… and my personal prescription for jolliness is to have a delicious libation to celebrate the season.  Champagne and wine are wonderful on their own, but they are even better when mixed with other spirits and ingredients to create real holiday cheer.  Following are some of my tried and true recipes for making the holidays bright at all of the fun events that the season brings. 

Mulled Wine - This is a holiday tradition that has been enjoyed for hundreds of years.  It’s simply wine that has been slightly sweetened, spiked and spiced.  When it’s cold outside, this is a great drink to enjoy around a bonfire or at any outdoor event.  Here’s what you need:

2/3 cup sugar

(1) 750ml bottle red wine

1/2 cup brandy

6 to 8 cloves

1 cinnamon stick

Orange peel from 1/2 orange

Pour the wine into a saucepan and place over low heat.  Cut the zest off the orange peel with a sharp paring knife or vegetable peeler (if some of the bitter white pith is still attached to the zest, remove and discard it.)  Lightly pound the pieces of zest with the back of a knife or a mallet to release the aromatic oils. Add the zest to the wine, squeezing some juice in, too.  Add the remaining ingredients and stir occasionally, not letting  the wine come to a boil.  When the wine begins to steam and is very hot, it is ready to serve.  Ladle the wine out into mugs or glasses, leaving the seasonings behind.

White Sangria - This is a recipe a friend of mine makes at Mardi Gras.  She lives on a parade route so lots of folk come in and out and are greeted by this large colorful punch bowl.  This would also make a great punch for a large December holiday gathering.  Let me warn you, it goes down so easily and will sneak up on you quickly.   In a large punch bowl combine the following:

3-liter box of unoaked white wine

¼ bottle of triple sec

¼ bottle of peach schnapps

(2) 64 oz. Bottles of Welch’s peach/white grape juice

Mix all of these ingredients together and add a large bag of frozen mixed fruit.  The fruit serves as the ice as well as the garnish.

Red Sangria - For another delicious easy drinking sangria, you might want to try this one concocted by Winston Garfield, owner of Obelisk.  Here’s the shopping list:

Lambrusco wine

Ice

Simple Syrup

Lemon juice

Lime juice

1 oz. Peach schnapps

7-Up

Cherries and oranges

Place ice in a tall glass or goblet, and fill halfway up with the Lambrusco.  Add a splash of simple syrup, a splash of lemon juice,and a splash of lime juice.  Add the peach schnapps and top off with 7-Up.  Garnish with fresh cherries and oranges. 

Brandy Milk Punch - Here’s a favorite of mine from Commander’s Palace, using a recipe from Chef Tory McPhail.  It’s great for brunch or just as a sipping treat.  Assemble the following:

1 ½ cups 2-percent milk

½ cup skim milk

12 oz. brandy (bourbon may be substituted)

2 egg whites

½ cup cold water or ice

1 tablespoon vanilla extract

Ground nutmeg

Combine the milk, brandy, egg whites and vanilla in a shaker and shake vigorously.  Serve in a short glass filled with ice and sprinkle with nutmeg to taste.

Bellini Cocktail - This drink was created in Venice, Italy to honor the painter Geovani Bellini.  The recipe is low in alcohol and is a great alternative to a Mimosa.

1 bottle chilled Prosecco

2/3 cups peach puree (made from peeled fresh or canned peaches blended in a processor)

1 teaspoon raspberry puree (fresh or thawed frozen berries blended in a food processor)

Place 1 ½ tablespoons puree in the bottom of each champagne flute and add a splash of the raspberry puree.  Fill the glass with the sparkling wine and serve.

Eggnog - It wouldn’t be Christmas without eggnog.  It’s one of those drinks that I can’t drink a lot of, but it sure is good.  You’ll need:

6 eggs

3 cups of milk

8 tablespoons sugar

3 teaspoons vanilla

½ teaspoon nutmeg

Brandy, bourbon, or rum

In large bowl, beat the eggs using an electric beater, add milk, then add sugar.  Continue beating until mixture thickens slightly.  Add vanilla and nutmeg.  Cover and refrigerate until chilled (at least three hours.)  Serve over ice with a splash of brandy, bourbon or rum.  If you don’t want to go through the trouble of making it, Mother’s brand eggnog is delicious and very smooth (made with rum.)

If you see a fat man, who’s jolly and cute, wearing a beard and a red flannel suit;

And if he is chuckling and laughing away, while flying around in a miniature sleigh;

With eight tiny reindeer to pull him along;

Then – let’s face it – your eggnog’s too strong!!

 (author unknown)