Cocktails and mocktails inspired by The Help

I loved the trailers for the upcoming movie, The Help, on their Facebook page so much that I’ve started rereading the book on my Kindle.

Maybe I’ll sit on the back deck this weekend while I read and sip one of these The Help-inspired cocktails (Maybe a non-alcoholic mocktails would be a better idea? Don’t want to doze off in the middle of a chapter!)

These three drink recipes are from The Help Book Club Kit. You can download your PDF copy of it here to find a couple more. Also, check out the cake and pie recipes for a post-movie watching dessert nosh with your book club friends!

The “Skeeter”

Sweet, strong and a little spicy.

Ingredients:

• 1 oz. José Cuervo’s Platino silver tequila
• 1/2 oz. Patron Citronge Orange Liqueur
• 1/2 oz. cranberry juice
• 1/2 orange, squeezed
• 2 thin jalapeño slices

Directions:

1. Add all ingredients, except one jalapeño slice, into a cocktail shaker and shake with ice.
2. Strain into a chilled martini glass rimmed with sugar. Garnish with floating jalapeño slices.

For those of you who don’t want the alcohol, here’s a non-alcoholic alternative:

Ingredients:

• 3 tsp grated orange peel
• 3 crushed cinnamon
• 3 tsp whole cloves
• 1 whole nutmeg crushed
• 3 cups apple juice
• 6 cinnamon sticks

Directions:

1. Combine orange peel, 3 crushed cinnamon sticks, cloves and nutmeg in a small bowl.
2. Tie dry ingredients in a double thickness of cheesecloth to make a sachet, or secure in a large tea-straining ball.
3. In a medium pan, simmer apple juice with spices for at least 20 minutes.
4. Ladle into mugs and garnish each with a cinnamon stick.

The “Minny”

Strong, with a kick.

Ingredients:

• 2 oz. Vanilla Vodka
• 1 oz. Cointreau
• 2 Dashes Lemon Juice
• 1 Dash Simple Syrup

Directions:

1. Mix all ingredients in an iced shaker for 10-seconds and strain over crushed ice in a lowball glass.
2. Top with crushed ice.

For those of you who don’t want the alcohol, here’s a non-alcoholic alternative:

Ingredients:

• 2 scoops (about 1/3 cup each) vanilla ice cream chilled ginger beer or ginger ale
• squeeze of fresh lime juice
• 3 Tbs lightly sweetened whipped cream
• Lime slice, for garnish

Directions:

1. Place ice cream in a tall 16-ounce glass. Fill with ginger beer.
2. Add a squeeze of lime juice; stir.
3. Top with whipped cream.
4. Garnish with lime slice.
5. Serve immediately with straws and a spoon.

The “Hilly”

Sour and chilled, with a sharp twang.

Ingredients:

• 2 oz apple brandy
• 1/2 tsp powdered sugar
• juice of 1/2 lemons
• 1/2 slice lemon
• 1 cherry

Directions:

1. Shake apple brandy, powdered sugar, and juice of lemon with ice and strain into a whiskey sour glass.
2. Decorate with a half-slice of lemon.
3. Top with the cherry, and serve.

For those of you who don’t want the alcohol, here’s a non-alcoholic alternative:

Ingredients:

• 3/4 oz fresh lemon juice
• 1/2 oz grenadine syrup
• 1/2 oz simple syrup
• Sprite® soda
• Seltzer
• ½ slice lemon

Directions:

1. Stir the lemon juice, grenadine and simple syrup together in a wine glass.
2. Add ice, top with equal parts Sprite and soda water.
3. Garnish with lemon wedge and serve.

Anne-Marie Nichols