TWEETY FINE JEWELRY

Tweety Cocktail Sendoff: Earthday

Dearest Tweety Admirers,

We're enjoying an unusual Wednesday cocktail to atone for missing our beloved Friday cocktail sendoff. Tweety has been incredibly busy as of late--celebrating Passover over the weekend, (no we are not sending you a cocktail sendoff of Manoshevitz),  preparing for Earth Day, and enjoying the beautiful spring weather. Started in 1969, Earth Day highlights the importance of environmental preservation, a cause that hits close to home for our nester, Tweety.  Tweety always has one foot in the big city and one foot in nature, so once a year Tweety pays homage to a color other than yellow. Also, what would compliment Tweety's distinctive yellow better than the blue and green of Earth Day? To honor this, we're drinking a blue drink: 

Blue Skies:

1 part Absolut Vodka

1 part Blue Curacao

1 part Champagne

1 part Grape Schnapps

Is there anything better than a flying blue skies with lovely Tweety? We didn't think so.

 

Drink and picture from Absolut.com

Tweety Weekend Cocktail: rainy day

April showers bring May flowers…or so I am told.

Today our beloved NYC took on gray skies all day and we here at Tweety HQ had a less than sunny disposition. The rain, which is predicted to continue through tonight, has just made the stay-at-home option that much more appealing. The real task: getting your friends to take on the unwanted task of heading out in the rain to come by your nesting pad. So you lure your friends to come to you with the promise of yummy cocktails and good tunes, and since you’ve got the goods, the friends come-a-knocking. Of course, it is then, only moments after you congratulate yourself for your negotiating skills, that you remember all you have in the fridge is old mustard and a lime, and uhh, oh right your ipod broke last week.

No worries. Tweety, who is well accustomed to escaping sticky situations (years of death by ingestion threats from Sylvester will do that to you) has got you covered. After reading this genius suggestion by Sunniebgi, we are offering you this cocktail sendoff.

Now is the time to use that bottle of Rum your ex-girlfriend insisted you buy for when you and the boys are drinking beers, but as predicted, she only took one little shot. Pour the entire bottle into a bowl over ice. Then use your muscles to squeeze every lest drop of that lime into it, and add about half a cup of sugar (for one whole bottle of rum). Stir it up and stick a big ladle in. Tell your buddies you specifically wanted to bring them a light tropical drink to remind everyone of the warmer weather on the horizon.

Suddenly you’re the hostess with the most-ess again. (Oh, and about the music check out Pandora.com – no thank you necessary.)

Tweety’s Presidents Day Cocktail Wrap Up

Tweety took a long weekend to enjoy the federal holiday to celebrate the birthdays of two February-ites, George Washington and Abraham Lincoln.  These presidents continue to be iconic figures of America, and Tweety relates to that well deserved fame.  After all, Gorge has his white hair and cherry tree, Lincoln had the big black hat and beard, and Tweety has those canary yellow feathers that can never be forgotten.  So, our little yellow feathered historic figure took off the weekend to commemorate the lives of these two great presidents past.  With drinks and friends, Tweety enjoyed a long weekend, and wanted to bring you this Tweety Cocktail, that was much enjoyed over the weekend by Tweety and friends, and that you may have missed on our normally scheduled Tweety Weekend Cocktail send off. 

Martha Washington's Rum Punch

Ingredients:

- 3 oz. White Rum

- 3 oz. Dark Rum

- 3 oz. Orange Curacao

- 4 oz. Simple Syrup

- 4 oz. Lemon Juice

- 4 oz. Fresh Orange Juice

- 3 Lemons quartered

- 1 Orange quartered

- 1/2 Tsp. Grated nutmeg

- 3 Cinnamon sticks (broken)

- 6 Cloves

- 12 oz. Boiling water

In a container, mash the orange, lemons, cinnamon sticks, cloves and nutmeg. Add syrup, lemon and orange juice. Pour the boiling water over the mixture in a container. Let it cool for a few minutes then add the white rum, dark rum and orange curaco. Strain well into a pitcher or punch bowl and serve over ice in goblets and decorate with wheels of lemon and orange. Dust with a little nutmeg and cinnamon. (Source: Distilled Spirits Council)

Tweety Weekend Cocktial Sendoff: Super Bowl Addition

With everyone chirping about the big game, we bring you a very special Super Bowl addition of our always fun Tweety Weekend Cocktail Send Off.   Whether you will tune in to see the Pats pick up another win, to finally shout out some pride at home-boys The Giants, or you are the girlfriend whose just half supportive, half just in it for the cool commercials, alcohol, and snacks, we assume that like Tweety, you will be hunkered down on that comfy couch most of Sunday afternoon and evening.  While beer is a traditional accompaniment for the chili, sub/hero sandwiches, and wings that we expect on your football chomping menu, we recommend kicking it up a notch, with some of these fun and tasty football cocktails.   With such appropriate names like Blitz, First & Ten, and Fumble, we are sure that no matter which drink you choose, the ultimate taste will be a touch down!

Speaking of touch downs…

Touch Down courtesy of Cocktails.com

4 oz bourbon

8 oz Lemonade

8 oz unsweetened ice tea

Combine bourbon with iced tea in a mixing glass filled with ice. Strain equal parts into two Hurricane glasses filled with ice. Top with lemonade. (Makes two 12-ounce servings.)

P.S.  Sorry about the Patriots comment.  We here at Tweety HQ are basically all New Yorkers, and we seriously hope we’re wrong about our prediction.

Tweety Weekend Cocktial Sendoff

We bring you yet another installment of our Tweety Weekend Cocktail Sendoff.  The bitter cold winds this week have left us shivering, and yearning for a big comfy couch, blanket, and fire place.  Our smart little yellow feather friend recommends staying inside and curling up with this classic hot cocktail.  Because the only thing better then kicking back with your favorite flick, is doing so with this spiked soother.   While most hot cocktails use a coffee base, Tweety favors this cinnamon and sugar based drink for its sweetness and lovely yellow-brownish hue.  Tweety wishes you a good weekend full of fun and warmth.

1 teaspoon sugar syrup

1 stick cinnamon

Boiling water

1 jigger whiskey, rum, or brandy

1/2 lemon slice

3 cloves

Place sugar, cinnamon and rum in an 8-ounce mug. Fill mug with very hot water and impale the edge of the mug with lemon slice and stud with cloves.

Tweety also wants to remind everyone to drink responsibly!  Don’t Drink and Drive!  Have a good weekend!

Tweety's Sweet Tooth

This weekend hundreds of New Yorkers will flock to Magnolia Bakery and wait in line for two of Tweety's favorite desserts, the yummy cupcakes and banana pudding. Here at Tweety HQ we realize that there are millions of people outside of NY that may have the same sweet cravings for these little gems but can't just flap their wings and land in Magnolia’s massive line. Fear not our featherless friends, here are the recipes so you can make them wherever your nest is.

Magnolia’s Vanilla Cupcakes:
1 1/2 cups self-rising flour
1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
2 cups sugar
4 large eggs, at room temperature
1 cup milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

ICING:
Vanilla Buttercream (recipe follows)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Line two 12-cup muffin tins with cupcake papers.
In a small bowl, combine the flours. Set aside.
In a large bowl, on the medium speed of an electric mixer, cream the butter until smooth. Add the sugar gradually and beat until fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Add the dry ingredients in three parts, alternating with the milk and vanilla. With each addition, beat until the ingredients are incorporated but do not overbeat. Using a rubber spatula, scrape down the batter in the bowl to make sure the ingredients are well blended. Carefully spoon the batter into the cupcake liners, filling them about three-quarters full. Bake for 20–25 minutes, or until a cake tester inserted in the center of the cupcake comes out clean.
Cool the cupcakes in the tins for 15 minutes. Remove from the tins and cool completely on a wire rack before icing. At the bakery we ice the cupcakes with either Vanilla Buttercream or Chocolate Buttercream.

Vanilla Buttercream Icing:
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
6 to 8 cups confectioners’ sugar
1/2 cup milk
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Place the butter in a large mixing bowl. Add 4 cups of the sugar and then the milk and vanilla. On the medium speed of an electric mixer, beat until smooth and creamy, about 3-5 minutes. Gradually add the remaining sugar, 1 cup at a time, beating well after each addition (about 2 minutes), until the icing is thick enough to be of good spreading consistency. You may not need to add all of the sugar. If desired, add a few drops of food coloring and mix thoroughly. (Use and store the icing at room temperature because icing will set if chilled.) Icing can be stored in an airtight container for up to 3 days.

Magnolia’s Famous Banana Pudding:
1 (14-ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
1 1/2 cups ice cold water
1 (3.4-ounce) package instant vanilla pudding mix (preferably Jell-O brand)
3 cups heavy cream
1 (12-ounce) box Nabisco Nilla Wafers (no substitutions!)
4 cups sliced ripe bananas
In a small bowl, on the medium speed of an electric mixer, beat together the sweetened condensed milk and water until well combined, about 1 minute. Add the pudding mix and beat well, about 2 minutes more. Cover and refrigerate for 3-4 hours or overnight, before continuing. It is very important to allow the proper amount of time for the pudding mixture to set.
In a large bowl, on the medium speed of an electric mixer, whip the heavy cream until stiff peaks form. Gently fold the pudding mixture into the whipped cream until well blended and no streaks of pudding remain.
To assemble the dessert, select a large, wide bowl (preferably glass) with a 4-5-quart capacity. Arrange one-third of the wafers to cover the bottom of the bowl, overlapping if necessary, then one-third of the bananas and one-third of the pudding. Repeat the layering twice more, garnishing with additional wafers or wafer crumbs on the top layer of the pudding. Cover tightly with plastic wrap and allow to chill in the refrigerator for 4 hours - or up to 8 hours, but no longer! - before serving.

Tweety New Year's Eve Weekend Cocktail Sendoff

Tweety Weekend Cocktail Sendoff, featuring top rated Food Network New Year’s Cocktails, and one special Tweety favorite rink that is perfect for brunch the following morning. Cocktails for this holiday celebrated by the young and old alike most commonly feature campaign. So, we raise our glass of bubbly to you, and wish you a wonderful ’08.

This first cocktail is great if you decided to brave all and actually host the big bash on your turf. This cocktail punch serves a whole group of your chosen people, and looks great on the table since it is a perfect hue of yellow. Just like another good looking birdie we know…

Champagne Punch by Emeril Lagasse

1 1/3 cups fresh lemon juice, 1 cup superfine sugar, 1/2 cup orange liqueur, (recommended: Grand Marnier), 1/2 cup Triple Sec, 1/2 cup cognac, 1/2 cup fresh orange juice, 2 bottles chilled dry Champagne or sparkling wine, Orange or lemon slices, Fresh strawberries, optional

Combine the lemon juice, sugar, orange liqueur, Triple Sec, cognac, and orange juice in a non-reactive bowl and stir until the sugar is completely dissolved. Add the Champagne and stir to combine. Cover and refrigerate until chilled, about 1 hour. Pour into a decorative bowl or pitcher. Garnish with orange or lemon slices and fresh strawberries, if desired. Serve in Champagne flutes, wine glasses, or punch cups.

If you decide to take your bash one step further and actually hire a bartender to pour the drinks, (we know partying on News years is very serious, and guests can not be bothered with pouring their own drinks), then this is a great drink to feature. This drink fizzes with the perfect combo of sweetness and tartness, and looks almost as beautiful as Tweety’s yellow feather outerwear.

Champagne Lemonade by Tyler Florence

1 cup sugar, 3 cups water, 1 1/2 cups fresh lemon juice, 1 bottle Champagne or sparkling wine, Thin lemon slices for garnish

Put the sugar and 1 cup water into a small saucepan and bring it to a boil. Cook for 1 minute until the sugar has dissolved, turn off the heat, and allow the sugar syrup to cool. In a pitcher combine the cooled sugar syrup with the lemon juice and remaining 2 cups water and mix well. Fill a Champagne flute halfway with the lemonade and top with Champagne. Garnish with a lemon slice.

Finally, any party girl, boy, or birdie knows that the best cure for a hangover is having just a little more alcohol. This brunch classic is favored by all, and is the perfect cap-off to the entire celebration. Plus, unlike its sister cocktail the bellini, the classic mimosa is much closer to the Tweety color guide we like to live life by.

Enjoy! We will see you in 2008! Happy New Year!

Tweety Fine Jewelry on NBC Today Show

Everybody knows that Tweety is always big news in the city, but it was completely confirmed this past week when our little yellow trendsetter was featured on NBC’s Today Show. This weekend, Tweety will be rubbing feathers with the likes of Alicia Keys and Avril Lavigne at Z100s Jingle Ball, and the Today Show couldn’t wait to give you the backstage gossip. Host Carolyn Gusoff gushed about how “beautiful” the Tweety yellow diamond pendant looked on the neck of Jingle Ball producer Samantha Haft-Simon, who (quite rightly) proclaimed that “Yellow is the new black!”

Download tweety.mov

Seeing as Tweety is going to have a big weekend, you should relax and enjoy yours too with the help of this week’s Tweety Weekend Cocktail Sendoff. You can literally shake off those long-week blues by shaking up a yellow Grand Mararita. It’s a delicious twist on America’s most popular cocktail, and it’s Tweety approved!

1 Part GRAND MARNIER

2 Parts Jose Cuervo Tradicional

1 Part Freshly Squeezed Lime Juice

Sugar to taste

Wet the rim of a cocktail glass with lime juice and dip into salt. Fill a shaker with ice. Combine all ingredients. Shake and pour into the glass. Garnish with a lime wedge.

Tweety Caught Snacking in Time Square

What’s light, airy and the talk of the town in New York? Tweety of course! And like any celebrity, this little birdie is attracted to things on a similar playing field, which is why our lovely yellow friend dove nose first into the delicious Fage Yogurt in Time Square. This Greek all natural strained yogurt is so velvety thick that Tweety’s salivating peek got stuck while partaking in this dairy indulgence. Don’t worry Tweety, millions of loving fans have sat back and watched while you were the center of Sylvester’s snacking appetite, it is only fair that you get your chance to be seen snacking in public. Plus you have a cute tush!

Check out the great nutrition facts for this tasty treat by clicking on the yogurt above!

Tweety's Chanukah Sendoff

We bring you a very special Chanukah edition of our Tweety Weekend Cocktail sendoff.  The miracle of Chanukah is celebrated by lighting candles for eight days. To celebrate this day Tweety and all her Jewish birdie buddies have a martini with extra olives to symbolize the olive oil that miraculously allowed the Chanukah candles burn for eight nights straight.  Paired with this martini, Tweety indulges in a very classic Chanukah treat – Potato pancakes called latkes.   Ok, so Tweety is not Jewish, but these oil drenched indulgences are also in the lovely yellow hue our birdie is so fond of.  Fry up these tasty treats, and kick them back with this classic martini, to get your weekend off to a festive start. 

Quick Potato and Carrot Latkes
Recipe care of Rachel Ray

(24-ounce) bag shredded potatoes for hash browns
1 large carrot, peeled
1 medium onion, peeled
2 eggs, beaten
2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon baking powder
3 tablespoons matzo meal, cracker meal or all-purpose flour
Vegetable oil, for frying
2 cups chunky apple sauce
1 cinnamon stick
1 cup sour cream
Heat 1/2-inch oil in a large skillet over medium to medium high heat. To test oil, add a piece of bread to the pan. It should turn golden brown in a ten-count. Adjust heat, as necessary.
Place potatoes in a large bowl. Using a hand grater, grate the carrot and onion into the bowl. Add eggs to the bowl. Add salt and baking powder, then sprinkle in meal or flour. Combine vegetables and meal with a wooden spoon.
Drop mixture into oil in 3-inch mounds, press down gently with spatula to form patties. Fry in batches of 4 to 6 patties depending on the size of your skillet, 1-inch apart, until golden, about 3 minutes on each side. Put chunky applesauce and the cinnamon stick in a saucepan over medium heat and warm for 3 to 4 minutes. Drain latkes on paper towels or parchment lined tray. Serve with warm applesauce and sour cream.

Absolute Martini Recipe
Recipe care of Swank Martini

5 parts vodka
1 part triple sec
2 parts fresh lemon juice
1 dash orange bitters
Combine all ingredients in a cocktail shaker with cracked ice and shake well. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass.