Cooking Lesson #550: Frozen Peppermint Southsider

…from the Perspectives’ Happy Hour Bar

How you doin’? Celebrate the holidays with this festive crowd-pleaser. The Peppermint Southsider is a refreshing, flavorful cocktail that is wonderful in winter and beyond without the candy canes!
 
Legend has it that the candy cane, in some form, dates back to 1670, when the choirmaster at the Cologne Cathedral in Germany handed out sugar sticks among his young singers to keep them quiet during the service.
 
The contemporary Polkagris was invented by Amalia Eriksson in the town of Gränna in Sweden in 1859. Gränna is a small town in Sweden located on the east side of Sweden's second largest lake, Vättern. The first time they are documented as being called 'candy canes' comes in 1866; and their first connection to Christmas comes from 1874.
 
Bryan, Ohio is the candy cane capital of the world since it is home to the Spangler Candy Company the largest manufacturers of candy canes in the world. Road trip!
 
Prep time:  5 minutes
Yield:  1 cocktail
 
Ingredients
2 tablespoons crushed candy canes
1-1/2 ounce gin
3/4 ounce lime juice
3/4 ounce simple syrup
1 cup ice cubes
A few fresh peppermint leaves
 
Directions

1. Using the back of a heavy knife or a small hammer, carefully crush the candy canes in a Ziplock bag.
2. Blend all the gin, lime juice, simple syrup and ice in a blender and pour into a crushed candy cane rimmed martini or coupe glass.
3. Garnish with a sprig of peppermint.

​ChefSecret:  For a more vibrant holiday flavor, blend an added teaspoon of crushed candy canes and blend the ingredients with ice. You can make your own peppermint gin or vodka by dropping 10 candy canes in a full bottle of liquor and let them melt over several days.

Quip of the Day: “What's red, white, and blue at Christmas? A sad candy cane.”
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To you and everyone dear to you, be strong, be 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 and/or American Red Cross.
 
#Gin #Peppermint #CandyCanes #SimpleSyrup #Cheers #HolidayRecipes #Holidays2022 #BeThankful #QuarantineKitchen #RedCross #FeedingAmerica #PerspectivesTheConsultingGroup 

                                                      ©Perspectives/The Consulting Group, LLC, 2022

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