How you doin’? This is our 1,000th recipe blog. We started publishing at the beginning of the Covid scare when people were locked away in their homes with their families. We started getting phone calls from friends and family who asked us for recipes. For many they never had to cook 3 meals a day for their families.
 
Joan said, “It will only be 14 days, we can certainly write recipes for our friends after all we have over 30,000 recipes in our recipe archive, we’ve written for our clients over the years.” Well, 14 days came and went and still we were stuck in our homes. We had nothing but time and we continued to go to the office—we added some recipe history and Happy Hour on Fridays—what’s life without a great Happy Hour cocktail?
 
Every time we have missed an issue or when we went from 5 to 3 issues per week, we had our friends demand (sometimes in not such a friendly way) that we continue. I thought once we hit #1000 it would be a good time to stop, but after talking to quite a few people they told us they love the contact, so we are now starting on the next thousand.  
 
I am so excited for our 1,000th that falls close to Mardi Gras. It’s time to celebrate and this festive time is all about music, parades, picnics, floats, excitement and, of course, our 1,000th. It’s one big holiday in New Orleans, but you don’t have to live in the Big Easy to partake in the celebration!
 
Throw your own Mardi Gras party and celebrate our 1,000th with your friends and family with this delicious Mardi Gras Punch Bowl!   You can blow this recipe out depending on how many people are celebrating.
 
Prep time:  15 minutes
Yield: 16 to 20 servings
 
Ingredients 
2 sliced blood oranges
2 sliced limes
2 sliced lemons
16 maraschino cherries
16 ounces of red fruit punch (I prefer Hawaiian Punch)
16 ounces blood orange juice
6 ounces frozen limeade concentrate, thawed
6 ounces frozen orange juice concentrate, thawed
1-2/3 cups light rum
1-2/3 cups dark rum
4 to 6 large ice spheres (molds available on Amazon)
 
Directions

1. Slice the blood oranges, limes and lemons set aside with the maraschino cherries as a punch bowl garnish. 
2. Combine all of punch ingredients in the punch bowl.
3. No matter how you celebrate, do so responsibly!

ChefSecret:  If you want to be totally fancy, create a really neat special effect with dry ice placed in your hurricane punch bowl!

Quip of the Day:  Q.  What do you call a hamburger covered in beads? A. A French Quarter pounder.
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Do you have a question or comment? Send your thoughts to [email protected]. All recipes and cooking tips are posted on our website https://www.perspectives-la.com/covid-19-survival-guide.
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To you and everyone dear to you, be strong, positive, stay well, stay safe and be kind. Take a breath and count your blessings, and if you have a little extra to share with others, please consider donating to  Feeding America, Tunnel to Towers, Union Rescue Mission and/or American Red Cross.

#Cocktail #MardiGrasPunch #MardiGras #Rum #BloodOrange #FebruaryCocktails #HappyHour2025 #PerspectivesOnFood #Cheers #Recipes2025 #URM #T2T #FeedingAmerica #RedCross #SamaritansPurse #PerspectivesTheConsultingGroup  

                                                                                   ©PERSPECTIVES/The Consulting Group, LLC, 2025

How are you doin’?  February is my favorite month… groundhogs, SuperBowls and my birthday!  For those wanting to wish me well, you can send your best wishes, cash, checks and credit cards to the email address below. I, for one, am going to party hearty at Peter Lugers Steak House and order my Birthday Hurricane made with passion fruit juice—a little different from the New Orleans’ traditional Hurricane.  While I am not available to celebrate Mardi Gras in the Big Easy this year, tipping back a Hurricane will help get me in the mood.
 
Mardi Gras, which actually falls on March 4th this year, has origins that date back thousands of years to pagan spring and fertility celebrations, such as the Roman festivals of Saturnalia and Lupercalia. When Christianity spread, these traditions were incorporated into the pre-Lenten festivities.
 
Mardi Gras is the final day of Carnival; it thus falls on the day before the beginning  of Lent on Ash Wednesday. Mardi Gras is French for "Fat Tuesday", reflecting the practice of the last night of consuming rich, fatty and sinful foods in preparation for the Christian fasting season of Lent, during which the consumption of such foods is usually avoided. 
 
So, give this formulation a try, but only in moderation—no more than three at a time, but only after you give up your car keys!
 
Prep time:  10 minutes
Yield:  6 cocktails
 
Ingredients 
2 cups passion fruit juice
1 cup plus 2 tablespoons sugar
3/4 cup lime juice
3/4 cup light rum
3/4 cup dark rum
3 tablespoons grenadine syrup
6 to 8 cups ice cubes
6 orange slices and maraschino cherries
 
Directions 

1. In a pitcher, combine the fruit juice, sugar, lime juice, rums and grenadine.
2. Stir until sugar is dissolved.
3. Pour into hurricane or highball glasses filled with ice.
4. Garnish with orange slices and cherries.

 
ChefSecret:  I used to like to top this cocktail off with a spoonful 151 proof rum, but I can’t seem to find it in liquor stores any more, so instead, just top it off with a tablespoon of straight dark rum.
 
Quip of the Day:  Q.  Why did the Bayou Bubba bring a ladder to the bar? A. He heard the drinks were on the house.
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Do you have a question or comment? Send your thoughts to [email protected]. All recipes and cooking tips are posted on our website https://www.perspectives-la.com/covid-19-survival-guide.
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To you and everyone dear to you, be strong, positive, stay well, stay safe and be kind. Take a breath and count your blessings, and if you have a little extra to share with others, please consider donating to  Feeding America, Tunnel to Towers, Union Rescue Mission and/or American Red Cross.

#Cocktail #HurricaneCocktail #MardiGras #Rum #Grenadine #Birthday #February #HappyHour2025  #Cheers #Recipes2025 #URM #T2T #FeedingAmerica #RedCross #SamaritansPurse #PerspectivesTheConsultingGroup 
                                                                      ©PERSPECTIVES/The Consulting Group, LLC, 2025

How you doin’? Love is in the air… are you feelin’ it? Maybe Cupid can help.
 
Who is Cupid? Cupid is the Roman god of love, desire and attraction. He is the son of Venus, and his father is thought to be either Vulcan or Mars. In the Greek pantheon, he is known as Eros, the god of love and lust. Originally depicted as a winged youth, through the centuries he has evolved to be the chubby little cherub found on so many Valentine’s Day cards.
 
The Cupid’s Arrow Cocktail is composed of vodka, blood orange liqueur, orange juice, lemon juice, Sprite soda and a little sugar.
 
Joan and I usually don’t go out for Valentine’s dinner—that’s for amateurs, but we will celebrate by enjoying a refreshing Cupid’s Arrow.
 
Whether you are dating, married or single, this cocktail is still an excellent choice to add a bit of romance to your Valentine’s Day so give it a whirl—or better yet a shake—using my recipe below.
Cheers, cheers and kissy face, too!
 
Prep time:  7 minutes
Yield:  1 cocktail

Ingredients 
1-1/2 ounces vanilla vodka
3/4 ounce blood orange liqueur
1-1/2 ounces orange juice
1 splash lemon juice
1 teaspoon granulated sugar
1/2 teaspoon pink or red colored sugar crystals
5 chopped strawberries
1/2 can Sprite soda
1 sprinkle chocolate shavings for garnish
 
Directions

1. Combine vodka, liqueur, orange juice, lemon juice and sugar in a cocktail shaker.
2. Shake it like you mean it!
3. Wet and dip a glass rim in pink or red sugar crystals.
4. Fill glass with ice cubes.
5. Pour shaken mixture over ice.
6. Add the strawberries and sprite; stir to mix.
7. Sprinkle with chocolate shavings.

ChefSecret:  Don’t want the sugar?... substitute with 1/2 packet of Splenda.

Quip of the Day:  Cupid’s new dating app is struggling. Why? Turns out, love at first swipe is a tough sell.
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Do you have a question or comment? Send your thoughts to [email protected]. All recipes and cooking tips are posted on our website https://www.perspectives-la.com/covid-19-survival-guide.
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To you and everyone dear to you, be strong, be positive, stay well, be kind and kiss up a storm. Be strong, positive, stay well, stay safe and be kind. Take a breath and count your blessings, and if you have a little extra to share with others, please consider donating to  Feeding America, Tunnel to Towers, Union Rescue Mission and/or American Red Cross.

#Cocktail #Vodka #CupidsArrowCocktail #ValentinesDayCocktail #HappyValentinesDay #CupidsCocktail #LoveIsInTheAir #HappyHour2025  #Cheers #Recipes2025 #URM #T2T #FeedingAmerica #RedCross #SamaritansPurse #PerspectivesTheConsultingGroup 
 
                                                                            ©PERSPECTIVES/The Consulting Group, LLC, 2025

How you doin’? Okay, here’s the truth. I have a thing for Taylor Swift—yes, I am a “Swiftie! But I can’t root for her beau at Kansas City this weekend. I’m hoping that Philly will be able to dethrone the Chiefs—no threepeats for me.
 
Her taste in football teams may not be to my taste, but I do recommend a Taylor Swift cocktail favorite. If you’re one of her adoring fans wanting to blend their love for her music with unique drinks, here is one that hits the mark.
My French Blonde (yes, I know she not French) reflects Taylor’s hits, offering both vibrant, fruity options and sophisticated tastes combined to make a great Super Bowl cocktail.
 
The French Blonde is perfect for themed parties or stylish gatherings, infusing Taylor’s spirit into every sip. I love serving these because they always get people talking and smiling, celebrating her music in a fun, tasty way while rooting for the Eagles.
 
The French Blonde is a cocktail that tastes great for its blend of flavors. Mixing elderflower liqueur with dry gin, Lillet Blanc, and fresh grapefruit juice, topped off with lemon bitters—creating a refreshingly delicious drink. It’s the balance of floral and citrus notes that makes it a Swift favorite. The elder flower adds a subtle sweetness that complements the gin’s botanicals, while the grapefruit juice brings a vibrant acidity, making each sip a pure delight. For a drink that impresses, try my recipe.
 
And if this all too frou-frou for you… there’s always Dreams and Nightmares Pale Lager from Free Will Brewing if you’re an Eagles fan and a Bud Light if you’re a Chiefs fan.
 
Prep time:  5 minutes
Yield:  1 serving
 
Ingredients
1 ounce dry gin (my preference is for Hendrick’s)
2 ounces Lillet Blanc
1/2 ounce elderflower liqueur (there is no substitute for St. Germain)
2 ounces grapefruit juice
1 teaspoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
A few dashes of lemon bitters
Lemon peel and grapefruit wedge for garnish
 
Directions

1. Chill a coupe cocktail glass by filling it with ice water and setting it aside while you prepare the cocktail.
2. In a cocktail shaker, combine the dry gin, Lillet Blanc, elderflower liqueur and fresh grapefruit juice.
3. Add a generous amount of ice to the shaker.
4. Secure the lid and shake vigorously for about 15-20 seconds or until the outside of the shaker feels cold to the touch.
5. Discard the ice water from the chilled glass.
6. Shake a few dashes of lemon bitters directly into the chilled glass. This will add a layer of complexity to your cocktail.
7. Strain the mixture from the shaker into the prepared glass leaving the ice behind in the shaker.
8. For an extra touch of elegance, consider garnishing with a twist of lemon peel or a thin slice of grapefruit.
9. Your French Blonde is ready to be enjoyed. Sip and savor the harmonious blend of flavors.

ChefSecret:  There’s no substitute for St. Germain Elderberry liquor, plus it’s a neat bottle to dress up your back bar.

Quip of the Day:  Q. How does Taylor Swift make a cocktail? A. She shakes it off, shakes it off!------------------------------------------
Do you have a question or comment? Send your thoughts to [email protected]. All recipes and cooking tips are posted on our website https://www.perspectives-la.com/covid-19-survival-guide.
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To you and everyone dear to you, be strong, positive, stay well, stay safe and be kind. Take a breath and count your blessings, and if you have a little extra to share with others, please consider donating to  Feeding America, Tunnel to Towers, Union Rescue Mission and/or American Red Cross.

#Cocktail #Gin #StGermain #ElderflowerLiqeuer #FrenchBlondeCocktail #FreeWillBrewing #BudLight #SuperBowl #KansasCityChiefs #PhiladelphiaEagles #HappyHour2025  #Cheers #Recipes2025 #URM #T2T #FeedingAmerica #RedCross #SamaritansPurse #PerspectivesTheConsultingGroup  

                                                                             ©PERSPECTIVES/The Consulting Group, LLC, 2025 

How you doin’? I love frou-frou drinks… the more complex, the better. Of course, if you were to ask any of our bartenders, they would tell you a different story. To them the easiest cocktail to pour is scotch on the rocks. But consenting adults do not live with simple cocktails alone. Sometimes you must live a little dangerously and try one of my official frou-frou libations. Now, the one pictured may be a little over the top but my Fluffernutter Whisky Old Fashioned is one cocktail that just hits the spot.

Super Bowl is this weekend. What better time is there to celebrate with an indulgent, all-American fun cocktail enriched with a little peanut flavor?

Prep time:  5 minutes
Yield:  1 cocktail

Ingredients
2 ounces American bourbon
1/4 ounce peanut butter syrup (I prefer Monin brand)
1/4 ounce toasted marshmallow syrup (I prefer Monin brand)
2 dashes chocolate bitters
1 ounce marshmallow fluff
 
Directions

1. Fill an old-fashioned glass with one extra-large ice cube.
2. Pour all the ingredients into mixing glass with 2/3 ice in order listed.
3. Stir or shake vigorously to chill.
4. Strain into an old-fashioned glass.
5. Using a butter knife smear the marshmallow fluff over the top time of the glass and serve.

ChefSecret: Monin flavored syrups can be found in liquor stores and on Amazon.  Plan ahead to make sure you have the ingredients you need for this cocktail. You can also add some chopped peanuts to the marshmallow rim for added flavor and fun.
 
Quip of the Day:  I pointed to two old drunks across the bar from us and told my mate, "That'll be us in ten years." He said, "That's a mirror, ya silly bugger."
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Do you have a question or comment? Send your thoughts to [email protected]. All recipes and cooking tips are posted on our website https://www.perspectives-la.com/covid-19-survival-guide.
-------------------------------------------
To you and everyone dear to you, be strong, positive, stay well, stay safe and be kind. Take a breath and count your blessings, and if you have a little extra to share with others, please consider donating to  Feeding America, Tunnel to Towers, Union Rescue Mission and/or American Red Cross.

#Cocktail #Bourbon #Monin #PeanutButterSyrup #MarshmallowSyrup #MarshmallowFluff #OldFashionedCocktail #SuperBowlCocktail #Peanuts #NationalPeanutBoard #HappyHour2025  #Cheers #Recipes2025 #URM #T2T #FeedingAmerica #RedCross #SamaritansPurse #PerspectivesTheConsultingGroup  

                                                                          ©PERSPECTIVES/The Consulting Group, LLC, 2025