Author Archives: Jen

Drink Recipes for St. Patrick’s Day. No Green Beer Here!

Happy St. Patrick’s Day! Here’s to a day filled with luck and good cheer. Here are a few drink ideas and recipes links. Sorry. No green beer here. (You’re welcome.)


Chocolate Stout Beer Shakes -stout beer (such as Guinness), premium chocolate ice cream


Big Ginger Drink -Irish whiskey (such as Jameson), fresh lime juice, ginger ale


Irish Coffee -Irish whiskey, coffee, sugar, whipping cream

Of course, it’s always good to have nonalcoholic drink options. Here’s a mocktail with a touch of green.
Mint Limeade Mocktail Recipe -fresh mint leaves, simple syrup, fresh lime juice, still or sparkling water

Here’s to a Happy and Safe Holiday! -Jen

Chocolate Hazelnut Coffee Drink Recipe

Chocolate Hazelnut Coffee Drink

Happy World Nutella Day! I love the combination of chocolate and hazelnut so I created a Nutella inspired coffee drink. It’s a creamy coffee drink flavored with rich cocoa and nutty Frangelico hazelnut liqueur.

Chocolate Hazelnut Coffee Drink Recipe
2 teaspoons sugar such as demerara sugar
2 teaspoons unsweetened natural cocoa powder
6 to 8 ounces hot brewed strong coffee
1 ounce hazelnut liqueur such as Frangelico
1/2 ounce coffee liqueur such as Kahlua
2 ounces half and half or light cream
Whipped cream, if desired

Add sugar and cocoa to mug; stir to combine. Add coffee; stir to dissolve sugar. Add hazelnut liqueur, coffee liqueur and half and half; stir. If desired, top with whipped cream.

Makes 1 drink

Tip: Vary the amount of coffee to suit your taste. Use less coffee for a stronger drink.

Recipe Links:
Chocolate Hazelnut Martini
Spiked Drinking Chocolate

Product Link:
Get Vitamix 5200 Blender with Free Shipping Code

This chocolate hazelnut recipe is part of World Nutella Day. You can see more recipes in the round-ups at Ms. Adventures in Italy and Bleeding Espresso. (This in not a sponsored post, but a nod to the delicious combination of chocolate and hazelnut.)

Hot Drinking Chocolate Recipe, Perfect for Spiking


Hot Drinking Chocolate, Ready to Spike and Sip

Warm up with a mug of decadent drinking chocolate. This rich but not-too-sweet hot chocolate tastes delicious with a splash of hazelnut or coffee liqueur. Or, stir in a few dashes of Angostura aromatic bitters to add an interesting, complex spice flavor.

Drinking Chocolate Recipe
1 tablespoon granulated sugar
1 tablespoon natural unsweetened cocoa powder
small pinch fine sea salt
2 tablespoons water
1 1/2 cups whole milk
1/3 cup semisweet or bittersweet (60% cacao) chocolate chips
1/4 teaspoon pure vanilla
Kahlua coffee liqueur or Frangelico hazelnut liqueur, if desired
Lightly sweetened whipped cream, if desired

In heavy small saucepan, combine sugar, cocoa powder and salt; mix well. Add water; whisk to dissolve sugar. Whisk in milk. Cook and stir over medium-low heat until hot and steamy (do not boil). Reduce heat to low.

Add chocolate chips; stir constantly with whisk until chocolate is melted and mixture is smooth. To serve, pour into 2 small cups. If desired, add a splash of liqueur and top with a dollop of whipped cream.

Makes 2 servings (about 1 3/4 cups total)

Drinking Chocolate Ingredients: cocoa and sugar mixed with water, whole milk, chocolate chips and vanilla

Recipe Link:
Irish Coffee

Product Links:
Angostura Aromatic Cocktail Bitters
Bitters: A Spirited History of a Classic Cure-All, with Cocktails, Recipes, and Formulas Book

Drinks for Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is almost here. It’s too late to worry about the turkey. Let’s focus on drinks. The way I see it, a holiday celebration calls for bourbon or bubbly. Here’s a few drink ideas and recipe links.

Kentucky Apple Cocktail Recipe -bourbon, hard apple cider, aromatic bitters, pure maple syrup


Kentucky Mule Drink Recipe -bourbon, fresh lime juice, ginger beer


French 75 Champagne Cocktail Recipe -gin, fresh lemon juice, simple syrup, Champagne


Pom Flower Champagne Cocktail Recipe -elderflower liqueur, pomegranate juice, Champagne

Of course, it’s always good to have nonalcoholic drink options. Here’s a mocktail that belongs at the grown ups table.
Mint Limeade Mocktail Recipe -fresh mint leaves, simple syrup, fresh lime juice, still or sparkling water

Here’s to a Happy and Safe Thanksgiving! -Jen