Lonely Tarts Club: Libations, Love Potions and more!
Lonely Tarts Club
Being purveyors of good times here in Bellingham, we’ve compiled a list of suggestions to engage all your senses this St. Valentine’s Day! Whether your joining us for our Lonely Tart’s Club Virtual Valentine’s Event, or doing your own thing, read on for cocktail recipes from our own mix-mistress Sarah, our favorite take-out offerings around town, and a specially curated Valentine’s Day inspired playlist with songs of love and lament (and everything in-between).
DIY Love-Potions and Libations
delicious drink ideas easy to make at home!
Champagne
Nothing more classy than champagne on Valentine's day! Here are a couple ways to make it even more delightful!
Add juice (Orange, Cranberry, Pineapple, Peach, Pommegrante, Grapefruit, or a mix of any of these together)
Add fruit at the bottom (Raspberries or Strawberries) Halved strawberries look suspiciously like hearts!
Add a small scoop of raspberry or strawberry sorbet, pour champagne SLOWLY over it. It will dissolve into a cold, crisp drink in no time!
Blend it! Fill your blender halfway with ice. Pour juice and champagne just below the ice level. Hit the grate or grind button until nice and smooth! *
Helpful tips:
Pour juice into your glass first. When you go to pour the champagne, it will disperse more evenly.
Always pour champagne at an angle. Dumping it straight into the glass will cause more foam to arise. You want the champagne running down the side of the glass to the bottom.
*IF blending - do not fill blender to the TOP with ice and liquid! Champagne will bubble up a little bit when blended. The halfway point gives you space to mix. Filling it to the top might overflow it!
VALENTINE HOT COCOA
A nice, warm mug full of alcoholic chocolate! There are so many ways to spice up Hot Chocolate but here are my favorite ones!
Liquor to add in:
Baileys
Peppermint schnapps
Kahlua
Chocolate liqueur
Rumchata
Helpful tips:
Make hot cocoa how you normally would and just add booze. Keep in mind the temperature of the alcohol you put in. It may cool down your cocoa faster then you would like. You can always pop it in the microwave to reheat it but do not heat alcohol in with the milk or water.
Milk will make it more creamy but instant packets with water work fine too. Put two packets instead of one in to thicken it up!
Add whip cream, marshmallows, chocolate sprinkles or chocolate pirouettes to make it extra special
Red Wine Cocoa
Wine and chocolate all in one mug! And it’s surprisingly amazing!
INGREDIENTS:
1 1/2 cup milk
1 cup red wine
1/3 cup dark chocolate chunks
DIRECTIONS:
In a saucepan over medium heat, combine milk and chocolate chips. Whisking constantly until chocolate is melted into milk and you have a thick and creamy chocolate milk. Pour in red wine and heat until everything is hot. Should make two mugs worth!
Helpful hints:
Which red wine you choose is a matter of preference. Cabernet and Merlot are solid choices but feel free to experiment with other reds.
You can microwave the milk and chocolate instead of the stovetop but make sure its stirred well.
Prepackaged Chocolate chips melt differently then baking chocolate bars. You can find baking chocolate usually above the chocolate chips at the grocery store. The bars melt more smoothly and mix in better with other ingredients.
Dirty Shirley
Shirley Temple with a kick!
Ingredients
1 and ½ shot vodka
¾ shot grenadine
Lemon/ lime soda pop or club soda (sweet or not as sweet)
Lemon wedge
Maraschino cherries
Directions
Pour vodka and grenadine in a shaker, squeeze lemon juice in from wedge and mix it up
Dump into glass of ice and fill it up with soda.
Top with cherries
Helpful tips:
Do not put soda in the shaker when mixing. It is carbonated and will explode upon shaking. Always add after.
Try flavored vodka instead of plain vodka! Lemon, raspberry, or vanilla work great!
Pink Lemonade
When life gives you lemons.. and a bottle of vodka!
Ingredients:
1 and ½ shot vodka
2 lemon wedges
Cranberry juice
Lemon/lime soda pop or club soda (sweet or not as sweet)
Lemonade ( Standard or pink depending on preference)
Directions:
Muddle or squeeze lemons into a cocktail shaker. Pour vodka in and shake away!
Pour vodka into glass with ice and use equal parts soda and lemonade.
Dash a splash of cranberry on top and enjoy!
Helpful hints:
You can do all of this in a glass without the cocktail shaker, just stir well
Trade out vodka for a flavored variety. Raspberry, peach, and cherry all work well!
Titillating Take Out Offerings
These drink options around town are perfect for anyone who’d like to sit back, relax, and take the prep time out of your night. It’s no secret that Bellingham has a lot of great boozey options; here’s a few we love.
Be sure to order ahead as some will sell out or may not be open on Sunday!
Redlight is one of our favorite go-to spots with amazing take-out options! https://www.redlightathome.com/s/order
Try “Palomas por mi Amante” from Black Sheep (translated: pigeons for my love - so Bellingham!) https://blacksheep.hrpos.heartland.us/menu
Old World Deli has some majorly fancy wines, and desserts! https://shop.oldworldbellingham.com/collections/valentines-day-dinner
Loving and Love-lorn Listenings
So many L’s! We love alliteration. But who doesn’t love to jam out with their ham out? Or is it jamming out in the ‘Ham? Wherever you’re jamming, enjoy our specially curated Valentine’s Day inspired playlist of songs from all decades!
On Spotify: Click Here
On Youtube: Click Here
And remember, you don’t have to be lonely or a tart to join us in this celebration of our love for Bellingham history… but we won’t hold it against you! ;-) For more info on our event click here: