Annie's Espresso Martini

Y’all, people in Dallas, TX love them a good espresso martini. I swear it’s the brandy ice of Texas. Like most things, I’ve jumped right on board. A late night at The Mansion for live music and an espresso martini is a recipe for a great night and a hangover - ha! However, here’s my caveat with espresso martinis, I can’t do caffeine. I can’t do caffeine in the morning - jitter sister, and I sure as heck can’t do caffeine around 10:00 o’clock at night.

So, enter Annie’s Espresso Martini! I use a decaf shot of espresso and the best coffee liqueur. Disclaimer, there is a little caffeine in the liqueur, but it’s fine, I’m fine. And now don’t at me for not garnishing with coffee beans, once you garnish with chocolate shavings you’ll never go back.

Annie’s Espresso Martini
yields 1 martini

Ingredients:
.75 ounce Tito’s Vodka
.75 ounce Patrón XO Cafe (coffee liqueur)*
1 decaf espresso shot, or 1 ounce of instant coffee*
1/8 tsp vanilla extract
coffee beans or chocolate shavings for garnish

Directions:
Run your martini glass under water and shake off any excess, then place in the freezer. This will help keep your martini extra cold. Pull your shot of espresso and let it cool while you prepare the other ingredients. Into your martini shaker add the vodka, coffee liqueur, and vanilla extract. Add in your cooled espresso shot and fill halfway up with ice. Shake until the shaker is freezing cold, about 12-15 seconds. Strain into a martini glass and top with 3 coffee beans or chocolate shavings. Cheers!

Bartenders notes:
*I prefer Patron’s coffee liqueur, it has a deep chocolate-like flavor that is crazy good. To avoid buying a huge bottle for one drink, you can often find them in mini airplane shot sizes at most big-box liquor stores. Kahlúa or any coffee liqueur will do.

*I prefer using decaf here because unless I’m drinking this martini at breakfast 😜I don’t need the caffeine. If you have an espresso machine at home great, if you don’t, you can order a single shot for cheap from Starbucks. Instant coffee also works great here since it’s typically very strong.

*.75 ounce is just shy of a small jigger if you have a double-sided jigger

Does anyone else follow the hilarious @espresso.martinis Instagram account? I give this a 10/10!

Annie

My Cocktail Shaker Kit (under $35)
My Martini Glasses (set of 4 under $15)

Bites of My Life

Came back from Colorado with a cold, but kid of “took advantage” of the time to lay low and rest. I worked from home most days, drank copious amounts of tea, ate soup and kept my workouts very low maintenance, some days skipping them all together. I started to feel more myself just in time for the weekend and had a really great weekend in my city. Now the countdown is on until my apartment is full of my best friends and everyone is reunited in Dallas for OU/Texas!

-Monday meal prep after the bachelorette weekend. Kept things simple with Crock-Pot chicken and seasonal roasted veggies.
-Return of golden milk this week. Perfect for fall but also perfect for the cold I was battling last week.
-Last week’s recipe post including bulletproof coffee and a Whole30 recap.
-Woke up Saturday craving fried eggs. I normally cook scrambled at home, but two crispy eggs cooked in lots of ghee, really hit the spot.
-Being extra festive at the Farmer’s Market. The Dallas Farmer’s market is a favorite weekend activity for me.
-Harvest Pumpkin loaf from Central Market was obviously a must.
-Post-whole30 l i v i n g at my favorite restaurant in Dallas. Proof that I love this hole-in-the-wall seen in my 3 Months in D post!
-Leftovers repurposed for Sunday lunch. A sweet potatoes filled with Crock-Pot chicken and roasted carrots from my meal prep.
-Since it’s October and still in the 90’s I made my Pumpkin Green Smoothie into a bowl for dinner. Fall-ish but make it weather approp.

Annie