Very Cold, Very Dry

It’s officially December! Who’s watching Hallmark movies? With the unpredictability of the world today, it’s nice to know you can always count on the ambitious woman needing a break from her career in the big city, who goes to her hometown to see her uncle and cousin and help them with their ranch. Then a big-time actor arrives in town, and he asks if he can stay with her, as he is playing a rancher in his next movie role, and the property is a perfect place to get into character. Then they fall in love, and he decides to quit acting, and she says, “Fuck my big-time career job that I actually really loved! I’m going to be a full-time rancher!” and then they kiss and it’s all just lollipops and rainbows forever and ever. This is actually the plot of one of them. See it for yourself.

All of this means it’s an excuse to curl up on the couch, with a heated blanket, and a nice cold martini. To honor the last month of the year (HOW IS THIS POSSIBLE!), we’re doing another Eric and Lindsay Recommendations, but a little bit different in honor of the Holiday Season. Instead of separate recs, we’re doing them together, because isn’t that what the holiday season is all about? You can see our other recs here.

Our Favorite Holiday Movie to Watch With A Martini…
While You Were Sleeping

My favorite Sandra Bullock movie by far. The best part of this movie is the family, especially Elsie. She has the best dialogue (“Look at the bright side. He has more room in his jockey shorts”), but my favorite is captured in this scene above.

As she sits on the couch, with Saul asking her if she wants some wine, she politely says, “I don’t drink anymore… (Pauses) I don’t drink any less either!” Now when anyone asks if I want a cocktail, this is always my response. True icon.

Our Martini:

The Lindsay Martini!

I make mine a little larger. Because why not! This is very similar to My Dirty Martini, but just without the olive brine. This is version the one I make the most out of all the recipes. It just hits.

Gin: I use Beefeater, Bombay Sapphire, or Froggy B. You can see our recs here)
Vermouth: Dry Vermouth (I recommend Noilly Pratt)
Garnish: Bleu cheese olives (Because you need an appetizer with your martini!)

Directions:
While the martini glass is chilling, place the empty cocktail mixing glass (or measuring cup) on the scale. Make sure the scale is set to “Tare” and on the milliliters setting. Tare means it won’t include the weight of the mixing glass, only the contents inside. Pour the Bombay Sapphire Gin into the glass or measuring cup until it reaches 130 ml on the scale. Next, place your thumb over the top of the bottle of vermouth, and carefully let just a splash or two go in. Fill it with ice, then stir constantly for at least 2 minutes.

Take out your martini glass from the freezer, and strain the gin mixture into the glass. Put the olives in, and enjoy!

On Our Playlist:

A Swingin’ Christmas (Feat. Count Basie Big Band)

This is a quintessential album for the holidays, and on constant rotation when we’re not watching Hallmark movies. I love the big brass band combined with Tony’s voice singing the classic Christmas songs I grew up singing along with as we decorated the tree.

Our martini icon…

Mrs. Shellhammer in Miracle on 34th Street (1947 film)

This movie about whether or not Santa is actually real is one of the best Christmas movies of all time, and should be added to your yearly rotation. I won’t go too much into the plot, but my favorite scene is where Santa needs a place to stay (obviously the North Pole is too far), while he’s employed as Macy’s Santa, so the store manager makes his wife triple strength martinis so she’ll be more open to letting Santa stay in their spare bedroom. The way she says “Hellooo” as she holds the phone upside down is priceless.

TV Shows We’re Watching…

We may have made fun of Hallmark movies earlier, but we are deep in the trenches of gingerbread contests, tree decorating, snowball fights and mistletoe. Speaking of mistletoe, we’ve been swirling our glasses, eating our onions and olives watching Mistletoe Murders, a holiday themed murder mystery series. A shop owner named Emily uses her secret skills to help Detective Sam solve murders in their small town. Its writing, acting and storyline pack a much bigger punch than a typical Hallmark movie.

Our favorite holiday recipe…

Wherever there was a fancy party, especially during a holiday, my mother would make this recipe. It’s fancy without the fuss, and most importantly, it’s delicious!

8 slices of rye bread (or French bread)

3/4 Cup of mayonnaise

1/3 Parmesan cheese

1/2 Chopped onions

1, 6 oz can of crab meat

Add to taste:

Worcestershire sauce

Salt and pepper

Paprika

Mix together the mayonnaise, cheese, onions and crab meat. Place the mix on each slice of bread. Sprinkle paprika on top. Broil 10-15 seconds until bubbly.

Thanks for reading! Let me know if you try this recipe or any of our recommendations!