Conversion tables

Liquids

Weight

Temperature

Cooking Measurement Equivalents

16 tablespoons = 1 cup
12 tablespoons = 3/4 cup
10 tablespoons + 2 teaspoons = 2/3 cup
8 tablespoons = 1/2 cup
6 tablespoons = 3/8 cup
5 tablespoons + 1 teaspoon = 1/3 cup
4 tablespoons = 1/4 cup
2 tablespoons = 1/8 cup
2 tablespoons + 2 teaspoons = 1/6 cup
1 tablespoon = 1/16 cup
1 tablespoon = 3 teaspoons

2 cups = 1 pint
2 pints = 1 quart
48 teaspoons = 1 cup

Cocktail party:  A gathering held to enable forty people to talk about themselves at the same time.  The man who remains after the liquor is gone is the host.  ~Fred Allen

At every party there are two kinds of people - those who want to go home and those who don't.  The trouble is, they are usually married to each other.  ~Ann Landers

Old Fashioned

Prepare and serve in Glass No. 5
1 lump cube sugar
1 or 2 dashes Cocktail Bitters
1 dash seltzer
Muddle sugar until dissolved
1 jogger Rye, Bourbon or Scotch Whiskey
Cube of ice

Garnish with twist of lemon peel, 1 slice of orange, 1 maraschino cherry. Serve with highball spoon.

Harvey Wallbanger

• Ice cubes
• 1 1/2 ounces of vodka
• 4 ounces of orange juice (fresh squeezed makes the drink extra special)
• 1/2 ounce of Galliano
• Orange slice and maraschino cherry

   

• Fill tall glass with ice cubes
• Add vodka and orange juice and stir
• Gently pour the Galliano across the back of a spoon to float the Galliano on top of the drink
• Garnish with a orange slice and maraschino cherry
  

Singapore Sling

Prepare and serve in 10 oz glass
Fill 1/2 full shaved ice. Place sliced red and green cherries alternately around inside of glass.
Add juice of 1/2 lime or 1/4 lemon
1 jigger Distilled Dry Gin
Fill balance of glass with shaved ice.
Add 1/2 jigger Cherry Liqueur
Add dash of Benai Liqueur
Garnich with slice of Torange, Cherry, and peel of cubumber

Serve with straws.  Do not stir, or shake.

Zombie

Put into a mixing glass with several ice cubes 1 teaspoon falernum, 1 ounce each of lime juice, orange or pineapple juice, and orange curaçao, 1 ounce of dark Jamaica rum, and 2 ounces of Puerto Rico gold rum. Stir well and pour over cracked ice in a 14-ounce Collins glass. Add a float of 1/2 ounce of 151-proof Demerara rum and garnish with a slice of orange, a finger of pineapple, a cherry, and a spray of mint.

Cape Codder

Into a bar glass half full of cracked ice, pour 2 parts vodka, 1 part unsweetened, full-strength cranberry juice, and 1 teaspoon lime juice. Shake and serve in a chilled cocktail glass.

Gin Daisy

Fill a silver mug with finely shaved ice and stir until the outside of the mug is frosted. Pour over the ice 2 teaspoons grenadine, 1/2 ounce lemon or lime juice, and 2 ounces gin. Float 1 teaspoon yellow chartreuse on top and decorate with 1/2 orange or lemon slice, maraschino cherries, pineapple sticks, strawberries or sprigs of mint. Serve with a long straw.

Grasshopper

Pour over shaved ice 1/3 part white cacao, 1/3 part green crème de menthe and 1/3 part cream. Blend the drink gently, but do not shake it, and serve in cocktail glasses.

Moscow Mule

Pour 1 1/2 ounces vodka and the juice of half a lime over ice cubes in a copper mug, silver goblet, or water glass and fill with ginger beer.

Madras

Fill a Champagne coupe with a dome of firmly packed, finely shaved ice and mark the ice dome into 7 equal segments. Over them pour, one liqueur to a segment, a teaspoon each of the following in the order indicated: apricot liqueur, green Chartreuse, Bénédictine, crème de cassis, crème de cacao, anisette, and dark Curaçao. Over the top of the ice dome pour 1 tablespoon Cognac. Sip through straws, tasting each liqueur separately first, then stir the mixture and savor the blend. When done right it really looks like a madras plaid. (not to be confused with the vodka cranberry juice madras which came later)

For more Cocktail Recipes Click HERE

Dips

La Tapenade Dip

Put into electric blender or chop very fine by hand
1 clove garlic
3 tablespoons capers
small bunch of chives
10 large pitted black olives
1 can anchovies and 1/2 can best tuna.  Cut fine in blender or by chopping.  Turn into bowl - add 1 1/4 cup mayonnaise - just before serving stir in a little less then one ounce of cognac.  

Cocktail Party assortments may be more elaborate than a dinner party. Arrange trays of canapes in advance. Replenish as needed so that the table is always attractive. Bring in hot ones from time to time. Here is the occasion for presenting something unusal, a "conversation piece" such as tiny Horns Of Plenty, Cheese Puffs, or Rissolettes.

Horns of Plenty

Shape sliced smoked salmon, ham or dired beef into cornucopias. Fill iwth caviar seasoned with a few drops of lemon juice or with finely chopped cucumber or highly seasoned cream cheese. Fasten with toothpicks and arrange on plate to serve with cocktails

Cheese Puffs

2 Tbs Butter

1/2 Cup boiling water

1/4 cup flour

1/4 grated cheese

1/8 teaspoon salt

Paprika

1 egg

Melt butter in boiling water. Add flour, cheese, salt and paprika. Sitr and cook 3 minutes. Stir in egg and beat until very stiff. Arrange by half teaspoonfuls on buttered cooky sheet. Bake 15 minutes at 375 F. Then reduce heat to 350 F adn bake 10 or 15 minutes longer, until dry. Serve warm with cocktails.

SHRIMP FILLED DEVILED EGGS

6 hard-boiled eggs
1/4 cup Mayonaise
1 teaspoon French's mustard
dash Tabasco sauce
salt, to taste
1/4 tsp. garlic powder
6 medium cooked shrimp, finely chopped
2 green onions, finely chopped
Cut peeled eggs lengthwise into halves. Slip out yolks; mash with fork.
Stir in Mayonaise, mustard, Tabasco, garlic powder and salt; taste and adjust seasonings.
Stir in shrimp and minced green onions. Fill whites with egg yolk mixture, forming a slightly rounded top, or pipe through a decorative pastry bag or cookie shooter.
Arrange on a serving dish.
Cover tightly and refrigerate.
Garnish with paprika and chopped fresh parsley before serving, if desired.
Yields 12 deviled eggs.

For more Recipes Click HERE.

Helpful Books (click on the book and it will take you to the store)

Decorations.

Cocktail Appropriate Attire

Strapless and with sheer movement is always a good bet for a cocktail party.

This Dior little black dress would be a safe bet with a bit of fun.

This cocktail dress from 1954 shows a full sillohuette is not necessary.

To see more ideas and images of Cocktail attire go to our FASHION page.