Sunday, December 21, 2008

Pond Scum Martinis and Good Students

Shortly after decorating the gingerbread house my son walked in the house with this:

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It's called Green Machine Naked, All Natural Superfood - 100% Juice Smoothie. The ingredients include: apple juice, mango puree, pineapple juice, banana puree, kiwi puree, spirulina (?), chlorella, broccoli, spinach, barley grass, wheat grass, parsley, ginger root, blue green algae & odorless garlic. Whew.

Here's what that means colorwise:

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Yes, it's that green. I figured the only way I could quaff this down would be to mix it with some gin and call it a martini.

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And so, the Pond Scum Martini was born.

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It tasted pretty good but perhaps it was simply because I was in dire need of an adult beverage.

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I'd like to thank everyone who joined me for the tutorial this week, and especially to Vee from A Haven for Vee who baked and decorated along with me.

Yesterday in a blog comment she said, " Thanks so much for all the fun this week. I'm seriously telling you that when I think of this Christmas, my first Christmas with John, a lot of the fun memories are going to be around this little gingerbread house."

And that was the intention of Chef Alain Roby and his wife Esther when they put together the First Annual Gingerbread House Contest in Geneva, Illinois in 2006. I was inspired to give it a try and was hooked on the process of creating gingerbread structures. The second year of the contest had terrific response with a huge number of entries. Many families joined together in the design, planning and execution of the houses. My son and I worked together and took third place.

We were all disappointed this year when the Roby's had to take a pass due to professional commitments. What I didn't know until last night was that the traditional weekend of the contest he was in Hong Kong creating this 22 foot structure out of chocolate, thus winning a third world's record.

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His other records include a sugar creation at the Mall of America in conjunction with the Food Network, and a 20 ft. structure that was deemed by the Guinness Book of World Records to be the world's tallest chocolate structure.

To everyone who participated this week, the Roby's would be very proud to know that their intentions have been fulfilled.

Thanks everyone!

6 comments:

FarmHouse Style said...

Oh, but you are a brave girl! I'm not sure I could hold that down, no matter how much gin was added, LOL :-)

It is probably good for you, but I just couldn't get past the color.

The chocolate structure is simply AMAZING!!

Rhonda

Vee said...

Oh wow! That chocolate Christmas tree is incredible. I do not aspire to heights so grand, but I can honestly say that I'd like to do another...next year. And next year, I'll have a proper pastry bag and some proper tips. My little house is definitely rustic. :D

There was a point when I could've drained a martini glass despite the loathesome color. Yours sounds so very healthful! LOL!

PatQ said...

That's a drink I could live without!

Ritch in Love said...

Naked drinks are sooooo yummy!

Abbie said...

Hi Suzanne,
Oh, my. I don't drink and I'm pretty sure I won't start with that one. lol! what a color! :)Love the gingerbread house! You are so clever!! I am going to make one tomorrow with the kiddos (a house not a mixed drink, although.. it might helo me survive the hosue making fun) but I cheated and bought a kit from Walmart. I know, shame on me. :)
Hope you and yours are cozy and happy. We are buried under 2 feet of snow and it's still coming down.
xoxo~
Abbie

Sara's Sweet Surprise said...

Cheers, to the creation of the pond scum martini. I would imagine they get better tasting after the first glass. It gives me a new outlook on my green veggie juice from (Trader Joes). It's green too. With all the food dyes availble you'd think they could camouflage the color. Did somebody really think when we saw the moss color we'd think oh, yum, let me at it...not without gin or rum!

This was my first visit through your blog from another.

Sweet Christmas Wishes,
Sara