Chocolate Martini Recipe by The Purple Mermaid

Hosting an engagement party or rehearsal dinner? Or, just planning a great cocktail party? The Chocolate Martini is the signature drink to feature at your bash! There are many ways to make a chocolate martini. Our favorite recipe features a sweeter taste, so we use vanilla flavored vodka. To garnish, coat a rim of martini glass or make a swirl of chocolate syrup along the inside of the glass.


Ingredients:
2 oz Vanilla Vodka (Stoli Vanili is our favorite)
1/2 oz chocolate liqueur
1/2 oz white creme de cacao
Chocolate syrup to coat rim of martini glass
Coat rim or swirl the inside of martini glass with chocolate syrup.

Mix all the ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice and strain into a martini glass.

If your party is a celebration for someone special, such as a birthday party, engagement party or retirement party, "create" a specialty drink dedicated for your guest/guests of honor. For example, find a really great recipe for a chocolate martini. Think of a "name" for your drink such as "John and Alicia's Love Potion". Create a simply decorated space near your bar area with a framed photo of the guests of honor, a small framed computer print out of the drink recipe and the "name" of your drink creation! Place all the makings for the drink including barware beside the photo frames. Then prepare a couple drinks to have at the ready for your guests to sample. This simple yet thoughtful idea is always a hit

Mint Yogurt Dipping Sauce for Lamb Chops by The Purple Mermaid

With Easter almost upon us, we wanted to share our favorite mint yogurt dipping sauce for lamb chops! We serve this sauce every Easter with our Rosemary Marinated Baby Lamb Chops. You're gonna love it!!

Ingredients:

1 cup plain yogurt
1 lime, juiced
3 cloves garlic
1 cup fresh mint leaves, plus extra for garnish
Salt
1/4 teaspoon cayenne
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon paprika

Chop fresh mint in a small food processor. Place the yogurt, lime juice and garlic in a blender and puree on high speed until blended. While blending, slowly incorporate the mint and season with salt, cayenne, and cumin. Place a dollop of this great dip on each plate when serving your entree.

Roasted Easter Lamb by The Purple Mermaid

This is a very elegant yet easy recipe for roasted lamb that would be wonderful for Easter dinner.

1 Leg of Lamb About 5-6 Pounds (Whole or Boned)
3 Large cloves of Garlic
5 Tablespoons Mixed Fresh Herbs (Rosemary, Parsley, Thyme, Oregano are good choices)
3 Tablespoons Olive Oil
Salt & Pepper to Taste

Preheat the oven to 450 degrees. Slice the garlic cloves into three or four long strips, and with a sharp knife, make 1-inch deep slits into the lamb spaced fairly evenly apart. Place a piece of garlic in each slit. Chop the herbs and mix with the olive oil and a little salt and pepper. Rub the herb mixture over the outer surface of the lamb. Place in a roaster pan, and cook for 30 minutes. Reduce the heat to 325 degrees, and cook an additional 2 to 2 1/2 hours, or between 20 to 30 minutes a pound depending on desired doneness. Remove the lamb from the oven, and cover with aluminum foil and let sit about 20 minutes before carving.

Recipe Serves 6

Perfect Party Bar Tips from The Purple Mermaid

The Perfect Party Press can assist you in planning your perfect party. Want to mingle with your guests and make them feel pampered too? Make the bar self-serve. Welcome your guests by pouring their first drink, then invite them to help themselves. Protect furniture by placing wooden trays or brightly hued placemats underneath bottles, ice bucket, and glasses. Provide extra napkins and glasses, and check on the bar every 30 minutes to make sure things are in order. Perfect.

The Perfect Party Invitation From The Purple Mermaid

The Purple Mermaid suggests your invitation should match the style of your event. Is it formal, semi-formal or a casual backyard get together. Your invitation provides the details of the celebration as well as what to expect at the party. We believe that hosting a good party begins with the invitation. A perfect invitation compels your prospective guests to Want to, Need to, attend your party! Whether your style is simple elegance or bold, trendy color, your invitations can set the tone for a stylish extravaganza. This is your time to shine. Make the most of it. Please visit The Purple Mermaid for a collection of the most stylish and unique invitations on the web. Contact us with any questions.