Let the countdown begin. Only three days left in 2011 – are you ready to ring in the New Year? To help get you in the celebrating spirit, we tested out our bartending skills and four celeb chef-created libations. Hey, it’s a tough job. So get gussied up, pop some bubbly, make a resolution and cheers with the cocktails below!
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Frozen Grapetini by Giada De Laurentiis
Makes 4 servings
Giada – you’ve done it again. Simple and sweet, this grape-infused vodka cocktail is delightfully light and lemon-y.
What You’ll Need
12 seedless green grapes
1 large lemon, zested and halved
Coarse sugar
1 ¼ cups white grape juice
3/4 cup vodka
Ice
4 cocktail picks
What You’ll Do
1. Thread 3 grapes onto each cocktail pick and freeze until ready to serve, at least 2 hours.
2. In a shallow bowl, mix together the lemon zest and coarse sugar.
3. Moisten the rims of 4 martini glasses with lemon. Dip the rims of the glasses into the lemon-sugar.
4. Squeeze the juice from the lemon into a pitcher and add the grape juice and vodka. Fill a cocktail shaker with ice. Pour 1/2 of the vodka mixture into the cocktail shaker and shake for 20 seconds. Pour into 2 of the prepared glasses.
5. Repeat with the remaining vodka mixture. Place a cocktail pick into each glass and serve.
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Champagne Ginger Cocktail by Ted Allen
Makes 8 servings
Ted Allen – the Emmy Award-winning host of Food Network’s “Chopped” – combines sugar and spice in this sweet cocktail. Perfect for a New Year’s Eve partygoer who appreciates a kick!
What You’ll Need
Ginger-Infused Simple Syrup:
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup sliced ginger (about 2 ounces)
1/2 cup vodka
Cocktail and Garnish
2 tablespoons sugar
1 lemon, sliced into wedges
3 tablespoons candied ginger, cubed for garnish
1 bottle chilled sparkling wine
What You’ll Do
1. For the syrup: Simmer water, sugar and sliced ginger in a small saucepan for 10 minutes. Remove the saucepan from heat and stir in vodka. Chill for 2 hours or overnight. When ready to serve, strain to remove the ginger pieces.
2. For the garnish: Spread the sugar into a thin layer on a plate. Coat the rim of the glass with the juice from the lemon wedge and immediately dredge in the plate of sugar. Add a few pieces of candied ginger to each glass.
3. Pour 1 tablespoon of the ginger-infused simple syrup over the ginger pieces and top with the sparkling wine until the glass is 2/3 full.
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Pear and Sparking Cider Cocktail by Martha Stewart
Makes 8 servings
Martha Stewart needs no introduction. Her earthy cider cocktail has just the right amount of whiskey to warm you up on a winter night.
What You’ll Need
2 cups pear nectar, chilled
2 cups sparkling apple cider, chilled
2 cups seltzer, chilled
1/2 cup bourbon whiskey
1 Bosc pear, unpeeled, cored and cut lengthwise into 8 wedges
What You’ll Do
1. Stir together pear nectar, cider, seltzer and whiskey in a pitcher. Divide pear wedges among glasses and pour in cocktail.
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Frozen Peach Champagne Cocktail by Rachael Ray
Makes 4 servings
Rachael Ray – Emmy Award-winning host, author and energetic culinary guru — creates an easy-to-make slushy for grownups. An absolute must-have for New Year’s morning.
What You’ll Need
1/4 cup sugar, to rim glasses
1 pint peach sorbet
2 shots Triple Sec, Grand Marnier or Cointreau
1/3 bottle chilled champagne or sparkling wine
Optional: raspberries and 4 sprigs mint
What You’ll Do
1. Place a shallow bowl of water alongside a shallow bowl with 1/4 cup sugar in it. Dip 4 cocktail glasses in water, then sugar to rim glass.
2. Place 4 scoops peach sorbet in blender. Add 2 shots orange liqueur. Fill blender with champagne to maximum fill line or up to 1-inch from top of blending pitcher. Place cover on blender tightly.
3. Blend until smooth and pour into cocktail glasses. Careful! Don’t wreck the pretty sugar rims. Garnish with a few raspberries and a sprig of mint and serve.
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to see our bar-tending skills in action
