Bellini

Holiday

Healthy Holiday: Giada De Laurentiis's Healthy Cocktail!

We're in the final push of the holiday season, but there is still some celebrating to do — a few champagne toasts included!

We're in the final push of the holiday season, but there is still some celebrating to do — a few champagne toasts included! That being said, ring in 2013 on a healthy note with Giada De Laurentiis's favorite healthy indulgence: fruit-filled Bellinis. In an exclusive POPSUGAR interview, Laurentiis shared a few tips and tricks on how to enjoy this tasty treat during the most tempting time of the year.

The champagne- and fruit-filled Bellini, unlike most sugary cocktails, is a low-calorie option (only 78 calories per four-ounce serving), while fruit is filled with fiber and antioxidants. You can have the best of both worlds by blending a bag of frozen fruit with two tablespoons of sugar in a food processor, then adding a spoonful or two to a flute of champagne. If you are hosting guests, then consider making a Bellini bar with a a variety of fruit purees. Giada recommends raspberry, blueberry, and the classic mango. Finish off your party with light appetizers that aren't bread-heavy, like this spicy chipotle hummus dip served with veggies. Cheers!

Original Recipes

Happy Hour: Herb-Infused Bellini

The next time you've got a handful of ripe peaches that need to be consumed, use them to make bellinis.

The next time you've got a handful of ripe peaches that need to be consumed, use them to make bellinis. The Italian cocktail that originated in Harry's Bar in Venice combines sparkling wine with peach puree. Traditionally the peaches are white peaches, but it works well with any in-season variety.

Although I love the classic bellini, it's fun to jazz it up. One way I like to do that is with the addition of herbs. Muddle fresh aromatic herbs, like basil, cilantro, or thyme, with the pureed peaches. Add ice, shake, and strain the mixture into a Champagne flute. Top with bubbly and you've got a refreshing, earthy take on the bellini. Keep reading for the recipe.

recipes

Come Party With Me: Gossip Girl Premiere — Drinks

No season premiere party is complete without a special drink, especially if the show in question is Gossip Girl, where the characters seem to be constantly guzzling cocktails.

No season premiere party is complete without a special drink, especially if the show in question is Gossip Girl, where the characters seem to be constantly guzzling cocktails. All the recipes I'm making next Monday night were created by acclaimed New York City chefs: Daniel Boulud, Mario Batali, Eric Ripert — Blair and Serena have surely dined at their respective restaurants.

Not to be forgotten is Jean-Georges Vongerichten. The Frenchman came up with this Champagne-based concoction, an elegant take on the classic bellini. Instead of peach nectar, Jean-Georges uses a combination of cherry puree and yuzu juice.

Don't worry if you can't get your hands on fresh yuzu; Vongerichten recommends a mixture of tangerine and lime juice instead. To look at the recipe, keep reading.

Cocktails

Come Party With Me: Bachelorette — Drinks

If you're hosting a party — like Ronda's belly dancing-themed bachelorette — that begins in the early evening and carries on until the wee hours of morning at a second location, skip the shots and hard alcohol.

If you're hosting a party — like Ronda's belly dancing-themed bachelorette — that begins in the early evening and carries on until the wee hours of morning at a second location, skip the shots and hard alcohol. You don't want guests getting too wasted too quickly, and you'll save money by not having to purchase a bunch of liquor.

At a bachelorette, serve a girly, bubbly cocktail like this lavender and peach bellini. Its vibrant color matches the sunny Mediterranean appetizer menu, and the easy recipe makes a large batch. White wine and sparkling water are other good beverage options to have on hand. For the recipe to this fruity and floral concoction, read more

recipes

Come Party With Me: Easter — Drinks

Like every holiday, your Easter dinner (or brunch) should start off with a signature cocktail.

Like every holiday, your Easter dinner (or brunch) should start off with a signature cocktail. A drink that uses sparkling wine is especially celebratory.

I plan on serving this concoction entitled peach and Prosecco ice. The pretty cocktail is similar to the classic bellini, but since peaches aren't in season it calls for frozen sliced peaches. It's festive, fruity, and light. The subtly sweet peach flavor will complement the freshness of the pea and mint appetizer.

To look at the easy recipe, which can be made in advance, read more

Wine

Happy Hour: Bellini

During the Summer's peach season, I love to enjoy bellinis.

During the Summer's peach season, I love to enjoy bellinis. Similar to a mimosa, a bellini is Prosecco diluted with fresh white-peach puree. When made with perfectly ripe peaches, this glamorous cocktail is slightly sweet and delicately bubbly.

Named for the 15th-century Venetian painter, Giovanni Bellini, the drink was created at Harry's Bar in Venice sometime between 1934 and 1948. Now it is considered a classic cocktail and can be found on menus across America.

To make the peach puree, score a cross on the bottom of each peach with a knife.

Drop into a pot of boiling water for a couple minutes, plunge into an ice-water bath, and remove the skin. Chop into chunks, puree in the blender, and strain through a fine mesh sieve. For the proportions of this sublime concoction, read more

recipes

Happy Hour: The Classic Bellini

If you have yet to consume a bellini this peach season, drop everything you are doing and run to the nearest grocery store or high-end watering hole.

If you have yet to consume a bellini this peach season, drop everything you are doing and run to the nearest grocery store or high-end watering hole. Bellinis are one of my favorite things about summer — the fresh white peach puree mixed with sparkling Italian Prosecco makes for a tasty, fabulous cocktail. Oozing with chicness, this drink is simple to make and a nice alternative to a mimosa. It's the perfect Friday afternoon cocktail and a great way to treat yourself and the gals after a long week. If you don't have Prosecco substitute your favorite sparkling wine or Champagne. To see how easy they are to make, read more

calorie breakdown

Brunch Beverage Breakdown

Easter is all about the brunch.



Easter is all about the brunch. If you go out or stay in here is a little reference guide for a variety of drinks that often accompany any brunch from fresh squeezed fruit juice to the classic Bloody Mary (which is not really the best way to get your lycopene, but might be the most fun).

To check out the list, just read more

recipes

Happy Hour: Blood Orange Bellini

Fashion Week started on Friday and I thought for today's happy hour cocktail I would do my favorite fashionable drink recipe, the Bellini.

Fashion Week started on Friday and I thought for today's happy hour cocktail I would do my favorite fashionable drink recipe, the Bellini. I first became obsessed with drinking Bellinis while reading Bergdorf Blondes. Typically a Bellini is made with fresh white peach puree but since it's winter I say we substitute the peach puree with blood orange juice. If you have never had a Bellini you MUST try one right now. Oh my gosh, this is the first time ever that I want to get up and leave my desk, run down to Whole Foods for some blood oranges, and stir up a Bellini for everyone in the office. To do the same, read more