Cocktails and Mocktails

Prosecco Raspberry Cocktail

Fruity and festive. An easy go-to-cocktail for celebrations both big and small.

1 cup chilled raspberry flavor fruit juice

1 3/4 cups chilled prosecco or other sparkling wine

1/2 cup fresh or frozen raspberries (approximately 12)

Mix the juice and wine together in a large jug and divide among 4 champagne or cocktail glasses.  Drop 3 raspberries into each glass and serve immediately.

Yields about 2/3 cup per serving at 4 PPV each.

Apricot Bellinis

Ring in 2012 with these festive bellinis. Or make your own signature drink by giving other sparkling wines and nectars a try.*

3/4 cup chilled apricot or passion fruit nectar

3 cups chilled prosecco or champagne or sparkling wine

1/4 cup (6) fresh or frozen raspberries

6 sprigs of mint

Take 6 tall champagne flutes and pour about 1/8 cup (2 TBSP) of nectar into each glass, top each with about 1/2 cup of chilled wine and garnish by dropping a raspberry into each and floating a mint sprig on the top.

Yields about 5 fluid oz per serving for 4 PPV each.

*  Try mango or some other exotic nectars to change up the flavors.

Baby Bellinis

A delicious and non-alcoholic version of a bellini for your celebration.

3/4 cup chilled peach or other fruit nectar

3 cups chilled Martinelli's sparkling apple cider

4 slices of thinly sliced limes for garnish

Make the 6 bellinis in tumblers in exactly the same way as the apricot version above, this time garnish with a lime slice which you have cut from the skin to the center of the lime and placed on the rim of the glass.

Yields about 5 fluid ounces per serving for 3 PPV each.

Shirley Temple Cocktail

There are several recipes around - this one is the easy, fun and the least PointsPlus Value.

12 oz diet Sprite or 7-Up

12 oz diet ginger ale

4 TBSP Grenadine

4 maraschino cherries for garnish

Pour the soda and ginger ale into a Tom Collins glass filled with ice.  Carefully measure and pour the grenadine into the glass and add a swizzle stick and maraschino cherry.

Yields 4 drinks at a PPV of 1 each!

Happy Hanukkah, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Don't look for a blog posting on Sunday --- come back on Monday for the next one!