Bailout Martini
For the Financial Crisis

Congress passed its $700 billion bailout package. The Dow dropped like a rock in a dizzying 10-day span, Kiplinger's came up with an article called "Six Things To Do While the World Ends" (take a walk, think nice thoughts). Add a martini to that list, says Jerry "Martini Guy" Gonto, co-owner of www.MartiniArt.com.

Gonto dreams up new martini recipes on a regular basis in his "mission critical martini lab." He calls the latest creation out of his cocktail shaker "the perfect martini for our times."

"It's fresh, spicy and delicious," he says. "All the things we hope to see in the economy. Just not too spicy."

Many great minds have called it their favorite cocktail -- FDR, Winston Churchill, Ernest Hemingway, and a famous capitalist named John D. Rockefeller.

"The feel of that slender up-glass in your hand is a reminder that life can be good in little ways," Gonto adds. With that in mind, MartiniArt.com offers this spicy diversion:

The Bailout Martini

• 4 ounces of lemon flavored vodka
• 1.5 ounces of pepper flavored vodka
• 2 fresh sprigs of dill
• 2 tablespoons of fresh lemon juice
• 2 dashes of hot sauce

Crush each sprig of dill and rub it around the inside of two martini glasses Leave one dill sprig in each glass. Strain your elixir into the martini glasses.

Top each with 1 tablespoon of lemon juice and dash of hot sauce. Relax and forget about your 401k.

Martiniart.com grew from Jerry and Linda Gonto's love of the martini. The site offers seasonal recipes, cocktail party ideas, glassware, shakers, gourmet olives, and martini mood music. Yes, they're all about martinis, but they believe in moderation. If you have a martini, you have no business behind the wheel.