Holiday Beverages

Dazzle your holiday guests with one of these lucious drinks. The following recipes include both alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks. Sparkling water, club soda, ginger ale, 7-Up, or Sprite can be substituted for the alcohol in sparkling drinks. Choose the sparkling beverage that blends best with the other ingredients.

Mimosas are a favorite drink for holiday brunches. Mimosas are made with orange juice and champagne. If you prefer a non-alcoholic mimosa mix orange juice with sparkling water or ginger ale.

Another delicious sparkling beverage with lots of sparkle is grape juice and 7-Up.

Always make sure your ingredients are chilled before mixing.

Cran-Raspberry Sparkler
Source: Cooking Light Magazine

For a nonalcoholic variation, use club soda or sparkling water in place of the Champagne.

3 cups cran-raspberry juice (such as Ocean Spray), chilled
1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
1 (750 milliliter) bottle brut Champagne, chilled
6 thin slices lime

Combine cran-raspberry juice and lime juice in a pitcher; stir well. Pour 1/2 cup juice mixture into each of 6 champagne glasses; top with chilled champagne. Garnish with lime slices. Serve immediately. 6 servings

Crantinis

1 cup cranberry juice cocktail
1/2 cup citrus vodka or plain vodka
1/4 cup Triple Sec or orange juice
1 teaspoon fresh lime juice
Fresh cranberries, if desired
Lime slices, if desired

1. Fill martini shaker or 3-cup covered container half full with ice. Add all ingredients except cranberries and lime slices; cover and shake.
2. Pour into martini or tall stemmed glasses, straining the ice. Garnish glasses with fresh cranberries and lime slices on picks. 4 servings

Cranberry-Orange Slush Cocktails
A refreshing alternative to rich holiday eggnog. Have it on hand for drop-in guests!

1 can (12 ounces) frozen orange juice concentrate, thawed
1 can (12 ounces) frozen cranberry juice concentrate, thawed
2 cups brandy
1 bottle (32 ounces) cranberry juice cocktail
2 bottles (1 liter each) lemon-lime soda pop or sparkling water

1. Mix all ingredients except soda pop in nonmetal container. Divide among pint containers. Cover and freeze at least 8 hours until slushy.
2. For each serving, mix equal amounts of slush mixture and soda pop in glass. 30 servings (about 2/3 cup each)

Cranberry Limeade
Sparkling water dressed up with two fresh fruit flavors make an elegant chilled drink.

3 cups cranberry juice cocktail
2 cans (6 ounces each) frozen limeade concentrate, thawed
2 bottles (20 ounces each) sparkling water, chilled (5 cups)
Lime wedge, if desired
Cranberries, if desired

1. Mix cranberry juice cocktail and limeade concentrate in large plastic or glass pitcher. Refrigerate about 1 hour or until chilled.
2. Just before serving, stir in sparkling water. Serve over ice. Garnish with lime wedges and cranberries. 12 servings

Noel Spritzer
You can mix up a sparkling no-fuss holiday beverage in just five minutes.

2 cups chilled dry white wine, nonalcoholic wine or apple juice
1 cup chilled cranberry-apple juice drink
1 cup chilled sparkling water
Apple slices, if desired
Fresh mint, if desired

1. Mix wine, juice drink and sparkling water.
2. Serve over ice. Garnish with apple slices and mint. 6 servings (3/4 cup each)

Quick Cranberry Punch
The fizz from the ginger ale makes this fruity punch a hit at any party!

1 can (6 ounces) frozen pink lemonade concentrate, thawed
1 bottle (32 ounces) cranberry juice cocktail, chilled
2 cans (12 ounces each) ginger ale, chilled

1. Make lemonade as directed on can in large pitcher.
2. Stir in cranberry juice cocktail and enough ice to chill. Just before serving, stir in ginger ale. 12 servings (3/4 cup each)

Raspberry Frost Sodas

1 bottle (64 ounces) cranberry juice cocktail, chilled
2 containers (1/2 gallon each) raspberry sherbet
3 bottles (1 liter each) ginger ale, chilled

1. Pour 1/4 cup cranberry juice in each of 24 short, wide glasses.
2. Place 1 scoop (about 1/2 cup) sherbet in each glass. Fill with ginger ale. 24 servings (about 1 cup each)

Pineapple-Orange Colada
1 1/2 cups fresh pineapple chunks or 1 can (20 ounces) pineapple chunks in juice, drained
1/2 cup frozen piña colada concentrate or pineapple juice
2 cups orange sherbet

1. Place all ingredients in blender.
2. Cover and blend on high speed, stopping blender to scrape sides if necessary, until smooth. 4 servings (3/4 cup each)

Slow Cooker Spiced Cranberry-Apple Cider
Partner apple cider with cranberry juice for a new flavor twist on a popular hot drink.

1/3 cup packed brown sugar
2 teaspoons whole allspice
4 sticks cinnamon (3 inch)
1 bottle (48 oz) apple cider (6 cups)
1 bottle (48 oz) cranberry juice cocktail (6 cups)

1. In 4- to 5-quart slow cooker, mix all ingredients.
2. Cover; cook on Low heat setting 4 to 6 hours. Before serving, remove allspice and cinnamon. 24 servings (1/2 cup each)

Happy New Year!

Eleisia Whitney has a Watkins Home Business. She enjoys cooking and baking with Watkins extracts, spices, herbs, and sauces for healthy meals. Eleisia publishes a Watkins Newsletter, Around the Kitchen Table, that brings you recipes, cooking and health tips, and contests for free Watkins products.
Read the current issue at http://www.everydaynecessities.com/dec1-07newsletter.htm
Visit her at http://www.everydaynecessities.com and
http://www.WatkinsOnline.com/eleisiawhitney

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