Soup Recipe chosen!

A group I am a member of regularly holds large parties. At this up coming party, I've been chosen as the second to the main chef for The Big Meal. I also get to help out with a luncheon.

The group has been meal planning and submitting recipes. The chef (who is a restaurant owner) chose a soup recipe I submitted for the luncheon! This makes me very happy. :) And a bit weirded out as I haven't made it yet and I need to make enough to serve 100 people. I've never cooked that much before. lol

It isn't my recipe, though. I got it out of One-Pot Cooking. (I've made several recipes out of this book and they are easy and awesomely yummy!)

Lebanese Lentil Soup :: serves 4

4T Olive Oil
1 onion finely chopped
1 garlic clove crushed
1c lentils
1T finely ground cardamom
1/4 tsp ground allspice
1/2 tsp shredded lemon rind
4c beef broth
2T lemon juice
4 small handfuls of croutons
s&p

Heat half the olive oil, add onion and garlic and cook for 2-3 minutes. Add lentils and stir until coated in the oil. Add cardamom, lemon rind, and allspicethen pour in broth and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 30 minutes. Blintz to coarse texture puree. Reheat and season to taste. Stir in lemon juice and remaining oil and garnish with croutons.

The Three Olives Bubble Vodka Experiment

Drink #1 : Bubble Bomb 2:30pm

2oz vodka
4oz energy drink

Served over ice, garnished with cherry.

Energy drink used: Archer Farms, green tea inused, sugar free raspberry

Flavor: Classic bubble-yum
Alcohol taste: slight
Vodka taste: none
Strength: strong

Initial taste brought a smile to my face. Need to keep stirring it to keep from settling. I can feel the energy drink, which I think is amplified a bit by the vodka. Definitely a sipping drink. I had a hard time finishing the drink - 45 minutes due the stregnth and the desire waned.

Bubbles: 4 out of 5

Drink #2 : Bubble-07 4:15pm

2oz vodka
4oz lemon-lime soda

Served over ice, garnished with lime wedge.

Flavor: Classic wrigley's with a hint of bubble-yum
Alcohol taste: none
Vodka taste: moderate
Strength: moderate

It's ok, but, not as exciting as the bomb. I think part of this is because the soda I used was flat. I'm not a big fan of lemon-lime soda either. This one doesn't have to be sipped as much, I'm gulping it. ;) But, I'm still not sure I want to finish it. After 45 minutes I was half done the drink, had forgotten it, and just emptied the remainder down the sink.

Bubbles: 3 out of 5

Drink #3 : Bubble Drop 6:30pm

1oz vodka
splash of lemon-lime soda
1 tsp sugar

Shake with ice and strain into shot glass. Dip lemon in sugar and serve as shot.

Flavor: shot faint bubblegum, then lemonade
Alcohol taste: none
Vodka taste: none
Strength: strong

I don't know if the ice melted too much while I cut the lemon or my "splash" was too much, but I got two (and a few drops) shots out of this. Absolutely fantastic! Normally I don't like shots, but I'd happily do several of these.


Bubbles: 5 out of 5

Drink #4 : Bubble Martini 8:45pm

2oz vodka
1oz ginger ale
1oz cranberry juice

Shake with ice and strain into a chilled martini glass. Garnish with a cherry.

Flavor: bubblegum wrapper with a side of rubbing alcohol
Alcohol taste: strong
Vodka taste: strong
Strength: moderate

I smelled the bubblegum before I even had the drink to my lips. The taste of alcohol was very strong, there was no hint of even cranberry and in the short time it took to shake, the carbonation of the gingerale (freshly opened can) had gone flat. It makes a pretty looking drink, but, is my least favorite of the bunch. This is sad because normally I love martinis.

Bubbles: 1 out of 5

Bubble Vodka

*I am not paid for any of my posts.*

An online group I am a part of uses bubbles as an emblem. We recently found that there is a "bubble" vodka made by Three Olives. I've decided to make it my mission to buy a bottle and evaluate it straight as well as with the three recipes provided on their website. I thought this would make a great addition to our groups monthly newsletter, and might as well share it here too! Look for the results Sunday. :)