Lemon Capri Cocktail

Bodum Espresso Glasses

This little drink is the perfect after dinner treat.  We have all this great homemade limoncello that we made and this drink makes use of that, especially if you don't like to drink the limoncello straight.  It has only three ingredients - chilled espresso, limoncello and cream and it tastes a little like a milkshake. 

 

you can serve the Lemon Capris in little shot glasses

Since this post involves espresso, I want to take this opportunity to talk about some ways we love to make espresso.  I've had a lot of bad espresso made by big fancy machines.  I've had terrible espresso after dinner in restaurants.  And, of course, I've had terrific espresso in Italy.  We used to have one of those espresso makers that was complicated and used ground beans and you had to measure everything out and then clean up the grounds.  Brian got sick of it and told me to go out and "buy one of those pod machines we saw at Williams Sonoma".   No way could that thing make good espresso, I thought.  But I bought it anyway and was floored.  It made great espresso and there was no measuring or cleanup. Plus it makes a regular cup of delicious coffee. We absolutley loved it.  It was brilliant. It made unbelievable crema. It's a Nespresso maker - we currently have a black CitiZ.  They are common in Europe. My opinion on the quality of espresso it makes was validated when I read an article by Colman Andrews (who knows a thing or two about food and drink).  He is in love with his Nespresso machine.

our current machine - Nespresso CitiZ with Milk Frother

I admit Brian and I want to take ours when we travel, we miss it so much when we stay elsewhere.  What I do take when we travel is this ingenious device called a Handpresso, along with some Illy pods, which makes pretty good espresso together.  All you need is hot water. You just pump it up like a bicycle pump and it creates the pressure to make a shot of espresso! They have even put together a whole travel set, complete with hot water thermos and unbreakable little espresso cups!  What a great gift that would make for an espresso lover.  You can buy just the regular Handpresso with a travel case (which is what we have). 

Lemon Capri Cocktail

for a printable recipe, click here

makes 2 drinks

Ingredients:

• 2 tablespoons cream
• 2 tablespoons chilled espresso
• 2 tablespoons limoncello, chilled
• lemon peel for garnish

Instructions:

Mix all ingredients together and pour into shot glasses.  Garnish with a lemon peel.

make ahead tip:  You can mix up a batch of these ahead of time and refrigerate them in a little pitcher and then pour them into serving glasses when you are ready. 

Announcement:  I am going to be giving a Pizza Making Class in my home on Sunday, October 21st.  Click the "Cooking Classes" tab in my Nav Bar for more information or to sign up to be notified of any cooking classes.

Penne with Salmon in Vodka Sauce

I think I've reached the cracking point. The high for the next couple of days here is still only going to be in the twenties.  This has been the longest, coldest, snowiest (we broke a record in February for snow) winter. Then Cookiecrumb over at I'm Mad and I Eat had the nerve to post a picture of a daffodil blooming in her yard. That really did me in. My back yard, on the other hand, looks like this:

  

So last night I cooked a friend a birthday dinner.  I knew she liked pasta and salmon, so this was a perfect dish for her.  We started off, however, with these:

Limoncello cocktails.  Simply a shot of limoncello, topped off with champagne (actually, we used an Italian Prosecco) and a slice of lemon.  No ice, because you keep the limoncello in the freezer and ice would only dilute the drink.

Penne with Salmon in Vodka Sauce

serves 4

For a printable recipe, click here

Ingredients:

• 12 ounces penne pasta
• 1 shallot
• 1 15 oz can pureed or crushed tomatoes
• 1/2 cup vodka
• 2/3 cup chicken broth
• 2 salmon fillets, chopped
• chopped dill
• fresh thyme
• 2/3 cup heavy cream

Instructions:

Boil pasta in salted water until al dente.

 

While pasta is cooking, make the sauce.  Saute shallot in olive oil in skillet.  Add tomatoes and vodka and cook for 2 minutes.  Add chicken broth and herbs.  Add salmon and gently cook for five minutes.  Stir in cream.

 Add cooked pasta to skillet and coat with sauce.