Spring Fever with Martinis

These pics are from last Sunday, when Mr. F and I spent the afternoon strolling around Newport and had a few martinis at The Red Parrot. All in all, a slightly indulgent, barely warm(cool breeze off the harbor) early spring day. I took these photos, mostly on Spring Street(walking on the sunny side of the street, of course) as we walked back from the Red Parrot.

This centuries old house appeared to be vacant and abandoned....

Masses of purple crocuses blooming in a little square in front of the White Horse Tavern, which at one time was once run by a pirate!--a little history:

Frances Brinley constructed the original building on the site in 1652. In 1673, the lot was sold to William Mayes, and the building was enlarged to become a tavern. The building was also used for large meetings, including use as a Rhode Island General Assembly meeting place, a court house, and a city hall. William Mayes, Sr., obtained a tavern license in 1687 and William Mayes, Jr., a well-known pirate, operated the tavern through the early eighteenth century. The operation was named "The White Horse Tavern" in 1730 by owner Jonathan Nichols.

During the American Revolution, Tories and British troops were quartered there around the time of the British occupation and the Battle of Rhode Island.

After years of neglect as a boarding house, Newport's Van Bueren family donated money to the private Preservation Society of Newport to restore the building in 1952. After the restoration, the building was sold and once again operated as a private tavern and restaurant. As of 2011, it still remains a popular drinking and dining location.

Mr. F's white chocolate and espresso martini.

I had a French Martini, made with Chambord, vanilla vodka(yeah, I had no idea there was such a thing, either), and pineapple juice, and I liked it so much I have since made it at home.

**

*1 1/2 oz vodka

(I used vanilla vodka since that was how they made it at the Red Parrot)

*1/2 oz Chambord Liqueur

*2 oz Pineapple Juice

**

Shake this really well in cocktail shaker with plenty of ice--the pineapple juice gets nice and frothy, making this drink almost creamy.

To end...a Blogthing quiz(haven't done one of these in some time):

You Are a Blue Martini

You may have had a difficult time earlier in life. You are highly sensitive and a little cautious. You are a reserved and careful person, but you don't let that stop you from doing your thing. Old fashioned and conservative, you carry yourself with dignity. You don't embarrass yourself. You are attracted to powerful people who have a good deal of influence. You wouldn't mind some of that rubbing off on you.

What Color Martini Are You?

Twofers

Just making it to get a blog entry in this Sunday-- a "twos" meme for tonight.
And...I'm tagging Protege, Clare, Claudia in Guatemala and ...the Creative Kerfuffle lady ;-).
Of course, anyone else who wants to do this is welcome--would like to see everyone else's answers to these questions.

Two names you go by:
1. Mom
2. Tina

Two things you are wearing right now:
1. grey argyle knee socks
2. black skinny jeans (which are really comfy to wear, believe it or not!)


Two things you did last night:
1. (finally) watched Julie & Julia (don't watch this movie on an empty stomach!!)
2. drank a perfect vodka and tonic(with lime) made for me by Mr.F

Two Pets that you have or have had
1. dog Jewel (see right)
2. cat Pete (see right)

Two of your favorite things to do:
1. go on a road trip

2. read


Two things you want very badly at the moment:

1. to go on a road trip

2. Indian Pudding (soon..soon, though--it's in the oven)

* recipe here

Last Two things you ate:

1. broccoli, chicken sausage pasta dish (dinner tonight)

2. a handful of M & M's (so much for the no-sugar challenge)

Two people you last talked to:

1. R

2. Mr. F

Two things you’re doing tomorrow:

1. ordering mats, frames at work(Monday is ordering day)

2. stopping in at the liquor store for some nice white wine--have a craving for some as a change of pace from red)

Two of the longest trips taken:

1. flew across the Atlantic to Germany

2. Drove from the Gulf coast of Florida all the way up to Rhode Island.

in two days

in summer.

through much of the hot South.

in a cramped, tiny Subaru.

with no air conditioning.

had a panic attack in a traffic jam inside a bus fumes filled Holland Tunnel through NYC

(that's one road trip that I don't want to make ever again!)

Two favorite beverages:

1. Jasmine Green Tea

2. coffee

That Martha!

As much as I mock her , I can't help but kinda like the lady(or the lady and her staff and "empire" of entertaining and decorating perfectionists). I have a friend who passes on her Martha Stewart Living magazine to me and I have to say I usually get some great ideas and recipes out of them.

I just try to ignore that "too-too-Martha" calendar of her month of things to do(only attainable if you live like Martha Stewart and have a staff of 30 to do it for you), and also don't ever get too excited about the room interiors and those sickly washed out shades the rooms always have--I like more punchy color, myself.

In December's issue, there was a double page of recipes for holiday cocktails--like gluhwein and glogg and mulled wine. These were all too involved and didn't appeal to me, anyway.

But the one that stuck in my mind and seemed incredibly easy and yummy was one for a Champagne Slushie.

Basically all you do is drop a tablespoonful of sorbet into a champagne flute and immediately after, pour in some sparkling wine (I usually use Prosecco). Supposedly, the bubbles mix up the sorbet and turns it into a slushy consistency. Doesn't that sound fun?

I have a container of raspberry sorbet in the freezer, all ready for tonight's "Once In A Blue Moon" New Year's celebration. Which will be just the husband and I, because the daughter is going to be sleeping over at her best friend's house.

We'll be dining on shrimp cocktails and love...... and fizzy drinks. ;-)

I just thought of another idea(next New Year's toast?) for a fun Champagne cocktail:

Kir Royales!

(and of course, the Martha Stewart website had a recipe)

Ingredients
Serves 6

3 ounces (6 tablespoons) creme de cassis
1 bottle Champagne or other sparkling white wine
6 strips tangerine or orange zest, for garnish

Directions
Just before serving, pour 1 tablespoon creme de cassis into each glass. Fill with Champagne, and garnish with zest.

From Martha Stewart Living

Hmmmm...I might have to get a bottle of creme de cassis and make it a night of bubbly cocktails.