Cranberry Champagne and a White Elephant Party

So, I had a White Elephant Party last night. In short, it was awesome. I included a couple pictures from the night so you could get a feel for the party. That's my friend Melissa kissing her "Santa" husband, Shawn. And that's me in the bottom picture to the left with my friends Angie and Danielle. This party did not seem like it was going to happen in the days leading up to it. Well, I knew it HAD to happen, but people were canceling and rsvp-ing "no" left and right. (Oh, you're passing a kidney stone? Bummer. You're teaching dance lessons tonight? Dang! You forgot you were hosting bible study at your house? We will miss you! Your husband has to work till 8pm? Oh my, I really wish you could come, but, I understand. No babysitters available? really? You just started a major detox and have stuff coming out both ways? Oh, man! That's sick, but at least you have a fantastic excuse. You just want to stay home with the family? Oh. You are going to do family movie night instead? Oh. You have been too busy lately and need to be home for the weekend? OK, WTF is going on here anyway? Did I possibly pick THE ABSOLUTE WORST DAY OF THE YEAR to have this party? Wheres the holiday spirit?) And, when I thought about who, exactly was for sure going to come it made me nervous. Not because I don't love everyone, but because they all didn't know each other. There were some essential "glue" people that we not going to come to help and tie it all together. I thought it might be an awkward party. I am not a huge fan of awkward parties, let alone of throwing them, so I was sort of concerned.

With help from my sister, I decided to let it all go and just enjoy the day. I mean, I really liked everyone coming and was confident they would in turn, all like each other. Plus my best friends would be there to serve as a buffer. My sister reminded me that one of the points of having a party was so you could mingle and meet people. Uh-duh, yes. Why didn't I think of that? In the end, I preferred it just as it was. I talked longer to people I might not have if I had more people over. Even then, there are people I wished I would have talked to more because I enjoyed their company so. Originally, I had in mind a huge party with lots of people and commotion and laughter and memories. In the end, I had a party with 20 people and commotion and laughter, memories and cranberry champagne. It was perfect and merry and this Champagne was the definite drink of choice for the night. We actually ran out. Ouch, party foul numero uno! Luckily it was at the end of the night (11:30pm-ish) so it was pardoned.

This is really simple to make but I recommend it for this time of the year because it's festive and red and apparently, it makes people with little kids stay out till midnight, laughing and giddy saying to hell with the babysitter costs, let's have another!

Cranberry Champagne

makes enough for 8 glasses of champagne

1 cup fresh cranberries

4 tablespoons water or cranberry juice

1 tablespoon sugar

Champagne

Combine the cranberries, water or juice and sugar together in a small sauce pan and cook over medium-low heat until cranberries have mostly all popped (about 5 minutes or so). You should have a cranberry sauce of sorts. Cool and set aside until ready to use. The mixture will thicken upon standing. Pour glasses of champagne, adding about a tablespoon of the cranberry mixture to each glass. Enjoy!

Thanks to everyone who came last night! I had a ball and can't wait to do it again!

Texas White Sangria

Sangria is one of my favorite cocktails during summer. It's usually made with red wine instead of white. I love both, but something about the crispness of a cold sauvignon blanc with fruit won out this time around. My friend Sally made this once when I came to dinner one night. She made both a red and white version and I was struck at how much I liked the white version. I asked for the recipes immediately, and I can honestly say there is no need to ever try another sangria recipe again. This is it. This is ultimate.

The drink itself is a refreshing blend of white wine (I used savignon blanc as I think it best compliments a sangria) fresh fruit and club soda, with undertones of mint and cinnamon. You make a simple syrup with sugar and water with fresh mint and cinnamon sticks and let them simmer together to make a flavored tea of sorts. When you go to actually make the drink, you mix the wine with cinnamon-mint simple syrup mixture and the chopped fruit together and let it sit for a couple hours and up to overnight in the refrigerator so that the wine tastes of fruit and the fruit tastes of wine. You add the club soda later, just before serving.

This drink is a bit on the sweet side, but welcomingly so in my opinion. I'm not a huge sweet drink fan, but somehow this combo works for me. If you are worried about the sweetness, just add about 3/4 of the simple syrup in and taste. If you like it how it is, leave it. If you want it sweeter add the rest in. It's easy to tailor it to your tastes.

Texas White Sangria

adapted from Southern Living

1 1/3 cups water

1/2 cup sugar

3 (3-inch) cinnamon sticks

1 cup fresh mint leaves, divided

1 (750-mililiter) bottle dry white wine

1 lemon, sliced

1 orange, sliced

2 peaches, peeled and sliced

2 cups club soda, chilled

Bring first 3 ingredients and 1/2 cup mint leaves to a boil in a saucepan medium heat. Reduce heat, and simmer 5 minutes. Remove from the heat, and cool. Cover and let stand up to 8 hours, if desired. Remove cinnamon sticks an place them in the sangria pitcher and discard the mint leaves.

Combine the sugar mixture, remaining 1/2 cup mint leaves, wine, and next 3 ingredients in the large pitcher with the cinnamon sticks. Chill overnight, if desired (and at least 4 hours) Stir in club soda before serving. Serve over ice.

Makes about 6 servings

Although the original recipe says it is enough for 10 servings. I strongly disagree.

I made this for a gathering at my house a week or so ago and it's kind of funny because I underestimated the amount I would need and made too little. When the pitcher was half empty and it was clear it would be gone soon, I quickly poured in more wine and club soda, so it watered the fruitiness down a bit but seriously, it was still so good. I don't recommend this but good to know if your in a pinch and need to stretch it!

Cassis a l' Eau

Cassis, ah what? Let's just call this one cassis (cass-cease) shall we? Or in other words the best -middle-of-the-day-cocktail ever. Not that much drinking goes on in the middle of the day around here, except for iced tea but on rare occasion, I'm not exactly opposed. This drink fits the bill perfectly. It's very low alcohol and fruity and sweet and cold and pink and French. It's too cute for words. I'm not a huge sweet fan when it comes to alcoholic beverages, but I really don't mind this because its so refreshing.

Cassis is used for champagne cocktails most notably. If you were to mix a scant teaspoon into your bubbles you would have a Kir. If you used Chambord (raspberry liqueur) instead of Cassis it would be a Kir Royale. You get the point. The French serve this drink which is cassis mixed with water for another excuse to drink in the afternoon without getting too drunk. Quite funny if you ask me, but hey, whatever works.

OK, so this is sort of a cop-out "recipe" because it's only cassis, which is black currant liqueur and water but I'm telling you, I was so impressed that I just had to share it with you. It would be great at a brunch or wedding shower or if you are hanging out in the middle of the day with Danielle Heit, er, or one of your friends and doing absolutely nothing but watching your little ones tattle and hit each other with trucks while trying to force an apology while the other little boy is screaming in the corner. No wonder we were ready for cocktails!

Cassis a l' Eau

adapted from Barefoot in Paris

Makes 1 drink

6 tablespoons creme de cassis liqueur

3/4 cup water

ice

Fill a tumbler with ice. Pour in the cassis and water and stir

How chic is that? And I love Danielle's wedding ring in this pic!