Show Me the Chocolate

Editor’s Note: This guest blog is by J.K.O’Hanlon and features content from her newest book, “12 Happy Hours,” available on Amazon and wherever books are sold in soft-cover and eBook formats.  It features drink and food recipes with monthly themes and entertaining tips for casual, stress-free parties. O’Hanlon, a former corporate attorney, gets her ideas and inspiration from years of hosting cocktail gatherings in her suburban Kansas home; so many, in fact, that she has … Read more

Deck the Halls with Less-Frizzled Hosts

by J.K. O’Hanlon, author of “12 Happy Hours (Thirsty Jane Guides)” and “3 Ingredient Cocktails”

This is the time of year when the calendar pages for the next few months are red-lined with parties, making December through January look like they’re on fire. It’s a love-hate stretch of time, especially for hosts coming up with new ideas for drinks and food without pulling zombie-marathons in the kitchen.

I always suggest keeping it simple by … Read more

Sparkling Stolichnaya Blueberry Bramble

Ingredients:

1 oz. Stoli Blueberi Vodka
3 / 4 oz. fresh lemon juice
1 oz white cranberry juice
16 Blueberries
Lemon Twist
Sparkling wine to top the cocktail

Directions:

In mixing glass, muddle 12 blueberries and lemon juice.
Add remaining ingredients except sparkling wine. Shake with ice and
strain into a rocks glass over fresh ice. Top with sparkling wine. Serve in a rocks glass with a blueberry skewer and lemon twist.

* recipe courtesy … Read more

The Hendrick’s Holiday Fix

Ingredients:

1 oz. Hendrick’s gin
1 oz. St-Germain liqueur
3 / 4 oz. lemon juice
1 / 2 oz. simple syrup
Sparkling wine
Lemon wedge

Directions:

Combine all ingredients except sparkling wine in mixing glass. Shake with ice and roll into Collins glass. Top with sparkling wine. Garnish with a lemon wedge.

* recipe courtesy of Celebrity Cruises… Read more