Holiday Drinks

Red Carpet Cocktails By Gina:

• 1 1/2 cups vodka, chilled
• 1 1/2 cups pomegranate juice, chilled
• 1/2 cup lime juice
• 1 bottle Champagne or other sparkling white wine
• Chilled maraschino cherries, for garnish

Add 1 1/2 ounces of the vodka to each champagne flute. Top with 1 1/2 ounces of the pomegranate juice and 1 tablespoon of the lime juice. Add the Champagne or sparkling wine and a cherry to each flute for a sweet garnish.

Michael's Hot Holiday Options (listed below Mulled Red Wine):

• 2 cinnamon sticks
• 1 handful juniper berries
• 1 handful allspice berries
• 1 whole nutmeg
• Magnum of zinfandel (or 2 standard bottles of zinfandel)
• 1 cup sugar in the raw
• Peel from 1/2 an orange

Combine cinnamon, juniper, allspice and nutmeg in a cheesecloth bag and drop in a saucepan with a quarter of the wine. Add the sugar and orange peel. Simmer to blend flavors, about 6 minutes. Once heated, add the remaining wine and return to a simmer. Remove spice bag and orange peel and serve.

If transporting in a thermos, heat thermos up with hot water to get it warm for 1 minute. Pour water out and fill with mulled wine.

Michael Chiarello is a chef that has a show on the food network and a restaurant in Napa Valley.  When we are in Napa his restaurant is one we like to visit.  A snow storm prevented me and my mom from making our scheduled trip this last time and when Chef Michael came to Jim and my dad's table he let him know he was sad I was not with him.   Chef Chiarello decided to send Jim home with a little something for me.  I'm looking forward to the next time Chef Michael can cook for me!  You should let him cook for you if ever in Napa! And be sure to check out his Napa Style.