Pumpkin Pie Martini

I recently was found by my old best friend from high school on facebook. She is one of the main people I had been searching for on there for a while. I knew she had been married but didn't know what her new last name was, and come to think of it I constantly searched for the name we called her in high school, not by her full name, which she uses as her display name. I guess it's more grown up to go by our full names vs. the nicknames our parents gave us isn't it? Needless to say I've had a blast catching up with her via messages and I really can't wait to get home for a visit and try to get together with her and her husband - we chat now like we never missed a beat and that makes me feel amazing!

We got discussing our favorite cocktails and drinks of choice and she told me she's an huge fan of martinis. Now truth be told - I never really thought about drinking martinis. You always see them in movies and the classic drink usually comes with olives. I can't stress enough how much I HATE olives. Pickles I love, pickled okra I can eat, but I will never be grown up enough to enjoy olives... ever! Now I do realize martinis now come in many fabulous flavors. Who could forget J.D.'s obsession with Appletinis on Scrubs? And I have tried a Cosmo for the sake of Sex and the City (hated it, the drink not the show or the movie, good God I love that show, and movie!) and I have tried a Chocolatetini - and it was good. Maybe it's the fact that most are made with vodka and I'm not a huge fan of the clear devil that is vodka... or maybe it was the fact that the drinks were just mixed so strong. I'm all for getting my moneys worth but please don't drop me to the ground on my first drink bartender!  In talking about favorite cocktails and seasons and how much my old bestie and I love anything that's made with pumpkin she told me I have to, HAVE TO try Pumpkin Martinis. Now I've seen a few recipes on line for these little puppies and there are many different versions from the straight Pumpkin Martini to the Pumpkin Pie martini. I have decided the PIE version will be more up my alley since it is indeed my favorite type of pie!

I found this recipe from my favorite food wheeling woman - Rachel Ray, on rachelraymag.com. Thank you Rachel!

  PUMPKIN PIE MARTINIS

INGREDIENTS:
Ice cubes
2 ounces (1/4 cup) vanilla vodka
2 ounces (1/4 cup) crème de cacao
1/4 cup heavy cream
1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
Whipped cream, for garnish





DIRECTIONS
Fill a cocktail shaker halfway with ice cubes. Add the vanilla vodka, crème de cacao, heavy cream and pumpkin pie spice and shake well.

Dip the rims of 2 martini glasses into a bowl of whipped cream. Strain the cocktail into the glasses.

Let me know if any of you try these - I'm thinking I might have to make them very soon!
HAPPY FALL!!! (It's Labor Day I can say that right?)