Marcia Simmons
Serious Eats
Petaluma, CA, United States
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Past articles by Marcia:
DIY Ginger Liqueur Recipe
This homemade ginger liqueur tastes so elegant that people will not believe you made it yourself. It can compete with Domaine de Canton on flavor—for less than half the cost and only 20 minutes of work. → Read More
Orgeat Recipe
Orgeat (pronounced "or-zsa," like Zsa Zsa Gabor) is like liquid marzipan. While it's best known as a part of a good Mai Tai, this almond syrup is also an exotic substitute for simple syrup or grenadine in mixed drinks or a fun addition to pie fillings, milk shakes, and even coffee. → Read More
DIY Coffee Liqueur Recipe
DIY coffee liqueur tastes like like a fresh cup of coffee with added depth from rum and just enough sugar to make it great for sipping or mixing—or baking and dessert garnishing. The quick steeping time means no patience is required. → Read More
DIY Sour Mix Recipe
The true beauty of this homemade sour mix is having a fresh, versatile, and easy cocktail mixer for parties that's infinitely more delicious than store-bought mix. → Read More
DIY Orange Soda Recipe
DIY orange soda delivers the same satisfying combination of sweet and tart you get from the commercial version, but mixed in with the familiar sharpness and prickly joy of orange soda is a new and exciting flavor I wasn't used to tasting in my soda—real oranges. → Read More
DIY Elderflower Cordial Recipe
Elderflower cordial perks up a drink by adding a little sweetness and a light floral touch. For less than a dollar, you can make a delicious elderflower mixer that tastes a bit like a lemon bar mixed with a light, floral tea. → Read More
DIY Rhubarb Bitters Recipe
It's rhubarb season, so those gorgeous magenta stalks are popping up at farmers markets and grocery stores around the country. Rhubarb bitters pair well with every spirit and complement sweet, sour, and bitter flavors alike. → Read More
DIY Sugar Cubes Recipe
Sugar is just more fun in cube form. But what's really exciting about DIY sugar cubes is that you can make them in any flavor you want, so consider this recipe just a starting point. → Read More
DIY Pimm's Recipe
If the urge for a Pimm's strikes you, it is ridiculously easy to make a DIY version with ingredients you probably already have at home. If you want to play with the flavor profile, add a little sherry to give it a sweeter touch or a little Campari to accentuate the bitterness. Add a little simple syrup and fresh herbs to play up the sweet, summery flavor or increase the amount of gin to up the… → Read More
DIY Gin Recipe
When it comes down to it, gin is basically a neutral spirit flavored with juniper berries and a bunch of other stuff. So while it might seem like putting a bunch of berries and herbs in vodka couldn't possibly result in a drinkable gin, you definitely can make a gin just as complex and delicious as what you'll find at the liquor store. → Read More
DIY Cranberry Liqueur Recipe
When life gives you cranberries—which it always does this time of year—make cranberry liqueur. This bright red, tart liqueur can keep you in festive cocktails from Thanksgiving to Christmas and beyond. → Read More
DIY Mole Bitters Recipe
The exotic combination of chile and chocolate in these mole bitters is a perfect addition to cocktails made with tequila, mezcal, or dark rum. → Read More
DIY Irish Cream Recipe
Irish cream is irresistible. It's creamy and sweet with just the right whiskey kick. The best part about making your own is that you're in control of the flavor. Feel free to play around a bit with the recipe. → Read More
DIY Aquavit Recipe
Aquavit is a Scandinavian spirit that dates back to the 1500s. Much like gin, it's a neutral spirit flavored with botanicals—only caraway seed is the primary flavoring instead of juniper berries. Use aquavit instead of vodka in a cocktail recipe to add a bold and savory kick. → Read More
DIY Grapefruit Bitters Recipe
Grapefruit bitters do double duty, giving a cocktail a little citrus lift along with the bitterness. These bitters go especially well with effervescent drinks or tequila and gin cocktails. → Read More
DIY Chocolate Liqueur Recipe
Delicately sweet with a hint of bitterness, a homemade chocolate liqueur made with cacao nibs is like an expensive dark chocolate bar in your drink instead of like a jigger of Nestle Quik. → Read More
DIY Creme de Menthe Recipe
Homemade creme de menthe tastes and smells like fresh mint. It completely blows away the commercial stuff, and it's totally simple to make. → Read More
DIY Orange Bitters Recipe
Just a drop or two of orange bitters can add the right depth to your cocktail or bridge together ingredients that aren't quite living up to their mixological potential. Deep, citrusy, spicy, complex orange bitters are an essential part of so many balanced cocktails. The beauty of DIY bitters is unleashing your creativity and crafting bitters that you can't find anywhere else. I emphasized anise,… → Read More
DIY Ginger Liqueur Recipe
This homemade ginger liqueur tastes so elegant that people will not believe you made it yourself. It can compete with Domaine de Canton on flavor—for less than half the cost and only 20 minutes of work. → Read More
DIY Orange Liqueur Recipe
It's impossible to have a well-stocked bar without orange liqueur, also known as curaçao or triple sec. It would be quicker to list cocktails that don't contain orange liqueur than to list the ones that do. Top-shelf brands like Grand Marnier and Cointreau are a little pricey, while the bottom-shelf options can drag a good drink into the gutter fast. But homemade orange liqueur is just… → Read More