Thinkin' Bout Drinkin'

As a special New Year's Eve related post, I'm going to tell you about a few of my favorite festive drinks. To me, nothing says "celebration" like punch. I'm sure you've all had wedding punch and a few of you may have tried Hunch-Punch at a party in college (guilty). This one's a little bit of both - very delicious and sweet but with a kick.

Celebration Punch

1 Pint Trader Joe's Tangerine-Mango Sorbet

1 1/2 Cups Bacardi Gold Rum

1 Cup Orange Juice

1 Cup Cranberry Juice

Ginger Ale

Put sorbet into a large pitcher or punch bowl, pour in everything but the ginger ale and allow the sorbet to soften. To serve, ladle into cups and top off with ginger ale.

Other punches to consider are Egg Nogg (it's not just for Grandma anymore) and Milk Punch, which I prefer.

My next favorite things are for you to enjoy any time during the holiday season, especially if it's cold. Do yourself a favor, and around Thanksgiving buy yourself a bottle of Bailey's Irish Cream. Whenever you want a little dessert in the evenings, make a cup of decaf coffee and add a little bit of Irish Cream. Need I say more? Here's a list of appropriate and delicious coffee additions that you may enjoy:

Bailey's Irish Cream

Butterscotch Schnapps

Peppermint Schnapps

Irish Whiskey

Brandy

For New Year's Eve, you must have sparkling wine. Of course, real Champagne is divine and my personal favorite is Perrier-Jouet. It's very dry and sophisticated and should never be mixed into a cocktail. However, it doesn't have to be champagne, in fact, Christmas Day at the Crane house featured delicious Mimosas made with Prosecco. Prosecco is Italian sparkling wine and is very delicious. Equally good and even more affordable is Cava from Spain. I find these much more exotic and interesting when compared to California sparkling wines. Although there are some good domestics, you can usually find an excellent Cava or Prosecco for around $10. I love Champagne-Cocktails and here are a few fun ideas for New Year's:

Kir Royal (Champagne and Kirsh)

Kiss of the Butterfly (Champagne and Grand Marnier)

Mimosa (Champagne and OJ)

Champagne Cocktails (Champagne, sugar cube, Angostura Bitters)

Ghost (Champagne and Midori)

Poinsettia (Champagne and Cranberry or Pomegranate Juice)

Bellini (Champagne and pureed fruit)

With sparkling wines, the possibilities are endless and delicious. So, if you want to add something special to your celebration, I highly suggest that you just let your imagination run wild.

Our new year is going to be the best-ever, right? Give it the party it deserves - out with the old and in with the new!!! Happy New Year's, everyone! May God bring you innumerable blessings and happiness in 2009.