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Cocktail

The Flannel Shirt

one and a half slices cocktail recipe scotch whisky fall
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The Flannel Shirt

one and a half slices cocktail recipe scotch whisky fall

Hot take (updated): You can make this drink with scotch (The Original), bourbon (The Commoner), or cognac (The Après). It’s good all three ways. The cognac version may just be my new fav – perfect for Christmas and after Thanksgiving dinner.

This is Fall epitomized in cocktail form. From scotch whiskey to allspice dram, you could not possibly get cozier. All the other flavors cut the scotch quite nicely so this isn’t a punch-in-the-stomach cocktail. And it was the Allstar at our Inaugural Saturday Supper last weekend. Many thanks to a good friend who rocked the cocktail bar, as always. This gives #fallvibes and really brings the season. Happy Spooky Month!

🎃🦇👻

what you need

1 1/2 oz Scotch of choice

1 1/2 oz Apple Cider

1/2 oz Averna Amaro

1/4 oz Lemon Juice

1 teaspoon Simple Syrup (or a demerara sugar cube)

1 healthy teaspoon Allspice Dram

2 dashes Angostura Bitters

how to make it

Place all ingredients in a cocktail shaker and shake vigorously with ice. 

(if using a sugar cube, you will need to muddle this so it mixes with the other ingredients)

Strain over a large ice cube and garnish with an orange peel. #fallvibes
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Cocktail

Ginger Peach Smash

one and a half slices recipe peach summer fall cocktail vibe
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Ginger Peach Smash

one and a half slices recipe peach summer fall cocktail vibe

Okay, one more to round out summer. A simple segue from summer to fall with some #datenightvibes and fresh peaches. What could be better than a tart, tangy, spicy fresh cocktail to welcome the fall leaves? This is the perfect start to Summer Sausage Orzo or perhaps a heartier Pork and Apples as a main. 

what you need

1oz brown sugar or peach simple syrup

*the peach simple syrup can be made as in the Burnt Peach Old Fashioned recipe. Otherwise, simple syrup is equal parts water and sugar (1 cup) simmered stovetop for ~20 minutes until the water reduces by half.

several chunks of fresh, ripe peach (or the leftover peach chunks from making the simple syrup)

3oz bourbon of choice

4 large mint leaves

Ginger Beer (I use Maine Root – it is pretty spicy)

how to make it

Gently muddle the peach chunks, simple syrup, and mint together in a cocktail shaker. 

Add some ice and the bourbon, and shake well. 

Strain into a rocks glass over one large ice cube and top with your desired amount of ginger beer. 

Add a peach slice or a sprig of fresh mint for garnish.  
More Peaches
one and a half slices peach cobbler

Peach Cobbler

Cobbler is one of those things you can make on any weeknight with any fruit in about 20 minutes (plus 1 hour of cooking time). Top it with some vanilla bean gelato and serve it

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August 27, 2022 No Comments
one and a half slices summer and fall peaches simple dessert recipe

Crisped Peaches

Quite possibly the easiest, most summery, and healthiest dessert! If you just don’t have the energy for my easy stone fruit skillet cobbler but still need something sweet to make after a summery date night

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August 25, 2023 1 Comment

Cashew Chicken Noodle

This is a great sweet and spicy weeknight meal, made in one pot with interesting fruity flavors and cashews! Pair with your favorite rice noodle (I like vermicelli) and sprinkle with Thai basil for full

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July 2, 2021 No Comments

Peach Caprese

This is a continuation of my summer eats glorified snack dinners (see Watermelon Feta Salad). For when the summer months take hold, the cicadas ring true, and the humidity is as thick and sticky as

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August 11, 2021 2 Comments
skillet berry fruit cobbler easy oneandahalfslices

Flaky Cobbler

We find ourselves mid-way through summer with a plethora of beautiful fruits like blueberries, blackberries, peaches, and plums. The stone fruits – peaches, nectarines, apricots, and plums – are delicate fruits with high water content

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July 31, 2021 2 Comments
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Cocktail

Burnt Peach Old Fashioned

one and a half slices burned burnt peach old fashioned cocktail recipe grilled summer
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Burnt Peach Old Fashioned

Tired of the simple Old Fashioned, don’t have the blow torch to make a Smoked Old Fashioned, but not quite yet ready for a Bourbon and Blood? Let’s add some summer peaches… The burnt peach Old Fashioned is the perfect Summer/Fall segue. You can use your grill… or not. And it pairs perfectly with summer Mains like Summer Sausage Orzo. This is by far my favorite Old Fashioned.

what you need

1/2 oz peach simple syrup

2 oz bourbon of choice

1 orange slice

2 small chunks of cooked peach (or really ripe fresh peach)

2 dashes cardamom bitters 

2 dashes Angostura bitters

1 large ice cube

For the peach simple syrup:

1 whole peach, cut into 1″ chunks

1 cup sugar

1 cup water

how to make it

First make the peach simple syrup. Combine the water, sugar, and chunked peach in a pot with a dash of cinnamon and bring to a boil over medium heat. Reduce heat and simmer for 20-30 minutes, until the liquid reduces a bit, turns darker brown, and viscosity increases slightly. Using a slotted spoon, remove the peach chunks and set aside for use in your cocktail. Remove the syrup from heat, allow to cool, place in glass jar, and store in the fridge for up to several weeks. 

Now, make your cocktail. Combine the bitters, orange slice, peach chunks, and peach simple syrup in a cocktail mix. Muddle. Add the bourbon and crushed ice. Stir until chilled. Strain into a glass over a large ice cube. Garnish with fresh peach slices and a cocktail cherry. 

If you really want to get fancy, you have two options: 1) Smoke this thing, or 2) garnish it with grilled peaches (whoa. flavor). 

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Cocktail

Felix Felicis

one and a half slices kir royale felix felicis liquid luck recipe
OneandahalfSlices food blog recipes One and a half Slices Virginia eat local

Felix Felicis

also known as The Kir Royale
one and a half slices kir royale felix felicis liquid luck recipe

I am jumping the gun a little bit here because technically this recipe is supposed to be featured as part of the upcoming French Dinner Series. But I wanted to start the year lucky. 

Where to start. 

Last year was a wizbang year professionally that culminated in the illustrious reimagination of Merigold. Last year was a lot of hard work and a little bit of luck. My first boss (yes, the same first boss responsible for my inelegant introduction to scotch) taught me many important things, one of which was to always begin elegant dinners with a champagne cocktail. His go-to was the Kir Royale. And it quickly became mine. 

So when I launched an analytic program very near and dear to my heart last year, naturally, in the spirit of my libation-inclined first boss, I named it Kir Royale. As I said, it was a lot of hard work and a little bit of luck. 

Since that time, the Kir Royale has brought luck in several locations (yes, one of them was Vegas…). It became symbolic to me for luck. In honor of the Harry Potter-themed open-world videogame finally launching this week titled Hogwarts Legacy (and to accompany my complete primary computer rebuild in preparation for the aforementioned), I dubbed the Kir Royale ‘The Felix Felicis’.

Felix Felicis, in Harry Potter world, is the potion colloquially called Liquid Luck, and it brings some subsequent period of inescapable luck to all who drink it. Professor Slughorn gives Harry a small vile of Felix Felicis in Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince which Harry then uses (as a placebo) to give Ron confidence during Quidditch trials. Now I just have to figure out how to create a kumquat-inspired dessert and parlay it into dirigible plums…

Okay, enough lore. More cocktails. 

Bottom line, the Kir Royale was initially, to me, a symbol of elegance. Now, it is a symbol of elegance and luck. And it brought me snake shoes in 2023. It’s special. 

what you need

1/4 oz crème de cassis (French liquor made from the black currant; restaurants will sometimes substitute Chambord, made from raspberries, but this makes the drink quite a bit sweeter)

1 twist of lemon

champagne of choice 

how to make it

[pour] crème de cassis in a champagne glass

[top] with champagne

[twist] the lemon over the bubbles and garnish. 

[get fancy] with a blackberry
More Bubbly
one and a half slices aperol spritz cocktail recipe

Aperol Spritz

I am interrupting your regularly-scheduled programming here on this Easter weekend to declare Spring officially arrived here in Northern Virginia. And what better way to welcome and celebrate it than with a quintessentially-summer cocktail? (I know, wishful thinking at it’s best). So in honor of my lovely niece-in-law and nephew, I give you the Aperol Spritz, which I am now fully convinced is only complete alongside homemade pizza. Still working on the pizza but, for now, enjoy the drink!

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April 16, 2022 4 Comments
one and a half slices oneandahalfslices cocktail recipe Instagram inspiration summer

Summer in Madrid

Loosely based somewhere afloat in the Atlantic between a French 75 and an Aperol Spritz, I bring you Deep Summer. (And yes, our Ginger really did spend a summer in Madrid…) ☀️

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May 17, 2024 No Comments
Categories
Cocktail

Cucumber Mint Gimlet

one and a half slices cucumber mint cocktail recipe
OneandahalfSlices food blog recipes One and a half Slices Virginia eat local

Cucumber Mint Gimlet

one and a half slices cucumber mint cocktail recipe

With this cocktail, I officially declare it summer. This beautifully crisp invention came from a friend of mine after two bottles of Prosecco worth of Aperol Spritz and my vehement proclamation: “will you please do something with this cucumber?!” Little did I know the ‘something’ would become one of the highlights of the evening. The cucumber mint gimlet is crisp, vibrant, cool, and everything a summer cocktail should be. It also paired perfectly with our Mediterranean-themed meal which included homemade tzatziki sauce. 

what you need

2 inch slice of peeled cucumber, halved and sliced

handful of fresh mint

1 teaspoon of honey

juice of 1 lime

2oz gin (my preferred gin is The Botanist though Hendricks would also probably do well)

how to make it

Muddle cucumber, mint, honey, and lime juice in a cocktail shaker.

Shake vigorously for 20 seconds.

Strain into a glass over a large ice cube and garnish with a sprig of mint.

one and a half slices mint recipe cocktail gin
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Cocktail

Aperol Spritz

one and a half slices aperol spritz cocktail recipe
OneandahalfSlices food blog recipes One and a half Slices Virginia eat local

Classic Aperol Spritz

I am interrupting your regularly scheduled programming on this Easter weekend to declare Spring officially arrived here in Northern Virginia. And what better way to welcome and celebrate it than with a quintessentially summer cocktail? (I know, wishful thinking at it’s best.) So in honor of my lovely niece-in-law and nephew, I give you the Aperol Spritz, which I am now fully convinced is only complete alongside homemade pizza. Still working on the pizza but, for now, enjoy the drink! // Now, given that it is Easter weekend (🐇), I’ll urge all of you to channel your inner French gypsy and make my French Chocolate Cake this weekend for your festivities. Things you can look forward to from my Easter celebrations include baked chicken and authentic, versatile mole [moh-lay] sauce.

what you need

🍹 2 oz Aperol

🍊 1 oz blood orange or regular orange juice

🍾 Prosecco or sparkling of choice

🍊 (optional) 3 dashes citrus bitters like Reagan’s

how to make it

Pour Aperol, orange juice, and bitters into a large wine glass over ice. 

Top it off with sparkling of choice.

Stir, garnish with an orange slice, and serve up your own vibrant cup of summertime. 

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Old Fashioned

one and a half slices old fashioned cocktail recipe
one and a half slices local simple recipes food

The Old Fashioned

one and a half slices old fashioned cocktail recipe

For those of you who have tried my Smoked Old Fashioned or my Burnt Peach Old Fashioned, it occurred to me the other day that I hadn’t made it simple for everyone by just including a base Old Fashioned recipe. The Old Fashioned is one of the most quintessential cocktails, like the Manhattan or the Sazerac (my other two favorites). The Old Fashioned is the sweetest of the three and the most fruit-forward. 

what you need

2 oz bourbon of choice

1 sugar cube

5 dashes bitters of choice (mix it up from Aromatic or Citrus with walnut, golden spice, or oak)

1 orange slice (plus more for garnish)

1 cocktail cherry

how to make it

In a mixing glass, sprinkle the bitters over the sugar cube, then add the orange slice. Muddle.

Add the bourbon and some crushed ice. Stir. 

Strain into cocktail glass over large ice cube. 

Garnish with a cocktail cherry and a small orange slice. 
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