While thumbing through an in flight magazine on the red-eye to San Antonio a few years ago, I stumbled across this fabulous cocktail recipe — the Hooville Martini. Whoever thought of using Yoo-Hoo as a mixer is a genius.

The Hooville was created for the bar menu at the trendy Ketchup restaurant in L.A., which features classic comfort food dishes with a gourmet twist. Their drink list also features other memorable kid beverages, like Sunny D and Kool-Aid, updated into playful and creative cocktails. “The Hooville takes on the creamy and chocolatey Yoo-Hoo, but with added almond flavor, since what goes better with chocolate than almond? It’s a nutty, rich tasting cocktail that makes a really good after-dinner drink,” says Ketchup’s bar manager, Darius Karsas.

I also think this would make a great breakfast or brunch drink, like an adult chocolate milk with a little ‘hair of the dog’.

Recipe after the break:

For a fun flavor variations, why not use Kahlua or your favorite flavored liqueur in place of the amaretto? Or try it caffeinated by using espresso-flavored vodka, thus giving it a mocha-like taste.
The Hooville Martini
(makes one; recipe from Southwest Airlines Spirit, Feb. ’09)
1 3/4 ounce vodka
3/4 ounce amaretto liqueur
1 1/2 ounce Yoo-Hoo

Garnish:
Chocolate shavings (I used white and dark chocolate)
Hot cocoa mix, for rim

1.Combine vodka, amaretto and Yoo-hoo in an ice-filled cocktail shaker.
2. Shake vigorously and strain into a cocoa-rimmed martini glass.
3. Garnish with chocolate shavings.

This has also inspired me to think up more cocktails using kiddie-themed drinks:

• The Root Beer Float- Prepare a root beer float the old fashioned way, with the addition of a shot of dark rum poured over the ice cream before you add the soda.
• Ecto Cooler- Remember that flourescent green version of Hi-C inspired by the Ghostbusters movies? A friend of mine said the recipe for the adult version is to mix Midori and orange juice until you reach the desired color and flavor.
• Cereal Milk Martini (from this article)- made with Chambord, Frangelico, half and half, and garnished with Lucky Charms cereal. AWESOME!

Any other not-so-kiddie cocktail ideas? Please share!