Martinez Cocktail

Un cocktail est un mélange de boissons et d’éléments aromatiques et décoratifs en quantité variable. Ils contiennent souvent de l'alcool, mais de très nombreuses recettes en sont dépourvues.
Les cocktails se sont répandus à la fin du xviiie siècle en Angleterre et aux États-Unis. Leur consécration vint pendant la prohibition aux États-Unis dans les années 1920 : l'ajout d'une autre boisson permettait de masquer le goût d'un alcool de contrebande de mauvaise qualité.
Jusqu'aux années 1970, les cocktails étaient surtout faits à base de gin, de whisky et de rhum, plus rarement à base de vodka. Au début des années 1980, la vodka est la base la plus répandue des cocktails, remplaçant souvent le gin.
Quand le mélange d'un cocktail est préparé et conditionné dans le but commercial, il peut être soumis à une réglementation. On parlera alors de prémix. Les mistelles non plus ne sont pas des cocktails.
Le terme désigne aussi, par métonymie, une réception au cours de laquelle sont servies des boissons, dont des cocktails.



This recipe calls for maraschino, a bittersweet clear liqueur flavored with Marasca cherries. Old Tom gin is a lightly sweetened gin that was popular in 18th-century England.

Ingredients:
Ice as needed
2 oz. Old Tom gin
1 oz. sweet vermouth
1/4 oz. maraschino
Dash of orange bitters
Lemon peel for garnish
Directions:
In a tall bar glass or cocktail shaker filled with ice, combine the gin, vermouth, maraschino and orange bitters. Stir, then strain into a small martini glass and garnish with a lemon peel. Serve immediately. Serves 1.




Original John Collins




Prepared using a water carbonator, this cocktail was created for Williams-Sonoma by the experts at Rickhouse, a noted bar in San Franciso owned by Future Bars.

Ingredients:
Ice as needed
2 oz. genever or whiskey
1 oz. fresh lemon juice
3/4 oz. simple syrup
Lemon slice for garnish
Directions:
In a cocktail shaker filled halfway with ice, combine the genever, lemon juice and simple syrup and shake.

Strain over ice into a tall glass. Using a water carbonator, carbonate water according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Fill the glass almost to the top with the sparkling water. Garnish with a lemon slice and serve immediately. Serves 1.





The Apple of My Eye



The beverage experts at Bourbon & Branch, a popular San Francisco bar owned by Future Bars, created this festive cocktail for Williams-Sonoma using the iSi Twist ‘n Sparkle.

Ingredients:
6 oz. bourbon
2 oz. Averna
2 oz. honey syrup
10 oz. apple juice
2 oz. fresh lemon juice
5 dashes angostura bitters
Ice as needed
Apple wedges for garnish
Freshly grated cinnamon for garnish
Directions:
In the Twist ‘n Sparkle bottle, combine the bourbon, Averna, honey syrup, apple juice, lemon juice and angostura bitters. Carbonate according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Pour into ice-filled glasses and garnish each with an apple wedge and freshly grated cinnamon. Serve immediately. Serves 4.

Basic Pie Dough

Basic Pie Dough



Ingredients:
1 1/4 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
1 Tbs. sugar
1/4 tsp. salt
8 Tbs. (1 stick) cold unsalted butter, cut into 1/4-inch cubes
3 Tbs. very cold water
Directions:
To make the dough by hand, in a large bowl, stir together the flour, sugar and salt. Using a pastry cutter or 2 knives, cut the butter into the flour mixture until the texture resembles coarse cornmeal, with butter pieces no larger than small peas. Add the water and mix with a fork just until the dough pulls together.

To make the dough in a stand mixer, fit the mixer with the flat beater, and stir together the flour, sugar and salt in the mixer bowl. Add the butter and toss with a fork to coat with the flour mixture. Mix on medium-low speed until the texture resembles coarse cornmeal, with the butter pieces no larger than small peas. Add the water and mix on low speed just until the dough pulls together.

Transfer the dough to a work surface, pat into a ball and flatten into a disk. (Although many dough recipes call for chilling the dough at this point, this dough should be rolled out immediately for the best results.) Lightly flour the work surface, then flatten the disk with 6 to 8 gentle taps of the rolling pin. Lift the dough and give it a quarter turn. Lightly dust the top of the dough or the rolling pin with flour as needed, then roll out into a round at least 12 inches in diameter and about 1/8 inch thick. Makes enough dough for one 9-inch single-crust pie or one 10-inch galette.

To make a double-crust pie: Double the recipe, cut the dough in half and pat each half into a round, flat disk. Roll out one disk into a 12-inch round as directed and line the pan or dish. Press any scraps trimmed from the first round into the bottom of the second disk. Roll out the second dough disk into a round at least 12 inches in diameter and about 1/8 inch thick and refrigerate until ready to use.

To make a lattice top: Double the recipe, cut the dough in half and pat one half into a round, flat disk. Roll out the disk into a 12-inch round as directed and line the pan or dish. Trim the edge of the dough, leaving a 1/2-inch overhang. Press any scraps trimmed from the first round into the bottom of the remaining dough half. Pat the dough into a rectangle and roll out into a rectangular shape about 1/8 inch thick. Trim to cut out a 14-by-11-inch rectangle and refrigerate until ready to use.

Nut Dough Variation: Add 2 Tbs. ground toasted pecans, walnuts, almonds or hazelnuts to the flour mixture and proceed as directed.

Make-Ahead Tip: Pie dough may be made ahead and frozen for up to 2 months. To freeze, place the dough round on a 12-inch cardboard circle and wrap it well with plastic wrap. Alternatively, use the round to line a pie pan or dish, flute the edge and wrap well.




Blueberry Pie


When a recipe calls for citrus zest and juice, always begin by zesting the rind. First, scrub the fruit well to remove any wax or chemicals. If possible, buy organic fruit to use for zesting. Use a zester, vegetable peeler or fine Microplane grater to remove just the thin, colored portion of the rind, being careful not to include the bitter white pith underneath. To juice, slice the fruit in half crosswise. Working over a bowl, use a reamer to extract the juice or use a citrus juicer. Strain the juice before using to remove any seeds and pulp.
Ingredients:
2 rolled-out rounds of basic pie dough (see
related recipe at left)
4 cups blueberries
1 Tbs. fresh lemon juice, strained
3⁄4 cup sugar
3 Tbs. cornstarch
1⁄2 tsp. finely grated lemon zest
1⁄4 tsp. salt
1⁄4 tsp. ground cinnamon
1 Tbs. cold unsalted butter, cut into small pieces





Directions:
Fold 1 dough round in half and carefully transfer to a 9-inch pie dish. Unfold and ease the round into the pan, without stretching it, and pat it firmly into the bottom and up the sides of the pan. Using kitchen scissors, trim the edge of the dough, leaving 3¿4 inch of overhang. Set the dough-lined pan aside, along with the other dough round, in a cool place until ready to use.

Place the blueberries in a large bowl, sprinkle with the lemon juice and toss to coat evenly. In a small bowl, stir together the sugar, cornstarch, lemon zest, salt and cinnamon. Sprinkle the sugar mixture over the berries and toss to distribute evenly. Immediately transfer to the dough-lined pan. Dot with the butter.

Fold the reserved dough round in half and carefully position it over half of the filled pie. Unfold and trim the edge neatly, leaving 1 inch of overhang, then fold the edge of the top round under the edge of the bottom round and crimp the edges to seal. Using a small, sharp knife, cut an asterisk 4 to 5 inches across in the center of the top to allow steam to escape during baking.