Gold Medal Caipirinhas Recipes

Steps:

• Quarter 1 lime lengthwise, then cut each quarter in half crosswise and divide pieces between 2 (6-ounce) glasses.
• Add 1 tablespoon sugar to each glass, then muddle lime pieces by pounding and pressing with a wooden spoon until sugar is dissolved. Fill each glass with ice and add 3 tablespoons (1 1/2 ounces) cachaça to each, stirring well. Make 6 more cocktails in same manner.

Steps:

• Combine the sugar, mint leaves and 3 cups pineapple chunks in a pitcher. Muddle with a wooden spoon until the sugar is dissolved and the pineapple is crushed. Stir in the remaining pineapple and the cachaca and refrigerate until cold, at least 30 minutes or up to 4 hours.
• Add 6 cups ice to the pitcher and stir vigorously. Divide among glasses and garnish with mint sprigs.

Steps:

• Whisk together the flour, baking powder and salt in a large bowl. Cream the butter and sugar in a large bowl with an electric mixer on medium for 3 minutes. Beat in the 2 beaten eggs and vanilla.
• Beat the flour mixture into the butter mixture 1 cup at a time. Divide the dough into 2 pieces and flatten them into neat rectangles about 3/4-inch thick. Wrap in plastic wrap and chill at least 3 hours.
• Set an oven rack in the middle of the oven. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line 2 cookie sheets with parchment. Working with 1 piece of dough at a time, remove the dough from the refrigerator and let it soften for about 10 minutes. Roll it out on a lightly-floured piece of parchment to 3/16-inch thick. Cut out rounds with a 3- to 3 1/4-inch cookie cutter and arrange them on the prepared cookie sheets at least 1 1/2 inches apart. Repeat with the second piece of dough, rerolling and cutting the scraps as necessary.
• To make ring imprints on the cookies, press the rim of a small glass or bowl (about 2 1/2-inches wide) halfway into each dough round. Freeze the cookies on the cookie sheets for 20 minutes. (This will help the cookies hold their imprints.)
• Combine the remaining egg with 6 drops of yellow food coloring and 1 teaspoon water. Whisk together with a fork to make an egg wash.
• At the top of each cookie, use a wide straw or the tip of a sharp paring knife to cut a circle or rectangle wide enough to thread a ribbon through. Working with 2 to 3 cookies at a time, lightly brush the rounds with egg wash (avoid the imprint) and sprinkle with the sanding sugar. Lightly tap each cookie on the counter to shake off excess (the frozen dough will be sturdy enough to withstand this).
• Bake the cookies until set and the edges are beginning to brown, 14 to 18 minutes, rotating the cookie sheets once. Transfer the sheets to a baking rack and cool the cookies completely on the sheets. (If the holes for the ribbon have closed up a bit, just cut away some of the dough with a paring knife while the cookies are still warm).
• Thread a yard of ribbon through each cookie and tie the ends.

Steps:

• Fill a cocktail shaker with ice. Add 1 ounce Goldschlager, 1 ounce dark rum, a squeeze of lemon juice and a dash of orange bitters. Shake, then strain into an ice-filled glass.

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Separate the beets from the greens. Set aside the greens. Place the beets on a large sheet of heavy-duty aluminum foil. Drizzle with 1 tablespoon oil, add the rosemary sprigs and season with salt and pepper. Fold the foil up and around the beets to create a closed packet and place on a rimmed baking sheet. Bake until tender, 1 hour. Open the packet carefully to release the steam, then refrigerate the packet for 2 hours or up to 3 days.
• Put the reserved beet greens (about 2 cups), basil leaves, walnuts, Parmesan, garlic, honey and lemon juice in a blender. Season with salt and pepper. Turn on the blender and drizzle in the 1 cup oil until smooth. If the pesto becomes too thick, add 1 tablespoon of water. Set aside.
• If using bacon, put the slices in a large cold skillet and cook over medium heat, flipping halfway through, until crispy, about 6 minutes total. Transfer to a plate and set aside.
• When the beets are chilled, discard the rosemary from the foil packet. Wearing food prep gloves, peel the skin from the chilled beets with a paring knife. Slice the beets into about twelve 1/2-inch-thick rounds (or gold medals). Any smaller pieces of the beets can also be used to make a slider, so do not discard. Slice the goat cheese into twelve 1/8-inch-thick rounds. Cut the bacon slices in half if using.
• Spread the pesto on the inside of the top and bottom of a slider bun. Place a few arugula leaves on the bottom bun and top with 1 beet round, 1 goat cheese round, half a piece of bacon if using, a drizzle of balsamic glaze and the top bun. Repeat with the remaining buns, pesto, arugula, beets, goat cheese and balsamic. Serve.

Steps:

• Put the lime wedges in a large jug with the sugar, then use a muddler or the end of a rolling pin to break them down. Release as much juice from the wedges as possible, and let it mix with the sugar to create a syrup - you can also do this with a large pestle and mortar. Discard the lime peel.
• Divide the syrup and cachaça between four glasses, then top with the crushed ice. Serve garnished with lime wedges, if you like.

Steps:

• Combine lime peel, lime juice, ginger, sugar, and 30 mint leaves in mortar or medium bowl. Using pestle, muddler, or handle of wooden spoon, crush lime peel, ginger, and mint leaves together. Transfer mixture to large pitcher. Stir in rum. DO AHEAD: Can be made 6 hours ahead. Cover and refrigerate.
• Add 3 cups ice cubes to lime mixture in pitcher and stir to blend. Stir in ginger beer. Fill 10 cocktail glasses with ice cubes. Strain or pour cocktail mixture into prepared glasses. Garnish each drink with mint sprig.