Three Cheers for the Holidays
Christmas Cosmopolitan
(approx. 20 servings)
Glass built by Bob Blumer
if you haven't already been invited to several holiday functions, it may be time to take the hint and start making a few new friends. There's no better way to ingratiate yourself to those whose company you would like to keep than to host a festive seasonal gathering. But what to serve? Egg nog is swell, but I prefer my rum with pineapple juice and my eggs over-easy. The following cocktail suggestions are easy to make and are sure to catapult you to the top of the "A" list for the 1997 party circuit.
This variation of the popular contemporary martini called a cosmopolitan goes down like candy, but be forewarned, it's for adults only.
Ingredients
1 24 ounce bottle of premium vodka
8 ounces Cointreau
24 ounces cranberry juice (ocean spray style)
3/4 cup of freshly squeezed lime juice (6 ounces)
ice
1 package fresh cranberries
1. Mix all ingredients together, then chill in refrigerator.
2. To serve, fill a martini or wine glass with ice and add 3 ounces of cranberry
concoction.
3. Garnish with a couple of fresh cranberries.
Mulled Wine
(approx. 14 servings)
The surreal method of thawing out guests who trekked in from the cold.
Ingredients
2 teaspoons whole cloves
4 cinnamon sticks
2 teaspoons aniseed
1 cup freshly squeezed orange juice
4 tablespoons honey
1 cup Calvados or Southern Comfort
2 oranges, sliced
2 bottles of Cabernet Sauvignon or other dry red wine
1. Combine all the ingredients in a large saucepan. Gently simmer over medium heat for
30 minutes.
2. Pour through a strainer. Save the orange slices and discard the remaining solids.
3. Pour the wine into heated mugs. Add 1 orange slice per mug and serve.
Singled Out
(serves 1 - 20)
Too busy shopping to prepare cocktails? Here's the solution.
Ingredients
1 bottle single malt scotch
2 crumpled up pages of newspaper
6 sticks of kindling
3 pieces of firewood
1 fireplace
1. Pour 1 - 2 ounces of scotch into empty glass
2. Build fire
3. Proceed to make interesting conversation while staring into the fireplace and sipping
scotch (if you do not have a fireplace, an aquarium will suffice).
Music to Mix By: "Christmas Cocktails," Various Artists, (Capitol Records). Part of their excellent Ultra Lounge series.
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Dear Surreal Gourmet,
I'm planning a Christmas cocktail party, but I am nervous about my friends driving home after consuming a few cocktails. What should I do?
— Stephanie (Memphis)
Dear Stephanie,
Timely question. Here are a few suggestions:
1. Before you allow your guests to walk/stumble out the door, make them pass one of the standard police roadside tests (as described by a friend who is an ex cop): Ask
guest to stand with their arms outstretched by their side. Then have them
close their eyes, lift one foot and balance for 5 seconds. If the guest looses his or her
balance, take their keys away and offer them a coffee. Repeat test in an hour.
Disclaimer: Under party-like conditions (i.e., when the test administrator has also
been drinking), test results are imprecise.
2. Create a cab insurance fund by having all guests put $2 in a jar as they enter the party.
3. Provide several attractive non-alcoholic options (i.e. freshly squeezed juices, swanky
flavored mineral waters, freshly brewed premium coffee, etc.) to help guests pace themselves.
4. Body tackle.
Questions may be e-mailed to the Surreal Gourmet at: SGbytethis@aol.com. Selected answers will appear in this space.
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