Q: I've grown up with an appreciation for good liquor and cocktails, and I would like to stock my bar with more than gin and whiskey. I have weekly dinners and brunches, and would like to give my guests options for drinks and cocktails. Recommendations?

Sent by Dani

Everyone loves to clink a green drink on St. Patrick’s Day. I enjoy color-coded cocktails and party-themed sips as much as the next gal, but it still has to taste good.  To celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, you could simply add a little green food coloring to your beer — or you could recognize you are no longer a college co-ed and toast the day with this classic green cocktail instead.

Q: I'm hosting a boozy St. Patrick's Day brunch this Saturday and wanted to make alcoholic Shamrock Shakes. Can you recommend a good recipe?

Sent by Kristin

Lucky for me some of my oldest and dearest friends live very close by. Yet for some reason we still can't seem to get together as often as we'd like. Recently, I was thrilled to pop out for a quick dinner with two of my best high school girlfriends, especially when one presented me with my name in lights. It was a bottle of vodka flashing brightly with, "Happy Birthday Maureen" scrolling across the bottle, and the inspiration for this week's 10-minute happy hour. More

All January, we worked through our case of grapefruit, and this month we've been tackling cases of Cuties, a.k.a. clementines. They're the perfect portable snack with a shot of vitamin C for the whole fam. This week, I was tiring of chewing those little segments, so I grabbed the juicer to change things up. This refreshing Clementine Cocktail came shortly after. It's juicy and refreshing, and perfect for this week's 10-minute happy hour. More

When the Oscars roll around, my husband and I usually shrug at the noms since we typically haven't seen any of the movies. This year, though, the mythical gods of "free-time" shone down on us and we were able to squeeze in a few of the films we usually only hear about. So it seems we will have a reason to actually watch the ceremony for more than the red carpet. Without hesitation, I grabbed the shaker to create an Oscar-worthy cocktail that we could sip while watching Hollywood's biggest night. More

A mid-day stop for flights of vodka and a caviar tasting with your mom isn't a typical day in the life. Well, at least not my life! But on a recent blustery cold New York afternoon, my mom showed me a little sunshine in the romantically lit, over-the-top glamorous dining room of The Russian Tea Room. Considering it was a work day, I wasn't able to fully partake in the vodka sipping, but I did find something just as indulgent, though less nap-inducing, on the cocktail menu. More

One of my favorite treats on a Friday evening is enjoying a new cocktail at home. Often it's something as simple as a Gin and Tonic, but with the cold nights of February upon us, we've been turning to sipping warming liquors instead. More

When it comes to pairing food and drinks, there are three basic elements: complementing, contrasting and bridging. In relationships you could say the same. It's the contrast, though, that can create the fireworks and often the passion. With the "Hallmark holiday" around the corner I set out to find a sexy cocktail suitable for toasting your sweetheart, but also one perfect for any happy hour in 10-minutes' time. More

I'm not sure whether it's the beginning of tax season or the gray Pacific Northwest days we've been having lately, but many people I know have been a bit down. In line at the grocery store, I hear families dreaming up sunny vacations and faraway weekend plans. But for the rest of the week, for the slog that February can feel like, I have a small solution: The Winter Warmer Cocktail. More