The year is coming to a close and the biggest party of the year is still to come! New Year’s Eve – celebrating the old and ringing in the new. And… let’s just say this usually involves at least a cocktail or two.

I have some great ways to give you a good start for the New Year, even if you do over-indulge a bit the night before.

My go-to cure is my Hangover Helper. Just empty a packet of Emergen C – (I like orange or raspberry) – into a juice glass and add a little vodka (or gin if you’re so inclined), a dash of bitters, and soda water. Top with a few drops of olive oil – yep, that’s right… Drink up!

My Hangover Helper works…I swear!
(Photo from Kathy Casey’s Sips & Apps, Chronicle Books – Angie Norwood Browne)

New Year’s Day entertaining? A Bloody Mary Bar for brunch will definitely help with that headache – with a little hair of the dog! Set up a DIY station and let your guests mix up their own concoctions. Put out different spirits (vodka, whiskey, tequila, gin, etc.), my go-to housemade Balsamic Bloody Mary mix, hot sauce, and lots of garnish goodies from pickled veggies to shrimp to beef jerky.

And don’t forget to eat! Boosting your metabolism will make you feel better faster than anything. And for some reason, a bacon sandwich sometimes can be the magic cure. You’ll feel better in no time!
Happy New Year’s! –Kathy

Hangover Helper
Emergen-C gives you a C- and B-vitamin boost and replaces some lost electrolytes, vodka is a little “hair of the dog,” bitters is a digestif, soda supplies bubbles, and the olive oil . . . well, an old bootlegger once told me that a small spoonful was good for coating a morning-after stomach.

Makes 1 drink

1 packet raspberry- or orange-flavored Emergen-C
1 oz vodka or gin
2 dashes Angostura bitters
4 oz chilled soda water
1 tsp. extra-virgin olive oil (optional)

Empty the packet of Emergen-C into an old-fashioned or juice glass. Measure in the vodka. Add the bitters and soda water and stir. Top with olive oil if desired. Drink and feel better!

Recipe from Kathy Casey’s Sips & Apps, Chronicle Books.

Holiday party planning in the works? Need some cocktails for a crowd? I’m here to help with some great drink ideas, so you won’t have to be tied to the bar and have lots of time to be merry with your guests.

It’s all about “pre-batching” and planning. First, write up your cocktail/beverage menu. Pick 1-2 signature cocktail recipes and supplement with red wine and champagne. Be sure to have something festive for the designated drivers as well.

Who’s ready for my Festive Sparkling Rum Punch?

How about a Festive Sparkling Rum Punch – made with rum, brandy, fresh juices, and homemade spiced syrup. You can make this up to a week in advance and refrigerate. Then, whip out that punch bowl from the closet and serve over a fun ice ring and finish it with champagne. Yum!

For the non-imbiber, my Rosemary POM Holiday Sparkle is a cheery combination of fresh rosemary, tangerines, pomegranate juice and sparkling apple cider.

For a demo on how to make the Hot Buttered Egg Nog Mix,
check out www.LiquidKitchen.com

Finish off the evening with a batch of my Hot Buttered Eggnog Mix. The secret ingredient… is vanilla ice cream! Just add rum and hot water. Great to sip on while sharing stories around the fireplace.

So don’t fret this holiday season – just make sure to plan ahead! –Kathy

Festive Sparkling Rum Punch
This punch is great to make ahead and then just add bubbles right before serving. Make a festive ice-ring to chill the punch, or serve over large ice balls – there are lots of molds available on line.

Makes about 16 – 20 servings

Spiced Syrup
2 cups water
2 cups sugar
12 each whole cloves
1/4 tsp. ground nutmeg
1/2 tsp. ground allspice
2 cinnamon sticks, broken up

Punch
3 cups gold rum
1 cup brandy or cognac
1 cup guava or passion fruit nectar
1 cup pomegranate juice
1 cup fresh orange juice
1 cup fresh lemon juice
1 1/2 teaspoon Peychaud’s or Angostura bitters

——————————————————–

1 bottle brut sparkling wine or champagne, chilled

To make the syrup: combine syrup ingredients in a medium sauce pan over medium-high heat. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer slowly for about 3 minutes. Remove pan from heat and let cool to room temperature before proceeding with recipe. Or you can prepare the syrup up to a week in advance and store refrigerated.

To make the punch: in a large punch bowl (or large container such as a stock pot or pitcher) combine the Spiced Syrup, rum, brandy, juices and bitters. Stir to combine. (At this point you can refrigerate the punch for up to 3 days in advance)

Present in a large punch bowl. Add sparkling wine/champagne right before serving. Serve punch in an old fashioned glass over ice or large ice balls.

Recipe by Kathy Casey Liquid Kitchen® – www.LiquidKitchen.com

Rosemary Pom Holiday Sparkle
Fresh rosemary’s herbal essence complements the tangy flavor of the clementine and the sweetness of the sparkling cider. When making this in the Middle East, I substituted sparkling date cider instead of the apple cider! It was fantastic!

Makes 1 drink

1 sprig fresh rosemary
1/4 or 1/2 of a clementine or mandarin, depending on size
1 1/2 oz pomegranate juice
3 oz sparkling apple cider
Garnish: fresh rosemary sprig

Bend 1 rosemary sprig and drop into a cocktail shaker. Squeeze in the clementine then drop in. Measure in the pomegranate juice. Fill the shaker with ice. Cap and shake vigorously. Pour into a tall glass. Top with the cider and stir. Garnish with a rosemary sprig. (Or, you can shake the drink in the cocktail shaker, then add the sparkling cider and strain the drink into a tall champagne flute for a more elegant look.)

Recipe by Kathy Casey Liquid Kitchen® – www.LiquidKitchen.com

Hot Buttered Egg Nog with Rum
Combining two holiday favorites! Add more or less to taste; rum and Spiced Eggnog Mix.
Makes 1 drink

3-4 Tbsp. Buttered Eggnog Mix (recipe follows)
1-1 1/2 oz spiced rum
4-5 oz boiling water
Garnish: fresh grated nutmeg, long piece of orange or Clementine

Place Eggnog Buttered Brandy Mix and rum in coffee glass or mug. Stir in boiling water until batter is dissolved. Grate fresh nutmeg over the top. Garnish with orange zest.

Buttered Eggnog Mix
Makes about 7 cups (about 30 – 36 servings)

1/2 pound salted butter (2 sticks), softened
1 Tbsp. finely minced orange zest
1 1/2 cups packed light brown sugar
1 3/4 cups powdered sugar
1 pint very high-quality vanilla ice cream
1 cup high-quality eggnog
1 Tbsp. real vanilla extract
1 Tbsp. ground nutmeg
1/4 tsp. ground cinnamon
1 tsp. rum extract

Be sure butter is softened. With an electric mixer; cream butter, orange zest and sugars together in a mixing bowl until totally smooth. Add remaining ingredients and mix until thoroughly combined. Store refrigerated for up to 1 week, or frozen for up to 1 month.

Recipe by Kathy Casey Liquid Kitchen® – www.LiquidKitchen.com

The holidays are right around the corner! And I have a few d’lish ideas for your favorite foodie. Try making a local themed basket filled with handcrafted NW goods!

First a Sweet Basket: local chocolate bars, honey, salted caramel and unique preserves, and cute little spoons to serve them up with. Don’t forget to tuck in one of my “Over 21” Real Fruit Cakes made with Maker’s Mark – bourbon-soaked fruits and toasted nuts bound in a spice batter and topped with a brown sugar-bourbon glaze – yowza!

A great basket or stocking stuffer – my “Over 21” Real Fruit Cakes made with Maker’s Mark!
Available for purchase online or bought at the Food Studios (Monday-Friday, 9 AM – 5 PM)

Next a Savory basket: local cheeses, cool pickles from the market, herbed flat bread, and dried fruits, add some fun cheese identification markers and a cool little wooden cutting board and it’ll be a hit!

For a Boozy Basket: package up a bottle of local spirit like one of our Washington herbaceous gins or Glass Honey Vodka (one of my faves), tuck in a couple of cool cocktail glasses, and a bottle of unique local bitters.

For more inspiration, make sure to check out KnackShops.com a local based custom gift side for even more creative basket ideas.

Don’t fret – get creative! -Kathy