Today I have some cocktails that will work great for your Christmas party. Going back to basics is a definite trend this year, and these cocktails embrace that with some basic Christmas flavors that everyone loves.

The Christmas cocktails I have for you today were created by leading mixologists. They were created by taking your top winter drinks from childhood and giving them a sophisticated and provocative makeover. Forget spiced apple cider, you’re sure to enjoy these updated cocktails. They’re sure to put a smile on your face just like Christmas morning.

The recipes are all courtesy of Brent Lamberti, bartender at RDV restaurant in New York City, and the respective brands.

Mistletoe Makeout

A VeeV Açaí Spirit spin on a berry smoothie

• 1 oz VeeV Açaí Spirit
• 0.5 oz Grand Marnier
• Handful of cranberries, blackberries and blueberries
• Dash of All Spice
• 1 oz Crémant d’Alsace
• Mistletoe for garnish

Muddle the berries in a mixing glass and add All Spice. Pour the berry puree into a cocktail shaker and add VeeV Açaí Spirit and Grand Marnier. Shake well over ice, and pour into a Champagne flute. Top up with Crémant d’Alsace, and garnish with a mistletoe on the bottom of the glass.

Coco Loco

A sophisticated Hot Chocolate upgrade

• 2 oz Flor de Caña 7-year-old
• 0.5 oz Godiva Milk Chocolate Liqueur
• Thin slice of Habañero Chili
• Dash of cinnamon
• 2 teaspoons of brown sugar
• 2 oz of milk
• Grated pistachios for garnish
• Whipped cream (optional)

Pour the rum, chocolate liqueur and milk into a small pot, and add the slice of chili, cinnamon and sugar. Simmer on low to medium heat until hot. Pour the Hot Chocolate into an Irish coffee mug, and an optional topping of whipped cream. Garnish with grated pistachios.

Sapphire Stocking Stuffer

A Bombay Sapphire Gin spin on eggnog

• 2 oz Bombay Sapphire Gin
• 2 oz ginger liqueur
• 1 peppermint tea bag
• 1 egg yolk
• 1 egg white
• 3 oz sugar
• 6 oz heavy cream
• 3 oz milk
• 0.5 teaspoon nutmeg
• Mint leaf for garnish

Pour 2 oz of Bombay Sapphire Gin into a mixing glass. Add the peppermint teabag, and let it steep for a couple of minutes. In the meantime, whip the egg white with sugar until stiff, and fold in the egg yolk, heavy cream, milk, and nutmeg. Combine equal parts eggnog and peppermint infused Bombay Sapphire Gin in a shaker over a small amount of ice, roll it, and strain into a martini glass. Garnish with a mint leaf.

Gingerbread Man

In a mixing glass, muddle 3 dials of fresh ginger.

Add:

• 1 oz Lucid
• 0 .5 oz demerara sugar syrup (or simple syrup)
• Dash of freshly grated cinnamon
• Dash of freshly grated nutmeg
• 0 .5 oz fresh lemon
• 0.25 oz green chartreuse

Shake thoroughly with ice, then strain over fresh ice in a highball glass. Garnish with a small Christmas tree gingerbread cookie.

Pear Infused Cognac Liqueur

• 1.5 Parts Xanté
• 3 Parts Freshly pressed apple juice or apple cider
• A cinnamon stick

Heat the freshly pressed apple juice together with the cinnamon stick

Add Xanté before serving.

I hope you enjoy these recipes. Make sure you remind your guests to drink their holiday cocktails responsibly!

Images: RDV Restaurant

I have a confession to make, I’m a big fan of coconut, so when I saw this recipe for no bake Festive Fruit and Nut Balls I knew I had to include it in the holiday recipes I’ve been sharing here. The best part about this recipe is you can make it up to one month ahead of time, and store them in the freezer.
They would work great for your holiday parties, for a cookie exchange party, or the office carry in. Wherever you take this recipe I’m sure it will be a hit.
The best part is they’re relatively healthy …read more

I enjoy a good glass of wine once in a while, but I’m not a wine critic by any standard. I do know what types of wine I enjoy with certain types of food, but as far as official wine pairings I have no clue.
If you’re not sure what wine to serve with your Thanksgiving turkey, or whether you need to serve a white or a red wine with your ham, you’re not alone. So today I have a few holiday wine pairing tips from the pros to help you pick out a wine to go with your holiday dinner …read more

I really like the holiday dessert recipe I have to share with you today from Seasons 52 restaurant. I’ve had several healthy holiday recipes to share with you over the last week or so, and these pears definitely fit right in.
They’re easy to make, and even though they’ll look gourmet to your guests they won’t break your budget to create.
They would be perfect for a cozy little holiday dinner party. Guests will love the caramelized flavor of the pears. I love the idea of topping them with chutney or cranberries, it definitely adds a nice holiday touch.

Roasted Bosc Pears
Ingredients:

4  Bosc …read more

We have our winner for our  Ford Pink Warrior Gear and Martha Stewart Warrior Stamp Set. I want to say a big thank you to Ford Warriors in Pink for sponsoring this great contest, and thank you to everyone who participated.

The winner was selected by Random.org. Congratulations to the winning comment from  Judy who said:
“I think these are lovely. I would make the gift tags, place markers, ornaments, especially the box to put little surprises inside for my grandchildren.
What I’d like to make most of all, though, is bookmarks to give to just everybody – everyone reads – so …read more

Around the holidays it’s hard to find healthier food choices. It seems like everything is delicious, but it’s also loaded with calories. When I’m hostessing a party I like to make sure there are healthy options available on the table.
Many times during the holiday season I’m invited to potluck and carry in dinners. Since I never know what is going to be offered, I always try to bring a healthier option to the party myself that everyone will enjoy. Then I know there will be at least one thing there that won’t blow my eating plan completely.
Today I have a …read more

Today I have some cocktail recipes from Partida Tequila to help your holiday guests warm up on those cold nights. These exotic cocktail recipes will go well with your winter party plans (from Thanksgiving, to Christmas and New Years), but they’d also hold up for a Mexican night fiesta for college play off games.
This cocktail trio would also be great for the big football game night. Pair these delicious drinks with freshly-made guacamole and chips, bite-size cheese quesidillas, grilled corn topped with melted nacho cheese, lime juice and cilantro to give guests something to nibble and sip as they watch …read more

With Thanksgiving coming up I thought I’d talk turkey about everyone’s favorite Thanksgiving dessert, pumpkin pie. Yum! One of my favorite recipes for pumpkin pie is right on the back of the Libby’s can, but you don’t have to stick with the traditional pumpkin pie for Thanksgiving. I thought I’d share some other pumpkin recipes with you today. Just in case you want to put a new spin on your Thanksgiving dessert this year.

I love these cute little pumpkin pie bites
Not quite pumpkin pie, but still delicious, pumpkin cheesecake
Pumpkin pie in miniature, pumpkin tartlets
Looking for a lighter version? Try crustless …read more

The holidays are coming up fast, with Thanksgiving coming up in a couple weeks there’s tons to celebrate in November. It’s one of my favorite times of the year, from fall through Christmas I really enjoy all the decorating, baking, and crispness in the air this time of year.

I love to plan for the holidays, and everything that goes with it. Let’s kick everything up with things you can celebrate in November.

November 10th Sesame Street celebrates their 40th anniversary
November 11th is Veteran’s Day, celebrate the veterans in your life.
November 17th is World Peace Day
November 18th is Mickey Mouses Birthday
November 21st …read more

Hershey’s Kiss cookies are an absolute holiday staple at our house, they’re one of the cookies we make every year, so I was totally excited when I heard about the Hershey’s Kiss Ultimate Cookie Exchange Party. You can enter for your chance to host one of 1,000 Hershey’ Kisses Chocolates Cookie Exchange Parties this December. Don’t wait to enter, the contest closes November 15th.

I also have some really yummy looking Hershey’s Kiss Cookie and Treat recipes with a twist below to share with you. You can visit the Hershey’s Kisses Cookies website for more mouth watering holiday cookie recipes and …read more