Espresso Martini

Happy Mother's Day! I'm not much of a drinker, but this one wins my heart. Coffee and alcohol, what else could we ask for? Make yourself one, grab a good book and tell everyone, Mom is off today!

Want to keep my attention? Please make me an iced cold espresso martini, and I'll be yours! The strong coffee is complimented by the perfect blend of liqueurs. My mother-in-law called these “delightfuls” and you’ll see why once you taste them.

You’ll need: 1 shot of Kahlua

1 shot of Vanilla Vodka (I like Smirnoff)

1 shot Godiva Liqueur

2 shots of Espresso Coffee (strong)

Whipped Cream (Optional)

A martini shaker

Garnish

This drink is easy to make and sneaks up on you so be careful. Espresso Martini’s have given me “round shoe syndrome” – you know, when you can’t stand up without swaying or tripping. This is one of those drinks you need to check with your doctor if you're going to have more than one. May cause cardiac side effects.

Let’s get shaking:

1. Make the espresso – I still use the old-fashioned espresso pot that perks on the stove.

If you want to use your K-cup machine, make sure the setting is on STRONG.

2. Your martini is going to be as good as the coffee you make it with.

Coffee from Italy – Medaglia D ‘ Oro works perfectly for this martini. It’s bold and doesn’t have a bitter taste. It’s a great background for all the sweet alcohol.

3. In a chilled martini shaker (put it in the freezer while you’re making the coffee) add the alcohol and coffee. Shake for 1 minute and pour immediately into a chilled (freezer again) martini glass. We prefer our espresso martini straight up and dark.

4. Garnishing your finished martini can be fun. Whipped cream finished with color sugar is always very impressive. There’s a trick to keeping your maraschino cherry afloat. Cut most of the cherry off (snack for the chef) and let the remainder and stem float in the bed of whipped cream. Low calorie, right?

ENJOY! Note from this food blogger and Mom - please don't drink and drive.