Champagne

Colorful Salute to the New YearCranberry Champagne CocktailHeres a great adaption of the traditional glass of champagne to bring in the New Year. Not only tasty, it's a colorful departure from tradition. Tyler Florence - Food Network 1 -ounce cranberry juice (sweetened)1 wedge limeChampagne or sparkling wineCranberries (frozen)In a chilled Champagne flute add cranberry juice and a squeeze of lime. Top off the glass with Champagne. Garnish with 3 or 4 cranberries. This is one of my favorite ways to convert Champagne into a delightful holiday drink. It adds just a tad of sweetness and color. Feel free to adapt this. Substitute a cube of sugar instead of the cranberries. No lime wedge? Use an orange slice. It's your party. You make the rules!If you need something to store a few bottles of wine or maybe Champagne, check with the professionals at Universal Appliance and Kitchen Center. Here's an example of a 6 bottle wine cooler from Vinotemp.Vinotemp EPCV006Vinotemp Cavanova 6-Bottle Thermoelectric Wall-Mounted Wine CoolerConveniently store and display 6 of your favorite wines in this sleek wall-mounted wine cooler by Cavanova. Utilizing eco-friendly thermoelectric technology, this all black cooler operates quietly with little vibration. A user friendly digital touch screen control panel located on the left side of the door allows you to adjust the temperature of the cooler for reds and whites. Organizing bottles inside this cooler is simple; each bottle has its own compartment making it easy to choose which wine to serve your guests.For all your needs with

Valentine Drinks: Cosmopolitans two ways Cosmopolitan Cocktail or Champagne Cosmopolitan I love Martinis. For Valentine's Day I'd happily choose a pink version of the Martini - The Cosmopolitan. But, my wife would prefer a Champagne Cosmopolitan. Which version do you think we'll be drinking? Here's my favorite recipe for a Cosmopolitan: Cosmopolitan INGREDIENTS 8 ounces (1 cup) vodka 3 ounces (1/3 cup) triple sec or cointreau 3 ounces (1/3 cup) cranberry juice cocktail 3 ounces freshly squeezed lemon juice (1 large or 2 small lemons) 4 2-inch lemon peels/twists PREPARATIONPour all ingredients except lemon peels into a pitcher.Fill a large cocktail shaker 1/4 full with ice. Pour approximately 1/2 of the mixture (two servings) into the shaker. Shake vigorously for about 30 seconds. It's important to have a well-chilled drink. Then strain into martini glasses and add lemon twist garnish. Note: I like to chill my glasses. I put them in the freezer or stick them in an ice bucket ahead of time.Here's my wife's favorite Valentine's drink, the Champagne Cosmopolitan: Champagne Cosmopolitan INGREDIENTS 8 ounces Cointreau or Triple Sec (Grand Marnier will also do nicely) 8 ounces cranberry juice cocktail 1/2 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice 2 tablespoons fine or extrafine granulated sugar 4 cups chilled Champagne or other sparkling wine PREPARATIONStir together Cointreau, juices, and sugar and chill, covered, 2 to 6 hours. Fill 2/3 of champagne flutes with the mixture, and top off with Champagne to serve.Serves 6-8. Choose your favorite and enjoy a special Valentine's Day.