Santa's Ultimate Favorite Treat...

The holiday season can get a bit hectic and stressful especially when you have family over.

To help ease everyone down including yourself, here's an all time favorite drink with a twist.

This weeks drink of the week is Santa's favorite... Eggnog Martini courtesy of Mount Gay Eclipse Rum


Ingredients

Makes 16 cups; serves 18-20.

8 large eggs
4 egg yolks
1 cup granulated sugar
5 cups whole milk
1 1/2 cup Mount Gay ECLIPSE Rum
1 cup 80º bourbon
1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
2 cups whipping cream
2 tablespoons superfine sugar
1. In a mixing bowl, whisk eggs, yolks and granulated sugar until smooth.

Preparation

Pour into a large, heavy-bottomed saucepan. Stir in milk, gradually, blending well with each addition. Heat slowly over very low heat, stirring steadily, until the mixture reaches 160º-170ºF on an instant read thermometer.

The custard should be thick enough to coat the back of a spoon: If you draw your finger across the back of the spoon, the line will remain distinct and the custard sauce is done.

2. Pour the custard through a fine-meshed sieve into large bowl. Stir in vanilla the Mount Gay ECLIPSE rum, bourbon and nutmeg. Let mixture cool, then cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until cold, at least three hours and or up to one day.

3. Just before serving, whip cream to very soft peaks, beating in, superfine sugar as you go. Gently fold into custard mixture until incorporated. Serve from a chilled punch bowl or ladle into individual martini glasses, garnishing with grated nutmeg if desired.

Now enjoy the Holidays and tell your crazy aunt she no longer needs her flask this season because you've made her a special eggnog treat.

Enjoy!
xoxo

Post Thanksgiving Celebration....

Just because the turkeys gone and all left overs are sealed away in tupperware, doesn't mean the celebration is over. Before you throw out that special carved pumpkin you have just sitting around, you may want to consider holding on to it as it'll come handy for this weeks drink of the week.

The holidays are just beginning and what better way to keep the spirit and alcohol flowing while wrapping those presents is by making.... Spiced Pumpkin Vodka.

Ingredients
1 1/2 cups (750 ml) Stolichnaya cinnamon vodka
3/4 cup (175 ml) Stolichnaya vanilla vodka
3/4 cup (175 ml) Stolichnaya vodka
2 whole vanilla beans
2 cups raw pumpkin meat, cut into 1/4-inch slices

Preparation
Combine vodkas in bottle or other glass container. Add pumpkin meat and vanilla beans and let sit for 1 week. If necessary, when mixing cocktails strain the vodka as you pour it into the shaker. Consider using toasted pumpkin seeds or some of the vodka-soaked pumpkin as garnish.

Make this your Holiday Signature Drink!

xoxo

Jeweled Lunch Box...

If you have not received the MEMO yet from the fashion police, here's a tip. Over sized bags are OUT. Little ladylike box bags are so cute and IN.

Girls night out can get kinda crazy, especially when you can't decide which dress or shoe to wear, and it also happens to be just that night you decide wearing a bazillion jewelry and rings on every finger wasn't gonna cut it. If that's the case, then these box bags are the perfect final touch to a simple black dress.

These jeweled lunch box (I call them) are so Sexy. They add attitude and style to your look and if you're a total fashionista you know these will look killer even with your everyday wear. I will say though the only downside to a smaller purse means less stuff. So yes, you will have to leave your 5lb make up bag home.

So go ahead and swing one of the season’s ladylike box bags on your arm. You'll sure make the little girls very jealous.

xoxo
The Card Lady

Drink of the Week...

OCTOBERFEST!!! How have you been celebrating? I hope with a bottle of beer.

I found this awesome recipe from Cook Eat Share and if you've got a sweet tooth just like me, this is the perfect recipe to sweeten your favorite beer....

Guinness Ice Cream Float

Bottle of Guinnes draught
French Vanilla Ice Cream

Pour ¾ of Guinness into a tall glass.
Add a large scoop of ice cream, top with remaining beer.
Garnish with whipped cream and cinnamon.

Who said Ice Cream and Beer can't mix well...Enjoy!!

Look and Taste Great...

Just like our fellow Jersey Shore guys, who swear to their ritual GTL (Gym, Tan, Laundry) before hitting up the night scene. I'm sure you too abide by the following female rituals of getting your hair, nails and make up done to ensure you look your finest before stepping into the night life.

Well, before you slap your face with a million of different powder and blush, here's a product I want to share with you. 100% Pure is a cosmetic and skin line that not only will make you look beautiful, but will seriously make you taste like your favorite fruit.

100% Pure created the first and only cosmetics that are colored with fruit and vegetable pigments. All the antioxidants and vitamins are in the pigments, so you will be applying all the healthy nutrients of the fruits directly on your skin. Because these products are made with natural and organic ingredients... this means one thing, its Edible!

My absolute favorite are the Coffee Bean Caffeine Eye Cream to help with the puffiness and of course the Lip and Cheek Tints. A great and quick easy way to look amazing everyday.

Check out their site www.100percentpure.com and remember...what guy wouldn't want a little taste of you at the end of the night!


xoxo
The Card Lady

Drink of the Week...

Yes, PINK is HOT! As you know October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, so let's all raise our glass to someone special with a few cocktail recipes I found from www.hostessblog.com. Let's get you through this new work week toasting in the signature color.


Pictured above {clockwise from top left}:

*****

RASPBERRY MOJITO

Ingredients:
2 oz rum
.5 oz Chambord Black Raspberry Liqueur
6-8 fresh mint leaves
2 lime wedges
1/2 tsp sugar
club soda

Directions:
Add sugar, mint leaves, lime wedges and a splash of club soda to a tall glass. Muddle until sugar is dissolved. Add ice to glass. Add rum and Chambord. Stir to mix. Top with a splash of soda.

*****

PINK MARTINI

Ingredients:
2 oz good-quality gin
½ oz guava nectar
½ oz fresh orange juice
orange twist (for garnish)

Directions:
Shake the liquid ingredients vigorously with ice. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Run the orange peel around the rim, twist it over the drink, and drop.

Pink Russian

*****

PINK LADY MARTINI

Ingredients:
1 1/2 oz Gin
1 tsp Grenadine
1 tsp Light Cream
1 whole Egg White

Directions:
Shake well with ice and strain into a chilled cocktail glass.

*****

PINK RUSSIAN

Ingredients:
1 oz Tequila Rose
1 oz Kahlua
1/2 oz Vodka
1 oz Milk Or Cream (to taste)

Directions:
Pour liquor in a short cocktail glass filled with ice.

 Add milk or cream.

*****

Enjoy!

Drink of the Week...

I don't know about you, but it feels like summer was only here for a quick second. So to kick off your new week, let's toast and say Good Bye Summer and Hellooo Fall!

This weeks Drink is "Summer's End"

Ingredients:
1 3/4 oz Patron Reposado
1/2 oz Meyer Lemon Juice
1/2 oz Agave Nectar
1 oz Dry Sparkling Wine
3 to 1 inch Cubes of Watermelon
Slice of Meyer Lemon and Watermelon for Garnish

Method:
Shake and strain all ingredients. Serve neat and up. Top with sparkling wine.

Enjoy!