Christmas Cheer!

(Pomegrante Cosmopolitans - Ho, Ho, Ho!)

With the Christmas season quickly approaching,I am dusting off some of my favorite cocktail recipes and searching for new ones to add to the mix.  My standby, classic Cosmopolitan is compliments of Ina Garten, better known as the Barefoot Contessa.  Yes, she was best known for sconces and pastries, but Ina's cookbooks deliver fantastic and simple recipes that are sure to please!  Note to file: I noticed that chefs have great cocktail recipes AND boy, can they drink! Ina, Ina, Ina... When your quantities of alcohol are measured in cups rather than ounces...

Regardless, every Christmas this timeless drink gets two thumbs up from family and friends, and one major hangover if it is not respected!  The recipe below serves four, though my experience has been closer to six, seven, eight...

Pomegrante Cosmopolitans

Ingredients


2 cups (16 ounces) good vodka (recommended: Stolichnaya or Finlandia)

1 cup (8 ounces) orange liqueur (recommended: Cointreau)

1 cup (8 ounces) pomegranate juice (recommended: Pom Wonderful)

1/2 cup freshly squeezed lime juice (3 limes)

Lime peel strips, to garnish

Directions

Combine the vodka, orange liqueur, pomegranate juice, and lime juice in a pitcher and refrigerate until ready to use. Pour the mixture into frozen martini glasses with a twist of lime peel and serve immediately.

Saludos!