Cocktail Anyone?

A party just isn't a party unless you have some sort of cocktail/spirits available to your guests.  Thanksgiving is no different.  Wine goes great with dinner, but what about the pre-dinner cocktails?  A cocktail during appetizers is a sure fire way to "loosen up"  your Thanksgiving crowd!  I have included a few different cocktail recipes attached to this post...check them out!  I am sure one or two will tickle your fancy!

SPARKILING FALL SANGRIA 

• 5 red apples
• 1 bunch green seedless grapes (about 8 oz.)
• 1 bunch red seedless grapes (about 8 oz.)
• 2 bottles chilled white wine, such as a late harvest Riesling
• 16 oz. chilled sparkling cider
• 3 oz. pear eau de vie, such as Poire William

Places apples, grapes and ice into punch bowl.  Pour wine, cider and eau-de-vie over fruit, and serve.

* Photo Courtesy of Martha Stewart Weddings



RED DELICIOIUS MARTINI 
* 1 serving

• 1 TB sugar
• 1 tsp. ground cinnamon
• 1 lime wedge
• 1 1/2 cups ice cubes
• 1/4 cup Van Gogh Wild Appel Vodka (or other apple vodka)
• 1/4 cup apple schnapps
• 1/4 cup apple cider
• 1 cinnamon stick
• 1 whole star anise

Mix sugar and cinnamon in a small bowl.  Rub rim of mrtini glass with lime wedge.  Dip rim in sugar mixture, turning glass to coat rim.

Combine ice, vodka, schnapps, and apple cider in cocktail shaker.  Shake well to blend. Pour into premapred martini glass.  Garnish with a cinnamon stick and star anise and serve.




CRANBERRY LIQUEUR 

*This liqueur needs 3 weeks to make to completion.  This might be a nice Christmas cocktail to start making now!  If you want to make it for Thanksgiving...just take the easy route and buy some Cranberry liqueur to make special drinks with....see Cranberry Cosmo's belos.

• 2 cups sugar

• 1 cup water
• 1 ( 12 oz) package fresh cranberries
• 3 cups vodka

Combine sugar and water in a medium saucepan, cook over medium heat 5 minutes or until sugar dissolves, stirring constantly.  Remove from heat, and cool completely.

Place Cranberries in a food processor, process 2 minutes or until finely chopped.  Combine sugar mixture and cranberries in a large bowl, stir in vodka.

Pour the vodka mixture into clean jars; secure with lids.  Let stand 3 weeks in a cool, dark place, shaking every other day.

Strain the cranberry mixture through a cheesecloth-lined sieve into a bowl, and discard solids.  Carefully pour liqueur into clean bottles of jars.  Yiel:  4 1/2 cups (serving size 1/4 cup)

*Liqueur can be stored regrigerated or at room temperature for up to one year.

*Photos Courtesy of Vegetarian Nutrition



CRANBERRY COSMO'S 

*Makes 2 cocktails

• 1/2 cup cranberry liqueur
• 1/4 cup Cointreau
• 2 TB. lime juice

1. Place crushed ice in a martini shaker
2. Add cranberry liqueur, Cointreau and lime juice
3. Strain into martini glasses

* Photos Courtesy of Diets in Review



MULLED WINE
*Recipe adapted from Yuletide on Hiltonhead

• 2 cups water

• 2 cups sugar
• 1 orange, sliced
• 1 limon, sliced
• 2 cinnamon sticks
• 12 whole cloves
• 12 allspice berries
• 2 (750 milliliter) bottles dry red wine
• Garnish:  cinnamon sticks, orange rind curls

Combine first 7 ingredients in a dutch oven over medium heat; bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer 5 minutes.  Add wine; simmer 10 minutes.  Pur mixture through a wire mesh strainer into a container; discard solids. 

You can keep it in a dutch over over low heat or pour it all into a slow cooker to keep warm. Serve in a irish coffee glass or punch glass with garnish.

* Photo courtesy of Real Simple