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.

this tasty toddy is a best seller at comida. here’s how to make it… but first, let’s talk astrology. pumpkin is ruled by the moon and is hence a cancer. its a cool fruit, requiring plenty of water, which it retains in its soft, pale flesh. and wouldn’t you know that thanksgiving is the family, best celebrated in a relative’s home, with loved ones. cancer is the familial sign, the cosmic homemaker. how perfectly fitting then, that one of thanksgiving’s favorite rituals–pumpkin pie– is ruled by the sign who most appreciates this holiday… cancer!

PUMPKIN INFUSED VODKA:
roast 1 sugar pumpkin whole. after it is cooked, slice into thin strips. place in pot, bowl or other container before covering with 1 bottle vodka. it is fine to leave the seeds in the infusion. add 5 cinnamon sticks, and 1 nutmeg. smash the nutmeg with a hammer or something heavy to break it open before adding it to mixture (see photo at bottom). cover and set aside for at least one week, stirring often. the more time you allow it to infuse the stronger the flavor will be. when you are ready to use the vodka, strain and make sure to press all the vodka out of the pumpkin.

these cocktails are perfect after dinner treats, but they’re also fun and festive, making them the ideal thanksgiving icebreaker too. be extra fab this year, and greet your thanksgiving guests at the door—they’ll be thanking you all day! or, bring the ingredients with you… so much cooler than marshmallow yams.

PUMPKIN SPICE HOT TODDY:
pour into mug: 2 oz pumpkin infused vodka, 1/2 oz vanilla liqueur (licor 43 or navan). fill with hot water. top with whipped cream. sprinkle with nutmeg.

WHIPPED CREAM:
in bowl, beat 1 cup heavy cream, 1/4 cup sugar, 1 teaspoon vanilla (optional) until stiff. it will last a few days. don’t overbeat it or you will end up with butter!

NO DAIRY TODDY:
the toddy tastes dandy without dairy, so if you’re a vegan, or lactose intolerant just leave off the cream, for a yummy dairy-free treat. garnish with a cinnamon stick instead.

PUMPKIN PIE MARTINI:
3 oz pumpkin vodka, 1 oz vanilla liqueur (licor 43 or navan), splash of cream or non-dairy creamer (coconut creamer is awesome). shake over ice and strain into martini glass. sprinkle with nutmeg.

once upon a time, it seems like an eternity ago now, i was mixing a drink. or, i was attempting to mix a drink anyway. i had lemon juice, green apple schnapps, peach puree, maraschino syrup, and i hate to think what other stains stuck to my front. from my fingers to my elbows my skin felt like fly paper–someone must have dipped me in a vat of simple syrup when i wasn’t looking. the jigger kept jumping out of my hand and i’m lucky the mixing glass didn’t end up in my customer’s eye. what a night to be butter fingers… the bar manager was breathing down my neck, the world was closing in, i was praying the drawer would be right, and… and then i was called a hot mess. suddenly, everything was awesome. because hey, if i’m gonna be a mess, then i’ll take the hot part too. i was a hot mess and i kinda liked it.

which brings us to the cantaloupe… this yummy fruit is ruled by the moon and is hence a cancer. if any fruit is a hot mess, it must be the innards of a over ripe melon… juicy, goopy, sweet, fragrant, wet, dripping, tantalizing, delicious… does this sound like any of the cancer’s you’ve known?

this cancerian libation was created at my last bachelorette party. it was the end of the night and we were winding down from my astro-bar cheffing lesson… i suddenly remembered that we had not used pisco in any of our concoctions thus far. heaven forbid, pisco is one of my faves! i immediately set to rectifying that by creating a drink on the spot. i threw in some lemon cooking oil, muddled a few leaves of basil, a few chunks of melon, and shook that baby up. i thought it might very well taste like crap. i poured all the girls a sample and waited for their reaction… luckily, it was positive. their faces lit up with surprise, a lot of mmnnns all around, and then someone called that drink a hot mess! everyone chimed in that this was indeed the perfect name for such an unwieldy yet successful bevvie. and the HOT MESS was born…

HOT MESS:
1 1/2 oz pisco
handful of melon chunks
3-5 leaves basil
dash lemon cooking oil
1/2 oz raw simple syrup
1/2 oz fresh lemon juice

muddle basil, melon. add other ingredients. shake over ice. double strain as per below into glass. enjoy!

so… CROP organic vodka sent me this bottle of cucumber infused vodka. and it was good. i mixed it in a cocktail with clear citrus, simple syrup and mashed strawberries. it then became spectacular. i don’t know what it is about cucumbers and strawberries, but my oh my they do get along well together. CROP is sold all over new york city, but if you can’t find it, infuse your own. just slice some cucumbers up and submerge them in vodka. squeeze in as much cucumber as you can and give it a few weeks to infuse. then strain and use in this delicious cocktail.

cucumbers are ruled by the moon… which is the ruling planet of cancer. hard skinned outside, runny, liquidity, seedy, slimy, tasty inside. cancer!

so little cancer, WICKED LITTLE CANCER… you’re just so innocent aren’t you? NOT. so quiet. YEAH RIGHT. so polite and reserved and well spoken. ON THE SURFACE MAYBE. but get to know this thick shelled creature and be warned that the inner—AND REAL— cancer can pop up out of her shell at anytime to bite your head off. or that high maintenance customer’s head, or that annoying sister’s head, or that pompous bosses’ head. or that lazy boyfriend’s head. or that idiot clerk’s head… well you catch my drift and that is, that cancers don’t take crap. and unless i’m on the receiving end, i love em for it! so to all you spicy crustaceous gals out there… have a ‘tini, you deserve it.

FARMER’S MARKETINI

2 oz cucumber vodka
1 oz fresh squeezed lemon
1 1/2 oz simple syrup (1:1 ration water to sugar)
2 strawberries

muddle strawberries in glass, add ingredients and stir. add ice, stir again and cheers…

jasmine’s smell is famously intoxicating… the thickness of it practically drips off of its petals when you walk by… it’s heavy, it’s moist, and it draws you in… encouraging you to shove that schnoz right up there to get a better whif… mission accomplished: just want cancer girl wanted…

like the evocative flower itself, cancer wants nothing more than to ensnare her mate. the sign of the homebody, the mother, and the always nurturing lover, she uses her seductive powers to lure her helpless victims in. they usually don’t know what hits em until it’s too late—they’re in love. for you see, cancer girl’s nest is so sublimely feathered, it would be a shame for her to sit in it all alone.

CANCER’S CLUTCHES (JASMINE SPRITZER)

(makes 10 drinks)
1 1/2 c raw organic sugar
3 drops jasmine essential oil
1/2 c fresh lime juice
1 1/2 c orange infused vodka (Orange V)
1 1/2 c grand marnier (or an orange flavored spirit)
club soda
ice

combine in pitcher, water, sugar, jasmine and lime until dissolved. add vodka, orange liqueur and stir well. pack glass with ice and fill halfway with mixture, then top with seltzer and stir.

VIA FOOD & WINE ANNUAL 2006

the sign of cancer is the ultimate condom. they withhold, contain, and almost explode with that which they carry inside. sometimes, cancer’s inability to successfully eliminate these emotions cause illness. i know many cancers whose worrisome nature has left them with disease ranging from sore tummies to much, much worse (this includes cancer ascending or cancer moon sign as well – not just cancer sun signs). for inside this creature’s wall of armor lay a fragile, tender, raw, pulsating field of prickly feeling. and as a cold-hearted capricorn attracted to my opposite, that’s why i love them so very much. i don’t want you to be sick anymore cancer girl! take off that condom, and let it all hang out… it’s actually much safer this way.

i have waited 8 months for passion fruit to be available at my local grocer. finally, i can make that recipe i saw in the times way back on. hard on the outside and soft on the inside, the moon rules this astoundingly flavorful fruit. passion fruit is a cancer. so potent, a little juice goes a long way… but i think if i let my passion fruits get wrinklier, i would have gotten more juice out of em.

speaking of warm PASSIONATE climates, check out these new ECO CONDOMS from the brasilian rainforest!

STAIN OF PASSION (LIQUID CAKE)

passion fruit (recipe calls for one. i prefer to use 5)
1/4 c organic vanilla ice cream or organic soy cream (make sure it’s organic to avoid tumor-causing GMOs)
1/2 c mango sorbet
1/4 c vodka (i used gin)
1 c brut champagne
2 butter cookies, crumbled

halve passion fruit and push pulp through sieve, extracting juice. discard seeds and pulp.

in a bowl, combine ice cream and sorbet. pour in vodka and whisk lightly. stir in passion fruit juice and then fold in champagne.

sprinkle cookies evenly among two glasses and top with vodka mixture. serve immediately.

recipe adapted from frederick grasser-herme. VIA NEW YORK TIMES

thanks to THE WELL SEASONED COOK for hosting WEEKEND HERB BLOGGING.