ULTIMATE INDULGENCE

There is a drink that I make during the Holiday Season and I only make it during this period for two reasons: I want to keep it ‘special’ and it is so decadent that you can only get away with drinking during these most luxurious months of the year. May I introduce you to my Chocolate Martinis!  After much practice and tweaking, I have perfected the art and I want to share it with you. 

Vanilla Vodka

Creme de Cacao

Chocolate Crème Liquer *

Chocolate syrup (I like Hershey’s Dark Chocolate Syrup)

Ice

Fat Free Half-&-Half       

Jigger **

Single shaker (metal is best)

1.    Swirl chocolate syrup around inside of glass

2.    Fill shaker with ice

3.    Add the following ingredients to the shaker:

-       1 ½  jiggers vanilla vodka

-       ½ jigger crème de cacao

-      2 jiggers chocolate crème liquer

-      Splash of half-and-half

       (just a bit – this is what really ties the whole thing together)

4.    Shake, Shake Your Booty (until the shaker is too cold to hold)

5.   Pour into martini glass and put your feet up – YOU DESERVE IT!

* I usually use Godiva Chocolate Liqueur but my regular liquor store was out of it so I picked up a few new liqueurs to try.  The first was Europa Tiramisu Dutch Cream.  It was delicious and added a touch of a coffee flavor.  But the Winner-Winner-Chicken-Dinner was Coole Swan Superior Dairy Cream Liqueur from Ireland.  It was AMAZING!  And dangerous I might add – it is that good.

** A jigger is a metal shot glass of sorts.  It has 2 sides – one is generally 1.5 or 2 ounces and the other side is generally .5 or 1 ounces, respectively.  You can use a regular shot glass if you don’t have a jigger.  

And don’t forget the Chocolate Martini’s Frenemy – Truffle Popcorn.  I say Frenemy because they complement each other perfectly but get them on their own and they won’t hesitate a moment to shine all by themselves.

1 bag microwave popcorn, lightly buttered

Black Truffle salt *

1. Pop the bag of popcorn according to directions. 
2. Pour into a bowl and sprinkle truffle salt.  (I usually do about 3 pinches)
3. Shake the bowl and mix the popcorn

* Dean and Deluca has the perfect Black Truffle Salt but you can find it in fine food specialty shops around town

There you have the perfect snowy afternoon – just pop in a movie and curl up under a blanket with your martini and popcorn!