Blue cheese-stuffed olives make a regular martini rich.
In a tight economy, you may hesitate when it comes to splurging on cocktails at a bar. Whether you're looking to cut costs or just trying to find a new way to be a great host, give dirty martinis with homemade blue cheese stuffed olives a try. The blue cheese-stuffed olives give the drink a rich touch, without breaking your budget. These will end up costing a fraction of what a lounge or bar would charge.
Instructions
1. For the martini, combine 3 oz. of gin, a dash of dry vermouth and a splash of olive brine from a jar of olives. Shake all ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice, then strain into long-stemmed martini glasses.
2. For the olives, drain one jar of pitted green olives, or remove only as many olives as you plan to use. Reserve the brine. Remove the pimentos, if they are present. Combine 1/2 cup of blue cheese with a clove of minced garlic and a little black pepper. For variation, mix the blue cheese with some cream cheese.
3. Fill each olive with the blue cheese mixture by using a pastry bag, or simply by placing the cheese in a plastic zip-top bag and cutting a corner off. Squeeze the mixture into the cavity of the olive. Return the olives to the jar and marinade in the reserved brine for at least a few hours, and up to a few days.
4. Serve the martinis very cold, garnished with one or two olives.
Tags: blue cheese, blue cheese with, cheese with, cheese-stuffed olives