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Cosmopolitan recipe: How to make a Cosmo – Mixologist shares secret tips

The Cosmopolitan, often referred to as a Cosmo, is a cocktail usually served in a martini glass and made with vodka, triple sec, cranberry juice, and freshly squeezed or sweetened lime juice. One claimant to be the creator of the Cosmo is bartender Neal Murray who says he first created the Cosmopolitano in 1975 at the Cork & Cleaver Steak House in Minneapolis. According to Murray, he added a splash of cranberry juice to a Kamikaze and the first taster declared, “How cosmopolitan” leading to the naming of the new beverage.

However, the origins of the popular drink are hotly contested – with many claiming the beverage is their creation.

But wherever it really did come from, the delicious drink gained popularity quickly.

The love of the Cosmo soared thanks to Sex and the City, where Sarah Jessica Parker’s character, Carrie Bradshaw, commonly ordered the drink when out with her girlfriends.

Want to learn how to make one at home? Express.co.uk spoke to a mixologist to find the best Cosmo recipe.

How to make a Cosmopolitan

Jim and Tonic’s Head Bartender & Mixologist Seb Stefan explains exactly how you can make a Cosmo at home.

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Ingredients:

  • 35ml Vodka or Citrus Vodka
  • 20ml Triple Sec
  • 1 Lime or 20ml of fresh lime juice
  • 35ml cranberry juice
  • Ice
  • Orange (peel to garnish)
  • A 3-part cocktail shaker kit is recommended for best results (also known as a Parisian or Manhattan shaker).

Method:

1. Pour the vodka, triple sec, lime juice and cranberry juice into the tin and then fill hallway with ice. Close the lids and shake until the outside of the tin gets frosty.

Tip: If you don’t have a cocktail shaker you can use a clean jam jar. Close the lid tightly before shaking and strain with a tea strainer.

2. Once done remove the small top lid and strain the liquid straight it into your martini / cocktail glass.

3. Peel a thin strip of orange with a knife or peeler. To garnish give the peel a twist and drop into top of the drink.

Seb said: “Our version of the Cosmo, the ‘Cosmopolitano’, which appears on our Grand Central themed cocktail bar at Mercato Metropolitano, the sustainable community food market where our distillery and bar are based.

“We substitute the Triple Sec for an equal measure of Amaretto, which delivers a sweeter taste in-keeping with the Italian heritage of the market.”

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Jim and Tonic offer a Thursday to Sunday home delivery service within London zones 1 to 3 where you can order pre-batch bottles of their Cosmo cocktail alongside 7 other classic and signature freshly made read-made cocktails.

J&T founder Jim said: “The spirit that we produce and use to make our Cosmo is a perfect example of the reduce, reuse and regenerate methods that we practice as a sustainable distillery.

“We create the vodka by re-distilling the gin that doesn’t make it into our final gin product and carbon filter it to extract any remaining juniper flavours.

“The Triple Sec that we use is also made by macerating and then distilling waste citrus peels from our bars so we reuse as many waste and by-products as we can.”

There’s a whole host of variations of the Cosmopolitan you can try.

One easy variation calls for stirring in a mixing glass, instead of shaking.

While a virgin cosmopolitan replaces the vodka and triple sec with orange juice and pink lemonade.

The Real Housewives of New Jersey star Kathy Wakile created a Red Velvet Cosmo, based on one of her favourite desserts, red velvet cake.

She later created the ready-to-pour cocktail, Red Velvet Cosmo, which won a medal in a national tasting competition.

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Man City eye transfer swoop for Barcelona’s Nelson Semedo to ramp up pressure on Covidiot Kyle Walker – The Sun

PEP GUARDIOLA sees Barcelona full-back Nelson Semedo as an ideal option to turn up the heat on Kyle Walker.

Manchester City are eyeing up the Portuguese defender and could offer his countryman Joao Cancelo in a swap deal.

Guardiola hoped the 26-year-old £60million signing from Juventus last summer would provide the competition which he believes Walker needs.

But it has not worked out for Cancelo – as he started just eight Premier League matches before the competition was halted.

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Walker is waiting to be disciplined by the club – who said they were disappointed with him for breaking lockdown rules by inviting call girls to his flat last month.

He is not expected to be sold despite his conduct but Guardiola is hoping he will have to battle for his place in the side next season.

City are looking around at their options and are aware that Semedo could be available due to Barca’s financial difficulties.

The Etihad giants are being cautious with their own summer plans due to the impact of the coronavirus and the threat of a Champions League ban hanging over them.

However, the possibility of a swap deal with the Catalan giants is something that could appeal to both parties.

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Tui customers can now apply for cash refunds for cancelled holidays as airline apologies for delays

HUNDREDS of thousands of Tui customers can now apply for cash refunds for cancelled holidays.

The airline apologised to customers for not processing refunds quick enough after it was forced to cancel 900,000 holidays due to coronavirus.

Frustrated customers have been unable to contact Tui's customer service staff in order to get a refund or make amendments to their holiday plans, with many being offered vouchers instead.

While thousands of customers were also asked to keep paying for holidays that may be cancelled or face losing hundreds of pounds worth of deposits.

But Tui has now created a page on its website for customers who have cancelled holidays booked before June 11 to claim a cash refund automatically.

They can also choose to rebook with a 20 per cent discount or take a "credit" option to book at a later date.

While those who have holidays booked until August 31 are able to make changes free of charge until June 30.

Tui boss Andrew Flintham said: “We know we haven’t got it right; we’re doing everything we can to make things better and we’re sorry for the frustration felt by our customers.

"Taking people on incredible holidays is what we do best, but we’ve struggled to get the right systems in place to support our customers now that we can’t take them on holiday, especially at the speed of change we’ve faced in recent weeks."

Travel: What are your rights to a refund?

MILLIONS of Brits have had holiday plans cancelled.

Firstly, speak to your airline or holiday firm about a refund or rearranging your plans.

You are entitled to a refund if they've cancelled your holiday but many have large delays or may offer vouchers instead.

As the FCO is advising against all but essential international travel, you may also be covered by your travel insurance if TUI is not helping you.

Keep in mind the travel insurance must have been taken out before the FCO advice changed, otherwise you won't be covered.

If you don't have travel insurance, you may be able to claim your money back through your credit or debit card provider.

Credit card payments between £100 and £30,000 are covered under Section 75 of the Consumer Rights Act.

To start a claim, you need to contact your credit card provider directly – Which? has a free tool that can help you do this.

“We recognise the situation around travel this summer remains unclear and there’s still a lot of uncertainty around when we will all be able to travel again, and some customers may not wish to pay a final balance with so many unknowns."

“We’d like to sincerely apologise to our customers impacted by delays to refunds and the length of time it’s taken.

"We really look forward to taking people on holiday again as soon as we’re able to do."

Tui has cancelled holidays up until June 11, with cruises put on hold until at least July.

Although, the travel firm hopes to restart this summer – despite MPs claiming a trip abroad is unlikely.

The boss of Visit Britain today claimed that Brits should be given cash to spend their holidays in the UK this summer.

Travellers face 14 day quarantine checks and £1,000 fines when they return from abroad.

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Boy, 15, transforms bedroom for £200 – using buys from B&Q and eBay

Boy, 15, transforms his dark bedroom into a stylish haven with an on-trend marble theme for just £200 – using products from B&Q and eBay

  • Kane Hardy, 15, from Norfolk, decided to change up bedroom under lockdown
  • Creative teen upcycled old furniture and even blinged up a dated chandelier
  • Kane sourced the bargain products for his new room from likes of B&M and eBay

A teen design-whizz has proved how people of all ages and experiences can transform their home during lockdown.

Kane Hardy, 15, from Kings Lynn, Norfolk, decided to give his previously dark bedroom a new luxurious style using products from the likes of B&M and eBay – and he did it for under £200.

The teen glossed his furniture, added lots of bling to his room and even created designer coffee table books.

‘I have always wanted to be an interior designer and study design – it’s just always something I have had such a passion for,’ he said, speaking to money-saving community LatestDeals.co.uk. 

Kane Hardy, 15, from Kings Lynn, Norfolk, decided to transform his previously dark bedroom during lockdown. Pictured, before

The teen gave his room a new luxurious feel for just £200 – using buys from the likes of B&M and eBay. Pictured, after the transformation

Creative Kane (pictured) said he has always wanted to be an interior designer and study design – adding it’s something he’s always had such a passion for

‘I came up with the final design and style as the last design for my room that I did, I just wasn’t 100% satisfied with.

‘I liked it but it just wasn’t the style for me anymore. With being stuck inside, I was constantly wanting to design and decorate something and I just thought to myself, ‘why not change my room again?’.

Prior to the transformation, Kane’s room had light grey walls, dark grey and silver striped wallpaper, and mustard accessories – and so it was quite a change going from dark walls to pure white.

‘I did a few small up-cycling projects with some of the decor, like glossing my bedside tables, the fireplace, an old pine coffee table,’ he explained. ‘I even glossed and blinged up an old chandelier.’ 

The savvy 15-year-old spent £200 on paint, wallpaper, bling ornaments, clock, photo frames, shelf and accessories to transform his bedroom. Pictured, before the transformation

The teen glossed his furniture, added lots of bling to his room and even created designer coffee table books (pictured)

‘I would definitely not advise people to use chalk furniture paint as it chips and scratches so easily. Gloss is definitely so much more hard-wearing. I used Dulux High Gloss from Wickes.

‘I spent £200 on the paint, wallpaper, bling ornaments, clock, photo frames, shelf and accessories.

‘The wallpaper cost £30, the paint was £15, the clock was £10, the gloss was £15, the curtain and lights were around £25, and the rest was spent on the bling accessories.

‘The white and marble drawers were originally matte black, with black gloss effect fronts. I sanded them down lightly, glossed them and then wallpapered the front.

‘I made the books by covering the front of them with card, and adding some bling bits and some designer logos, printed from online, and the LV print was from Google and I hand stuck each diamond on it.

Kane advised DIY fans to use gloss rather than chalk furniture paint – because the latter chips and scratches easily. Pictured, the marble table

The teen is Kane delighted with how his room has turned out, and says the transformation has been the perfect lockdown project. Pictured, after

Kane (pictured) by the books on the table by covering the front of them with card, and adding some bling bits and some designer logos, printed from online

He continued: ‘I also glossed the chandelier by lightly sanding down the plastic, wiping it down and then glossing over it. Then I added some bling strips and some new chandelier diamonds bought from ebay.

‘I got a lot of the items from places that are still open, like B&M and Wickes, and ordered things when I could.’

Kane is delighted with how his room has turned out, and says the transformation has been the perfect lockdown project.

‘I am in love with my room and I am so so glad that I did decide to change it,’ he added.

Prior to the transformation, Kane’s room had light grey walls, dark grey and silver striped wallpaper, and mustard accessories (pictured, before)

Kane added that he is ‘in love’ with his room and is so pleased that he decided to change it. Pictured, the stylish fireplace

‘I think that this project definitely helped me during these very sad times that we are in right now, as it helped me take my mind off of things, and gave me something to do and to look forward to seeing the finished piece.

‘The rough overall price for the whole transformation (including bling ornaments) came to about £200, and it’s entirely worth it. I am completely over the moon with it!’

Tom Church, co-founder of LatestDeals.co.uk, commented: ‘Kane is an interior design prodigy! This is the kind of room I expect to see inside a glossy magazine. That he’s done it for £200 is fantastic, and with upcycling too.

‘Many of us are sitting at home twiddling our thumbs during lockdown, so what better time to get stuck into a home improvement project?

‘Kane’s creativity is obvious in the amazing before and after shots of his bedroom. He should be very proud.’

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Barcelona target shock Juan Foyth transfer after Tottenham offer out-of-favour defender to other clubs – The Sun

BARCELONA have emerged as shock contenders to sign out-of-favour Tottenham Hotspur defender Juan Foyth, according to reports.

The 22-year-old was highly-rated by former manager Mauricio Pochettino in North London.

But since Jose Mourinho's arrival, the ten-cap Argentina international has struggled to even make the substitutes' bench – falling behind Japhet Tanganga in the pecking order.

Having suffered an ankle injury in pre-season, Foyth had just returned to full fitness when Pochettino was axed – featuring in his compatriot's final three games in charge.

But he has only featured three times since – being completely cast aside by Mourinho following a mistake against Norwich City in December, after which the young centre-back was substituted at half-time.

According to the Mirror, LaLiga champions Barcelona could rescue Foyth from his spell on the Spurs sidelines, seeing him as a cheap replacement for the seemingly outgoing Samuel Umtiti and Jean-Clair Todibo.

A brave and talented distributor, Foyth would fit in to Barcelona's traditional style of play.

But his young career has been unfortunately littered with costly errors, having given away a number of goals – as well as being red carded at Bournemouth last season as a substitute.

Having made only 32 appearances since moving to North London from Estudiantes in 2017, however, he has been unable to sustain a run of games in which to iron out his mistakes.

And if they (Tottenham) won’t count on me, the best thing will be to find another club.

And in the hunt for first-team football, he recently admitted that he could depart.

He said: "You always want to play to feel like a player and feel good. It isn’t easy not to play either.

"But I don’t know, we have to wait now for the transfer window to open.

"If I am going to have opportunities here, I will be very comfortable. And if they won’t count on me, the best thing will be to find another club.

"I would like to stay in Europe, all leagues have a high level.

"My wish is to play at the highest level as long as I can. The main thing is to play."

Barcelona are set for a busy summer, in which they have to carefully juggle their finances in order to afford all of their key targets.

Neymar and Lautaro Martinez are believed to be at the top of their wishlist – while Foyth's team-mate Tanguy Ndombele is also on their radar.

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The Best Outdoor Trash Cans for Your Patio

Let’s be honest, outdoor trash cans are not exactly chic, but you can certainly upgrade a standard green or otherwise eyesore of a color with something more neutral. Trash isn’t something you want to be the center of attention in any case, but luckily outside you can most likely store your trash can to the side of your house or in the garage for safe keeping. However, there are some stylish outdoor trash cans that blend in with your regular patio furniture, so you’d never know what’s inside (OK, maybe a little bit of an idea but you get the point).

Your first priority when picking out an outdoor trash can is going to be the quality and capacity. After all, you need a trash can to hold everything until trash pick up the following week, so it can’t be short on space. Color is another top feature you’ll want to consider since it’s your chance to spiff things up in the backyard. So whether you want to go with a more traditional one in a solid black color or perhaps mix it up with a resin trash can, there are plenty of options to choose from. Below, we’ve rounded up the best outdoor trash cans to keep your garbage out of sight and out of mind.

1. Toter Trash Can

If you just want a heavy duty outdoor trash can in a more neutral color than the colored one you might have at home, this more streamlined black version is a great option. This residential wheeled trash can is easy to move around the yard if you’re cleaning up the bushes or picking up trash, and the rugged wheels are easy to maneuver so you won’t put in a workout trying to move it around. The blackstone finish is made to last against normal wear and tear so you won’t have to replace it but every once in a blue moon.

2. Suncast Trash Can

This stylish resin outdoor trash can will give your ho-hum patio trash can a run for its money. Made to blend in with your elevated patio furniture, this trash can is meant to be used during outdoor BBQs and holds more standard, less bulky trash than your curbside trash can holds. However, at 33 gallons, it still has plenty of room for food remnants, plates, and more while you’re entertaining outside. The hinged lid allows easy access but keeps the trash contained so bugs can’t get to it. With durable resin, it will resist fading so you can use it for plenty of outdoor parties to come.

3. Rubbermaid Trash Can

For heavy-duty garbage needs, this commercial trash can saves the day. Made with the highest quality materials, it will take a lot to ruin this durable outdoor trash can. It will resist fading, warping, cracking, and more. With integrated clinches, it secures the liner so you don’t have to use knots to change the liner. Rounded handles make maneuvering it a breeze, and the reinforced base is made to be able to drag over rough surfaces. Best of all, the stackable design allows you to condense multiple trash cans when not in use so you can save valuable floor space.


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Where To Stream 4/20 Movies For Free: Jay & Silent Bob Reboot, Half Baked, And More

It’s 4/20, meaning once again the annual stoner holiday has arrived. This year, circumstances are a bit different and most people are social distancing at home, giving everyone plenty of time to celebrate with some of the best stoner movies ever made.

How do you watch them, though? Thankfully, many of the best movies you’d want to binge on 4/20 are available through various streaming services for free right now. Some of them require subscriptions, while others will let you watch with commercials.

From classics like Reefer Madness and Cheech & Chong’s Up in Smoke through recent entries in the stoner pantheon like Jay & Silent Bob Reboot, there’s plenty to stream while you celebrate 4/20 at home. Take a look at the stoner movies you can stream below, and if you feel like watching with a friend, give Netflix party a shot–this only works with Netflix movies, though.

Of course, if stoner movies aren’t your thing, Netflix also has plenty of horror films for you to watch. We’ve gathered up the best of a variety of subgenres–cosmic, monster, alien, and slasher–for you to peruse.

Where to watch 4/20 movies:

  • Chasing Amy (Netflix–Subscription required)
  • Cheech & Chong’s Hey Watch This (Vudu–Ad-supported)
  • Cheech and Chong’s Up in Smoke (Netflix–Subscription required)
  • Clerks (Hulu, Amazon Prime–Subscriptions required)
  • Dazed and Confused (Amazon Prime–Subscription required)
  • Evil Bong (Tubi–Ad-supported)
  • Evil Bong 2: Devil’s Harvest (Tubi–Ad-supported)
  • Evil Bong 3: Reefer Madness (Tubi–Ad-supported)
  • Evil Bong 420 (Tubi–Ad-supported)
  • Evil Bong High-5 (Tubi–Ad-supported)
  • Evil Bong 666 (Tubi–Ad-supported)
  • Evil Bong 777 (Tubi–Ad-supported)
  • Gingerbread Man vs. Evil Bong (Tubi–Ad-supported)
  • Grandma’s Boy (Hulu–Subscription required)
  • Half Baked (Amazon Prime with Starz–Subscription required)
  • Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle (Netflix–Subscription required)
  • How High 2 (Netflix–Subscription required)
  • Jay & Silent Bob Reboot (Amazon Prime–Subscription required)
  • Jay & Silent Bob Strike Back (Tubi–Ad-supported)
  • Rifftrax: Reefer Madness (Tubi–Ad-supported)
  • Super High Me (Amazon Prime–Subscription required, Vudu–Ad-supported)

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Woman shares her simple tip for making outgrown gel manicures look good as new during self-isolation

AS much as we love a gel manicure, there's no denying that they can be an absolute PAIN to remove.

And considering how the coronavirus lockdown is preventing us from visiting our local salon anytime soon, one savvy beauty fan has revealed how we can get our battered gel nails looking as good as new .

Earlier this week, Instagram star Olivia Smalley showed her 173,000 followers how to cover up any nail regrowth using a glittery polish.

After filing her nails down a little at the top, Olivia then painted a layer glittery gold Essie polish over the bottom of her nail and onto her cuticles.

Carefully layering the chunky glitter pieces over the regrowth gap, she added: "You could stop here – but I'm going to go even more."

As well as adding a second layer of glitter over the gap, Olivia also went onto the nail to create an ombre effect.


What's more, the glitter pieces also create a seal around the bottom of the nail which stops it from chipping.

Showing off the finished look (which took hardly any time at all), Olivia said: "So there you have it.

"Now I'm okay with my growth – and it actually looks very beautiful. Very shiny."

Since posting the video on her Instagram page, Olivia's hack as racked up over 11,000 "likes" and hundreds of comments from fans who have pledged to try it themselves.

  • Essie Glitter Nail Polish in 'Congrats', £7.99 from Look Fantastic – buy now

One wrote: "Genius. Why hasn't this been a thing forever?"

Another gushed: "Thanks! Super helpful this week."

A third added: "Amazing!! My nails are so grown out right now, I need to try this!!"

Although the exact Essie shade Olivia used isn't available in the UK, the US brand has a range of other options – including this multicoloured glitter version called Congrats. *Adds to basket*

In more beauty news, Kate Middleton’s favourite salon revealed how you can get her signature bouncy blow dry at home.

And Lush has created a SINGING soap record which plays Happy Birthday twice to remind people to wash hands amid COVID-19 crisis.

Plus this shopper bagged almost £50 worth of makeup for just £1 in Boots – with items costing just 20p.

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