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Come Party With Me: Anniversary - Drinks

partysugar — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 12:50:40 -0700

There is one detail of my parents' 1976 wedding that I have always been fascinated by. No, it wasn't the fact that my mom's dress was too big or that my dad was upset when she smashed carrot cake into his face. It is the Champagne fountain that mesmerizes me. A neverending, flowing waterfall of bubbly, fizzy celebratory golden liquid - how wildly glamorous! While I considered renting a fountain for their upcoming anniversary party, I have decided instead to simply serve a Champagne cocktail. As much as I wanted to recreate the moment, the event is a casual barbecue, and a fountain of glistening Champagne just didn't seem to fit. The cocktail is a mixture of sparkling wine, strawberry liqueur, and lemon juice and was originally created in the '70s.

I'll also offer guests a selection of chilled beers, water, and white wine. To check out the recipe, read more.

Lemon Champagne
From Gourmet

Ingredients

1/2 cup sugar cubes
2 lemons, peeled and juiced
1 cup strawberry flavored brandy or fraises des bois liqueur
2 bottles chilled Champagne

Directions

Rub the sugar cubes against the lemon peels until the cubes are yellow.
In a blender or food processor fitted with the steel blade, blend the yellowed sugar with the lemon juice.
In a large pitcher set in ice, combine the mixture with the strawberry-flavored brandy or fraises des bois liqueur. Pour in the Champagne and divide the mixture among 8 Champagne glasses, chilled. Garnish each drink with a strawberry.

Makes 8 drinks.

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Come Party With Me: Girls Winter Weekend - Drinks

partysugar — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 14:00:45 -0800

A girlie, rose-colored cocktail is the perfect way to kick-start a girls weekend getaway. If you're spending a couple of hours in the car, a drink upon arrival is necessary! Select a champagne cocktail - like this recipe for a Prosecco Royale - and make a toast to have a fabulous time together. A fresh cranberry-infused simple syrup provides the brilliant color. To allow time to chill, make the syrup the night before the trip. Don't be afraid to ask your friends to pitch in. Tell each girl to bring several bottles of a certain type of wine. That way, there will be plenty to go around. To look at the Prosecco Royale recipe, read more.

Prosecco Royale
From Everyday With Rachael Ray

Ingredients

1/2 cup sugar
1 cup fresh cranberries
One 750-ml bottle prosecco, chilled

Directions

Chill 6 champagne flutes.
In a small saucepan, stir the sugar and 1/2 cup water until the sugar dissolves, about 5 minutes. Add the cranberries and bring to a boil. Lower the heat and simmer for 2 minutes. Strain, then refrigerate the syrup and cranberries separately.
Place a few cranberries in each flute and top with 1 tablespoon cranberry syrup; fill each glass with prosecco.

Makes 6 drinks.

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Yummy Links: From a Drink Calculator to Stephanie Izard

partysugar — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 08:00:07 -0800

Hosting a New Year's Eve party? Use this drink calculator to determine how much alcohol you'll need. - Evite
A soup recipe for every season. - The Kitchn
Learn how to make the classic Champagne cocktail. - Cookthink
From cocktails to dinners to dessert, here are ten recipes that use vodka. - Chow
Barley risotto is healthy and delicious. - Serious Eats
Catch up with Top Chef Season 4 winner, Stephanie Izard. - The Epi-Log

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Come Party With Me: Engagement Party - Drinks

partysugar — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 13:29:51 -0700

What should you serve guests at a Champagne cocktail engagement party? Champagne of course! Stock up on bottles of your favorite bubbly before the event. Have sparkling water, sodas, and juice for guests who don't drink. Fill a cooler with artisan beers for the men who dislike sparkling wine.

For something more festive, offer guests the option of a Champagne cocktail. This pretty lemon-raspberry fizz pairs perfectly with the savory finger foods and the raspberry angel-food cupcakes. For more of our wedding ideas, check out IDoSugar.

To see the recipe for the limencello cocktail, read more.

Lemon Raspberry Fizz
From Giada De Laurentiis

Ingredients

1 cup Champagne or sparkling water
1/4 cup limoncello liqueur
Crushed ice
2 tablespoons fresh raspberries or frozen raspberries, thawed

Directions

In a small pitcher, combine the Champagne and limoncello.
Place a spoonful of crushed ice into each of 2 Champagne glasses and top with raspberries.
Pour the Champagne mixture over the ice and raspberries. Serve immediately.

Serves 2.

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Come Party With Me: Oscars Viewing - Drinks

partysugar — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 13:31:51 -0800

At a super-elegant occasion like the Oscars, simplicity is utterly chic, especially when it comes to cocktails. Since no frills are necessary, serve a classic champagne cocktail. Also have a couple versatile bottles of red -Pinot Noir - and white wine - Chardonnay - for those who dislike bubbly.

Sparkling water with orange slices and mint is a lovely option for those who prefer not to drink. For the champagne cocktail recipe, read more.

Classic Champagne Cocktail
From Drinks Mixer

3 oz. champagne
1/3 oz. cognac
2 dashes Angostura bitters
1 tsp. sugar

Soak one sugar cube in a champagne flute with angostura bitters.
Add champagne and cognac. Squeeze in a twist of lemon and discard. Garnish with half a slice of orange and a cherry, if desired.

Serves 1.

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Come Party With Me: My Birthday Party - Drinks

partysugar — Thu, 06 Sep 2007 07:11:31 -0700

My 26th birthday party is being held at a local bar named Wish, so a specialty cocktail isn't as necessary. Guests - who will come dressed as their favorite cocktail - can order drinks at the bar and the need to make a specialty drink in advance is eliminated. When hosting an event at a bar or restaurant you can usually rent out part, all or none of the bar. As much as I would love to have an open bar, my pocketbook won't allow me to. However I do want everyone to have the opportunity to toast fabulous moi during the birthday cake ceremony. Therefore, I've discussed it with the owners and everyone will receive a champagne cocktail at midnight. When the party is over they'll let me know how many bottles of champagne were consumed and I will pay that cost. To see the recipe I'm using for a classic champagne cocktail, read more

Classic Champagne Cocktail
From Drinks Mixer

3 oz. champagne
1/3 oz. cognac
2 dashes Angostura bitters
1 tsp. sugar

Soak one sugar cube in a champagne flute with angostura bitters.
Add champagne and cognac. Squeeze in a twist of lemon and discard. Garnish with half a slice of orange and a cherry, if desired.

Serves 1.

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Happy Hour: Classic Champagne Cocktail

partysugar — Fri, 11 May 2007 12:09:56 -0700

This afternoon we are celebrating the arrival of advice columnist E. Jean to the Sugar Network. DearSugar is girl after my own heart who loves any and every reason to celebrate. So today I'm playing bartender and whipping us up a round of classic Champagne cocktails. Different from a glass of champagne, the classic champagne cocktail (one that every hostess with the mostess should know how to make) incorporates a sugar cube, bitters and cognac. This is one sexy cocktail - if you have never tried it, you should because it oozes glamour. Celebrate with DearSugar and me, read more

Classic Champagne Cocktail
From Drink's Mixer

3 oz Champagne
1/3 oz cognac
2 dashes Angostura® bitters
1 sugar cube
lemon wedge

Soak sugar cube in a champagne flute with angostura bitters.
Add champagne and cognac.
Squeeze in a wedge of lemon and discard. Garnish with twist of lemon if desired.

Serves 1.

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Happy Hour: Kumquat Champagne Cocktail

YumSugar — Mon, 14 May 2007 15:28:53 -0700

One of my new favorite past-times is to head down to the farmer's market grab a bunch of tasty produce and relax in the sun at the Hog Island Oyster Company for a few oysters and a cool glass of bubbly. However, this weekend I had to get home to whip up some snacks for a friend's potluck birthday picnic, so there was no time for the bubbly. Not wanting to break my new tradition, I decided to have a glass that afternoon instead. While at the market I picked up a bunch of delicious kumquats and figured they'd make a great addition to the bubbly. While looking for a bit of inspiration, I came across this recipe for a Kumquat Champagne cocktail and knew it was the right recipe for me. To check it out, read more

Kumquat Champagne Cocktail
From The Surreal Gourmet

10 kumquats - 8 whole, 2 sliced
3 oz Cointreau
3 tbsp sugar
1 bottle champagne

Combine whole kumquats, Cointreau and sugar in a bowl. Use a blunt instrument to smash the kumquats and blend with the other ingredients. Let sit for 30 minutes. Strain off the solids and pour one ounce of liquid into each champagne flute. Top with champagne and garnish with a kumquat slice.

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Come Party With Me: Harvest Party - Drinks

partysugar — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 15:00:48 -0700

During the main meal at my harvest-themed dinner party, I'll pair the chicken and risotto with wine. However, before we sit down to the table, I want to treat guests to a luxurious champagne cocktail.

Since a punch easily quenches the thirst of a crowd, I'll be mixing a large bowl of classic champagne punch. The cocktail gets its rosy hue from chambord, a raspberry-flavored liquor.

With the poached pear dessert, I'll let guests sip a sweet late harvest wine. To check out the recipe I'll be using for the punch, keep reading.

Yum Market Finds: Cocktail Time

partysugar — Fri, 13 Apr 2007 14:28:39 -0700

You know I am a fan of specialty cocktails served in specialty glasses. Like the right outfit for a certain occasion, the right glass is necessary for a certain drink. Not just for aesthetic appeal, but because the drink actually tastes different, better. With that said, I ran across some pretty cool cocktail glasses recently in the Yum Market on TeamSugar. Take this beautiful blue champagne glass for example. I take one look at it and I instantly crave a bellini or mimosa. I wonder if atkoester thought the same thing when she found this flute?

Two more distinctive glasses so read more

Rubialala saved this golden goblet that would be ideal for a tall glass of beer or a refreshing mixed drink that includes ice like a lime rickey or pomtea spritzer.

I love these stemless martini glasses so much that I'm thinking about ordering a set! They set an immediate cool and tranquil mood and can make any martini from the manhattan to a limelight seem sophisticated and appetizing. Great find almost famous!

Please keep on sharing your kitchen-y bookmarks in the Yum Market!