Our Festive Cranberry Martini

Back by popular demand ... each year we post this photo of our satisfying cranberry martini, sure to please the pickiest martini drinkers.  We find this is best served in front of festive holiday lights with your feet up and your favorite music playing in the background!

Cranberry Martini

The sugared rim makes this a nice treat while decorating for the holidays.

• 1 jigger vodka (1.5 oz)
• 1/2 oz orange liquor
• 1/2 oz dry vermouth
• 1 jiggers cranberry syrup
• 1 cup ice
• cranberries

Cranberry Syrup

• 1 cup water
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1 cup cranberries

1. Rub a cut orange around the rim of your martini glass and dip the rim in fine sugar, set glass aside.  Combine vodka, orange liqueur, vermouth, cranberry syrup (see below), and ice in a cocktail shaker. Shake vigorously to chill. Pour into martini glasses, and serve. Garnish with cranberries.

Cranberry Syrup

1. Stir water and sugar in pan until sugar begins to dissolve.  Add the cranberries and heat all ingredients over medium high until it begins to boil.  Immediately turn down to a simmer and continue to stir, making sure it does not burn.  Allow to simmer for 10 minutes and cool.  Once cool, strain with a fine mesh strainer or cheese cloth into a measuring cup.  

Spice Up Your Chocolate Chip Cookies

With December right around the corner, we're gearing up for the official start to the holiday baking season with a batch of these vanilla spice cookies from Amanda Hesser, co-founder of JBF Award–winning website Food52. Inspiration for this delightful (and vegan!) recipe came from Hesser's desire to merge the benefits of a chewy chocolate chip cookie with the fragrance of a holiday spice cookie.

Photo: James Ransom

Chewy Vanilla Spice Cookie with Chocolate Chunks

For more information on culinary latitudes and where our foodie adventures may take you ... contact us at info@culinarylatitudes.com.  

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 3/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 rounded tsp grounded chile
• 6 oz dark chocolate; chopped into ¼-inch chunks, reserving any shavings
• 1 vanilla bean; cut into 6 pieces
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup packed dark brown sugar
• 1/2 cup plus 1 tablespoon of canola oil
• 1/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon water
• flaky sea salt for sprinkling (such as maldon)

1. Method

   In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, cinnamon, baking soda, salt, and ground chile. Fold the chocolate chunks (and all the shavings on your cutting board) into the flour mixture.

   In a blender, combine the vanilla bean and sugar and blend until the vanilla is reduced to flecks in the sugar. In a separate large bowl, whisk the vanilla sugar and brown sugar with the canola oil and water until you have a smoothish liquid.

   Sprinkle the dry ingredients onto the sugar mixture and fold together with a rubber spatula until just combined.

   Cover the bowl with plastic wrap. Refrigerate the dough for at least 12 hours and up to 24 hours. (Do not skip this step!)

   When ready to bake: Heat the oven to 350°F. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper. Scoop the dough into 2-inch mounds, placing them on the prepared baking sheet and flattening them slightly with your hands. If your chocolate chunks are big, you may also need to press the dough together with your fingers. Sprinkle the dough with flaky salt and slide the baking sheet into the freezer for 10 minutes.

   Bake for 6 minutes, then rotate the baking sheet 180 degrees and continue baking until the edges are beginning to toast, about 6 minutes more. Let cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to a rack to cool completely. You can bake off the rest of the dough now, or do it in a single batch when you want to serve them. Store the cookies in an airtight container for up to a week.