Cocktails and Small Bites

My sister stopped by for some “girl” time last week.  We both have two sons.  We sat together on the porch while our boys played basketball together.  My son lifted her five year old on his shoulders and helped him score.  As the boys played, we chatted about recipes, restaurants, family and love.  I decided to mix lemon drop martinis for us to enjoy.  The lemon drop martini is believed to have been invented in the 70’s in San Francisco at a bar called Henry Africa’s.  Henry Africa’s is no longer around but this delicious cocktail lives on.  A lemon drop martini will remind you of the lemon drop candy my sister and I enjoyed as children…sour and sweet at the same time.  It is a beautiful and delicious cocktail.

Lemon Drop Martini

Makes 2 cocktails

Ingredients:

3 oz vodka

1 oz orange liqueur

4 oz fresh squeezed lemon juice

2 oz of simple syrup (more if you want it to be sweeter)

Lemon wedge

Sugar for dipping

Method:

1. Rub the rim of the martini glasses with a wedge of lemon.  Dip the rim in sugar.
2. Fill a cocktail shaker with ice.  Add the vodka, orange liqueur, lemon juice and simple syrup.  Shake until chilled.  Pour into the prepared martini glasses.

Cheers!