Cooking with Vodka

Vodka Creamsicle

This drink tastes like the vanilla ice cream wrapped in orange sherbet treats I had when I was a kid. But this has a kick instead of a stick.

3 ounces orange juice
3 ounces Orange Peel Vodka (The Vodka Cookbook, p. 142 or orange-infused vodka)
1/2 ounce heavy cream

1. Combine all ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice and shake vigorously for 30 seconds and strain into chilled martini glasses.
2. Garnish with orange wedges and serve.

Makes 2

(by John Rose, author of The Vodka Cookbook)

Vanilla Zephyr

I know what you're thinking. Zephyr?! But I needed a name for this drink and the words just weren't coming. And there was this thesaurus just sitting there, laughing at me. Anyway, when I discovered that 'zephyr' is a 'light warming breeze' – the sort one might find on a tropical island, I went with it. In the middle of a Moscow winter (and I've been through many of them), this vanilla vodka-inspired creation is a sunny holiday in a glass.

I use my home-made vanilla vodka and apple vodka infusions from The Vodka Cookbook. But you could substitute commercial brands.