DIY Network

Creative Cocktail Garnishes and Stirrers Learn how to spruce up your cocktails with fun garnishes. From "Home Made Easy" episode DHME-155

Karen Bussen, DIY's Entertaining Made Easy contributor, joins host Stephanie Lydecker and demonstrates creative ways to spice up cocktails. She shows how to make fun ice cubes, funky drink stirrers, decorative garnishes and more.

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	Guest Karen Bussen shares ideas for simple ways to spice up your drinks with fun ice cubes, stirrers and more.
	Figure A
	Figure B

Creative Cocktail Garnishes and Stirrers

Materials:

ice cube trays
edible flowers
mint leaves
lemon wedges
assorted cocktails
assorted fruits
licorice sticks
toothpicks

• Funky Ice Cubes. Just drop something fun into each cube. Use things like lemon wedges, mint leaves, berries, even edible flowers (figure A). Pop them in the freezer and you will have fun ice cubes. Not only does this add color to the cocktail, once the ice melts, you will have a lemon wedge to squeeze into your drink for taste. Mint leaves are excellent for adding flavor as well. You can also add drops of food coloring in the cubes to make them really colorful. You can use these in a glass of water or any non alcoholic drink as well.

• Sassy Stirrers. Be creative with your stirrers. Who wants to use a regular straw? There are so many different things you could use. Vintage stirrers are always fun, especially if you are having a 50's or 60's themed party. You can use Twizzlers or other licorice sticks like these. They can double as a straw and a stirrer!

• Groovy Garnishes. You can always use the basic lemon wedge, orange slice, pineapple chunk, or cherry, but why not make it a bit more interesting for our guests? Use veggies as garnishes. Mix Kosher salt with Old Bay spice mix and then rub the rim of your glass with a lemon wedge and dip the rim into the salt. Thin sliced radishes or cucumbers in a martini add a great touch. For creamier drinks or shakes, add a slice of frozen chocolate.

• Drink Identifiers. There are all sorts of ways to identify drinks at parties. Use a wax marker or make your own "drink charms" with paper clips and hang tags, like the small ones you buy to label gifts (figure B). You can even use dots or stickers on the stems. Also, serve drinks in interesting glasses. Like, punch in old coupe champagne glasses, or layered chocolate drinks in shot glasses.

GUESTS :

Karen Bussen
Author, Simple Stunning Weddings
E-mail: Karen@karenbussen.com
Website: www.karenbussen.com