Perfect Harmony Cocktail #CocktailParty

We hosted our Choir Christmas Party last Thursday.  We have our final practice before Christmas at one of the members homes.  Everyone brings a dish, we eat, drink, socialize and practice the songs we will be singing before Mass when we have the carol sing along and during Mass when we celebrate the birth of our Savior.

It is always a good time and we love hosting.  Frank always tends bar.  His Milky Way Martinis are always the most requested at this party.  I think folks wait all year long to enjoy these dessert like drinks.

This year our friend, John, had Frank make him a drink that he had enjoyed at a party over the weekend.  This party had hired a bartender and he had prepared a drink using vodka, orange juice, cranberry juice and grenadine.  The bartender said he didn't know what the name of the drink was but John really enjoyed it.

Friday, we spent the day cleaning up after the party, finishing our Christmas shopping and running errands.  That evening, after dinner, Frank made up the cocktail he had been serving John and told me the story behind it.

The cocktail was delicious and I was thrilled because as I was sipping away I remembered that my friend Ellen, of Family Around the Table, was hosting a Cocktail Party today!!

I love when life works out like that.  I hadn't originally planned on attending this party.  I had the special edition of Muffin Monday posting going live today and it is Day 3 of Countdown to 2018.

I thought that was plenty enough on my plate, or in my glass as the case might be.  However, I am not one to look a gift horse in the mouth.  I enjoyed the cocktail with Frank and then put him to work making us another so that I could get photos.....well, actually, he took the photos too.  He is wonderful like that!

While we enjoyed our second cocktail we started trying to think of a name.  Frank thought of Harmony since it was discovered during the choir party....I added the Perfect and when you try  this cocktail you will see why.

Perfect Harmony Cocktail

1 jigger vodka
3 oz. orange juice
3 oz. cranberry juice
splash of grenadine
orange slice and maraschino cherry for garnish, if desired

Fill a shaker full of ice.  Add the vodka and both juices.  Shake to combine and strain into an ice cube filled glass.  Drizzle in the grenadine, it will sink to the bottom giving you the red layer.  Garnish and serve. Print Recipe

More Cocktails and Mocktails

   

• Cranberry Apple Cider Sparkler by The Redhead Baker
    
• Cranberry Key Lime Mimosa by Family Around the Table
   
• Mincemeat Manhattan by A Kitchen Hoor’s Adventures
   
• Sparkling Cranberry Sangria by Bear and Bug Eats
   
• Strawberry Ginger Champagne Cocktail by Cindy’s Recipes and Writings
   

Cheers!!!! We are celebrating #AppleWeek.

Welcome to Apple Week, where Ellen of Family Around the Table and Carlee of  Cooking with Carlee, have invited several of us to post our favorite apple recipes according to a theme chosen for each day.

Today is Monday so we are celebrating with Drinks and Appetizers.  It's like a potluck and each of us has brought either a drink or an app to share.  You will find all of our goodies at the bottom of this post.  But the fun doesn't stop here....we are going all week long!!  Here are our themes for each day.

• Monday- Appetizers and Drinks
• Tuesday- Mains and Sides
• Wednesday- Sweets
• Thursday- Decorations, Crafts or Projects
• Friday-Anything Apple 

You can see that it is going to be a great party.  You are going to want to scroll to the bottom of each post where you will find links to the others who are joining in the fun. I will be here each and every day but I won't be posting on Thursday as we are in the process of moving and I have already packed up all of my craft supplies.

I have recently gotten a Vitamix for my birthday and my first thought was to make homemade apple juice but what the heck kinda party is that!!!  I'll save it for when my Angel Face comes to visit.  So I went to my bartender extraordinaire, who also happens to be my husband, and asked him to create me an apple drink that did not contain apple schnapps or apple liqour of any sort because I think it tastes fake and it makes me gag.  

So when we were out for a drive one day we stopped by the cider mill and picked up some cider, apples and donuts.....yes I know they are not on my eating plan....but they had just come out of the fryer and were still warm!!! They were shaken in cinnamon sugar and smelled so delicious.  We broke open the box the minute we got in the car.  I controlled myself and only had one but it was very difficult.....believe you me!

Frank created these while I was making dinner.  While dinner was simmering on the stove he handed me one as a pre-dinner cocktail.  Well....it is very decadent and sweet.....much better suited for an after dinner dessert so that is what we did.  Into the refrigerator it went and it was a perfect ending for a nice meal.

Caramel Apple Martini

created by Frank

3 jiggers apple cider

2 jiggers caramel vodka

ice

caramel syrup

cinnamon sugar

apple slices

Rim two glasses with caramel and then dip into cinnamon sugar. Place the cider and vodka into a cocktail shaker. Fill the shaker with ice and shake well to chill and combine.  Pour into prepared glasses and garnish with an apple slice.  

Print Recipe

Monday: Appetizers and Drinks

• Apple Brie Roll Up  by Family Around the Table
• Apple Cider Margaritas by A Palatable Pastime
• Apple Cheddar Pinwheels by Cooking With Carlee 
• Apple Pie Martini by Amy's Cooking Adventures
• Apple Pie Smoothie by Feeding Big
• Hot Fireball Apple Cider by Grumpy's Honeybunch
• Caramel Apple Float by Jolene's Recipe Journal 
• Caramel Apple Martini by A Day in the Life on the Farm 
• Caramel Appletini by The Speckled Palate 
• Crockpot Apple Sauce by I Say Nomato 
• Hot and Boozy Caramel Apple Cider by Love My Messy Messy Mess 
• Mulled Apple Shrub Mule by A Kitchen Hoor's Adventures 
• Red Hot Apple Cider by New South Charm
• Roasted Apple and Acorn Squash Soup by Caroline's Cooking 
• Slow Cooker Caramel Apple Cider by Hezzi-D's Books and Cooks

Tuesday: Main Dishes and Sides

• Apple Cheddar Grilled Cheese by A Kitchen Hoor's Adventures
• Apple Cider Bread by I Say Nomato 
• Apple-Glazed Pork Chops with Raisins by Love My Messy Messy Mess
• Apple Streusel Muffins by Family Around The Table
• Chicken Salad with Apples and Cranberries by Feeding Big
• Chopped Apple Salad by A Day in the Life on the Farm 
• Fall Apples Become Yummy Applesauce for the Year by Crafty Mama in ME 
• Harvest Brats with Apple Slaw by Corn, Beans, Pigs and Kids
• Sausage Stuffed Apples by A Palatable Pastime 
• Sage Pork Chops with Apple Pan Gravy by Amy's Cooking Adventures
• Scalloped Apples Casserole by Red Cottage Chronicles 
• Slow Cooker Apple Cider Pulled Pork by Cooking With Carlee
• Southern Style Fried Apples by New South Charm

Wednesday: Sweet Treats

• Apple and Nut Drop Cookies by A Day in the Life on the Farm 
• Apple Brown Betty by Corn, Beans, Pigs and Kids
• Apple Cider Caramel Sauce by Cooking With Carlee 
• Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal Bread by Feeding Big 
• Apple Dumplings by A Palatable Pastime
• Apple Oatmeal Cookies by Jolene's Recipe Journal 
• Apple Pie & Cinnamon Things by Crafty Mama in ME 
• Apple Pie in a Jar by Grumpy's Honeybunch 
• Apple Swirl Buns by A Kitchen Hoor's Adventures
• Baked Apples with Chocolate and Caramel by Hezzi-D's Books and Cooks 
• Brown Butter Apples by Cricket's Confections 
• Mini Apple Pie with Cheddar Crust by Amy's Cooking Adventures
• Nana's Apple Pie by The Crumby Cupcake 
• Sparkling Cider Pound Cake by Family Around The Table

Thursday: Apple Projects

• Apple Bacon Jam by Caroline's Cooking
• Apple Cinnamon Pancake Mix in a Jar by A Palatable Pastime
• Apple Cinnamon Stovetop Potpourri by Amy's Cooking Adventures
• Apple Suncatchers by Crafty Mama in ME
• Caramel Apple in a Jar by Family Around The Table
• Homemade Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal Packets by A Kitchen Hoor's Adventures
• Knit Apple Hat by Jolene's Recipe Journal

Friday: Anything Apple Goes

• 1 Minute Caramel Apple Dip by Corn, Beans, Pigs and Kids
• Apple Brown Betty by A Palatable Pastime
• Apple Bundt Cake With Cider Caramel by Cooking With Carlee 
• Apple Cinnamon Shortcakes by Jolene's Recipe Journal
• Apple Crisp Shortbread Bars by Hezzi-D's Books and Cooks 
• Apple Fritters by Grumpy's Honeybunch
• Apple Pie Skillet by A Day in the Life on the Farm
• Caramelized Apple and Bacon Jam Crostini by Caroline's Cooking
• Creamy Peanut Butter Apple Dip by New South Charm 
• Grilled Cheese Sandwich with Apple and Peppered Bacon by Feeding Big
• Individual Apple Crisp by Family Around The Table 
• Smoky Apple Pulled Pork by Amy's Cooking Adventures
• Slow Cooker Apple Butter by The Crumby Cupcake