Pomegranate Sparkler

will you be my valentine?

My sister sent a picture this morning of my niece Nora and I had to share it. Isn't she so adorable? I could just eat her up! If I didn't already have a valentine, I'd choose her. Anyway, obviously it's Valentine's Day, time for my last red recipe post. For this festive occasion I've made a simple champagne cocktail. Perfect to start out a night promising to be full of love, passion, and romance.

This recipe starts with a simple syrup, which is just equal parts pomegranate juice and granulated sugar. The only other ingredients are sparkling wine or champagne and pomegranate seeds. I suggest a brut (dry) sparkling wine. The pomegranate simple syrup is pretty sweet. Toast your valentine tonight with this Pomegranate Sparkler. Here's how to make it...

Ingredients - Serves 6
1 C 100% Pomegranate Juice
1 C Granulated Sugar
1 Bottle Sparkling Wine, chilled
To Serve: Pomegranate Seeds
Optional: Love, Passion, Romance, and all that gooshy stuff...

Directions

Begin by making the simple syrup: In a small pot combine the pomegranate juice and granulated sugar. Heat over medium until the sugar dissolves, stirring occasionally. Remove from the heat to cool. Store in a sealed container at room temperature until ready to serve.

Make the cocktail: Pour 1 oz. pomegranate simple syrup into the bottom of a champagne flute. Top with sparkling wine and garnish with a few pomegranate seeds (and all that gooshy stuff). One bottle of sparkling wine will make 6 cocktails. Here's to Valentine's Day! Cheers!

Frozen Sangarita

fresh and fruity on the tongue

To finish up this first rainbow series I thought it would be fun to stick with the flavors and style of my last two posts - Southwestern/Mexican. So, my husband, Steven, helped me come up with a fun riff on a margarita. He is more of the mixologist type than me.

Sangria is such a beautifully colorful drink and I thought it would be delicious to mix in the flavors of a margarita. The sweet fruity flavors of the lime, orange, cherry, and grape juice balance the salty flavor of the tequila. This drink takes me away from the incessant grey skies of Cincinnati to a beautiful tropical beach. Come away with me...

Recipe - Makes 1 Drink
2oz. Silver Tequila (such as 1800)
1 Lime, juiced (approx. 1 oz.)
1T Orange Liquor (such as Cointreau)
1T Maraschino Cherry Juice
9 Cranberry & Concord Grape Juice Ice Cubes
Garnish with a slice of orange & lime and a Maraschino cherry

Directions
A day ahead make the Cranberry & Concord Grape Juice ice cubes. Simply fill a standard ice cube tray with the juice and freeze overnight. You can use light juice if you would like. You can also just use concord grape juice, but I like the tartness given by the cranberries in the blended juice.

Let's make the drink! Put the tequila, lime juice, orange liquor, maraschino cherry juice, and cranberry & concord grape juice ice cubes into a blender. Blend until smooth.

Pour the frozen drink into a margarita glass and garnish with a slice of orange and lime and a Maraschino cherry.
Sip and sail away...