…from the Perspectives’ Happy Hour BarHow you doin’? I’m not doing all that well today. I need a drink! I hate April 15th—Income Tax Day—when all becomes due. At least I don’t need to pay California Income taxes anymore. Sometimes, in order to create a new cocktail, all you need to do is to add bitters to an old cocktail. Seems like that’s in order today… and April 15th is the bitterest day of the year. The Income Tax Cocktail is a Bronx with bitters. But that's okay… the bitters add such depth of flavor with the Hendricks that the cocktail earns a new moniker. The origins of this drink are obscure; it dates to no later than the 1920s, but otherwise, no one seems to know where or when it came from, or how it was invented or named. Nevertheless, it's a tasty drink for a “bitter” day. It's worth it for this drink to buy and squeeze an actual fresh orange. The flavor's so much better than the stuff from a carton or jug. Prep time: 5 minutes Yield: 1 cocktail Ingredients 1-1/2 ounces gin (I prefer Hendricks gin) 3/4 ounce dry vermouth 3/4 ounce sweet vermouth 3/4 ounce freshly squeezed orange juice from 1 orange 3 dashes Angostura bitters Thin orange wheel for garnish Directions
ChefSecret: Hendricks is my favorite gin. I love it’s unique and distinctive flavor. Hendrick's Gin is produced by William Grant & Sons at the Girvan distillery, Scotland and launched in 1999—a fairly new product. The brand was created by spirits marketer Steven Grasse, while the gin itself was conceived by Lesley Gracie, a Yorkshire native, who was hired by William Grant & Sons to work in new liquid development for some of their products. A decade later she was tasked with creating a new super-premium gin. Quip of the Day: I tried to pay my taxes to the IRS with a smile. Turns out those greedy bastards prefer cash. Do you have a question or comment? Send your favorite recipes, pictures or thoughts to ed@perspectives-la.com. 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 #IncomeTaxCocktail #Gin #Vermouth #Hendrics #Cheers #2024Recipes #URM #T2T #FeedingAmerica #RedCross #PerspectivesTheConsultingGroup ©PERSPECTIVES/The Consulting Group, LLC, 2024
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…from the Perspectives’ Happy Hour Bar How you doin’? Located about two hours north of Los Angeles, Ojai is one of the most beautiful parts of California. My cousin, Monroe, was the mayor of Ojai. My brother and I used to take the Greyhound to the beautiful Ojai Valley to visit. We loved going to some of the small family farms that grew corn, tomatoes and Cutie tangerines. The trees were nestled into the hills and their branches were heavy with tiny tangerines—all ripe, all ready to be harvested. What a pleasure it is to pick a Cutie—okay, six or seven—right off the tree and devour them standing in the warmth of springtime sunshine. They’re easy to peel, sweet as can be, not even a hint of pucker, but they’ve still got a wonderful, citrus-y depth. They’re also terrifically juicy. Even at that young age as we stood in the fields, we thought, “Well, this will make a hell of cocktail when I get older” (what can I say?... we were ahead of our time). So, as an adult I went into the test kitchen and started with an earthy thyme simple syrup—it helps balance out the Pixie’s bold, fruity sweetness. I also added a very wee bit of the pucker back in with a half-shot of lemon juice… we like how it brings out the tangerine’s tangy depth. Once the juices and syrup are shaken up with the egg white and a generous pour of good old American bourbon, the cocktail has all the light, fluffy body of a classic whiskey sour, but none of the bite. It’s soft and floral and full of Ojai sunshine. Good any time… with its lovely peachy color, this cocktail has an elegance well-suited to any grand occasion. Prep time: 20 minutes Cook time: 10 minutes Cool time: 15 minutes Yield: 1 serving Ingredients For the thyme simple syrup 1 cup water 1 cup granulated sugar 12 fresh thyme sprigs For the cocktail 2 ounces bourbon 1 ounce Cutie tangerine juice 1/2 ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice 1/2 ounce thyme simple syrup 1 egg white Ice Pixie peel and thyme sprig, for garnish Directions To make the simple syrup
Note: The simple syrup can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to two weeks. To make the cocktail:
Quip of the Day: Q. Why did the tangerine stop in the middle of the road? A. Because it ran out of juice. ------------------------------------------- Do you have a question or comment? Send your favorite recipes, pictures or thoughts to ed@perspectives-la.com. 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 #BourbonSour #ThymeSyrup #Cuties #Tangerines #Cheers #2024Recipes #URM #T2T #FeedingAmerica #RedCross #PerspectivesTheConsultingGroup © Perspectives/The Consulting Group, LLC, 2024 …from the Perspectives’ Ovenow you doin’? I am constantly asked, do you put coffee in a coffee cake recipe? The answer is not necessarily. While some early versions of coffee cake did contain coffee, this snack cake is meant to be an accompaniment, not a cake full of caffeine. Most have simple sugar and cinnamon fillings, with variations using chocolate, nuts, fruit and cream cheese to complement the delicate flavor of the cake. Nothing goes better with a steaming cup of “joe” than a perfectly spiced slice of coffee cake. The enticing aroma, ribbons of sugar and cinnamon filling, and traditional crumb topping make it a treat at breakfast, a midday indulgence or a midnight snack. Coffee cakes are synonymous with casual dining and, best of all, they don't require any of the fuss of frosted, labor-intensive cakes. Coffee cakes can be baked with just a few pantry staples. What a great way to start the day! Coffee cake, or Kaffekuchen, is a single layer cake with a sweet, sugar-cinnamon-layer of--and topped with--a streusel made from flour, butter and sugar. Both yeast and baking powder can be used to give lift to coffee cakes, with some versions presented as a braided ring or lattice-style like a babka. Coffee cakes became popular soon after coffee was introduced to Europe in the 17th century. German, Dutch, and Scandinavian communities began to pair spiced sweet breads with the new world beverage. A ritual called kaffeeklatsch emerged, where people would gather for caffeine, sugar and neighborhood gossip. These groups continued their coffeehouse traditions when they came to America. As coffee became more prevalent in the U.S. and more affordable to all, coffee cakes became a treat for Americans both wealthy and working-class. By the late 1800's, several coffee cake recipes made their way into American cookbooks, boosting the popularity of the humble dessert even higher. Coffee cakes use basic pantry ingredients like flour, brown and granulated sugar, and baking powder to create a basic recipe. Many recipes call for milk or sour cream to maximize moisture and to create a perfect texture. No need to frost or glaze (but you can sugar glaze, if desired). The thick buttery streusel topping acts as delicious baked-on finish. Simply combine cake ingredients, then top with the streusel crumbs for a delightfully crisp layer. Coffee cakes are budget-friendly, totally customizable, and great for making ahead. Make your own luscious, shareable cake with this tasty recipe. Prep time: 25 minutes Bake time: 35 minutes Yield: 10 to 12 servings Ingredients For the streusel topping 1 cup brown sugar 4 tablespoons all-purpose flour 4 teaspoons ground cinnamon 1/2 cup chopped pecans 1-1/2 teaspoons almond extract 5 tablespoons butter, melted For the coffee cake batter 3/4 cup granulated sugar 1/3 cup butter 2 large eggs 1/2 cup half-and-half 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract 1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour 2-1/2 teaspoons baking powder 1/2 teaspoon salt Directions To make the streusel topping
To make the coffee cake batter
ChefSecret: I prefer a nice thick, crisp streusel topping. If you prefer more cake with a lighter topping, cut the streusel recipe in half. Quip of the Day: The best way to teach your kids about taxes is to reward them with a slice of warm coffee cake after finishing a chore, then taking 30% of their cake and eating it yourself. ------------------------------------------- Do you have a question or comment? Send your thoughts to ed@perspectives-la.com. 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. #Baking #CoffeeCake #Coffee #Treat #Dessert #Brunch #Breakfast #BrunchCake #MidnightSnack #2024Recipes #URM #T2T #FeedingAmerica #RedCross #PerspectivesTheConsultingGroup ©PERSPECTIVES/The Consulting Group, LLC, 2024 … from the Perspectives’ KitchenHow you doin’? Clynn was the purchasing vice president for one of our clients. We traveled to Indonesia and the Philippines looking for shrimp, lobster and furniture (for the dining rooms, of course). We got to Jakarta just about a day after terrorists had bombed the club at the Marriott Hotel. Security was in full force as we attempted to check into the Hyatt, which took over an hour. There were anti-American demonstrations going on throughout the city and we were told by the embassy personnel to be on alert… whatever the hell that meant. As the call for prayers sounded, Clynn thought it would be a good idea to go for a walk and explore Jakarta. I was skeptical, but I can usually blend into the background, so I agreed. But Clynn is a big gregarious man who is easily recognized as a foreigner—American—at his over six foot four height. We walked for a couple of blocks with suspicious stares from the locals until a policeman pulled us aside and told us to get off the street as it wasn’t safe. That night we met up with a couple of Clynn’s suppliers who took us to a dancing club that served liquor. After being searched for guns and bombs we got in, but after a few minutes and hearing about the unrest in the city we thought it best to return to the safety of our hotel. You may think, what does this all have to do with granola? Absolutely nothing! This is just a reminiscence of an old friend that managed to survive the perils of traveling to countries that are not so welcoming to Americans. This delicious Granola recipe was created and perfected by Clynn during the pandemic. Enjoy! Ingredients 8 cups rolled oats (original, not quick cook) 1 cup instant powdered milk (not instant milk) 1 cup flake or shredded coconut 1 cup brown sugar (or 1/2 cup brown sugar and 1/2 cup honey) 1/2 cup hot water 1/2 cup peanut oil 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract 2 tablespoons ground cinnamon 1 cup shelled walnuts 1 cup shelled pecans 1 cup hulled pumpkin seeds 1 cup hulled sunflower seeds 1/4 cup flax seeds 1/4 cup sprouted hemp seeds 1/4 cup chia seeds 1 cup craisins 1cup of raisins 1/4 cup dried Gogi berries Directions
ChefSecrets: You may want to cut this recipe in half to first test the recipe to suit your own tastes. This is enough for about two weeks. Quip of the Day: Q. What do you call a granola with a serious attitude? A. ‘Cereal killer’. ------------------------------------------- Do you have a question or comment? Send your thoughts to ed@perspectives-la.com. 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, be positive, stay well, stay safe and be kind. 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. #Granola #Cereal #RolledOats #Snack #Breakfast #Brunch #2024Recipes #URM #T2T #FeedingAmerica #RedCross #PerspectivesTheConsultingGroup ©PERSPECTIVES/The Consulting Group, LLC, 2024 …from the Perspectives’ Happy Hour Bar How you doin’? Try ordering this cocktail at your happy hour saloon. You’ll have the barkeep looking for his recipe book for this refreshing cocktail from Gabor Omufer, Bartender at the Cinnamon Club in London. It combines the warm, malty flavors of Genever with the caraway and aniseed notes of the Kummel Wolfschmidt, finishing with a healthy splash of tonic. A sumptuously spiced cocktail perfectly in keeping with East Indian cuisine. Bols Genever Original is a premium quality genever that is perfect for making cocktails with a dry and spicy taste. It is used in The Forgotten Cocktail, in the Red Light Negroni or the Ginger Mule, three classic examples of cocktails that showcase its versatility and flavor. Bols Genever Original is a delightfully complex triple grain spirit made from corn, rye and wheat and is blended with a selection of 22 botanicals. Bols Genever won Double Gold and Best of Show during the Wine and Spirits Wholesalers of America convention 2018 and was presented with the Best Dutch Genever Award during the World Best Gin competition 2018. Kümmel (also spelled kimmel or kummel) is a colorless herbal liqueur flavored with spices and herbs—most notably, caraway seeds and cumin, which impart a distinctly savory-spicy flavor. History has it that the liqueur was created by Dutch distiller Lucas Bols in 1575 (yes, the same Bols). It’s here in Holland that it was encountered by Peter the Great in the last decade of the 1600s, while he was illicitly gathering intel on Dutch shipbuilding methods. He apparently enjoyed it so much that he brought it home with him to Russia, where it ultimately became a mainstay. Kümmel began to further establish itself in Eastern and Western Europe in 1800s, when one family in Riga, Latvia—then under Russian rule--decided to go commercial with its traditional recipe; today that brand, Mentzendorff Kümmel (now produced in France by the Combier distillery) remains one of the most popular producers of kümmel, along with Combier (France), Gilka (Germany) and Wolfschmidt (Denmark). To my taste, I prefer the latter. Prep time: 5 minutes Yield: 1 cocktail Ingredients 3/4 ounce Bols Genever 3/4 ounce Kummel Wolfschmidt liqueur 2 to 3 drops Bob's cardamom bitters 4 ounces tonic water 4 to 5 large ice cubes orange zest garnish Directions
ChefSecret: Bob’s Cardamon Bitters are hand crafted aromatic cocktail bitters made in England by Bob Petrie himself using natural, fresh ingredients with the finest quality spirit to enhance the flavor and aroma of your cocktails. The robust aroma of cardamon combines well with underlying hints of lemon and eucalyptus and a trace of sweetness offset by a sharp bitterness. Quip of the Day: A gorilla goes up to a bar and asks for a gin and tonic. The bartender makes the G&T and says: “That'll be $20, and I must say we don't get many gorillas in here.” The gorilla replies: “With prices like that, I'm not surprised.” ------------------------------------------ Do you have a question or comment? Send your thoughts to ed@perspectives-la.com. 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 #ForgottenTonicCocktail #BobsBitters #Genever #KummelWolfschmidtLiqueur #Cheers #HappyHour #2024 #T2T #URM #FeedingAmerica #RedCross #PerspectivesTheConsultingGroup ©PERSPECTIVES/The Consulting Group, LLC, 2024 |
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