Top Shooter Recipes

Many people think shots are a bit boring – a single measure of one alcoholic drink that is drunk in a mouthful and then it’s over.  But there is a type of cocktail that uses the shot glass but is a bit more fun and that is the shooter.  These are short and potent drinks that combine spirits, liqueurs and non-alcoholic components to make a short drink that can even look really brilliant.  This means they are a great party idea and to give someone a personalised shot glass to commemorate a special occasion is a way of both remembering this and allowing them to continue to experiment!

Jello Shooters

Jello shooters are brilliant for a party and can be used in so many different ways, there is never a guest who will be left out.  You can even make a special one for the birthday boy or girl with their own celebratory shot glass.  The basic recipe uses 3 ounces of gelatine, 8 ounces of boiling water, 4 ounces of vodka or other spirit and 4 ounces of cold water. 

Mix the cold water and alcohol together then chill them in the refrigerator so they are the same temperature.  Next, pour the gelatine into a bowl and add the boiling water, stirring until it is dissolved.  Next stir in the chilled mixture and add food colouring if you want to and allow to set.  Serve them in the glasses or tipped out if you refer.

For a Margarita version, use 2 ounces of water, 3 ounces of tequila, 1 ounce triple sec and 2 ounces lime juice then follow the same idea.

Famous shooters

One of the most famous shooters is the Alabama Slammer (great name!) which can be made with or without the sloe gin depending on taste.  The traditional recipe uses ½ ounce sloe gin, 1 ounce amaretto, 1 ounce Southern Comfort and a dash of lemon juice.  To make the drink, mix the drinks into a mixing glass with ice and add the lemon juice.  Stir it well then strain into shot glasses.

Layer shooters look brilliant for parties as well as tasting great.  One example is the B-52, which makes a startling three layered drink.  It uses ½ ounce coffee liqueur, ½ ounce Irish cream liqueur and 1.2 ounce orange liqueur with Grand Marnier being a favourite.  Pour the coffee liqueur into the shot glass then gently float the Irish cream liqueur on the top.  Finally add the Grand Marnier so that it sits on the top and forms the orange layer.

Another startling looking drink that is great for a party around St Patricks Day or for Irish friends is the Irish Flag Shooter.  This uses 1 part green crème de menthe, 1 part Irish cream liqueur and 1 part Grand Marnier liqueur.  Layer them into the glass in that order to recreate the colours of the Irish flag.

Finally, for a hot shot for parties, go for the Prairie Fire Tequila Shooter.  Take 1 ounce of tequila and add two drops of Tabasco for a short drink that isn’t for the faint hearted!

Unusual Father’s Day Gift Ideas

So it’s nearly June and our minds turn to what to get Dad for Father’s Day.  You try to get hints of anything he wants but he’s noncommittal as usual so you need ideas.  Something that tells him how much you love him without being useless.  Here’s a few suggestions.

Father’s Day history

Did you know that Father’s Day was actually first celebrated in the United States at the beginning of the 20^th century to complement the existing Mother’s Day celebration.  The first Father’s Day celebration was held on July 5^th 1908 in Fairmont, Virginia and was inspired by Grace Golden Clayton.  She had lost her father in the 1907 Monongah Mining Disaster along with 360 other men, 250 of them being dads.  She suggested that their local pastor honour these fathers.

The celebration took off properly in 1910 when it was held in Spokane, Washington on June 19^th to celebrate a single father who was raising six children.  Word spread and other people began to think that honour fathers was a good idea.  It became a nationally recognised holiday in 1966, confirming it was the third Sunday in June.  Here in the UK this is the date that we now celebrate the occasion also.

Picking the gift

Picking a gift for Father’s Day can be a challenge and we often end up with a ‘predictable’ gift such as a new pint glass, a mug or even a picture frame with a family shot in.  But a new trend in personalisedgifts means that even if these traditional gifts are still the right choice for your Dad, you can add something to them to make them special.

If you are buying for a young child to give to their Dad, then a mug showing I Love My Daddy is a good place to start.  You can also get the wording changed if the kids don’t use Daddy to ensure that the message means something to the recipient.

Similarly, shot glasses and beer mugs are a great gift that can have a truly personal message added to them.  From adding ‘best dad in the world’ after his name or other special messages, you can ensure that your Dad knows that the gift is all about him, not just a general shelf item.

For dad’s with a sweet tooth, a personalised sweet jar is a great present and gives them an excuse to refill it when it is empty.  For younger kids, there are some available with the familiar cuteness of the Tatty Teddy on it while messages To My Daddy and Lots of Love from X are just ideas of what can be printed into the label.

Finally, if Dad has a shed or a man cave, then a door plaque is a great fun way of showing him you love him and personalising his little space.  Slate is a great material for this purpose as it withstands being outside and a wide range of messages can be added to it.

Why Chillies are good for You

Chillies are one of those things that people seem to either love or hate – some people can eat them like they were a banana while others pull faces at the mere mention of their existence.  Yet there is plenty of evidence to show that even if you aren’t in the chilli fan club, it’s worth trying to add them into your diet in one way or another.

What is a chilli?

So let’s start with the basics – a chilli pepper really is a member of the pepper family, called capsicums.  They are given their powerful kick by the same substance found in other peppers, called capsaicin as well as other chemicals grouped together and called capsaicinoids.  Chilli peppers came originally from the Americas and were spread around the world by the Portuguese navigators in the 16^th century.  It is now a central part in a number of world cuisines including from America right around the world to India, Turkey and even into Japan and Korean foods.

There are actually five species of chilli peppers that include all the ones we have heard of and a few we don’t hear about so often.  There is the Capsicum annuum species that contains the most common chillies such as bell peppers, cayenne and jalapenos while the Capsicum frutenscens has the tabasco, Thai and piri piri chillies.  The Capsicum chinense contains the naga, habanero and scotch bonnet varieties while the remaining two families are mostly seen in South America.  Despite these families, chillies are normally grouped into three types; bell peppers, sweet peppers and hot peppers.

Why is chilli so good?

The substance capsaicin that gives the chilli most of its kick is also responsible for the main health benefits to be gained from eating them.  Capsaicin is being studied in connection with a host of conditions because it works as an anti-inflammatory so can help conditions such as arthritis and psoriasis.  There is also evidence that it has natural pain relieving abilities, particularly for osteoarthritis. 

Red chilli peppers such as cayenne has been shown to help reduce cholesterol levels within the blood along with clearing up a substance called fibrin that is integral in the formation of blood clots.  Spicing meals with powdered chilli can also help protect the body against free radicals, those harmful little things that can contribute to heart conditions.

Finally, chilli peppers can also help to lose weight because eating them takes energy and this uses calories.  In fact, they have been shown to increase heat production and oxygen consumption in the body for around twenty minutes after being eaten, burning nicely through those calories.

Preparing chillies

There are so many dishes that a little chilli can be added to that we would be here forever listing them.  However, the most important point to know is how to prepare them and this is relatively simple.  You can take a wooden board and a sharp knife them cut rings while cutting them into fine shreds by slicing the top off the chilli then removing the seeds with knife or a spoon.  Keep the chilli with the skin side downwards and cut into thin shreds.  Finally, to finely dice, cut these shreds into small cubes.

How to Make the Perfect Cheese Platter

Whether to serve to guests as part of a dinner party, to finish off a buffet or just to enjoy on a summer’s evening in the garden, a cheese platter appeals to nearly everyone.  There are just so many types of cheese that there is always something that every guest will like, even if they end up nibbling the accompaniments!  So how do you make the perfect cheese platter that looks the part as well as tasting great?

Getting organised

The most important part of the cheese platter is obviously the cheese but it isn’t the only part.  However, let’s start with the cheese.  Try to serve a range of textures and flavours in the cheese and the guide for this is that most all fall into one of four basic categories – aged, soft, firm and blue.  So by selecting at least one from each of these four, you have a great starting place and always make sure there is one familiar cheese in there that everyone will know.  Examples of each include:

• Aged – aged cheddar, comte, goat gouda
• Soft – camembert, brillat-savarin
• Firm – manchego, parmesan-reggiano
• Blue – gorgonzola, stilton

Guessing how much cheese you need can be tricky but another guide figure is that you will likely use 3 pounds of cheese for eight people, 6 pounds for sixteen or 9 pounds for twenty-four.  If cheese is only part of what is being served, then aim for 3-4 ounces per person.

Accompaniments

What makes the cheese board a hit is what you serve in addition to the cheese.  One steadfast hit is a selection of breads including sliced baguette and bread sticks in addition to crackers and biscuits.  The different textures and flavours of these will all work differently with the cheeses and mean that every bite is a little different.

You don’t want to go overboard on the accompaniments but a simple pot of condiment will be enjoyed by most people.  Anything from chutneys and mustards to something sweet like preserves or honey can be served and vegetables are also a great accompaniment.  Caramelized onions are a wonderful friend to cheese if you have time to prepare them while roasted red peppers or even artichoke hearts work well.

Contrast sweet and salty items with your cheese by offering cured meats such as salami or prosciutto while nuts and candied items also contrast well.  Dried and seasonal fruits such as apples, pears and grapes are traditionally included in a cheese board and for good reason.

Presentation

Once you have everything together, then presentation is the final element.  I was recently given a beautiful personalisedcheese board with my favourite cheeses on it that swings open and has a selection of cheese knives underneath. 

Once you have your favourite board, remember to keep the strong smelling cheese away from each other, less they gang up on your guests.  Make sure you have a knife for each cheese as well as one for butter and a paring knife for any of the firm cheese.  You can even pop little name tags beside each cheese so guests aren’t constantly asking which one is which.  Finally, remember to take the cheese platter out of the fridge an hour before serving as being too cold spoils the flavour.  Then enjoy!