Kim’s Mai Tai Recipe

Mai Tai Drink

This isn’t a “TRUE” Mai Tai recipe but it did the trick, got my buzzed and didn’t leave me hungover, plus I got some FB messages asking for the recipe once I posted the photo on FB so I thought I would share.

There are a bunch of recipes online but the thought of buying different brands of rum, light, dark, almond flavored liqueur sounded a bit expensive.

I picked up a bottle of premixed Bacardi Mai Tai at a local liquor store.  The color and texture was not what I was accustomed to at the Chinese restaurants so I decided to “doctor” it up a bit.

Ingredients:

• Bacardi Mai Tai Premixed  
• Orange Juice
• Grapefruit juice
• Dark Rum
• Grenadine
• Maraschino Cherries & Oranges for garnish

The consistency was too light so I added a splash of orange juice and grapefruit juice.  At only a mere 10% alcohol, the premade drink itself was not going to get me drunk so I added 2 shots of Gosling’s black seal Bermuda black rum.

I topped it off with a tiny bit of grenadine and garnished with fresh oranges and maraschino cherries and an umbrella.

Swedish Fish Martini

Inspired by the lovely Miss Alice

Ingredients:

• Pinnacle Vodka “Gummy”
• Pinnacle Vodka “Cake” or vanilla will do
• “Sugar Free” Cherry Limeade Crystal light or generic brand will do ( I used Target)
• Optional Gummy Swedish Fish for garnish
• Optional Red Crystal Sugar for garnish

You will need a shaker

My friend Alice and I are huge fans of flavored vodka and Crystal Light (or the imitation brands which are just as tasty and calorie free).

My concoctions are usually “half and half”, half vodka and half water, straw required.  After a couple of drinks, a nice buzz kicks in.  The alcohol content resembles a martini, but we can’t call it a martini since we leave the ice in the glass to help curb the bite.

We were at our friend Chuba’s birthday party and she brought over Pinnacle Swedish Vodka to share.

It was love at first sight! I do like to try different flavored vodka’s but I haven’t seen the swedish fish flavor.  Due to copyright issues, the actual name of the vodka is Pinnacle “Gummy” with a picture of the swedish fish on it.

She made me a few drinks using the swedish fish flavored vodka and the Target brand cherry lime powder mix.  I was hooked! I loved it so much that I handed her a $20.00 bill at the end of the night and took the leftover vodka home with me.

Here I am on a Thirsty Thursday night making my own rendition of the drink.  I’m feeling a bit fancy, so I am making a martini instead.  I’m using the same drink recipe but adding a splash of Pinnacle Cake flavored vodka for extra sweetness.

I actually use my protein shaker to make martinis because it doesn’t leak and the cap is easy to remove.  It also has a metal ball that mixes the powder really well.  I love my original martini shaker but it can be hard to remove the cap at times.

Swedish Fish Garnish threaded on wooden skewers

I used a lemon wedge to moisten the rim of the martini glass

Swirl the glass into a bowl of red crystals for a red sugar rim

Great Drinks, Great Tapas and Great Vibe at Masa’s Southwest Grill

With our office being located in Burlington, there isn’t much of a selection when it comes to “After work” lounges compared to Boston, which has a plethora to choose from.  There are the usual chain restaurants like Chili’s or Uno’s where one can get good appetizers and cheap draft beers or the higher end restaurants like Legal Sea foods which caters to the older businessmen-type group.

Usually, we head over to the Scoreboard in Woburn for drinks and wings but since we were celebrating a birthday, we headed to Masa’s Southwest Bar and Grill where we celebrated the last two birthdays of people in our office, including mine.

We left right after work and got there early around 5:30 PM and got our usual seating at tables by the entrance.  It was still quiet and we were among the first ones there.

Habenero Watermelon Margarita

Since we have been there before, we already had drink preferences.  The Habernero Watermelon Margarita was at the top of the list.  Although its usually best served on a warm sunny day on their outdoors patio, its still is delicious in October! The drink has a nice authentic watermelon flavor without the fake syrup crap and just the right amount of spice from the habanerno that makes your lips tingle. 

Jalapeno Margarita and Special Margarita with Vanilla

This time, I wanted to try something different so I got the drink special of the night which was a Reposado tequila margurita with a hint of vanilla liqueur.  At first, I was a bit hesitant, who mixes lime, salt and vanilla together? The waitress assured me it would be a great drink, so I decided to try it.  The drink was delicious! All the flavors balanced each other out and it was a smooth margarita.

For food, we shared the “House Chips” with salsa and guacamole.  When we first starting going to Masa’s, we mistakenly assumed that the “House chips” were free and “on the house” so we kept them coming. Little did we know, those tasty chips costs $8.75 each.  

Most of us each got a combo tapas platter which offer 10 heavenly bites of food which ranges.  

$5.00 Tapas Combo Platter

Tonight’s platter included:

•  Grilled chourizo with cranberry chutney
• Poached Shrimp on Tostones 
• Cucumber with Dill Cottage Cheese 
• Vegetables with Poblano Ranch Dressing
• Chicken Taquito (x2)
• Jalapeno Empanada
• BBQ Pork Spring Roll
• “Bruschetta” like Toast with cheese and tomatoes

The combo platter usually comes with a delicious bacon wrapped stuffed date, but they didn’t have any tonight.

On Thursday nights, they offer the combo tapas platter for $5.00 all night long and between 5-7PM on the other nights.

Shipyard Pumkin ale with Cinnamon/Sugar Rim

Around 7:30PM, the restaurant picked up.  The lounge area was crowded and the dining area had groups sampling the same tapas and chips as we were.  The popular choice for dinner here is the 3 course specials for a set price that changes seasonally.

One can sign up for their mailing list and receive emails on the new menus and specials.

Currently they are offering an “Octoberfest” special that features 3 courses paired with local beers for $35.00.

Mojito

Mary and the Two Boys

Bloody Mary’s are an acquired taste.. some either love it, or some absolutely hate it,  but I only LOVE it when its made to my liking.. and that is usually only  when I make it.. not too much horseradish, not too sour and not too peppery.. just a good blend of tomato juice, horseradish, salt, pepper, lemon, and lots of vodka and a dash of Tabasco sauce with an olive garnish. I also have to be in the mood, it’s not one of those drinks that I get drunk off of since its a bit on the heavy side.

When we have tailgating parties for a Pat’s game, one of my customer’s is known for bringing the best home made Bloody Mary concoction.  She signs up every year to bring it and it takes her a good amount of time to prepare the mix which she later fridges for 24 hrs. The crowd loves it!

During a weekend getaway to Martha’s Vineyard, we stopped for a late lunch at the Fishbone’s Grille and Waterfront Cafe before catching our departure ferry. It wasn’t the best Bloody Mary that I had, actually a bit on the salty side, but the jumbo shrimps were colossal and they made for a nice photo. I also wished they served this $ 12.00 drink in a glass cup and not a plastic cup.. just sayin…

“Mary and the Two Boys”