SoGood.TV: Cooking With HJ

Absolut Brooklyn Sangria

This summer, SoGood.tv, along with a host of other Brooklyn blogs, has been chosen to collaborate with Absolut Vodka, to celebrate Absolut Brooklyn, a Red Apple and Ginger infused vodka in a bottle designed by Spike Lee. Over the next weeks, we'll all be sharing our own "Stoop Life Stories" in Cyberspace. Mine will be recipes to enjoy while we toast the phenomenal spirit that is Brooklyn, starting with this yummy Sangria. Best of all, Absolut is donating $50,000 to Brooklyn's Habitat for Humanity. Cheers to them for that!

For my efforts, I received a bottle of Absolut Brooklyn and a Flip Camera, (though sadly not the HD one so I can't blog with it.) Therefore, it is, apparently, a sponsored post. That I spent much more on the video than I received isn't relevant, but I can't help but mention it. Video ain't free, nor is recipe testing, but I was a tad unclear. The FTC rules are a bit murky themselves, but the precise wording from a rep of Absolut is below. Hmm. I wonder how much I have to disclose if I produce a video for a candidate for public office? But, I digress....

Here is the wording: "As a collaborator, we’d love to work with you to celebrate Brooklyn, including: · A feature as our “Blogger of the Week” on ABSOLUT VODKA’s Facebook page (reaching half a million fans!) · VIP access to a celebrity event in Brooklyn we are planning for early June · Special call-out as a key collaborator during the Fifth Annual Brooklyn Blogfest on June 8 · Gift of a Flip camera to capture all the action this summer · Gift of product that has yet to hit store shelves (the vodka)."

Absolut Brooklyn Sangria

1 apple, diced

1 orange, diced

1/4 lemon, diced

1/4 lime, diced

1/2 cup Absolut Brooklyn

1/3 cup orange juice

1/4 cup Cointreau or other orange flavored liqueur

3-4 tablespoons super fine sugar

1 liter bottle ginger ale

Ice

In a large pitcher, mix all the ingredient except for the ginger ale and ice. Let sit, refrigerated, for at least one hour and as long as 8. When ready to serve,  add half the ginger ale and ice. Taste, adjust sweetness and add remaining ginger ale to taste. An absolute party favorite with friends and neighbors. Gotta love Brooklyn.

Video: Cocktails in Madrid

Video Recipe: Cocktails in Madrid

As my friend Jerry said, one of the three most important things in making a good cocktail is a recipe, so here is what he made.  The other two things are fresh juices and plenty of ice.  Thanks, Jerry.  That was great fun.

Spanish Sidecar

1 1/2 oz Spanish brandy such as Carlos Primero
1/2 oz orange liqueur such as Cointreau
1/2 oz fresh squeezed lemon juice

Chill glasses and cocktail shaker.  Place ingredients in shaker with lots of ice. Cover and shake well. Moisten rim with cut lemon, coat with sugar. Turbinado or raw sugar makes a nice choice. Strain cocktail into class, garnish with lemon. 

Floridita

1 1/2 oz white rum such as
1/2 oz fresh squeezed lime juice
3/4 oz Rosso Vermouth (sweet)
1 dash Grenadine syrup
1-2 dashes white Creme de Cacao

Chill glasses and cocktail shaker. Measure and place ingredients in shaker with lots of ice. Cover and shake well. Strain cocktail into glass, garnish with lime.