you know the saying, you’ll catch more flies with honey than vinegar? well, gemini will catch more flies than anyone regardless of whether she’s got honey or vinegar. speaking of vinegar, it’s produced from the fermentation of ethanol. ethanol, like alcohol itself, is ruled by mercury and belongs to gemini (drunk slut extraordinaire). in fact, she could have vinegar, and the rest of us could have honey, and she’d still catch more flies. not only could could she sell snow to an eskimo, she could charm the pants off your boyfriend, and make you like it too. she’s convincing to say the least. and by the time you realize you’ve just bought a jar full of flies, she’s happily skipped town – likely sipping cocktails on a yacht in the italian riviera. and then of course, you have what is known as the law of averages. this frenetic twin will simply get to more places and see more people than all the other signs combined. but really, who wants all those flies anyway? gemini girl, you can have em… just gimme the boyfriend back!

LIBERTINE

2 oz freshly juiced pear nectar
2 oz sake
1/2 oz balsamic syrup
2 drops bitters
Garnish: Pear slice

***to make balsamic syrup: Simmer 2 cups sugar, 1 cup water, 1 cup balsamic vinegar for twenty minutes. pour into final storage container, adding approx. 1 oz vodka to aid in preservation.

Stir all ingredients in a mixing glass with ice. Strain into a chilled martini glass. Garnish with pear slice. (Cocktail by Gwen Sutherland Kaiser, Photo by Mary Claire Miraldi)

this recipe for BALSAMIC SYRUP was inspired by the amazing book, THE ART OF THE BAR, by jeff hollinger & rob schwartz. it’s another MUST have.

complicated gemini, the sign of the multi tasking twins, is frequently found in two places at once. defying the laws of physics, she somehow squeezes in time to go to the gym, have dinner with her best friend, and go on a date, all around the same time, and all after a hectic day at the office. oh yes, her filofax would make the rest of our collective heads spin. and for this constellation whirlwind i bring you the over-complicated CHOCAMOLE. procuring the ingredients for this interesting libation had me running around like a gemini. and the taste… it’s interesting flavor, like gemini, is neither here nor there. peanut, chocolate, cumin… which is it? like, where is gemini? she was just here a minute ago! one of the multitude of ingredients included in this concoction is CUMIN, ruled by mercury. an airy and feathery-leaved plant with delicate white flowers, it belongs to the light-footed and speedy planet. CUMIN is a mercurial herb and is owned by gemini.

CHOCAMOLE

1 1/2 oz. Partida Reposado tequila
1 oz. Chocolate “molé” mixture (Recipe to Follow)
1/2 oz. agave nectar
1 dash Regan’s Orange bitters (or FEE BROTHERS BLOOD ORANGE which i used)

In a mixing glass full of ice, add all ingredients. Shake, as if being chased by seven demons, for ten seconds. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Garnish at will.

CHOCOLATE MOLE

Recipe will yield approx. sixteen servings

2 oz. high quality semisweet chocolate (buy pure cocao, uncut with any dairy for the healthiest chocolate. yes, i did say healthy)
5 tablespoons peanut butter (non-hydrogenated, as our bodies cannot break down hydrogenated ingredients. hence they sit in our bodies fer like evuh.)
2 cups water
1/2 cup whole milk (i used almond milk which worked fine. it’s the healthiest choice around. milk is just bad. if you must drink it, at least drink organic so you don’t ingest obscene amounts of hormones. soy is questionable. almond milk is the way to go!)
1 tsp. ground cinnamon
1 tsp. ground cumin
1/2 tsp. dried oregano
1 tsp. whole black peppercorns
1 tsp. dried ground guajillo chile, or similar

Bring two cups of water to a boil in a medium saucepan. Reduce heat to medium and add peanut butter and milk. Whisk until smooth. Add spices and let simmer until mixture thickens to the consistency of a light batter. While hot, pass through a fine strainer, using the back of a ladle to push mixture through. Immediately add chocolate and stir to melt. Let “molé” cool to room temp. before using. (Recipe created by Tad Carducci )

photo UNI-GRAZ

aahh… dear gemini. boundless energy to stir the pot of trouble. she loves a good time. no she loves several good times–all at the same time! this girl’s got a little black book thicker than your yellow pages. fun and exiting to be around, she’s a wicked little heart breaker.

some would say that vanilla is ruled by venus. but due to the lace-like quality of its petals, it can also be viewed as a flower of mercury–and subsequently belongs to gemini. this exotic orchid is known for being one of the most comforting scents to inhale, as gemini is one of the most comfortable sign to share company with. her upbeat attitude is addictive, kind of like vanilla tobacco sazeracs.

source: HO-TINURSERY & orchids and tropicals

WICKED WAY:

2 oz vanilla infused rye whiskey*
1 tsp tobacco syrup*
2 dashes peychaud’s bitters
1/4 tsp pernod

shake all ingredients over ice and strain into cocktail glass.

*simmer on stove top for twenty minutes, 1 cup raw organic sugar, 1 cup water, 1 large tobacco leaf. strain into final storage container adding splash of vodka for preservative.

NOTE: teflon coatings have been found to release carcinogens when being heated. i recommend using an uncoated pot. (VIA GREEN GUIDE)

*place one vanilla bean pod, slit in half, in a 750 ml bottle rye whiskey. allow to sit in cool, dark place for 1-3 weeks. strain into final storage container.

recipe created by gwen sutherland kaiser

thanks to WHAT GEEKS EAT for hosting WEEKEND HERB BLOGGING #109.

gemini, the most verbal and articulate of all the signs, will eloquently put to you that which she wants to know without so much as a flinch. “voulez vous coucher avec moi c’est soir?” after a few martinis, she’ll be looking for a bedmate, or two. think you can resist her girlish demeanor and naughty gemini ways? doubtful. she’s just too charmingly innocent, but beware it’s an act.

why lemon? because this girl is lemon-scented clean by day, and dirty by night. lemon is a cutting and astringent type of fruit, and for that reason it belongs to the sharp thinking planet of mercury. those under this dominion are light on their feet, quick thinking, fast talkers… gemini IS life in the fast lane. so get cleaned up for this party girl… drink lotsa lemon.

COUCHER AVEC MOI

1 1/2 gin or vodka
1 1/2 oz raw organic simple syrup
1 oz lavender water
3/4 oz limoncello*
1/2 oz fresh lemon juice
2 sprigs rosemary

muddle rosemary with limoncello in mixing glass. after well-macerated, add remaining ingredients. shake with ice and strain into martini glass and garnish with rosemary or lemon slice.

*simple syrup is a mixture of sugar and water in equal parts. place both in container and shake or stir until dissolved. store in fridge.

NOTE: be sure to store flower waters in the fridge or they will go rancid.

*it’s easy to make your own LIMONCELLO. follow any of the recipes below:
HEDONIA
ITALY LOGUE
A BIG SLICE
ON MY PLATE
SPICE TART

(created by gwen sutherland kaiser)

thanks to COOK ALMOST ANYTHING for hosting WEEKEND HERB BLOGGING #103.

As you might remember from a few post earlier, the Mulberry is ruled by the planet Mercury. So says Nicholas Culpeper, renowned astro-physician. This guy was so into his work that he was quoted as saying he had two mistresses, astrology and physick. That is the intensity with which he loved his work. And as Culpeper was a Scorpio, he was all about intensity. Here in the States, it’s mulberry season, and I didn’t want Dr. Bamboo to miss out on this easy-to-make concoction! I found this tasty recipe in, believe it or not, an astrological cookbook. Not just any astrological cookbook, of which I have five, but the only one that is based upon the teachings of Nicholas Culpeper. The Zodiac Cookbook written by Rose Elliot is a must read if you are interested in either astrology or cooking. It is within the pages of this creative and unique book that I found this recipe for Mulberry Gin. Pairing mulberries with almonds, The Mulberry Madame is fitting for a pair of twins!

MULBERRY MADAME

8 oz mulberries
2 oz organic or raw sugar
6 blanched almonds (boil in water for a few minutes until skin slips off easily)
1 pint gin (can be more)

Place mulberries, sugar, almonds and gin in leak-proof container, shaking periodically to mix flavours. All though Ms. Elliot instructs the reader to leave concoction for anywhere from three months to one year, I think that might be a bit extreme. If you really can’t wait, it tastes pretty good after a few weeks. I can attest to that. Drink neat, on rocks, or in a funked up G & T.

Gemini’s mind consists of two very sharp whips. Each one as brilliantly cutting as the other. I don’t know a Gemini without two very distinct sides to their personality: Good and bad. Of course we all have a devil and an angel inside of us, but Gemini’s REALLY have the yin and yang thing down. They are a sign in constant flux. Sometimes they’ll come in for a landing, but they are usually found bounding from appointment, to party, to work, to another social gathering, to the gym, to a date… not a whole lot of time in there to stay home, cook dinner and catch American Idol. As you might guess, it’s not easy for a Gemini to stick with one idea, theme, regiment, person, or cocktail for that matter, for long. They thrive on change, movement, mental stimulation, conversation and as many different drinks as they can sample. The reason for all this is Mercury, planet of the speedy winged messenger, and ruler of Gemini. In keeping with the theme of multiple personalities, Gemini’s “Cybil-like” cocktail contains multiple ingredients. Marjorum, or oregano, is designated as a Mercurial herb in the sign of Aries by Nicholas Culpepar. He advises that “this warming plant, when taken as a decoction thereof being drunk, helps diseases of the brain, chest and stomach.” So there you have it Dear Gemini, who are you to ignore the world-renowned astro-medical physician? I’m sure you’ll have no trouble swallowing this medicine! For more info on Medical Astrology see my blog post.

GIN & JUICE

INGREDIENTS:
- 2 1/2 oz fresh squeezed orange juice
- 2 oz herb infused gin*
- 1 1/2 oz ginger syrup*
- tonic water
- sprig of marjoram

DIRECTIONS:
Add fresh squeezed orange juice, herb-infused gin & ginger syrup to shaker filled with ice. Shake and strain into tall glass filled with ice, leaving space enough to top with tonic water. Garnish with a sprig of marjoram.

*HERB INFUSED GIN
Add 1 cup halved fresh cranberries, sprig of rosemary, sprig of thyme, sprig of marjoram to 750 ml gin. Allow to sit in dark area from 1 week to 3 weeks. Stir and taste to liking. When satisfied with results, strain gin into final storage container.

*GINGER SYRUP
Bring to boil 1 1/2 cups sugar, 2 cups water, and 1/3 cup coarsely
chopped fresh ginger. Reduce to simmer for half an hour. Strain syrup
into final storage container, adding heavy splash of vodka as a preservative.

(Recipe created by Gwen Sutherland Kaiser)

ALSO TRY: Marjorum Mushroom Casserole