How you doin’? It’s Happy Hour South-of-the Border Style!
 
One of the most classic Mexican cocktails is the Paloma! This easy bubbly cocktail combines tequila with grapefruit to make a simple sour that’s sweet tart and refreshing. It’s perfect for happy hour drinks, or water it down and it could be a brunch punch, too. The Paloma is traditionally made with grapefruit juice and soda water.  (See ChefSecret)
 
 
Prep time:  5 minutes
Yield:  1 cocktail
 
Ingredients
Flaky sea salt & grapefruit wedge, for the garnish
2 ounces tequila blanco
1/2 ounce fresh squeezed lime juice
2 ounces fresh squeezed grapefruit juice
1/2 ounce simple syrup
1 ounce soda water
​ 
Directions
1.    Cut a notch in the grapefruit wedge, then run the grapefruit around the rim of a glass.
2.    Dip the edge of the rim into a plate of flaky sea salt.
3.    To the glass, add the tequila, lime juice, grapefruit juice and simple syrup and stir until combined.
4.    Fill the glass with clear ice.
5.    Top with soda water and serve!

ChefSecret:  You can easily substitute the fresh grapefruit juice and soda with 3-ounces of Squirt.  Squirt is a grapefruit flavored soda.

Quip of the Day:  A Mexican man sneaks across the border to watch his favorite football team play and makes it all the way to the stadium. He doesn't have tickets,  so he finds a large pole to climb up on and jumps down into the top of the bleachers to get a bird’s-eye view of the game.
After the game was over, his buddies back in Mexico ask him how the game was…  he replies: "I don't know why you all don't think Americans are nice. As soon as I sat down everyone turned around, looked at me, and started singing 'Jose, can you see?'"
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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 #PalomaCocktail #TequilaBlanco #GrapefruitJuice #Tequila #Squirt #FallHappyHour #Cheers #2024Recipes #URM #T2T #FeedingAmerica #RedCross #PerspectivesTheConsultingGroup  
 
                                                        ©PERSPECTIVES/The Consulting Group, LLC, 2024

How you doin’? It’s the beginning of the 2024 football season, and in my house, we’re celebrating the old Packers. My Green Bay Slammer is a traditional mixed drink that may have its roots in Ireland and has become a popular choice for those looking to enjoy a strong and flavorful cocktail.
 
This unique drink combines two well-known Irish spirits, Guinness and Irish whiskey, to create a bold and robust flavor that is sure to please any whiskey lover. The combination of these two powerful ingredients creates a drink that is both smooth and rich in taste, making it a favorite choice for those looking to enjoy a classic Irish beverage at the football stadium… or in your man cave or family room.
 
Prep time:  5 minutes
Yield:  1 cocktail
 
Ingredients
6 ounces Irish stout beer
3/4 ounce Irish whiskey
3/4 ounce Irish cream liqueur
 
Directions

1. Pour beer into a pint glass.
2. Pour whiskey and cream liqueur into a shot glass.
3. Drop the shot glass into the bottom of the pint glass and drink the entire contents at once.

ChefSecret:  My Green Bay Slammer is often enjoyed as a shot or in a small glass, making it a popular choice for those looking to savor the intense flavors of the drink in a single shot. With its strong and hearty profile, this cocktail has gained popularity among those who appreciate a strong and robust drink. Whether enjoyed on its own or as a part of a larger cocktail menu, the Green Bay Slammer is a beloved choice for those looking to experience the bold and distinctive flavors of Irish spirits and Green Bay sports.

Quip of the Day:  The Pope, the Packers & the Vikings
On a tour of Texas, the Pope took a couple of days off to visit the coast for some sightseeing. He was cruising along the beach in the pope-mobile when he heard a frantic commotion just offshore. A helpless man wearing a Minnesota Vikings jersey was struggling frantically to free himself from the jaws of a 25-foot shark.

As the Pope watched, horrified, a speedboat came racing up with three men wearing Green Bay Packer jerseys. One quickly fired a harpoon into the shark's side. The other two reached out and pulled the bleeding, semi-conscious Viking Backer from the water, Then, using long clubs, the three beat the shark to death and hauled it into the boat.

Immediately the Pope shouted and summoned them to the beach. "I give you my blessing for your brave actions," he told them. "I heard that there was bitter hatred between Green Bay Packers & Vikings fans, but now I have seen with my own eyes that this is not true."
 
As the Pope drove off, the harpooner asked his buddies "Who the heck was that??" "It was the most knowledgeable Pope," one replied. "He can summon God anytime and has access to all of God's wisdom."

"Well," the harpooner said, "he may be knowledgeable & have access to God's wisdom, but he knows squat about shark fishing. Is the bait holding up okay, or do we need to get another one?"
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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 #HappyHour #GreenBaySlammer #IrishStout #Whiskey #IrishCreamLiqueur #Packers #GreenBayPackers #FallHappyHour #Cheers #2024Recipes #URM #T2T #FeedingAmerica #RedCross #PerspectivesTheConsultingGroup  
 
                                                                         ©PERSPECTIVES/The Consulting Group, LLC, 2024

How you doin’? It’s Labor Day weekend and it’s still very hot in many places around the country.
 
Here is my Labor Day Happy Hour libation—Lemonade and Tequila Cocktail. In keeping with many other cocktails I make, the lemon is balanced with a touch of lime and the finished drink has just a spritz of fizz from some ginger ale.
 
Seriously, if one can find true love in a cocktail, I’m there… even if it means cheating on my first love, the margarita—Sorry, Jimmy Buffett. This is nothing less than a simple and crisp end of summer cocktail. Let’s just call it my Labor Day Margarita Lite!
 
Prep time:  5 minutes
Yield:  1 cocktail
 
Ingredients 
2 ounces tequila (good quality)
1-1/2 ounces lemonade (see notes to make your own)
1/4 ounce lime juice
1-1/2 ounces ginger ale
 
Directions

1. Fill a cocktail shaker with ice and add the tequila, lemonade and lime juice.
2. Shake it like you mean it until ice cold.
3. Fill a Collins glass with ice; pour the contents of the shaker over the ice and top with ginger ale.
4. Lightly stir.
5. Garnish with a lemon slice and be sure to include a holiday, red-white and blue straw.

ChefSecret:  Use any lemonade you like. However, if you want to make your own like I did it’s easy… and fresh is really best.

1. 1 cup fresh lemon juice (approximately 6 lemons)
2. 3/4 cup simple syrup to taste (make simple syrup by combining 1/2 cup water with 1 cup sugar and heating until the sugar dissolves)
3. Add 1/2 cup of ice chips to mixture and stir; refrigerate as necessary.
4. Combine the lemon juice and simple syrup in a pitcher and stir.
5. This is the best lemonade ever!

 
Quip of the Day:  Wife: I love you so much, I could never live without you.
Husband: Is that you or the margarita talking? Wife: It’s me talking to the margarita. 
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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 and be kind.

How you doin’?  Even though the dog days of summer might still be here, Labor Day marks the unofficial end of summer. This is a Labor Day cocktail that will make you wish summer wasn’t coming to an end at all. My End of Summer Grilled Watermelon Margarita will keep those good vibrations going for just a little while longer.
 
Since watermelon is a classic summer food, why not take that watermelon off the table, put it on the grill and then in a cocktail glass? This uniquely summer cocktail blends high heat with cool melon for the ultimate refreshing summer libation.
 
Prep and cook time:  45 minutes (takes a little time, but I’s well worth it)
Yield:  8 servings
 
Ingredients 
1-1/2 pounds peeled and cubed seedless watermelon
11 limes
1 medium red grapefruit
16 ounces tequila reposado
4 ounces orange liqueur such as Jalisco 1562 Orange Liqueur or Patron Citronge
Tajín Clásico or other chili lime seasoning, for the garnish
 
Directions

1. Use a melon baller to scoop out 8-16 balls from the watermelon; chill to use for the garnish.
2. Using a chef knife, slice the remaining watermelon into 2-inch chunks.
3. Heat a BBQ grill to medium-high until hot, 5-10 minutes.
4. Place the watermelon pieces on the grill and char lightly, turning occasionally, until caramelized, 4-6 minutes.
5. Remove from heat and let watermelon cool to room temperature.
6. When cool blend the grilled watermelon in a blender until smooth. Chill until ready to use.
7. Cut 1 lime into 8 wedges.
8. Cut the remaining limes and grapefruit in half and juice, keeping the juices separate. Chill until ready to use.
9. Pour 1 ounce of lime juice onto a small plate.
10. Place 3 tablespoons of Tajín on to another small plate.
11. Dip the rims of the glasses into the lime juice, rotating so the outer rim of the glass is coated in lime juice. Then dip into the Tajín to coat the outer rim.
12. Combine 2 ounces of the tequila reposado, 1 ounce watermelon juice, 1 ounce lime juice, 1/2 ounce  grapefruit juice and 1/2 ounce orange liqueur in a cocktail shaker with ice.
13. Shake vigorously like you mean it to combine.
14. Pour in the cocktail glass and garnish with a lime wedge. Drop a watermelon ball(s) into the glass or place 2-3 on a cocktail pick and place on the rim.
15. Repeat with the remaining ingredients to make a total of 8 cocktails.

ChefSecret:  If you don’t have a melon baller, cut the watermelon into 1-inch cubes.

Quip of the Day:  Q. Why is there a ring of salt around the rim of a margarita glass?  A. To keep the spirits from escaping.
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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 #HappyHour #EndOfSummerGrilledWatermelonMargarita #Tequila #PatronCitronge #Tajin #Watermelon #SummertimeHappyHour #Cheers #2024Recipes #URM #T2T #FeedingAmerica #RedCross #PerspectivesTheConsultingGroup  
 
                                                                            ©PERSPECTIVES/The Consulting Group, LLC, 2024

How you doin’? When my dad was running concessions at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, I got hooked on going to rodeo events when they came to town. I loved to be around the horses... they are truly magnificent animals. 
 
Cassie, our hotel general manager, has kids who are active and winners on the rodeo circuit. Last fall, Joan and I met up with her family at South Point Hotel and Casino where they have rodeo events several times a month. It’s always exciting to watch these brave equestrians, but even more so when they are kids you know. Now we go there several times per month to watch these beautiful creatures and their handlers in action.
 
These rodeo goers travel all around the United States on the circuit competing for prizes from “just for the hell of it” to a million dollars.  Last week I had one of the rodeo moms tell me that it an expensive hobby and the least expensive part of the sport is buying the horse!
 
When Perspectives was designing the bar program at Universal City for the Cripple Creek Saloon—a cowboy bar at the Los Angeles theme park—we developed this recipe that I still make at home today. It pairs perfectly with my 14-hour Texas-style smoked beef ribs.

So put on your best 10-gallon hat, that special belt buckle, spit-shined shit-kickers (cowboy boots) and chaps… then belly up to the bar and enjoy a Rhinestone Cowboy Cocktail. Now, that’s what you call “Cowboying!”
 
Prep time:  7 minutes
Yield:  1 cocktail
 
Ingredients 
1-1/4 ounce white rum
1 ounce Bacardi Dark rum
1 ounce apricot brandy
2 ounces fresh orange juice
2 ounces pineapple juice
1/2 ounce Sloe Gin
1/2 ounce 151 Proof Rum
Orange peel
 
Directions

1. Fill a bucket glass with scooped crushed ice.
2. Build the cocktail over the ice starting with the white rum, Bacardi, apricot brandy and orange and pineapple juices.
3. Over the back of a spoon slowly bleed the Sloe Gin over the ice.
4. Float the 151 rum on top of the Sloe Gin.
5. Garnish with a slice of  orange peel.
6. Carefully light the 151 and serve.

ChefSecret:  Because of its high alcohol content, Bacardi 151 is particularly flammable among liquors. For this reason it was often used as the ignition source for "flaming shots" and cocktails.

Quip of the Day:  On the rodeo circuit the more secure way to double your money is by folding it in half and putting it back into your pocket.
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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 #HappyHour #RhinestoneCowboy #Rum #151Proof #SloeGin #Bacardi #SummertimeHappyHour #Cheers #2024Recipes #URM #T2T #FeedingAmerica #RedCross #PerspectivesTheConsultingGroup  

                                                                               ©PERSPECTIVES/The Consulting Group, LLC, 2024