the smokiness of the mezcal combined with the depth of the spices and the sweetness of the cider works perfectly together. perfect like virgo, but when you’re freezing anything warm is perfect! seriously though, this is a good one that’s easy peasy to make. and, i add woefully, it was a best seller at the now-defunct mexican gastropub, comida mercado fresco : (

this cider is host to a plethora of ingredients–indeed it has all 12 signs in it! but i’m going to go with virgo here and pick coriander to focus on. why? because so many of us don’t realize that coriander is actually cilantro! yup, that’s right… when cilantro goes to seed, the seeds are then picked and… voila! we have coriander.

and as you know, because you are such good little students, cilantro is ruled by mercury, who is the fast and furious ruler of the most perfectionistic sign in the zodiac: virgo. this is due to its lacy foliage and fragile quality, indicative of Mercury’s quick and wispy nature. Mercury is our fastest orbiting planet. Cilantro’s flower also happens to be “perfect.” of course.

here’s some trivia for ya…. Linda Gilbert states “In literature, coriander is mentioned as an aphrodisiac in The Tales of the Arabian Nights. And those famous sugarplums which fill children’s dreams at Christmas time were originally sugar coated coriander, a treat that offered a sweet start and then a spicy burst of flavor. Later the recipe included small bits of fruit and became the confection we know today.”

HOT MEZCAL CIDER:
2 oz mezcal (organic del maguey is recod)
fill with spiced cider
serve in a mug, garnish with an orange bow

SPICED CIDER:
1 gallon cider
10 whole cloves
4 cinnamon sticks
15 coriander seeds
zest of 1 orange
zest of 1 lemon
(toast spices in skillet, add to cider in sauce pot, simmer for 10 minutes, store in fridge.)

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)

2012: this is THE year. as in THE one. as in what we’ve been waiting for. as in don’t F*$! it up. use the extraordinary energy of the next 365 days to craft your new life… the soul mate of your dreams. the career of your dreams. the family of your dreams. for there is a spicy kick to this year that will light all that you capable of imagining on fire. (and that’s fire in a good way, for those who know me ; ) just stay away from dark thoughts and work towards the light of the dragon.

you might think that dragons are mythical creatures living only in games such as dungeon & dragons, books such as harry potter or permanently on the biceps of bikers. but you would be mistaken. i only recently learned this myself: and that is that the dragon realm is as real as any other… take for example the angels. just because you can’t see them doesn’t mean they don’t exist. think of it this way… when you look at a hummingbird, you can’t see its wings, for they are moving so quickly. but, they are there! some things vibrate too rapidly for the human eye to pick up. just like a dog can hear sounds that are inaudible to the human ear… same thing!

i know that when i am very tired and have to stay up late, i will often call on the energy of the dragon realm to help pump me full of their special brand of metaphysical cocaine. and it works! i’m always amazed that i didn’t get tired. so, this 2012, call on the energy of the dragon and fire up your life. how bout a spicy tipple to help get you started?

DRAGON MARGARITA:
3 oz charred pineapple jalapeno infused tequila
1.5 oz triple sec
1.0 oz simple syrup
1.0 oz lime juice

Shake over ice. strain into chili salt rimmed glass. Garnish with a slice of jalapenjo pepper.

PINEAPPLE JALAPENO INFUSION: Slice a ripe pineapple and a jalapeno pepper in half, and grill. Submerge into tequila-filled vessel. Allow to infuse for at least one week.

CHILI SALT: mix chili piquin with kosher salt.

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.

GINGERBREAD FIZZ
1 1/2 oz spiced rum
1 oz molasses syrup
1/2 oz cream
seltzer
brandied cherry

***build drink in an ice packed collins glass. pour rum, then molasses, then cream. this is a layered drink so you don’t want to mix or shake. top with seltzer and garnish with a brandied cherry.

GINGERBREAD HOT TODDY
2 oz spiced rum
1/2 oz molasses syrup
hot water
whipped cream

***build drink in mug. garnish with whipped cream dusted with cinnamon

SPICED RUM:
in bottle of rum, submerge an assortment of spices. cardamom, cinnamon, clove, nutmeg are all great ones to use, but be sure to include a lot of ginger. the more spices you pack into the bottle (or container), the stronger it will turn out. start the infusion as early as possible as it does take some time for the flavors to impart.

MOLASSES SYRUP:
heat equal parts molasses & water until dissolved. store in fridge.

WHIPPED CREAM:
in bowl, beat 1 cup heavy cream, 1/4 cup sugar until stiff.

BRANDIED CHERRIES:
1 cup sugar, 2 cloves, 1 cinnamon stick, 4 cardamom pods
1 quart stemmed/pitted cherries (frozen is fine), 1/2 cup brandy

simmer on stove top for 5 minutes. transfer to jar or other container and add brandy. store in fridge.

what’s the big apple without coffee and cabs?

home is where the heart is, and hopefully, you’ll be home for the holidays… but if you’re not, a good punch can feel just like home, too. you don’t need me to tell you punches are hot, so now you can trend it up this holiday at your inlaws with the latest and greatest in mixology.

christmas means dried fruit. usually in the form of a wretched fruit cake, granted, but dried fruit none the less. get your holiday cheer on with an alternative use for dried fruit: the date rum punch!

while the date is ruled by delectable venus, all signs can enjoy this sticky sweet delight. taurus, this drinks for you, as you are one of the signs that revels in holiday tradition, or any tradition for that matter. but, hey, all you other signs feel free to go forth and imbibe this rich tipple too!

DATE RUM PUNCH
1.5 parts dark rum
1 part brewed black tea
1 part homemade date syrup*
1 part fresh squeezed clementine juice
1/2 part sweet vermouth
1/2 part fresh squeezed lemon juice

(float sliced clementines in the punch bowl and garnish each glass with a date)

*you can make this into a single serve cocktail by converting the “parts” to “ounces,” or make it into a punch by converting the “parts” to “bottles” or whatever vessel you choose to use.

*HOMEMADE DATE SYRUP: simmer one cup chopped dates, 2 cups brown sugar, 5 cups water for 15 minutes. strain and chill.

“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