New Year Drinks

It's almost New Year's Eve and, although Champange is nice to drink at midnight, you have to drink other things until then.  Here are some nice--and a little unusual--adult beverages (from Food Network Magazine) for you to enjoy tomorrow night (or any time).

CIDER PUNCH (serves 6)
INGREDIENTS
4 cups apple cider
1 cinnamon stick
3 whole cloves
Pinch of salt
1 orange (or more for garnish)
3/4 cup apple brandy or bourbon

• Combine cider, cinnamon, cloves and salt in a saucepan.  Halve the orange; squeeze the juice into the pan and add the peels.  Bring to a simmer, then reomve from the heat and let steep 10-15 minuts.  Strain into a pitcher and add brand or bourbon.  Chill at least 2 hours or overnight.  Serve in tall glasses on the rocks or reheat and serve warm in punch mugs.  Garnish with orange slices

COCOA COLADA (serves 4)
INGREDIENTS
2 (14-oz) cans coconut milk
1 cup water
1/2 cup sugar
8 oz milk chocolate, chopped
Coconut rum
Toasted coconut

• Bring coconut milk and water to a simmer over low heat.  Add sugar and chocolate.  Whisk to melt.  Spike with rum to taste and garnish with coconut.

MAMA'S LITTLE HELPER (serves 1)
INGREDIENTS
1 cucumber
1 1/4 oz gin
Splash fresh lime juice
Splash simple syrup
Chilled seltzer

• Slice a piece of cucumber and reserve for garnish.  Pell, halve and seed the remaining cucumber.  puree in a blender until smooth, then strain through a fine mesh sieve.
• Fill a highball glass 3/4 of the way with ice.  Add 2 oz cucumber puree, gin, lime juice and simple syrup.  (To make a batch of simple syrup, simmer equal parts sugar and water in a saucepan until the sugar dissolves, then cool.)  Fill the glass with seltzer and stir again.  Garnish with the reserved cucumber slice

CRANBERRY PUNCH PIZZAZZ (serves 18)
INGREDIENTS
8 cardamom pods
4 (4-inch) cinnamon sticks, broken
12 whole cloves
1 can (11.5 oz) frozen cranberry juice concentrate
4 cups merlot or other red wine
1/3 cup honey
Cranberries and orange slices for garnish

• Cut a 6" square from a double thickness of cotton cheesecloth to make a spice bag.  Pinch the cardamom pods to break.  Center the cardamom, cinnamon and cloves on the cheesecloth, bring up the corners and tie closed with clean kitchen string.
• In a slow cooker, mix juice concentrate with water according to the directions.  Stir in wine and honey; add the spice bag.  Cover and cook on low for 4-6 hours or on high 2-2 1/2 hours.  Remove and discard the spice bag.  Ladle the punch into glasses and garnish.

Have a safe, fun and delicous New Year's Eve!