How you doin’? I have a fairly addictive personality and being in the restaurant business that’s not a good thing when you are surrounded by alcohol 18 hours a day. But the stronger part of my personality is that I can control my urges and cravings.
 
About 6-months after we opened The Warehouse Restaurant, I concluded that this was not going to be a passing fancy but that the restaurant business was going to be the main part of my life—my career going forward. That was the last time I had a drink in any of my restaurants. I didn’t  stop drinking—just never in my house. Personally, I felt better not drinking. And though my body and mind like the alcohol-free lifestyle and benefits, there are certain things I miss—like my Margaritas!
 
Since having a cocktail is a social thing I needed to come up with a fabulous, non-alcoholic “mockarita” to satisfy my needs. This Margarita Mocktail is a flavorful, slightly spicy, super refreshing, social  beverage for everyone and at any time... especially Dry January!!
 
So, if you’re taking out the tequila, the question becomes what are you adding, right? Well, my recipe uses different kinds of citrus and sparkling water to create its’ refreshing flavor. My Margarita Mocktail recipe calls for orange juice, grapefruit sparkling water, and lime juice. All easy things to have on hand for when you want a Margaritaville kind of experience!
 
I also like to add a measure of jalapeño simple syrup. It plays a pivotal role in this mocktail. It does double duty adding both sweetness (from the light-colored, raw honey), as well as spiciness (from the jalapeño ). I think you’ll find it to be well-balanced, but if you like yours less or spicier, you can adjust the amount of jalapeño pepper in your syrup to suit your taste buds. And to finish it off, I like to add some Tajin seasoning to put a spicy rim on the glass instead of salt.
 
Prep time:  2 minutes
Yield:  1 mocktail
 
Ingredients 
1 ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
2 ounces jalapeño-honey simple syrup (see the ChefSecret below)
2 ounces freshly squeezed orange juice
4 ounces grapefruit flavored sparkling water
Garnish with a lime wedges and jalapeño slices
Tajin seasoning to rim the glass
 
Directions

1. In a cocktail shaker or a tall glass, combine the lime juice, jalapeño simple syrup, orange juice and grapefruit sparkling water.
2. Fill the shaker or glass with ice cubes.
3. Shake the mixture well until it’s thoroughly combined and chilled.
4. Prepare your serving glass by rubbing the rim with a lime wedge and dipping it in the Tajin seasoning.
5. Strain the margarita mixture into your prepared glass, ensuring that the ice cubes are left behind.
6. Garnish the glass with a lime wedge and a slice of jalapeño.
7. Serve your non-alcoholic jalapeño margarita immediately and enjoy it’s refreshing and spicy flavors!

Note:  Feel free to adjust the quantities of ingredients to suit your taste preferences. Cheers!
 
ChefSecret:                         Spicy Jalapeño-Honey Simple Syrup 
Prep Time:  2 minutes
Cook Time: 3 minutes
Yield:  Makes enough simple syrup for 6 to 10 Margarita Mocktails
 
Ingredients 
6 ounces raw, light-colored honey
6 ounces water
2 tablespoons diced jalapeño peppers
 
Directions

1. Place the honey, water and jalapeño peppers in a saucepan set over low heat.
2. Stir frequently to warm for 2 to 3 minutes, until the honey is fully incorporated.
3. Remove from the heat and set aside to cool.
4. Let the mixture cool to room temperature.
5. Then strain the liquid to remove the minced jalapeños pouring the mixture into an airtight glass container.
6. Store the jalapeño-honey simple syrup in the refrigerator for up to 10 days.

​Quip of the Day:  Mocktails: the perfect blend of laughter and carbonation!
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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 #MargaritaMocktail #DryJanuary #JalapenoHoneySyrup #FruitJuice #HappyHour2025  #Cheers #Recipes2025 #URM #T2T #FeedingAmerica #RedCross #SamaritansPurse #PerspectivesTheConsultingGroup  
 
                                                                          ©PERSPECTIVES/The Consulting Group, LLC, 2025

How you doin’? What I really like about tequila is that it’s so versatile and you can add so many complementary flavors. The secret to this very beautiful winter margarita is an intense pear flavor. Pears have a very luscious but delicate flavor which can only be intensified with a homemade pear simple syrup.
 
To make it, chop a couple of pears and boil them down with just half a cup of water and sugar which makes it highly concentrated in flavor and dense in texture. I love its pear fruity sweetness which softens the tequila, creating a wonderfully light cocktail that is flowery, lime-y and with light herbal notes.
 
Its pale yellow sophistication will be perfect anywhere you need a special light cocktail. This cocktail is without a bite and is absolutely delightful to sip.
 
Prep time:  5 minutes
Chill time:  30 minutes
Cook time:  20 minutes (to make the simple syrup)
Yield:  1 cocktail
 
Ingredients 
For the pear simple syrup
2 pears, cored and diced small
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup granulated sugar
 
For the pear margarita
2 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme
2 teaspoon granulated sugar
1 lime wedge
Ice

For the cocktail
2-1/2 ounces pear simple syrup
4 ounces silver tequila
2 ounces freshly squeezed lime juice
1 ounce triple sec
1/2 ounce St-Germain liqueur (I love this flavor)
 
Directions
To make the pear simple syrup

1. In a large saucepan, combine the pears, water and sugar.
2. Bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring occasionally to dissolve the sugar.
3.  Reduce the heat to low and simmer for about 15 minutes or until the pears are softened. Remove the pot from the heat and let the syrup steep for 20 minutes.
4. Using a fine mesh strainer, strain the syrup into a quart-sized container.
5. Use a rubber spatula to press any excess syrup out of the pears.
6. Cover and refrigerate until ready to use.
7. Syrup can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 7 days.

To make one Pear Margarita

1. On a small plate, combine the chopped thyme and granulated sugar.
2. Rub the lime wedge on the outer wall of a coupe glass. Gently press and roll the glass in the thyme sugar and then chill it in the freezer for at least 30 minutes.
3. In a cocktail shaker filled halfway with ice, combine the pear syrup, tequila, lime juice, triple sec and St-Germain liqueur.
4. Shake for about 20 seconds or until the outside of the shaker is frosted.
5. Strain the cocktail into the prepared coupe glass. Enjoy!

ChefSecret:  According to most experts, the "Comice" pear is widely considered the most flavorful pear due to its exceptionally sweet taste, juicy texture and buttery, creamy flavor profile. It's often called the "pear lover's pear."

Quip of the Day:  Slice a pear and you will find that its flesh is incandescent white. It glows with
inner light. Those who carry a knife and a pear are never afraid to be in the dark.
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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 #WinterPearMargarita #Pears #Tequila #TripleSec #HappyHour2025  #Cheers #KillerCocktails #QuarantineKitchen #URM #T2T #FeedingAmerica #RedCross #SamaritansPurse #PerspectivesTheConsultingGroup 
 
                                                                        ©PERSPECTIVES/The Consulting Group, LLC, 2025

How you doin’? Well, I survived another New Year’s Eve celebration. At the moment of the evening approaching midnight, we raised our cocktail glasses to celebrate the coming of 2025. So, say Bye-Bye to 2024 and make way for a new drink and a new year.
 
I love using fresh fruits in cocktails. Fresh strawberries are my favorite… this is why I love making my strawberry mimosas. They’re super simple, and it takes just 2 ingredients. Fresh strawberries (or strawberry liqueur) and Champagne, sparkling wine or prosecco.
 
I wanted to take a little moment to thank you all for visiting our blog and hopefully finding food history and inspiration for everyday meal recipes, baking adventures and cocktails! Wishing you all a very healthy, prosperous Happy New Year!
 
Total Time: 5 minutes
Yield:  2 cocktails
 
Ingredients
2 tablespoons of granulated sugar, for garnishing the glass
3 ounces strawberry liqueur (I prefer Fragoli Wild Strawberry)
16 ounces Champagne, Prosecco or sparkling wine
2 fresh ripe strawberries, cut in half
2 strawberries, for garnishing the glass
 
Directions

1. Rim two champagne glasses with sugar by wetting the edges either with a wedge of lemon or water and dipping them in granulated sugar.
2. Pour the strawberry liqueur in each glass and top with sparkling wine.
3. Add sliced strawberries inside the champagne glasses and garnish the rim of glasses with 2 strawberries cut halfway. Enjoy!

ChefSecret:  For this simple fruit mimosa you can use different fruits like blueberries, pineapples, lemons, limes or oranges; they are such a perfect combo in mimosas.

Quip of the Day:  Poppin’ champagne is like winning the Super Bowl! Sip, Sip, Hooray!
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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 #StrawberryMimosa #NewYearsCocktail #Champagne #Prosecco #Strawberries #Cheers #2025 #QuarantineKitchen #URM #T2T #FeedingAmerica #RedCross #SamaritansPurse #PerspectivesTheConsultingGroup 
 
                                                                                 ©PERSPECTIVES/The Consulting Group, LLC, 2025

How you doin’? There are only 5 more evenings until it’s New Year’s Eve. How are you planning to spend this special time? I live in Henderson, Nevada and can see all the fireworks, drones and the programing of The Sphere from the warmth and comfort of my living room far above the fray. So, I have invited a few people over for a viewing party from atop the hill. 
 
I need to serve a New Year’s cocktail befitting 2025 and my Fleming Fiz is perfect for the occasion. One might say it’s a cross between a Penicillin and a French 75. I’ve always thought that the Penicillin, with its ginger and honey, was the perfect whiskey sour for winter—just right for the colder months and New Year’s Eve. This sort of left-handed tribute is in honor of Sir Alexander Fleming, the doctor who discovered penicillin antibiotics.
 
This is a bold, spicy cocktail for Scotch lovers—if you prefer your ginger a little less pungent, add 1/4 cup additional water and 1/4 cup additional honey to the syrup. Leftover syrup is excellent for sweetening tea, a hot toddy, or even a cup of hot cocoa.
 
Total time:  10 minutes
Yield:  1 cocktail
 
Ingredients 
For the ginger honey syrup
1/2 cup roughly chopped peeled ginger
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup honey
 
For the cocktail
1-1/2 ounce blended Scotch
3/4 ounce fresh lemon juice
3/4 ounce ginger-honey syrup (see ChefSecret)
2 ounces chilled sparkling wine (I prefer Champagne… after all, it is New Year’s Eve)
 
To finish it off
1/2 teaspoon smoky scotch ( I prefer Laphroaig)
Lemon twist and candied ginger on a pick
 
Directions

1. Combine blended Scotch, lemon juice and *Ginger-Honey Syrup in a cocktail shaker.
2. Fill it with ice and shake it well until very chilled.
3. Add Champagne to a flute glass or a rocks glass.
4. Then strain the cocktail into the glass.
5. Gently float the smoky Scotch on top of cocktail.
6. Garnish with lemon twist and candied ginger.

*ChefSecret: Preparing ginger honey syrup is easy. Combine the ginger and a 1/2 cup of water in a blender and blend until smooth, about 1 minute. Strain the mixture through a fine-mesh strainer into a liquid measuring cup, pressing on solids to extract all the juice. Pour 1/2 cup of the ginger juice into a large resealable jar and stir in honey. Seal the jar tightly and shake until honey is completely dissolved.
Makes enough syrup for 10 cocktails. Syrup will keep for 2 weeks covered in the refrigerator; shake well before using.

Quip of the Day:  Q. In what year did Christmas Day and New Year's Day fall in the same year?  A. Every year!
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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. 

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!
#Cocktail #HappyHour #PenicillinCocktail #BlendedScotch #HoneyGingerSyrup #Laphroaig #Ginger #TheCustomsHouse #Milk&HoneyBar #Cheers #2023 #QuarantineKitchen #Covid19 #FeedingAmerica #RedCross #PerspectivesTheConsultingGroup  

                                                                                                         ©PERSPECTIVES/The Consulting Group, LLC, 2024

How you doin’? While googling fun facts about candy canes and cocktails, I found out that the first candy cane was made over 350 years ago and, for the first 200 years, they were solid white. Can you imagine a candy cane without stripes? Crazy right???
 
I also discovered that National Candy Cane Day is celebrated on December 26th. That means we should drink my Pink Peppermint Cocktail
to celebrate!
 
Suggestion… take all of your broken candy canes and the ones you stuffed in the stockings or hung the tree, and do something useful with them.
 
Pink peppermint sounds like a pepperminty marshmallow dream or something. And that’s exactly what this cocktail is!
 
Okay, let me break it down for you. You’re going to need candy cane vodka (see the ChefSecret below), homemade vanilla simple syrup, creme de cacao, a very tiny drop of cream and don’t forget a mini candy cane for garnish. They all come together to create the perfect iced holiday drink that tastes like a treat!! Yes indeed, this is what I call Pink Peppermint Cocktail success. My Pink Peppermint Cocktail is full of holiday cheer!

Prep time:  30 minutes
Cook time: 15 minutes
Yield:  1 Cocktail
 
Ingredients 
2 ounces candy cane vodka
2 ounce creme de cacao (white)
1 ounce vanilla simple syrup
1/2 ounce cream (or half and half)
1 mini candy cane for garnish
sparkling sugar for the glass
 
Directions

1. Prepare the candy cane vodka 30 minutes before.
2. Rim a glass with a drop of water and dip it in either sparkling sugar or crushed candy canes.
3. Fill a cocktail shaker with ice. Add the vodka, creme de cacao, syrup and half and half. Shake well for at least 30 seconds. Pour in the glass and garnish with a candy cane!

ChefSecrets:  
How do you make peppermint vodka? It’s simple… and just two ingredients.
To make peppermint vodka, simply add 2 cups of vodka to a large jar and add 4-5 candy canes. You can use any flavor candy cane (or any size). Let the candy canes soak in the vodka until they dissolve, which won’t take very long (a few hours).
Once you have a jar of peppermint flavored vodka you can easily add it to cocktail recipes all season long. It’s also nice for Valentine’s Day.
How do make vanilla simple syrup?  Sugar, purified water, and vanilla extract

Ingredients
4 cups sugar (raw or brown)
3 cups filtered water
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
 
Directions
Place a large saucepan on your stovetop. Add sugar, water and extract to the saucepan. Turn on heat (medium setting) and stir continuously with a wooden spoon until sugar dissolves. Wait until lukewarm to transfer the syrup into a bottle or jar.

Quip of the Day:  Q. What does a candy cane say when it’s always stressed? A. I cane-t stand it!
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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.

#HappyHour #PinkPeppermintCocktail #CandyCanes #Peppermint #Vodka #CremeDeCacao #Cheers #HolidayRecipes #2024Recipes #URM #T2T #FeedingAmerica #RedCross #SamaritansPurse #PerspectivesTheConsultingGroup  #FeedingAmerica 
 
                                                                              ©PERSPECTIVES/The Consulting Group, LLC, 2024