Pear Martini ~ August 30, 2007

Last night's Martini Night was a rather special one: Jon and I received the keys to our new home last night and while the closing is Tuesday, September 4th, we are now officially home owners! In honor of this milestone, Art made a lovely toast to Jon and I and our new abode. He also offered a rather comic explanation as to why he and Sharon moved to Salem. Salem is in essence the word salami without the "e" sound at the end and we all know how much Art loves salami. Needless to say, he got a weak laugh and an eyeroll or two...haha! We also had a special guest this week, Uncle John. He was rather enthuisiastic about being able to be a part of this newly- formed tradition.

This week we tried the pear martini. It was interesting, needed doctoring, overall not the best martini any of us had ever tasted. Food accompanying the martini was delicious! We had steak cut into strips, pear salad and ciabatta bread.

The Pear Martini

2 oz pear vodka

Splash of grapefruit juice

Squeeze of lime juice

Combine with ice in shaker and mix. Wet top of martini glass and coat rim with sugar. Garnish with a pear slice.

Now right away, you might be thinking what I originally thought looking at this recipe...how does lime and grapefruit equal pear flavor? Well, it really doesn't. The following are all of the Falcone family's comments:

Jordan: Orange juice takes the funk away.

Matt: I can do without. (Then, after adding some sugar and orange juice) After all the doctoring up, it's at least drinkable.

Megan: (Makes a pucker face) It needs sugar, LOTS of sugar.

Jon: It needs lime juice and sugar on the rim instead of water and sugar...and maybe just have pear juice or nectar, no grapefruit juice.

Art: I think the sweeter it is, the better.

Sharon: I think I was the only one who enjoyed it but I think it was pretty good with extra sugar added.

Uncle John: Sharon, can I have more?

Of course, Matt consumed approximately half of his martini and was already tipsy (the martini was rather strong)....

Matt: Okay, it hit me.

Art: That's the thing about martinis.

Matt: What? You get to be hoity and sows'd (sauced with a rather funny pronunciation).

My grandmother's death this past Saturday seemed to have Art pondering what would be said at his funeral. He made us promise that during his funeral service, we would mention Art's beautiful 55 year love affair with sopressata. I guess to fully appreciate the humor in that, you would have to know Art (or at least understand every Italian man's love affair with sausages, antipasto, sopressata and the like).

Next week, Jordan and I have been charged with finding a martini recipe. Jordan has already emailed me some fabulous recipes with a Flirtini, a Blind Kamikaze and a Foxy Squirrel martini (among others). Yummmm.....