeless romantics out there, this day is for you! Whether you're celebrating with friends, family, or a loved one, make sure it's a decadent day. Today is the day to forget about your diet and the gym. Live a little! Today's ingredients consist of chocolate, chocolate, and more chocolate. I'm serving up my mom's mouth watering chocolate cake. It's simple, elegant, and delicious! Kisses from the kitchen. -XO

Mom’s Chocolate Cake

Serves 8

• • 4 oz semisweet chocolate
  • 2 tablespoons cocoa
  • ½ cup sugar
  • 7 oz cake flour
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 2/3 cup boiling water
  • 4 eggs
  • 1 ¾  cup sugar
  • 12 oz butter
  • 1 cup sour cream
  • 2 tablespoons dark rum

  Put chocolate, cocoa and sugar in Food Processor and mix it. Add flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt and process. Take it out. Add boiling water to machine and then add eggs- process one at time. Next add sugar, butter, sour cream and dark rum. After you process all those ingredients add dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix together.

  Spray pan, put in parchment, spray again.

  Bake at 325 F.

  12” Bake for 1 hour and 10 minutes

  8-9” Bake for an hour or less (50 min)

  Glaze

  • 6 oz semisweet chocolate
  • 4 tablespoons of water
  • 8 tablespoons (1/2 cup) powdered sugar, sifted
  • Pinch salt
  • 4 tablespoon (2oz) butter
  • 2 teaspoon dark rum

  Mix in double boiler, semisweet chocolate, water, powdered sugar and salt until there are no lumps. Stir constantly. Add butter. Take off heat and stir in rum.

The First Lady Cocktail

"The Michelle"

This drink is in honor of Mrs. Obama and her overall fabulousness. Cheers to you Michelle,  amazing wife, mother, and philanthropist. 

• 4 ounces patron silver
• 2 ounces each fresh lime and clementine juice.
• 2 oz patron citronage
• A piece of jalapeño muddled with 1/8 cup cilantro leaves.

Put all ingredients into a shaker and shake shake shake.

2013 Presidential Inauguration

Let's raise a glass for the 44th President of the United States! We're all so thrilled for him! Here are two sneekys inspired by him and his right hand woman, The First Lady, Michelle Obama. Cheers!  

"The Obama"

I made this drink specially for the Commander-in-chief at a party in his honor. 

• 2 oz vodka 2 oz champagne
• 2 oz grapefruit
• Splash st Germaine

Put all ingredients in a shaker and shake shake shake!

Happy Hour Handbook

Autumn is officially upon us and the holidays are right behind, so I'm in full-on entertaining mode. Festive fall fetes and glamorous wintertime gatherings call for a cocktail spread that's in ship shape. Stock up on my essentials for a season's worth of happy hours, from sleek decanters and colored glassware, to my secret for hosting in small spaces (hint: it's all about the collapsable table!). You can find all of my favorites for holiday hosting and sneeky necessities on my Open Sky page.

Below you can find a few of my favorite holiday sneaky recipes!

Apple Cinnamon Sangria

When I think of Sangria It brings me way back to working for my mom (patty Powers) in her catering business in Weston, Ct.  When I was a kid we were taught how to do everything from opening a bottle of wine, to setting the table to even lighting my dad his daily cigar. Not quite of age yet I learned how to make a tasty batch of sangria.

2 bottles of one white wine and one of red (Don’t pick something too good because it will be getting mixed with all of the items below)

2 Granny Smith apples

2 mangoes

2 peaches

3 lemons

3 limes

2 cups apricot brandy

½ cup brown sugar

1 T cinnamon

Slice fruit and put in bowl or 2 gallon Ziploc bag with brandy, brown sugar and cinnamon.  Soak overnight.

Frostbite Spritz

3 oz champagne 1/2 oz Aperol 1/2 oz St. Germaine 1/2 oz Meletti amaro 1/2 lime squeezed

Pour champagne over ice. Add Aperol, St. Germaine, Meletti and lime.

Top off with: Frozen cranberries, a homemade ice cube, frozen grapes or a small candy cane

Lulu's Kir Royale

My clients love this festive and flirty drink. Garnish it with a few pomegranate seeds.

Serves 1 

1 tablespoon Chambord

6 ounces Champagne or sparkling wine, well-chilled

Pour the Chambord into a Champagne flute and add the Champagne.

Lulu’s Tip: I like to garnish this drink with a dressed-up ice cube. I use long ice cube trays that I find at IKEA. I fill them with filtered water, add pomegranate seeds and sprigs of fresh thyme or rosemary, and freeze. They look beautiful floating in the drink. Another fun garnish is a sugared rim: simply moisten the rim of the Champagne flute with water, turn it upside down, and dip it in a bowl of superfine sugar.

Happy Holidays friends and remember, drink responsibly!