Radish Cream Cheese Appetizers with Spring Cocktails

Light and refreshing are two adjectives that describe Spring. Peppery radish appetizers paired with a citrus Vodka Collins and you have a perfect end to a Spring day spent outside. Appetizers are often putzy, but these were pretty easy, and ever-so-tasty.

Vodka Collins for Spring

So this Spring cocktail was made in honor of Earth Day (see video below for the hands-on tutorial). To me, a refreshing cocktail means effervescence (bubbles in other words), and I really like the slight bitterness of tonic, so this version of a vodka collins is the drink that suited my idea of a hopeful Spring day.

Ingredients: (Recipe is in ratios so you can make a pitcher or one drink)

• 2 parts Lemon Vodka
• 1 part Cinnamon Vanilla Syrup (or any simple syrup)
• 1/2 part Limoncello
• 1 large lemon wedge
• 4 parts tonic water

Preparation: (see video below for a how-to tutorial)

1. Fill a tall glass with ice (spherical ice molds make a great “earth-shaped” ice cube)
2. Add the vodka, the syrup, the Limoncello.  Squeeze in the lemon juice from the wedge.  Add the tonic water
3. Stir gently until well mixed
4. Garnish with a lemon wheel and/or a sprig of mint leaves.

Earth Day Grasshopper Cocktail:

In the search for a “green” cocktail for Earth Day, the classic Grasshopper came to mind. It is more of an after-dinner dessert drink, so maybe sip and enjoy in the evening after a rigorous day of planting.  

This old fashioned classic cocktail is traditionally made with equal parts of Creme de Menthe, Creme de Cacao, and heavy cream.  I substituted the Cinnamon-Vanilla-Star Anise syrup for the Creme de Cacao, kept the green mint flavor of the Creme de Menthe, and then added a bit of lemon vodka to give it a fresh Spring kick.

Preparation:

• 1 part Creme de Menthe
• 1 part Cinnamon Vanilla Syrup (or your own simple syrup)
• 1 part lemon Vodka
• 1 part heavy cream

1. Measure each ingredient into a cocktail shaker filled with ice cubes
2. Shake well (for about 30 seconds)
3. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass
4. Garnish with grated chocolate if desired

Another Spring Celebration – Kentucky Derby!

Another Spring celebration right around the corner from Earth Day is the Kentucky Derby! Check out these Mint Juleps and Cheese Straws for your Kentucky Derby party.

Spring Radish Cream Cheese Appetizer

Radishes are one of the first things to come up in the spring and their spicy undertones and crunch enhance the rich creaminess of the cream chees.

5 from 1 vote

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 15 mins

Cook Time 0 mins

Servings 4

Calories 237

Author Dorothy Stainbrook

Ingredients

1x2x3x

• 4 Tbsp butter 1/2 stick (softened)
• 4 oz cream cheese Softened
• 5 medium radish thinly sliced
• 2-4 Tbsp scallions or chives minced
• salt to taste optional
• 2 slices bread soft white bread or pumpernickle bread is good

Instructions

 

• Leave the butter and cream cheese on the counter for a while to soften (do not melt the butter – let it soften on its own)
• In a small bowl, cream together the soften butter and cream cheese
• Slice the radishes as thinly as possible (a mandolin works well here, but you can do it by hand also). Mince the green onion or chives into small pieces. Cut the crusts off of the bread slices and cut slices into small rectangles.
• Assemble the appetizer: spread the butter mixture thickly on the bread, add 3 radish slices, sprinkle with chopped green onion, and arrange in a geometric pattern for fun.

Nutrition

Calories: 237kcalCarbohydrates: 8gProtein: 3gFat: 22gSaturated Fat: 13gCholesterol: 62mgSodium: 267mgPotassium: 76mgFiber: 1gSugar: 2gVitamin A: 736IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 51mgIron: 1mg

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Here’s a video of the drink preparation at the farm. **NOTE: I used different syrups in the video, but everything else is the same.

Enjoy!!!