Tom and Jerry for Christmas

"But anybody will tell you that there is nothing that brings out the true holiday spirit like hot Tom and Jerry, and I hear that since Tom and Jerry goes out of style in the United States, the holiday is never quite the same."

While digging in to the short story collection, Murder For Christmas, I started Damon Runyon's "Dancing Dan's Christmas", a Christmas tale in typical Runyonesque fashion. I was delighted to find the above reference to the drink called Tom and Jerry. As a matter of fact, the entire story is built around the drink.

So, what's so special about that? The drink was once so popular, cartoon characters were named after it, yet today the recipe can hardly be found in even the most complete cocktail books. Why did the drink fall out of style? I have no idea, because it's delicious. I do, however, have an interesting history of the creator of the drink and how I know about it.

The concoctor of the Tom and Jerry - at least as far as we know - was one Jeremiah Clemens from Alabama. Senator and brigadier general during the mid 1800s, he opposed the South's attempt to leave the Union and, due to this unpopular opinion, was forced to move away during the War Between The States. He did return home to Huntsville, AL after the war and was buried there in Maple Hill cemetery.

Followers of my Twitter account will remember that Alabama is my home state and Huntsville is my current city of residence. Maple Hill is a fascinating and beautiful historic cemetery and one which I am very familiar with, and I have seen Clemens' headstone many a time.

Mausoleum at Maple Hill Cemetery

We Huntsvillians are up to our asses in Civil War history, and Clemens' presence would hardly make a ripple except for one thing, Jeremiah Clemens had a famous cousin, one Samuel Clemens. That's right...Mark Twain's cousin invented the Tom and Jerry. He is noted in local history books as the creator of the drink and that's where I first learned about the Tom and Jerry as a kid. Before I even learned about the Tom Collins, I knew how to make a Tom and Jerry.

By the time Runyon was writing his gangster fiction, the drink had already fallen from popularity - probably due to prohibition. 

"This hot Tom and Jerry is an old time drink that is once used by one and all in this country to celebrate Christmas with, and in fact it is once so popular that many people think Christmas is invented only to furnish an excuse for hot Tom and Jerry, although of course this is by no means true."

Since this is apparently a drink that no man can get by without during the holiday season, I discovered I must make one again. As part of my Responsible Debauchery, I am now vegan, so this recipe is the result of some experimentation to replace the egg in the drink. Single serving.

Tom and Jerry

• 1 1/2 tsp egg-replacer
• pinch of cream of tarter
• 1/8 tsp baking soda
• 2 tbl superfine sugar or powdered sugar
• 2 oz plus 1 tsp rye whiskey
• 6 to 8 oz canned coconut milk
• 1/2 oz brandy
• sprinkling of nutmeg

Note: The original recipe calls for light rum instead of whiskey, which you can easily use. This recipe echos later incarnations, such as those in Runyon's Christmas story with the rye. Mmmm, boozy.

    Warm the canned coconut milk in a small saucepan over the stove. For a vintage feel, sit your mug near it on the stove to warm the cup, too. While these are warming, put the egg-replacer in a small bowl and mix in 2 tablespoons water. The egg in this recipe is really for froth so you need a whisk and to beat the hell out of this stuff. I was born a poor person so I know how to beat an egg by hand. These days, however, most people do not so there's no shame in using an electric mixer. (Well, actually there is, but it's the season of giving, so I'll let you use electrics this time.)  

  Continue to beat and mix in baking soda, sugar, and a pinch of cream of tarter to help froth. Also beat in the teaspoon of rye to keep batter consistency. By now the milk should be warm. Be sure to beat the hell out of that, too. We want to see lots of froth and bubbles.

   Pour the egg mixture into your mug. Pour in 1/4 cup of the milk. Add the rest of the booze. Fill the mug with the rest of the milk and stir a little. Sprinkle nutmeg on top. Drink with a flourish.

This is a very strong drink and one can easily imagine getting drunk on the stuff and stealing a Santa suit with gangsters in a scene that must have inspired Bad Santa...at least that's what happens in "Dancing Dan's Christmas".

I will be revisiting the recipe for Christmas, making a punch bowl full for the family (ok, mostly me), and experimenting using chickpea water. As disgusting as that sounds, it can actually be used in a recipe as a good egg-replacer when it comes to froth. Vegans have dubbed the concoction "aquafaba", since calling desserts Chickpea Macarons sent people running to the hills. 

Huntsville Pumpkin Spice Products

As the Halloween season closes out, we still have a full month before pumpkin spice and apple cider give away to eggnog and wassail. Enjoy it while it lasts! Here's a couple of local products you should definitely grab up before they disappear.

Piper & Leaf
Pumpkin Moonshine Tea

Piper & Leaf received national attention after almost winning a Martha Stewart contest, and they will always hold a special place in the Southerner's heart with their delicious teas. Their seasonal favorite, Pumpkin Moonshine, returns for the second year. Get some of this pumpkin goodness while you can. Not so spicey but oh so pumpkiny - it's perfect for those weirdos who complain that pumpkin spice doesn't taste like pumpkin and for the rest of us, too!


Blueberry Kitten Soaps
Pumpkin Pie Soap

This new soap maker on the scene in Huntsville make crap-free soaps -- and they all smell yumful! This seasonal variety of Pumpkin Pie can be found at The ARTery for only $5 a bar. Remember, not just a good smell, pumpkin pie spice is great for the skin.

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Huntsvillians, know any other locally made pumpkin spice products that I should check out? Let me know.

This is Day 16, in my 31 Days of Pumpkin Spice. We will be continuing on into November, just like the holidays of old.

Join in the fun on Twitter with your favorite recipes, quips, or (semi)historical facts by using the hashtag #TeamPumpkinSpice

Pumpkin Spice Milkshake

Ever wished you could make a pumpkin pie drink? You could put a pie in a blender, or you could try this less gross version. I've combined the best of several pumpkin milkshake recipes and got this baby.

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Pumpkin Pie Milkshake

Ingredients:

• 3/4 cup pumpkin puree
• 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
• 1 tablespoon maple syrup
• 1 egg (I used The Vegg egg yolk)
• 1 cup vanilla yogurt (I used So Delicious Coconut Milk, unsweetened vanilla)
• 1 cup milk  (I used cashew milk, but use your favorite creamy milk)
• 1 frozen banana (see notes)
• 1 cup vanilla ice cream (I used So Delicious Cashew Milk)

Optional:

• Ginger Snap or Graham Cracker crumbs (I used ginger snaps for extra spice)
• Whipped cream (I used So Delicious brand)

Note: If you have a Vitamix, you can just throw a whole frozen banana in. However, if you are making this in a blender, slice the banana into disks before freezing.

Put all your ingredients in the blender, removing the frozen items from the freezer right before mixing. Blend until creamy goodness happens.

Pour into two large glasses (or more smaller glasses). Add the whipped cream on top and sprinkle a tablespoon or so of cookie crumbs on top. Then call all the boys to the yard.

My choices for  making this alcoholic would be adding bourbon or vodka. Or you could go the other way and make this into a healthy treat by eliminating the ice cream and adding an equal amount of frozen bananas.

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This is Day 13, in my 31 Days of Pumpkin Spice. I am behind on posting- what can I say? I'm a bad blogger. Rest assured there will be 31 Days of Pumpkin Spice.

Join in the fun on Twitter with your favorite recipes, quips, or (semi)historical facts by using the hashtag #TeamPumpkinSpice

Pumpkin Lassi

If you don't know what a lassi is, you are missing out on one of the most delicious things India has to offer. This is what Indians used those pumpkin spices for before pumpkins came across the ocean. 

No, not that Lassie. Here's a version from the great Shanna Schad of Pineapple and Coconut that mixes East and West by adding in some pumpkin.

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Pumpkin Lassi 

This creamy, slightly sweet drink goes along perfectly with that pumpkin hummus. 

Ingredients:

• 1 cup pumpkin puree
• 1 1/2 cups plain yogurt, or vanilla if you must (I used So Delicious Coconut Unsweetened for a real plain yogurt taste)
• 4 dates, pitted
• 1/2 cold water
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cardamom

If you don't know what cardamom is, it's an Indian spice that reminds me of Fruit Loops. Cardamom makes this drink and cannot be omitted or substituted. It's very tasty and is underutilized by Americans, so experiment. I sometimes put it in my apple cider.

Blend everything in the blender until the dates are well liquefied. The spices tend to get odd if you leave this drink sitting in the fridge so drink immediately.

Schad suggests that this serves two, but I divided this between four people. Guess it depends on how thirsty you are.

Add a shot of dark spiced rum to each glass for an extra fun lassi. But beware, this may lead to the rum always being...well you know.

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This is Day 11, in my 31 Day of Pumpkin Spice. Due to illness, I am behind on posting- what can I say? I'm a bad blogger. Rest assured there will be 31 Days of Pumpkin Spice. 

Join in the fun on Twitter with your favorite recipes, quips, or (semi)historical facts by using the hashtag #TeamPumpkinSpice

Pumpkin Cider Float

Day three of 31 Days of Pumpkin Spice brings us to a tasty concoction of bubbles and sugar. I found this delicious pumpkin cider at EarthFare and had to try this recipe out.

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Pumpkin Cider Float


Ingredients:

• Ace Pumpkin Hard Cider
• Vanilla Ice Cream (So Delicious Cashew Milk)
• Whipped Topping (So Delicious CocoWhip)
• Pumpkin Pie Spice (optional)
• &
• A tall float glass

Add a couple of scoops of ice cream to your glass. Open your cider and pour into the glass, being careful to tip the glass to avoid a foamy explosion of pumpkin death. Take time to appreciate the pretty bubbles. Top off with a ridiculously large amount of whipped topping. Add a sprinkle of pumpkin spice for good measure. While this is optional, I don't feel the drink is complete without it. Enjoy!

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This blogpost is part of 31 Days of Pumpkin Spice. Join in the fun on Twitter with your favorite recipes, quips, or (semi)historical facts by using the hashtag #TeamPumpkinSpice

Irish (American) Delights - A St. Patrick's Day List

As St. Patrick's Day approaches, America begins to be interested in all things Irish...or I should say, in all things we THINK are Irish. Americans may not be known for their knowledge of other countries, but we do know how to have a good time. A good deal of Irish blood flows through America, which probably helps with that.

To celebrate my Scotch-Irish heritage this year, I had planned to do some cooking and drink experiments and come our with some new recipes. However, I celebrated too hard on Saturday and can't stand for any length of time. (Actually, I fell and busted my knee marching in the city's St. Paddy's parade, but that isn't as fun of a story to tell.) Instead, I've had plenty of time to read fellow bloggers' posts and I'll curate my favorites for you.

In case you aren't pleased with being considered an ignorant American, Mental Floss has put together 15 Delightful Facts About St. Patrick's Day for you.

Drinks: 

Apparently, anything that is the color green is considered an appropriate imbibe for St. Paddy's.

It's green...

This one wins my vote for the weirdest: The Green Patrick is a green twist on the bloody mary.

This recipe is a godsend to all vegans and people with dairy allergies. My first Irish love, Bailey's Irish Cream - made homemade vegan! Even if you aren't vegan, a look at all the chemicals in store-bought Bailey's is enough to make you want to make your own.

There are those occasional times when you might need a respite from the alcohol, or maybe you're making something for the kids to enjoy, too. This Green Pistachio Smoothie is a good answer to that.

Music:

This is how we roll in Huntsville. Bourbon and Shamrocks outdoor concert (these guys can also be seen jamming while riding in a pirate ship in our St. Patrick's Day parade):

 Great Irish drinking songs:
"Kiss Me, I'm Shitfaced" by Dropkick Murphys
"Another Irish Drinking Song" by Da Vinci's Notebook
and here's one to watch after you've a couple o' pints in ya.

And, as idle hands are the devil's tool, here's something to knit up for next year.
Or, if it's still cold where you live, this is a must have for any drinking adventure: Beer mitt . If you don't knit have someone make it for you, because...awesomeness -- I mean, faith and begorrah!

Snow Cream!

If you live in the Southeast you probably got hit by the winter storm Remus. This Roman twin (or lovable Harry Potter character) brought an amazing 7 inches of snow to my doorstep in Huntsville, Alabama. Snowmageddon 2015 is officially here and that means it's time for some snow cream!

Snow cream is not an exact science. It depends on the type of snow and how cold it is. I decided to make Kahlua ice cream today before the snow melts.

First you prepare a bowl of milk. I used about 3/4 C coconut milk. I think the thick canned stuff would probably be best. Then I mixed in about an ounce of Kahlua, and a tablespoon of maple syrup. (Usually I add vanilla extract, but I omitted it because of the Kahlua.)

It's best to chill the bowl by placing the entire concoction outside in the snow for a bit. After 10 minutes or so, get ready to eat. I use the top of the car to scoop snow off, since it's relatively clean up there. With spoon and bowl in hand, grab a handful of snow and briskly cut it into the milk mixture. Keep adding snow until you have reached desire consistency. I used three handfuls this morning.

Eat it quick! With no chemicals, this frozen dessert melts quick.

What other types of booze can we put in snow cream? If we got more snow in the South, I'd have a lot more ideas. What do you put in your snow cream?

A half an hour into the snow, Feb 25, 2015

Mardi Gras Margaritas

Laissez bon temps rouler! Or, let the good times roll on this Fat Tuesday!


I've spent most of the Mardi Gras season sewing sequins on to my unicorn costume and making a huge papier mache head character for a fellow reveler. 


After having a great time in the Huntsville Mardi Gras parade Saturday, I did find the time to perfect my strawberry margarita recipe. 

When isn't a good time for a margarita? So here's my spicy and fruity frozen version of perfection. 

4 limes worth of juice
6 Tbl tequila of your choice
2 Tbl Triple Sec
6 Tbl agave syrup
4 cups frozen strawberries

Add these in order to your blender and blend baby blend, until smooth. Sugar may be traditional in a margarita but I feel that agave gives a mellow molasses flavor which blends nicely with the strawberries. Also, the oneness of using tequila (from the agave plant) and agave syrup together makes me feel whole.

This recipe gives you about 5 cups or about 4 average margarita glasses. The glass in the photo is fairly large and this recipe will fill only 3 of them.

Get extra limes for garnish slices.

 

Wintry Piña Colada

Of course a piña colada is a perfect winter drink! Thick and creamy you can take your time sipping it, unlike the fast and loose summer fruit drinks. 


Of course, you might not want to take my word for it, as I also think it makes a great breakfast drink...
 
To the Victorians, importing citrus was expensive and a delicacy only for special occasions, like Christmas. The bright and cheery colors of the fruits were often used to decorate the tables and mantles as well. Citrus trees are also evergreens and a perfect choice for greenery decor. They can be a reminder of the summer days to come, but I prefer to enjoy the moment.

My perfect piña colada recipe is actually a dairyless version adapted from the Queen of Booze herself, Martha Stewart.

20 oz can of pineapple (100% juice)
1 canned coconut milk (from the Asian food section, full fat)
1/2 cup carton coconut milk (I use sweetened So Delicious)
1 cup orange juice
10 ounces rum (I use pineapple or coconut flavored)

Put all ingredient in a blender and mix until the pineapple is thoroughly blended. Refrigerate mixture until cold. Ingredients will separate out, so give it a good stir or shake before serving.

If you are not familiar with coconut milk, I'll break down the differences for you. Canned coconut milk are the insides of a coconut blended into a liquid. No sweetener should be added. You can find these babies in the Asian food section of your grocery store. Don't get the cans marked "light"; they are just coconut milk with water added to them. If you want a thinner piña colada you can add your own water. Since they don't have any chemicals added, the fat will separate and rise to the top. Don't panic if it looks weird. It's normal.

Meanwhile, the coconut milk in cartons are a processed, non-dairy milk substitute. You can find them hanging out with the rice and soy milks. They are often sweetened and thinned. For this recipe I use the So Delicious brand sweetened, vanilla. It's the only sweetener in this recipe and adds just a hint.

When it comes to rum, I know I prefer the flavored rums but I can't decided whether I like the coconut or the pineapple flavored best in this drink. I tend to alternate, depending upon my mood. Pick which seems best to you.

This recipe has no chemicals in it to keep it from separating so we'll have to do it the old fashioned way: stir or shake before using.

Sip while enjoying your dominance over the winter chill!

Jack & Coke Float

Just what the title implies. A drink simple yet amazing - so simple you'll wonder why you haven't been drinking it for years. As far as I know I invented it, but I'm sure there's a few crazies out there that thought of it first.

The following recipe is perfect for two, since a can of coke can be split between you. I like to put a large amount of ice cream in mine and so it takes up a lot of room, but mix your drink however you want. This isn't rocket science.

• 1 shot of Jack Daniels (or other whiskey of choice)
• 1/2 can of coke
• 1 large scoop of ice cream

Pour the shot of whiskey in a large glass or sundae cup. Add the coke second so the carbonation will mix the drink for you. Then delicately lower the rounded scoop of ice cream into the top of the drink. Or, if you're on your second (or third) drink, fling three chunks of ice cream in, dug out of the carton with a tablespoon. Best enjoyed with a spoon and a straw.

When it comes to personal choices, I am a Jack fan, especially Gentleman's Jack, and the mellow flavor is perfect for this adventure. If you use a different brand be sure to choose oaky over tangy. I am also more inclined towards Coke-a-Cola (on the rare occasions I drink soda) since Pepsi tastes saccharin-like to me. Following the responsible part of Responsible Debauchery, I don't use dairy so legally I'm using "frozen dessert". I love to use So Delicious coconut milk ice cream; the coconut fat just melts into the drink... Yums!

That's how I like a Jack & Coke Float. How do you like yours?