Hot food, cool drink

Last week I went to Louisville to see my niece ride barrels and poles at the Kentucky State Fair. On the way I stopped at the Brown Hotel to try their Hot Brown with a glass of Russell's Reserve. Delicious!

And because you can have too many pickles, I recently made my sister's Cucumber Martinis (recipe for 2):

First make the syrup. Dissolve 1 cup sugar in 1 cup hot water, throw in mint leaves and stems, let cool. Puree cucumbers (seeded, skins optional) in blender or food processor and strain. Shake in a shaker with ice. Enjoy your veggies!

6 oz gin
1 oz sake
4 oz cucumber juice
1 oz minted syrup
juice from 1 lime

Sister also says you can lose the sake and use basil instead of mint for a Basil Gimlet.