Coastal Fall Holiday Ideas - Use the Good Glasses

Before you know it, Thanksgiving will be here.  This really is the best holiday. (and is my favorite!)  Get out the best serving pieces, polish the silverware, now where did I put my white linen tablecloth??

I usually begin my planning with paging through stacks of saved magazines, and pulling out my well-loved cookbooks to find a a few new recipes to use as  "experiments" on my family and friends.   Lately my I find myself using my Ipad in the kitchen too.   No one seems to complain about what's on the menu, in fact we don't normally have too many left overs....

This year, I am starting a little early because I still really don't know where I will be on Thanksgiving... San Francisco or Seattle?  

One thing that I do know is that we will be using the good glasses.  And, we are going to be whipping up some new fantastic Thanksgiving cocktails!  Get your blender ready.....

(Our new Sea Grass etched collection - love them!)

Pumpkin Pie Cocktails
I found this recipe on Rumshop Ryan. Leave it to Ryan to have good cocktail ideas!  I added a few twists, and spent the afternoon whipping up this yummy concoction up in in our "Caron's" kitchen .

*1 oz. Rum
* 3/4 oz. canned pumpkin pie filling
*1/2 oz. Kahlu'a
*2 oz. cold milk
cup of ice
dash of cinnamon. 
dash of nutmeg
crumbled graham crackers and sugar

Mix all ingredients in blender with ice and blend until frothy.  Rim your glasses with the crushed graham crackers and sugar, then pour your drinks in.  Garnish with cinnamon sticks and toast!   Yum...


Oh, what is Tom going to think when he gets home?

Tom:  "Caron, what did you do all day?  The kitchen is a mess!"
Me:  "Made pumpkin pie cocktails - you know how important it is to be an "authentic" blog writer.  Honest, I even saved one for you!"

Do you think he will believe me?



Here's a few more that I found  that might be fun to try out on the kids!  (Don't worry, I am not corrupting them,  they're 26 and 23)

Pear and Rosemary Cocktails
Discovered at Martha Stewart, so of course, there's a few tricky steps in this.  But, they sounds delish!  After I get done writing this blog post, I think I will start "infusing" my vodka with pears....

Ingredients:
6-10 Seckel Pears
4 cups vodka
1 cup sugar
12 sprigs fresh rosemary + extra for garnish
1 1/2 cups (12 oz.) pear nectar
4 cups sparkling water

Directions:
1. Put enough pears into a 48-ounce glass jar to fill.  Add vodka. Seal jar, and let stand at room temperature 2 weeks (or up to 2 months)

2. Heat sugar and 1 cup water in medium saucepan over medium-high heat, stirring until sugar has dissolved.  Add rosemary; remove from heat.  Let stand 30 minutes.  Discard rosemary.  Let cool completely. Syrup can be refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 1 month.

3. Fill cocktail glasses halfway up with ice.  Add 4 tablespoons of the infused vodka, 2 tablespoons of rosemary syrup, and 3 tablespoons of pear nectar to each.  Top with 1/2 cup sparkling water.  Serve garnished with rosemary springs.

Cannot wait to try this one!

Holiday Mojito (my mouth is watering reading this recipe!)
Discovered at Coastal Living, could work for Christmas, but since it's loaded with marinated cranberries, I think it would be perfect for a Thanksgiving party.
-Recipe makes 1 cocktail

Ingredients:
Lime Wedges
Superfine Sugar
Marinated Cranberries *
3 lime wedges
3 orange wedges
3 fresh mint leaves
1 1/2 oz. rum
1 oz. orange bitters
1 oz. cranberry juice
1 oz. orange juice
1 oz. mint syrup**
cracked ice
Club Soda

*To make cranberries - soak for fresh cranberries in orange flavored rum for 2 days, up to 2 weeks
**Mint Syrup
-1 cup water
-1 cup sugar
-1 1/2 cups fresh mint
Combine water, sugar, and fresh mint in a saucepan over medium-high heat.  Bring to a boil, stirring until sugar dissolves.  Remove from heat, and let stand 30 minutes.  Strain and chill until ready to use.

Directions:
Rub a lime wedge around rim of glass, and dip in superfine sugar.  Place 3 rounded teaspoonfuls of marinated cranberries in the glass; muddle until berries are crushed.  Add the lime wedges, orange wedges, and mint leaves; muddle.  Stir in rum, orange bitters, cranberry juice, orange juice, and mint syrup.  Add cracked ice, and top with club soda.  Serve on a beautiful serving tray to your guests!

Don't you think these drinks would look so festive in our etched starfish glasses,

or maybe the new school of fish glasses?











What's on your agenda for Thanksgiving?  Do you have a special recipe that you'd like to share? You are all invited over to my house (if I am here) we'll get out the blender and make a mess in my kitchen!