this lovely little book was delivered on january 6th, which happened to have been my birthday. what a nice gift universe, thank you!

chef to the stars, sabra ricci, presents a healthfully refreshing angle on astrology… as we know, each body part is ruled by a specific sign. so, ricci skillfully created recipes that called for ingredients beneficial to particular parts of the body. (for example, capricorn rules the bones and molasses happens to be high in calcium. it apparently also happens to contain copper and manganese for support. in fact, ricci goes on to advise, capricorns who sweeten their cereal and coffee should substitute molasses.) actually, that’s a brainstorm sabra! i love molasses as it is, and i honestly had no idea it was so high in calcium. as a vegetarian-inspired vegan, calcium is probably more important to me than most, so i better get on these cookies, my bones need ‘em!

MOLASSES COOKIES FOR CAPRICORN:
16 tablespoons (2 sticks) unsalted butter
1 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
1/4 cup molasses
2 large eggs, beaten
2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
2 tsp baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 tsp ground ginger
1/2 tsp ground cloves

1. preheat the oven to 350 F
2. in the bowl of an electric mixer, cream the butter with 1/2 cup of the granulated sugar and the brown sugar on medium high speed. reduce the speed to the medium and add the eggs one at a time. add the molasses and continue to mix. remove the bowl from the mixer and set aside. in a mixing blow, sift together all the dry ingredients except fr the remaining 1/2 cup of granulated sugar. stir the dry mixture into the butter mixture until completely blended. cover the dough with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.
3. using a tablespoon size ice cream scoop, scoop the dough and roll it into balls. roll the balls in the remaining granulated sugar. place the balls onto a greased baking sheet, spacing them 2 inches apart, and bake for 8-10 minutes. remove from the oven and transfer to wire racks to cool.

$16 PAPERBACK ($10 FOR EBOOK)

as promised, i’m putting all the recipes from our holiday event (intoxicated zodiac, susan miller & todd english) online. so now all you zodiac junkies can drink your very own sign for some extra christmas cheer this year!

The work of Nicholas Culpeper, the father of western herbalism, serves as a guide when i create astrology-themed drinks. Culpeper’s books are still in print, 300 years after he wrote detailed descriptions of which plants belong to which signs and how to use them medicinally. In Medieval Herbal Astrology, plants have Zodiac signs, just like people. In the Medieval times only seven planets had been discovered as opposed to nine today. Therefore, since these drinks are based on Medieval Herbal Astrology, the ancient ruling planet for each sign is referenced.

“under the stars” is a NOISE 784 production. sponsored by TYKU, perrier and jim beam, the recipes call for these fine products. cheers!

Aries’ Cocktail features CRANBERRY as its star ingredient! Aries is ruled by Mars: The scarlet, fiery, hot planet. Flavors that are very spicy or very tart are often ruled by Mars. The cranberry’s bright crimson color, underscored by its tangy flavor certainly betrays its allegiance to the red planet, and is hence an Aries.

ARIES XMAS TIPPLE:
2 oz sochu, 2 oz cranberry syrup, 1/2 oz fresh lemon juice, perrier
(shake over ice and strain pour into an ice packed collins glass. Top with Perrier. Garnish with a floating fresh cranberry)

CRANBERRY SPICE SYRUP:
2 c white sugar, 3 c water, 1 c fresh cranberries, peel of half a small orange
(simmer for 20-30 minutes and strain)

Taurus’ Cocktail features PEPPERMINT as its star ingredient! If its divinely fragrant and tantalizingly tasty, you can bet its ruled by Venus. This beautiful planet rules all fruit, herbs and flowers that are particularly fragrant. Hence, mint falls under the dominion of Venus and may be identified as a Taurus.

TAURUS XMAS TIPPLE:
2 oz sochu, 1 oz peppermint syrup, 1 oz lemon juice
(served up with a mini candy cane garnish)

PEPPERMINT MINT SYRUP:
3 c white sugar, 2 c water, 1 tsp peppermint extract
(heat until dissolved)

Gemini’s Cocktail features HAZELNUT as its star ingredient! Culpeper lists the hazelnut under Mercury. The tree’s delicate leaves & flowers are indicative of this planet’s fleeting & wispy qualities. After all, Mercury is the fastest orbiting planet in our solar system. hazelnut is a Gemini.

GEMINI XMAS TIPPLE:
2 oz sochu, 1 oz hazelnut cocoa syrup, 1 oz creamer
(served up with a few pcs of floating chopped hazelnut garnish)

HAZELNUT COCOA SYRUP:
1 c “NUTELLA” spread,2 c water
(heat lightly and whisk until blended)

Cancer’s Cocktail features EGG as its star ingredient! The egg is ruled by the Moon, as is Cancer. They share the traits of a hard outer shell and a soft, pale, fleshy inside. Cancer is known for its innate creativity, along with a desire to “nest.” What symbolizes those two qualities more than the egg?

CANCER XMAS TIPPLE:
2 oz whiskey, 1 oz ‘nog anise syrup, 1 oz creamer
(served up with a floating star anise)

‘NOG ANISE SYRUP:
1 c brown sugar, 1 ½ c water, 2 cinnamon sticks, 5 star anise, 4 tsp chopped, fresh ginger, 3 tsp vanilla extract, 10 cardamom pods
(toast spices over medium low in pan first. then simmer for 20-30 minutes and strain)

Leo’s Cocktail features CLEMENTINE as its star ingredient! The bright, round, orange-colored, life-giving star of our solar system, the Sun, rules over Leo. Because the clementine bears a heavy physical resemblance to the sun, it is given ruler ship under it. The clementine is a Leo.

LEO XMAS TIPPLE:
2 oz sochu, 1 oz clementine rosemary syrup, 1 1/2 oz lemon juice
(served over ice topped with Perrier. Garnish with a slice of clementine)

CLEMENTINE ROSEMARY SYRUP:
2 chopped clementines, ¼ c chopped fresh rosemary, 2 c white sugar, 2 c water
(simmer for 20-30 minutes and strain)

Virgo’s Cocktail features POMEGRANATE as its star ingredient! The pomegranate is ruled by Mercury due to its astringent qualities. Mercury is the fleet-footed planet and therefore holds ownership over anything that is fast-binding and drying in nature. That is why the pomegranate is a Virgo.

VIRGO XMAS TIPPLE:
1 oz sochu, 1 oz tyku liqueur, 1 1/2 oz pomegranate grenadine, 1/2 oz lemon juice
(serve up and garnish with 3 floating pomegranate seeds)

POMEGRANATE GRENADINE:
Equal parts 100% pomegranate juice and water
(simmer for 20-30 minutes)

Libra’s Cocktail features SUGAR PLUM as its star ingredient! Libra is ruled by the Venus, the beautiful planet. Venus holds dominion over things that are sugary sweet, succulent, attractive and delectable in nature. A perfectly ripe, juicy plum would certainly fall under ruler ship of Venus, and may be called a Libra.

LIBRA XMAS TIPPLE:
1 oz sochu, 1 oz tyku liqueur, 1 oz plum syrup, 1 oz lemon juice
(serve up and garnish with a sugar rim)

SUGAR PLUM SYRUP:
2 c white sugar, 3 c water, 2-3 chopped fresh plums
(simmer for 20-30 minutes and strain)

Scorpio’s Cocktail features CLOVE as its star ingredient! The incredibly pungent and powerful clove is ruled by none other than what many refer to as the planet of war, Mars. Really, it is the planet of passion and the strength to defend and protect. In fact, clove is so strong it can be used to defeat Cancer. Today, Scorpio is considered co-ruled by Mars and Pluto.

SCORPIO XMAS TIPPLE:
1 oz sochu, 1 oz sake, 1 oz lemon juice, 1 oz clove chili syrup, perrier
(served over ice, topped with perrier, garnished with a floating clove and straw)

CLOVE CHILI SYRUP:
1 c white sugar, 3 c water, 2-3 pinches cloves, 1 small handful or approx 20 dried chili arbols
(toast chilis and clove over medium low in pan first. simmer for 15-20 minutes and strain)

Sagittarius’ Cocktail features FIG as its star ingredient The vast number of seeds in a fig makes it a fruit ruled by Jupiter, the largest planet in our solar system. This huge planet is the owner of all things Ubiquitous, prolific, abundant and colossal in nature. This is why the fig is listed as a Sagittarius.

SAGITTARIUS XMAS TIPPLE:
2 oz whiskey, 1 ¼ oz fig syrup, ¾ oz fresh lemon juice
(shake over ice and strain into glass. Garnish with a dried fig slice)

FIG SYRUP:
1 c fresh chopped figs, 1 c white sugar, 2 c water
(simmer for 20-30 minutes and strain)

Capricorn’s Cocktail features MOLASSES as its star ingredient! Discarded as a by-product, molasses is the almost black, densely thick, mildly bittersweet syrup that is born from the dregs of the sugar cane plant. Saturn symbolizes frugality, austerity and scarcity. Molasses is ruled by Saturn due to the nature of its genesis.

CAPRICORN XMAS TIPPLE:
2 oz whiskey, 1 oz gingerbread syrup, 1 oz creamer
(served up with a slice of candied ginger garnish)

GINGERBREAD SYRUP: 2 c brown sugar, 2 c water, 1 c molasses, 5 tbsp chopped fresh ginger
(simmer for 20-30 minutes and strain)

Aquarius’ Cocktail features CEDAR as its star ingredient! Saturn is the slowest moving planet, symbolizing longevity and resilience. Plants ruled by this constant planet are extremely hardy in nature–take for example the famously pest and weather-resistant cedar tree. Today Aquarius is considered co-ruled by Saturn and Uranus. That’s why cedar is an Aquarius.

AQUARIUS XMAS TIPPLE:
1 oz sochu, 1 oz sake, 3/4 oz lemon juice, 1 oz cedar syrup
(served up with a sugar rim)

CEDAR TIP SYRUP:
2 c white sugar, 2 c water, 1 c dried cedar tip needles
(toast cedar over medium low in pan first. simmer for 20-30 minutes and strain)

Pisces’ Cocktail features CHESTNUT as its star ingredient! The chestnut tree’s diameter can be as great as 17 feet, which epitomizes the grandiose qualities of the largest planet in our solar system, Jupiter. Today, Pisces is considered co-ruled by Jupiter and the more recently discovered Neptune. The chestnut is a Pisces and sheer size alone is what determines that.

PISCES XMAS TIPPLE:
2 oz whiskey, 1 oz chestnut syrup, 1 oz creamer
(served up a chestnut slice garnish)

CHESTNUT SYRUP:
2 c white sugar, 2 c water, 1 c chopped and peeled roasted chestnuts
(simmer for 20-30 minutes and strain)

ROAST CHESTNUT GARNISH:
Slice each nut prior to baking with a knife, but try not to penetrate flesh. Then it will be easier to slice them for garniature.

its that time of year again… holiday shopping at henri bendel… which means intoxicated zodiac cocktail candles! come check out our new packaging and new scents/ flavors/ cocktails… we’re on the ground floor through new years…
this year, henri bendel decorated the store with a rockettes/nyc theme. here are some pics from the store, and i even had the chance to have a photo op with some real live Rockettes myself!

what’s the big apple without coffee and cabs?

yours truly will be creating a zodiac cocktail for every sign, to be served at this awesome event, don’t miss it! see details below:

“Under the Stars with Susan Miller & Friends”

***Spend the whole evening with astrologer, susan miller, and as part of the event, Listen to her one-hour talk on “All That We Can Look Forward to in 2012!”

***Renowned restauranteur, author and tv star, todd english will take you on a culinary zodiac inspired tasting.

***Indulge in an open bar featuring twelve cocktails inspired by the zodiac from mixologist and founder of Intoxicated Zodiac, Gwen Sutherland Kaiser.

***Shop in our astrology holiday shop, dance to live music, and mingle – we will all celebrate together, and share stories as we do!

Date: December 15, 2011
Time: 6:30 PM to 11:00 PM
Place: CrossBar at LimeLight, 47 west 20th street at 6th ave
Cost: $225 per ticket all inclusive of food, drinks, lecture, entertainment
(Event produced by Noise 784)
Email: Jaspre@noise784.com for more information

this august i gave a lecture, demonstration, and tasting on HERBACIOUS COCKTAILS. i spoke in front of 180 guests for 1 1/2 hours, and had to actually use a mic! i forgot what a rush being on stage was… i just love that energy! tickets to the annual HERB DAY EVENT to benefit HILLHOLD MUSEUM always sell out… so the crowd is eager to learn and have fun. i demonstrated how to make 4 different cocktails and one mocktail, based on the work of medieval astrology nicholas culpeper.

of course, intoxicated zodiac made the favors to celebrate the event. i created a special herb day cocktail that was printed on one side of the glass with the museum’s logo printed on the other. they were used as centerpieces.

this annual event is hoity toity… i asked someone their name and they said berkley. i said, oh what an unusual first name. she replied, no, i’m a berkley (as in, last names are what count here.) definitely a blue blood event! i had such a blast, thank you for having me HILLHOLD MUSEUM.

that’s me, picking the winner of the door prize with my mom sitting on my right… hi mom!

stop by nyc’s HENRI BENDEL this 8/22 – 8/28 to visit gwen at her INTOXICATED ZODIAC trunk show. enjoy a complimentary VIRGO MOCKTAIL at 5 pm happy hour too! a lavender soda spritzer…. yum

This past June, my Libran sister and her Virgoan husband got hitched under the sign of Gemini. Nuptual Astrologer, April Kent, chose the most auspicious date for them to exchange vows. This is what she recod:

“Friday, June 10, 2011, 6:20 pm MDT, Canon City, CO: A very nice chart with the Moon in Libra (past its constricting conjunction with Saturn), the sign of marriage, approaching harmonious aspects to the Sun/Mercury in Gemini; a lovely, chatty, curious, lively energy. Venus is also in Gemini, and at 6:20 it’s in the 7th house along with the Sun and Mercury …. nice. Venus is sextile Uranus (to keep things lively and spontaneous) and trine Saturn (financial prudence and stability), but also approaching a quincunx with Pluto in the 2nd… taken together, this could spell some financial adaptations/compromises that need to be made. Mars is a little close to the descendant at this hour and might indicate a certain amount of bickering (though you’ll tend to have long fuses; physical exercise could provide a healthy channel for this energy). Overall, this is a nice chart for communication, socializing, reaching harmonious compromises, and enjoying new experiences. Window of opportunity: Say your vows between 6:08 p.m. (Mars leaves the 7th house) and 6:30 p.m. (after which the last few – unpleasant – degrees of Taurus are on the 7th house cusp).”

Since my sister was now planning her ceremony around Gemini’s celestial influence, she of course had to include that theme in her reception. Intoxicated Zodiac Marriage Sign favors accomplished this perfectly, and they are photographed here beautifully.

Inside the shot glass there are dried lavender petals to signify Gemini’s influence and dried Rose petals to symbolize love, both of which can be infused into sugar syrup and then made into a cocktail at home!

A Welcome Drink was served to greet guests that was ruled by sign of Gemini: a simple Lavender Martini. Lavender is ruled by Mercury and is hence a Gemini.

Some old bottles were then painted and labelled with the Gemini Marriage Sign Reading and used as props to spiff up the Marriage Sign concept so guests could understand it more easily.

Here i am, showing off my Lavender Martini! Fleur and Jesse are shown here exchanging Gemini vows… Ironically, Fleur means flower in French.

Overall the reception was a total hit, with no small thanks to the smashing Welcome Cocktail, and the unique favors which enthused the guests to no end… Not to mention the dogs!

guess what? i was recently on san fransisco’s channel five to promote Intoxicated Zodiac’s product lines! watch me brag about being the goddess of mixology and astrology in the video below—cheers! PS, for the impatient amongst you check out the stills…

Gwen_Intoxicated_Zodiac_CBS_Eye_On_The_Bay

dissident artist ai weiwei was conspicuously absent from his zodiac exhibit opening today in new york’s central park.

detained at beijing airport last month, no word has been heard from Ai Weiwei since. he might be dead for all anyone knows… for simply daring to speak his mind and create art. in hong kong, there is graffiti featuring ai weiwei’s face with a question mark, plastered all over town. this incident is attracting international attention as his shocking absence from his nyc show opening has been reported around the world.

if this is not a wake up call to think twice before purchasing products made in china, i don’t know what is. the chinese government is playing for the other team, not for the one of its people. buy made in usa! stop supporting communism. simple, right?

ai weiwei’s exhibit depicts the 12 chinese zodiac signs cast in huge bronze statues. a documentary is also in the works on this renowned artist, which has taken on a new urgency. let’s all say a prayer for Ai Weiwei, and the Chinese government, so this situation can be resolved quickly and peacefully.

if you live in the northern california region, check out my big interview on tv! how ironic that it’s earth day, a holiday that honors what has come to be a very large component of IZ: environmentally products and practices. so, that’s this friday, april 22, at 7 pm, channel 5: EYE ON THE BAY. don’t miss it! happy earth day! cheers!