Cold meals / dishes - quick and easy recipes - page 52

This classic after-dinner drink is said to be an adaptation of a gin-based cocktail named the Alexander. While both are shaken with crème de cacao and heavy cream, this version has brandy swapped in for the gin. Sip this creamy tipple after the holiday feast as you chat on the couch with friends and family.

This light, delicate cocktail combines the dry, salty flavor of manzanilla sherry with herbaceous gin and floral elderflower liqueur. Stir together a few of these for guests as an elegant after-dinner drink. What to buy: Manzanilla sherry, made in the coastal town of Sanlúcar de Barrameda in southern Spain, is a very dry sherry with a touch of saltiness from the sea. You can find it in the wine section of well-stocked grocery or liquor stores or online.

This fortified wine cocktail with deep caramel flavors is a twist on the Adonis cocktail, which usually uses fino sherry and sweet vermouth. Here, we stir together rich cream sherry, both dry and sweet vermouths, and some orange bitters, then garnish with an orange twist.

One night I was enjoying a couple of these cocktails with a friend who got to the bottom of his glass quicker than expected. I warned him that the blend of fino sherry, citrus juice, Cointreau, and allspice liqueur is dangerously easy to gulp, explaining that I’d made that mistake before at the start of an evening and it was soon the end of me. He laughed and said, “Well, then this cocktail is your alpha and omega … your beginning and end!”

This blended summer drink was given to us by Tres Restaurant (formerly known as Tres Agaves). It comes together in only a few minutes and can easily be doubled or tripled to serve a crowd. Just blend tequila, watermelon, lime juice, and agave nectar and pour over ice. A basil leaf garnish adds a bit of fragrant spice.

The original Dark ‘n’ Stormy (dark rum, ginger beer, and lime) comes from Bermuda. We give it the American convenience-store treatment, with ice and enough time in the blender to make it slushy and super-refreshing. Warning: You will get a brain freeze, so sip slowly!

The Mojito (white rum, lime, simple syrup, and muddled mint leaves) is arguably the most cooling drink ever invented. Turn it into a slushy, and it reaches arctic levels of refreshment.

The Old Fashioned is a beautiful thing. At its best, it’s a careful balance of whiskey, sugar, and bitters, with a little dilution from water, often in the form of melting ice. Here, the classic goes pool-friendly, with a slushy blender version that relies on lots of ice, as well as fresh cherries to lend a little brightness and color.

This blended mix of lemon juice, simple syrup, fresh strawberries, ice, and vodka refreshes like a 7-Eleven Slurpee for grown-ups. Drag the blender out to the patio, put on some summer tunes, and kick back in the lounge chair.

Indian spiced tea—masala chai—has a lovely delicacy and a fortifying strength. We harnessed both qualities for these refreshing milkshakes that should help you get through the muggiest summer afternoon. Chai tea bags are handy, but we suggest making your own sachet, using cheesecloth and a good-quality masala chai, a blend of loose-leaf black tea with whole spices such as cardamom pods, cloves, fennel seeds, black peppercorns, cinnamon, and dried ginger.

Some days a milkshake is all you need to stay cool, other days only an ice pop will do. These chai popsicles are wonderfully fragrant, perfect to end off a rich Indian meal of complex flavors or to punctuate a lazy summer afternoon. They’re super easy to put together—once you’ve made the basic mix for our Chai Frozen Milkshakes, all you need are pop molds and a little patience. Special equipment: You’ll need freezer pop molds for this recipe.

Fresh, bright, and easy, this mango salsa recipe gets both crunch and a little kick from diced red onion and tomato. It’s great sprinkled on a salad, spooned over grilled fish or chicken, or as a topping for tacos, nachos, or salmon burgers.

Rémoulade is a classic mayo-based accompaniment for Creole-style fried seafood. We gave the Louisiana standby a touch of Asian character via soy sauce and a little chopped cilantro. Serve it with grilled or fried shrimp, or on grilled salmon burgers.

Christopher Longoria of restaurant 1760 in San Francisco devised this beautifully colored, wonderfully aromatic cocktail to highlight mezcal in a way that smooths out its rustic edges. It’s bright and sophisticated, not to mention wickedly strong. What to buy: You’ll need a bottle of Hangar 1 Kaffir Lime Vodka and a moderately smoky mezcal, such as Del Maguey’s Vida. Special equipment: A wooden muddler is best for crushing the basil, and a four-prong bar strainer is a handy tool.

This salsa is a classic with a twist of sweetness thanks to mango. It’s an easy, go-to recipe that’s perfect for a party, or as an afternoon snack staple—try it with our easy crab cake recipe. This salsa is a little on the hot side, so don’t be shy about adjusting accordingly. Happy chip dipping and taco topping!

Trick Dog is a bar in the Mission District of San Francisco that’s known for its expertly crafted cocktails. The Lombard Street cocktail was named after one of the city’s most famous, and windiest, landmarks. The smokiness of the mezcal, paired with the sweet and sour flavors of the pineapple syrup, sherry, and lime juice, makes this a well-balanced drink that’ll give you a much-needed taste of the tropics on a chilly evening.