DRINK UP!Byline: Natalie Haughton Food Editor Bubbly is predictable. Why not ring in 2006 with something totally unpredictable, like a Snowslide snow·slide n. An avalanche of snow. or a Mistletoe mistletoe, common name for the Loranthaceae, a family of chiefly tropical hemiparasitic herbs and shrubs with leathery evergreen leaves and waxy white berries. They have green leaves, but they manufacture only part of the nutrients they require. Mist. Whether you're hosting a big bash or just relaxing with a few close friends or relatives, the selections here are designed to add sparkle and cheer to the festivities fes·tiv·i·ty n. pl. fes·tiv·i·ties 1. A joyous feast, holiday, or celebration; a festival. 2. The pleasure, joy, and gaiety of a festival or celebration. 3. . Several are culled from a handful of recently released drink books, with plenty of trendy concoctions. In ``Some Like It Hot,'' by Holly Burrows and Katie Walter (Chronicle Books; $14.95), as the subtitle notes, you'll find ``50 Drinks to Warm Your Spirits.'' Serve a crowd a warm Snowslide made with Kahlua, Baileys, vodka and milk or cozy up with a delicious sipping Mulled Apple Cider, Winter White Sangria san·gri·a n. A cold drink made of red or white wine mixed with brandy, sugar, fruit juice, and soda water. Also called sangaree. [Probably from Spanish sangría, , Cranberry Cornucopia cornucopia (kôr'ny  kō`pēə), in Greek mythology, magnificent horn that filled itself with whatever meat or drink its owner requested. , Mistletoe Mist or nonalcoholic non·al·co·hol·icadj. A beverage usually containing less than 0.5 percent alcohol by volume. drinks such as Hot Chocolate or Pumpkin Potion po·tion n. A liquid medicinal dose or drink. potion a large dose of liquid medicine. No. 9. If the world of cocktails fascinates you, pick up a copy of ``Cocktails Shaken and Stirred,'' by Douglas Ankrah (Kyle Books; $21.95), or ``Cocktails,'' by Alessandra Redies (Barron's; $12.99) Ankrah, a drink and bar consultant, is the owner of two London bars, LAB and Townhouse town·house or town house n. 1. A residence in a city. 2. A row house, especially a fashionable one. - and has been mixing, muddling and shaking up hip drinks for the last 15 years. Among his more than 100 imaginative creations are the Chelsea Rose, the Rich Dogg, a Pomegranate pomegranate (pŏm`grănĭt, pŏm`ə–), handsome deciduous and somewhat thorny large shrub or small tree (Punica granatum Martini, a Madagascar Sour, a Raspberry Martini and Orange Breeze, along with several drinks from his bars. Ankrah's aim is ``to demystify de·mys·ti·fy tr.v. de·mys·ti·fied, de·mys·ti·fy·ing, de·mys·ti·fies To make less mysterious; clarify: an autobiography that demystified the career of an eminent physician. the whole process of mixing cocktails,'' have fun and make the best drinks possible. ``Experiment, especially once you have mastered the basics.'' But taste and doctor up immediately if necessary with a drop or two of sugar syrup, lemon juice, bitters, etc., he advises. Sprinkled in at the back of the book are some bar-food nibbles like Rare Blackened black·en v. black·ened, black·en·ing, black·ens v.tr. 1. To make black. 2. To sully or defame: a scandal that blackened the mayor's name. 3. Beef With Pesto and Baked New Potatoes With Caviar & Cream Cheese. The gorgeous color photography makes the drinks and food look tantalizing tan·ta·lize tr.v. tan·ta·lized, tan·ta·liz·ing, tan·ta·liz·es To excite (another) by exposing something desirable while keeping it out of reach. . Redies also offers more than 100 drinks ranging from classics and bartenders' favorites to low- and nonalcoholic. Included are aperitifs, cocktails, after-dinner drinks and more. Recipes are categorized according to the basic alcohol ingredient - be it gin, rum, whiskey, vodka. Color photos are splashed throughout the pages along with a few snack recipes. Another fun book released last year is ``Party Drinks, 50 Classic Cocktails and Lively Libations,'' by A.J. Rathbun. It has lots of lively and beautiful offerings, including the Rebecca, a beauty with vodka, Chambord, champagne and frozen raspberries. And just in case you need some ``wow'' tidbits TidBITS is an award-winning electronic newsletter and web site dealing primarily with Apple Computer and Macintosh-related topics. Internet publication TidBITS has been published weekly since April 16, 1990, which makes it one of the longest running Internet publications. for nibbling nibbling Nutrition The consumption of multiple–up to 17–'mini-meals' per day, as opposed to the usual 3 meals/day. Cf Bingeing, Gorging. with your drinks, you'll find tempting tapas, sushi, mezze, antipasti Antipasti can refer to:
Now lift your glasses for a toast to the new year! Natalie Haughton, (818) 713-3692 natalie.haughton(at)dailynews.com THE REBECCA Ice cubes 8 ounces vodka (raspberry-flavored vodka if you have it) 4 ounces Chambord OR other raspberry liqueur Frozen raspberries 8 ounces champagne Add some ice cubes to your favorite cocktail shaker. Then, with care, add vodka and Chambord. Shake well. Place 4 or 5 frozen raspberries into each of 4 martini glasses. Strain vodka and Chambord into glasses over raspberries. Top off each drink with 2 ounces champagne. Pour slowly so champagne just rests on top of the vodka/Chambord mix. Serve, drink and enjoy. Makes 4 servings. NOTE: This recipe is for a 5- to 6-ounce martini glass, but it can be adjusted accordingly if you have differently sized glasses. Just be sure to keep the ratio to 2 parts vodka to 1 part Chambord to 2 parts champagne. From ``Party Drinks! 50 Classic Cocktails and Lively Libations,'' by A.J. Rathburn. Makes 4 servings. SNOWSLIDES A Mudslide over ice is a hit in the summer, but its warmer relative, the Snowslide, is also irresistibly delicious. You'll want to keep this creamy cocktail flowing all winter long. 4 ounces (1/2 cup) Kahlua 4 ounces (1/2 cup) Baileys Irish Cream Baileys Irish Cream (the registered trade mark omits the apostrophe), is an Irish whiskey and cream based liqueur, made by R. A. Bailey & Co. of Dublin, Ireland. The trademark is currently owned by Diageo. It has a declared alcohol content of 17% alcohol by volume. 4 ounces (1/2 cup) vodka 1 1/3 cups 2 percent OR whole milk Whipped cream and unsweetened cocoa powder for snowflake stencil Combine Kahlua, Irish Cream, vodka and milk in a small saucepan over medium or medium-high heat until steaming but not simmering. Remove from heat and pour into 4 Irish coffee glasses. Top with a few small dollops of whipped cream, allowing it to melt a bit to create a flat surface. Place a snowflake stencil cut from a piece of heavy cardboard (larger than the rim of the mug) atop the mug and sift cocoa over the stencil. Remove the stencil to reveal the design and serve immediately. Makes 4 servings. From ``Some Like it Hot: 50 Drinks to Warm Your Spirits,'' by Holly Burrows and Katie Walter. Makes 4 servings. SNOWFLAKE 1 1/2 ounces vanilla-flavored vodka 1 ounce white chocolate liqueur (Godiva) 1/2 ounce half-and-half 1/2 ounce simple syrup Combine all ingredients in a shaker with ice, shake well, then strain into a martini glass. Garnish with a maraschino cherry. Makes 1 serving. Makes 1 serving. DIVER'S WORLD 1/3 ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice 1 1/3 ounces Curacao Bleu syrup Ice cubes 2/3 ounce ginger ale 1/3 ounce bitter lemon Tonic water to top off Several stemless red currants (or fresh raspberries) and 3 lime slices, for garnish Put lemon juice and Curacao Bleu syrup into a shaker with two ice cubes. Cap shaker and shake about 15 seconds. Pour the mixture through a bar strainer into an 8-ounce-tall glass. Add ginger ale and bitter lemon, top off with tonic water, and stir. Put currants and lime slices into glass and serve. Makes 1 serving. From ``Cocktails,'' by Alessandra Redies. Makes 1 serving. MADAGASCAR SOUR 3 ounces (1 3/4 jiggers) Bacardi 8-year-old rum 4 teaspoons vanilla sugar 3 tablespoons lime juice 1 ounce (1/2 jigger jigger: see chigoe. ) Xanath vanilla liqueur 2 martini glasses, preferably frozen Lime wheels for garnish Shake rum, vanilla sugar, lime juice and liqueur together in a cocktail shaker (with a little ice, if desired), then fine-strain into glasses. Garnish with a lime wheel. Makes 2 servings. From ``Cocktails Shaken and Stirred,'' by Douglas Ankrah. Makes 2 servings. AVOCADO CROSTINI WITH CREAM CHEESE AND SWEET CHILI PEPPERS Although it may seem strange to mix avocado with Asian flavors, chili peppers are actually magnificent when juxtaposed jux·ta·pose tr.v. jux·ta·posed, jux·ta·pos·ing, jux·ta·pos·es To place side by side, especially for comparison or contrast. with creamy-flavored ingredients. 16 (2-inch) square slices sourdough baguette OR other chewy chew·y adj. chew·i·er, chew·i·est Needing much chewing: chewy candy. chew  i·ness n. bread 3 tablespoons olive oil Salt and pepper
1 garlic clove, peeled 1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese 4 avocado halves, each cut lengthwise length·wise adv. & adj. Of, along, or in reference to the direction of the length; longitudinally. Adj. 1. lengthwise into 4 slices, then each slice cut in half horizontally 4 green onions, finely chopped Sweet Chile Pepper and Cilantro Sauce (OR use a bottled sauce), to drizzle 2 thumb-sized red chile peppers, seeded and thinly sliced To make crostini, place bread slices on a nonstick non·stick adj. Permitting easy removal of adherent food particles: a frying pan with a nonstick surface. nonstick Adjective baking sheet. Brush with oil and season with salt and pepper. Bake in a preheated 400-degree oven 6 minutes, until browned on edges but chewy in center. Rub with garlic and set crostini aside. Spread crostini with 1 to 2 teaspoons cream cheese. Top with 2 slices avocado, then green onions. Drizzle with Sweet Chile Pepper and Cilantro Sauce, sprinkle with chili peppers, and serve. Makes 16 crostini. SWEET CHILI PEPPER AND CILANTRO SAUCE: In a medium saucepan, heat 1 cup rice vinegar and 3/4 cup superfine superfine a class of merino sheep with wool finer than that of fine-wool. Usual limit is wool of 18.5 microns or less fiber diameter. sugar and bring to a boil. Simmer about 3 minutes, until a syrup forms. Pour into a bowl and leave to cool. To mixture in bowl, add 1 teaspoon salt, 3 finely chopped garlic cloves, 3 seeded and finely chopped thumb-sized red chili peppers and 3 tablespoons finely chopped fresh cilantro; mix well. Keep any leftover sauce refrigerated. NOTE: Bread slices can be prepared 2 days ahead of serving and stored in an airtight container. Crostini can be assembled 1/2 hour before serving, but squeeze a little lemon or lime juice over avocado to prevent browning. From ``Small Bites: Tapas, Sushi, Mezze, Antipasti and Other FInger Foods,'' by Jennifer Joyce. Makes 8 servings. EGGNOG WITH NUTMEG AND CINNAMON 1 or 2 whole nutmegs 1 cinnamon stick 12 large egg yolks 4 cups whole milk 1 1/4 cups sugar 2 cups heavy whipping cream Noun 1. heavy whipping cream - cream with a fat content of 48% or more double creme cream - the part of milk containing the butterfat 1/2 teaspoon vanilla 1 1/2 cups brandy, Cognac, rum OR bourbon Using a nutmeg grater or the smallest rasps on a handheld grater-shredder, grate nutmeg until you have about 1 teaspoon. In a spice grinder or coffee grinder reserved for spices, grind cinnamon stick. Set aside. In a large saucepan, whisk together egg yolks, 2 cups milk and 1 cup sugar. Place over low heat and simmer, stirring often, until slightly thickened thick·en tr. & intr.v. thick·ened, thick·en·ing, thick·ens 1. To make or become thick or thicker: Thicken the sauce with cornstarch. The crowd thickened near the doorway. 2. , 8 to 10 minutes. Remove from heat, stir in remaining 2 cups milk, and let cool. In a bowl, using a handheld mixer or whisk, whip cream with remaining 1/4 cup sugar and vanilla until soft peaks form. Set aside. Strain cooled milk mixture through a fine-mesh sieve and pour into a serving pitcher or small punch bowl. Stir in brandy. Serve eggnog in cups or glasses, topped with a dollop of whipped cream and a sprinkle each of nutmeg and cinnamon. Makes 8 to 10 servings. From ``Williams-Sonoma Christmas Entertaining,'' recipes and text by Georgeanne Brennan. Makes 8 to 10 servings. STEAMING SPIKED CIDER 4 quarts fresh apple cider (the cloudier, the better) 16 ounces white rum 20 ounces cinnamon schnapps schnapps n. pl. schnapps Any of various strong dry liquors, such as a strong Dutch gin. [German Schnaps, mouthful, schnapps, from Low German snaps, from 1 teaspoon whole cloves 3/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg Cinnamon sticks to taste Apple slices for garnish (optional) Pour cider into a large nonreactive saucepan, turn heat to medium and let cider warm about 5 minutes. Add remaining ingredients except garnish. Bring heat to just below boiling and let simmer 15 minutes. You want it piping warm, but not so hot that it burns a guest's mouth. Ladle into large heatproof heat·proof adj. Unaffected by heat. Used especially of plastic, glass, or ceramic utensils that may be used directly over a flame or in an oven. mugs, adding a cinnamon stick or two to each mug, and an apple slice, if desired. Makes 10 servings. VIRGIN VARIATION: It's easy enough to make a saucepan of Nonalcoholic Steaming Cider to cater to kids and nondrinking guests. Just leave out the rum and schnapps and add an extra 4 cups cider and 1 ounce cinnamon extract (available in most grocery stores). From ``Party Drinks! 50 Classic Cocktails and Lively Libations,'' by A.J. Rathburn. Makes 10 servings. CAPTION(S): 9 photos Photo: (1 -- cover -- color) Cheers! Ring in the new year with spirited libations Warren Huskey/Staff (2 -- color) THE REBECCA Photo by Brian Hagiwara from ``Party Drinks! 50 Classic Cocktails and Lively Libations,'' Harvard Common Press (3 -- color) SNOWSLIDE Photo by Maren Caruso from ``Some Like it Hot: 50 Drinks to Warm Your Spirits,'' Chronicle Books (4 -- color) SNOWFLAKE From Stolichnaya Vodka (5 -- color) DIVER'S WORLD Photo by Michael Brauer from ``Cocktails,'' Barron's (6 -- color) MADAGASCAR SOUR Photo by Lisa Linder from ``Cocktails Shaken and Stirred,'' Kyle Books (7 -- color) AVOCADO CROSTINI From ``Small Bites,'' DK Publishing (8 -- color) STEAMED SPIKED CIDER (9 -- color) EGGNOG WITH NUTMEG AND CINNAMON |
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