DRINK RECIPES FOR EPISODE #40: Mommy's Hot Night Out and Cool Mama

This week on The Vodka Press podcast, we discussed several topics relating to motherhood and parenting. So when cocktail time rolled around, I wanted to recommend drinks for moms (and dads, too!) to enjoy when they're taking that much-needed "me" time away from the kids.

Mommy's Hot Night Out

• 1 ½ oz Belvedere Mango Passion vodka
• 1 oz White wine
• 1 oz Monin Chipotle Pineapple Flavored Syrup
• ½ oz Soda water
• Garnish w/ pineapple wedge

By lutramania via Flickr (CC BY SA 2.0)

Cool Mama

• 1 ½ oz White wine
• ½ oz White tequila
• 1 oz Dekuyper® Melon Schnapps Liqueur
• 1 oz Monin Cucumber Flavored Syrup
• Squirt of fresh lime juice
• Rim glass with salt

DRINK RECIPES FOR EPISODE #39: The Bad Liar and The Train Wreck

When it came time to mix up drinks for this week's episode, I was inspired by the celebrity scandals and lies portion of our discussion. The Bad Liar is a delicious blend of sweet and spicy that'll leave your tongue tingling for another taste, and The Train Wreck is, well, a train wreck - but we kinda like it anyways.

The Bad Liar

• 1.5 oz Blueberry nectar
• 1 oz Stoli® Wild Cherri™ vodka
• 1 oz Stoli® Hot vodka
• Squirt of fresh lemon juice
• Rim glass w/ salt

The Train Wreck

• 1.5 oz White Rum
• 1 oz Red Bull
• 1 oz Monin Blue Cotton Candy Syrup
• Serve w/ a Pixy Stix - and don't be afraid to get powder all over the place (especially your face)

By Guillaume Speurt [CC SA 2.0], via Wikimedia Commons

EPISODE #39: The Link List

Links We Referenced During Episode #39: Sex, Lies, and Apologies

• American Apparel issues apology after posting picture of Challenger explosion as fireworks via whnt.com
• The art of the public apology: 19 takes on 'I'm sorry' via popwatch.ew.com

by shyald via Flickr (CC ND 2.0)

• Celebrity scandals: Photos that have brought celebrities and famous faces undone via news.com.au
• PopUps :: Scandals, Biopics & Pop Stars’ Bad Decisions via edgeonthenet.com
• 8 Celebrities Caught Blatantly Lying to Protect Their Image via atlantablackstar.com
• Busted! The 10 Richest Celebs Caught In A Lie via therichest.com

By Bobbie Johnson [CC SA 2.0], via Wikimedia Commons

• The problem with modern journalism lies in our perception of it via dailydot.com
• Sex, lies and social media: How Twitter killed the water cooler via ft.com

DRINK RECIPES FOR EPISODE #38: Swimming Pool and Rainbow Sangria

Sticking with the LGBTIQ theme of this week's episode, I selected two colorful - and delicious - pride-worthy cocktails: the Swimming Pool and the Rainbow Sangria.

Swimming Pool (according to caribbejan.tumblr.com)

• 1 oz vodka
• 0.5 oz cream
• 0.5 oz cream of coconut
• 0.5 oz blue curaçao
• 3 oz pineapple juice

By youthoughtyouhaditgood via Flickr (CC BY 2.0)

Rainbow Sangria (according to kblog.lunchboxbunch.com)

• 1 cup white wine
• 2-3 Tbsp fresh orange juice
• 2 Tbsp apple juice
• 1-2 Tbsp ginger ale
• assortment of rainbow colored fruits (i.e. strawberry, tangerine, pineapple, green grapes, blackberries and blueberries)
• 1 Tbsp brandy

TOP FIVE FOR EPISODE #38: Favorite LGBT TV Characters

This week on the Top Five, we counted down our top five favorite LGBT TV characters:

#5. Mitchell of Modern Family, played by Jesse Tyler Ferguson

#4. Cyrus of Scandal, played by Jeff Perry

#3. Cosima of Orphan Black, played by Tatiana Maslany

#2. Bo of Lost Girl, played by Anna Silk

By Netflix [CC SA 3.0], via Wikimedia Commons

#1. Sophia of Orange is the New Black, played by Laverne Cox

EPISODE #38: The Link List

Links We Referenced During Episode #38: Go Glo Pride

• Refusing To Be Silenced, Thousands Come Out For Singapore's 'Pink Dot' LGBT Rights Rally via huffingtonpost.com
• 8 Incredible Ways That Cities Are Showing Their Acceptance For Gay Pride via huffingtonpost.com
• Activists: Hundreds of LGBT Refugees Have Fled Uganda via advocate.com

By Kenji-Baptiste OIKAWA [CC BY SA 3.0], via Wikimedia Commons

• US pushing for global LGBT rights through international outreach via embassies via masslive.com
• Report: Anti-LGBT Backlash Has Grown Since Russian Law via usnews.com
• U.S. Extends Helping Hand to Foreign LGBT Entrepreneurs via inc.com

By Victorgrigas [CC BY SA 3.0], via Wikimedia Commons

• The White House Hosts the First-Ever Forum on Global LGBT Human Rights via whitehouse.gov
• Is LGBT Pride Month Outdated? via live.huffingtonpost.com

DRINK RECIPES FOR EPISODE #37: Suffering Bastard and The White Zombie

For this week's cocktail recommendations, I picked two strong drinks that play on the zombie / apocalypse talk in EP#37: Suffering Bastard and The White Zombie.

Suffering Bastard (according to gearpatrol.com)

By scorcos on deviantart.com (CC BY 3.0)

• 1 oz gin
• 1 oz brandy
• 1/2 oz lime cordial
• 2 dashes bitters

The White Zombie (according to cocktailvultures.com)

• 1 oz white rum
• 1 oz gold rum
• 1 oz Wray &Nephew 151 rum
• 1 oz freshly-squeezed lime juice
• 1 oz freshly-squeezed lemon juice
• 1 oz pineapple juice
• 1 oz cream of coconut
• 1/2 oz ginger liqueur
• 1/2 oz triple sec
• Dash absinthe

TOP FIVE FOR EPISODE #37: Top 5 Zombie, Pandemic, and Apocalyptic Films

While Karly was busy honing her skills for the zombie apocalypse, I jumped in to count down the top five zombie, pandemic, and apocalyptic films from the past 20 years.

By MrBeach83 [CC SA-3.0], via Wikimedia Commons

#5. Resident Evil (2002) and Resident Evil: Apocalypse (2004) - In my not-so-humble opinion, the first two films are the only ones worth watching from the franchise. Even if you're not a fan of zombie films and/or didn't play the video games, you should still check out this film. Alice, played by the stunning Milla Jovovich, is such a kickass heroine.

#4. The Road (2009) - There's so much desolation and brutality in this film, but the injections of tender flashbacks and merciful moments are what make it stand out among its contemporaries.

#3. Land of the Dead (2005) - We're not saying there will be a zombie apocalypse - but if there ever is one, you'll want a vehicle like Dead Reckoning. It's heavily armored and armed with remote-controlled machine guns, video cameras, and even fireworks. Because zombies love those fireworks, folks.

#2. 28 Days Later (2002) - This film does a great job of setting the scary, creepy tone before you even see one zombie / infected person. That's quite a tall feat, so it deserves praise for that alone - in addition to the excellent performances by Cillian Murphy and Naomie Harris.

#1. 12 Monkeys (1995) - What happens when you combine an outstanding script with a perfect cast? 12 Monkeys. If you haven't seen this movie, stop what you're doing right now and go watch it. NOW.

EPISODE #37: The Link List

Links We Referenced During Episode #37: Apocalypse Not Just Yet

via amazon.com

• The Art of Urban Survival, by Stefan H. Verstappen - download an excerpt from chapter 1

• The Matt and Steve Show on libsyn.com

• Birth of the Living Dead on netflix

• World War Z: Unrated Version on netflix

Drink Recipes for Episode #36: Gin Fizz and Between The Sheets

This week on The Vodka Press podcast, we talked all about women journalists. When it came time to recommend cocktails, I went with two classic, delicious IBA cocktails worthy of my fellow lady writers and broadcasters: Gin Fizz and Between The Sheets.

Gin Fizz (according to iba-world.com)

By Charles Haynes [CC SA 2.0], via Wikimedia Commons

• 4.5 cl Gin
• 3 cl Fresh lemon juice
• 1 cl Sugar syrup
• 8 cl Soda water

Between The Sheets (according to iba-world.com)

• 3 cl White Rum
• 3 cl Cognac
• 3 cl Triple Sec
• 2 cl Fresh lemon juice

WICKED FIND FOR EPISODE #36: WAM! (Women, Action, & the Media)

Kit Bangles's Wicked Find for this week's EP is WAM! (Women, Action, & the Media).

WAM! is a people-powered, independent nonprofit dedicated to building a robust movement for gender justice in the media.

With chapters in Boston, LA, DC, New York, Chicago, Ottawa, and Vancouver, there's plenty of opportunity to join in on the conversation about gender justice.

TOP FIVE FOR EPISODE #36: Top 5 Influential Women Journalists

For this week's episode, we counted down five of the most influential women journalists:

By Angela Radulescu [CC 2.0], via Wikimedia Commons

5. Anna Quindlen - a novelist, journalist, and columnist who's path-breaking New York Times column "public and private" won the pulitzer for commentary in 1992.

4. Marlene Sanders - the first female correspondent in Vietnam and first female anchor on a US network television evening newscast. She was also the first female vice president of ABC news.

3. Barbara Walters - a popular journalist known for her interviewing skills. She has been the host of many influential ABC programs including the ABC evening news 20/20.

By Charles Haynes [CC SA 2.0], via Wikimedia Commons

2. Jane Mauer - an investigative reporter who has been a staff writer for the New Yorker since 1968. Her 2008 book "The Dark Side" exposed the Bush administration's more questionable tactics in the war on terror.

1. Linda Greenhouse - a pulitzer prize winning reporter who covered the US Supreme court for more than 25 years, beginning in 1978.

EPISODE #36: THE LINK LIST

Links We Referenced During Episode #36: Women Journalists

• JILL ABRAMSON AND THE TIMES: WHAT WENT WRONG? via newyorker.com
• It’s not just Jill Abramson: Women everywhere are getting pushed out of journalism via washingtonpost.com

• Raped Doing Her Job, Colombian Journalist Fights for Women via newsweek.com
• Why we need women journalists on the front lines via cnn.com

• Women In News Media: Gender Diversity Stagnant In Newsrooms, Horrendous In Sports Journalism, Says New Report via ibtimes.com
• This is what the media’s gender gap really looks like via salon.com

image via www.amazon.com

• On The Guest List: Adventures of a Music Journalist by Maryanne Christiano-Mistretta on amazon.com
• Maryanne's website www.peartreeenterprises.com
• Maryanne's Twitter @peartreeent
• Maryanne's Facebook page

Beer Ice Cream Recipes for Episode #35: Sweet, Sweet Magic and Tropic of Betty

"I don't always eat ice cream, but when I do, it's got beer in it..."

Instead of mixing up cocktails this week, I decided to change things up and try my hand at beer ice cream. Armed with my trusty Cuisinart ice cream maker, a variety pack of Magic Hat, and THIS basic recipe from The LA Times, I crafted two delicious beer ice creams: Sweet, Sweet Magic and Tropic of Betty. Below I listed the ingredients, note(s) about modifying the recipe's original instructions, and suggested toppings.


Sweet, Sweet Magic
(yields approx. 1.5 pint)

By George Chriss [CC SA 3.0], via Wikimedia Commons

• 4 egg yolks
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 8 oz Magic Hat #9
• 1 cup heavy cream
• zest of 1 orange

• suggested toppings: toasted pecans, candied bacon, and maple caramel sauce

Tropic of Betty
(yields approx. 1.5 pint)

• 4 egg yolks
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 8 oz Elder Betty
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 2 tsp ground ginger

• suggested toppings: rum sauce* and shaved coconut

Note About Modifying the Recipe's Original Instructions: For either ice cream, the only change you need to make to the original recipe is to add your "extra" ingredient (i.e. orange zest for Sweet, Sweet Magic or ground ginger for Tropic of Betty) to the beer and cream as it simmers in the heavy-bottom saucepan. Everything else is the same.

*How To Make Rum Sauce: Heat 1/4 cup dark brown sugar, 1/4 cup rum, and 2 tbs butter in a small pan over low heat, stirring until the sugar's dissolved and the sauce is slightly thickened; should take about 2 or 3 minutes. Then remove the sauce from the heat and let it cool completely. Once cooled, pour the sauce into an airtight container and store it in your fridge - or pour it over your ice cream and eat up.

Wicked Find For Episode #35: The Wanderer

Kit Bangles's Wicked Find for this week's EP is The Wanderer from The Bruery.

The Wanderer won "the silver medal for wood & barrel aged sour fruited ales at the 2011 Great American Beer Festival." It also won over the heart - and possibly liver - of our own Kit Bangles. Mission accomplished.

Episode #35: The Link List

Links We Referenced During Episode #35: 99 Craft Beer Bottles on the Wall

• 9 Best Super Bowl Beer Commercials via business.time.com
• Heineken Doesn't Seem To Realize Women Drink Beer, Too via huffingtonpost.com

By Bruno Girin via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0)

• How This Man Made Dos Equis a Most Interesting Marketing Story via adage.com
• Chick Beer Aims To Win Women With Gender-Specific Marketing, The Color Pink via huffingtonpost.com

By Tim Dobson via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0)

• Brew Power: Female beermakers, brewery owners forging the future in local beer scene via santacruzsentinel.com
• Women, Craft Beer, and Centerfolds via craftbeer.com
• The American beer industry from its earliest days via bostonglobe.com

By ivoutin via flickr (CC BY 2.0)

• Beer Wars (2009) on crackle

Drink Recipes for Episode #34: Caffeinated Culinarian and Yelp If You Need Me

This week on The Vodka Press podcast, we revisited issues women chefs face *and* we also discussed the effectiveness and influence of Yelp.

To cut some of the "heat" from the kitchen - and the kitchen conversation - I'm recommending two frozen cocktails: Caffeinated Culinarian and Yelp If You Need Me.


Caffeinated Culinarian

• 2 oz Bourbon
• 3.5 oz Frozen coffee concentrate (like Trader Joe's Cold Brew Coffee Concentrate)
• Drizzle of cinnamon & clove simple syrup*
• 1 cup Ice

*To make the cinnamon & clove simple syrup: Bring 1 cup of water to a boil. Add in 1 cup of light brown sugar and stir constantly, until it is completely dissolved. Next add in 1 cinnamon stick and 2 cloves, then let the syrup simmer for 7 minutes. Remove the syrup from the heat and allow it to cool. Once cooled, use a sieve to strain the cinnamon stick and cloves from the syrup. Pour the now-strained syrup into a bottle or airtight container and refrigerate it. Stored like that, the simple syrup can be kept and used for up to 14 days.


Yelp If You Need Me

• 0.75 oz Hazelnut liqueur
• 0.75 oz Stoli® Salted Karamel
• 4 oz Frozen coffee concentrate (like Trader Joe's Cold Brew Coffee Concentrate)
• 1 cup Ice

To make either drink: Combine the ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth. Pour and serve in a chilled glass.

Top Five For Episode #34: Top 5 Women Chefs in Boston

During this week's episode, we discussed a piece by Time showcasing phenomenal culinary talent across the country. They went a little light when it came to the female talent, so today Karly's counting down her top five favorite women chefs in Boston.

#5. Joanne Chang of Flour Bakery & Cafe

#4. Barbara Lynch of No 9 Park, B&G Oysters, and The Butcher Shop

#3. Tiffani Faison of Sweet Cheeks Q

#2. Jody Adams of Rialto and TRADE

By miseryanarchy09 via deviantart.com (CC BY-SA 3.0)

#1. Lydia Shire of Scampo and Towne Stove and Spirits

Episode #34: The Link List

Links We Referenced During Episode #34: Back To The Kitchen

• The Gods of Food via time.com
• Women In The Kitchen: The Numbers Only Matter If There is Something Behind Them via chicagoist.com
• A woman’s place: Why female chefs still struggle for recognition in a cutthroat restaurant world via calgaryherald.com

By Jorge Royan via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY SA 3.0)

• Chef Q&A: Being a Woman in a Man's Kitchen via oceandrive.com
• They can handle the heat, but they're not in the kitchen: Just why are there only THREE female chefs heading up the world's best restaurants via dailymail.co.uk
• Yelp Reviews Help Track Food Illnesses via nytimes.com

Drink Recipes for Episode #33: The Rumors and The Buzz

On this week's episode of The Vodka Press, we answered fans' TMI questions. In the spirit of all that sharing and over-sharing, we mixed up two frozen cocktails: The Rumors and The Buzz. (You'll get a buzz after a couple of these, trust us.)

Celebrate the weekend - and get ready to engage in some TMI talk of your own - with one or both of these drinks.

By ppdigital on deviantart.com (CC BY 3.0)

The Rumors

• 3 oz tequila
• 1/4 cup fresh pineapple, chunks
• 1/4 cup fresh blueberries
• 2 oz coconut water
• 1 cup ice

The Buzz

• 3 oz vodka
• 1/2 cup fresh strawberries (about 4 large strawberries)
• 2 oz kiwi strawberry juice (like RW Knudsen Family Kiwi Strawberry Natural Juice)
• squirt of fresh lime juice
• 1 cup ice

To make either drink: Combine the ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth. Pour and serve in a chilled glass.