Cocktails of Note: Thanksgiving Martini

Thanksgiving is the time of year when we get together to thank our Creator for the many blessings He has bestowed upon us:  freedom, family, friends, food, farfegnugen (I'm not really grateful for that, it's just one of my favorite words that start with F.  I know most of you were thinking of some other word that starts with F, and your allowed to be grateful for that too.  If you're a guy, it's pretty much a given.  We're talking about Falafel, right?)

However, amidst all the things we express our gratitude for, there is one thing that anyone trying to create the "perfect" Thanksgiving Meal is grateful for: BOOZE.  (Wow, two posts and I've already degenerated to making jokes about sex and alcohol.)

So in honor of the forthcoming holiday, I offer unto you, gentle blog readers--

THE PUMPKIN DIVINE MARTINI

Equipment:  Stainless Steel Cocktail Shaker and Martini Glass

Ingredients:
1 1/2  oz (a full shot glass is 1.5 oz, that's to the brim) Pear Vodka (Smirnoff runs about $12 a fifth, but you can use Absolut, Grey Goose La Poire, or infuse your own.)
3/4 oz Pumpkin Butter (Try Trader Joe's or Whole Foods)
1/2 oz Triple Sec
1/2 oz Simple Syrup
Spices: Pinch of Cinnamon, clove & ginger (all ground)
Garnish: Apple chip and a pinch of ground nutmeg

In a cocktail shaker filled with ice add all ingredients. Shake vigorously until the outside of the shaker is frosted and beaded with sweat. Strain into a martini glass. Garnish with nutmeg and apple chip.

This martini is creamy (there's BUTTER IN IT!) and sweet (Simple sugar is 1 part water and 1 part sugar), and the pumpkin flavor is strong!  I recommend this with appetizers as you'll probably be drinking a nice Zin with your Turkey (Yeah, I just went wine-snobby.  I'll do my best to keep that at a minimum).  The other option is to finish everything and spend the rest of the evening nursing this cocktail as you lapse into a booze- and-triptophane induced Thanksgiving coma.

Enjoy.