Cranbellini

Hello everyone,

TGOC have been very busy celebrating with family and friends, being abroad and even moving house. We've been neglecting you and for that we are truly sorry but we will be back in full force in the New Year. To make up for our heinous blog related crimes we're going to give you a very seasonal recipe for you to enjoy and impress your guests tomorrow night. The clues in the name - it's a bellini but with cranberry instead of peach - and uses up leftover christmas stuff.

Cranbellini (serves 6)

1 bottle good champagne / prosecco
200g cranberries
50g caster sugar
100ml clementine juice (though you can use any other small, easily peelable citrus fruit)
sugar syrup to taste (equal parts sugar & water)

To make the purée:

• Put the cranberries, sugar and juice in a saucepan and simmer over a low heat until the cranberries are soft. 
• Zizz them up with a hand blender and strain the seeds etc out through a strainer (this can be done without the hand blender but is a bit more effort). 
• The mixture will be quite thick so lengthen with sugar syrup or more juice to taste - I like mine quite dry so tend to just add a bit of cold water. 
• Pop the purée into a little jug that's easy to pour from and chill in the fridge while waiting for guests to arrive.

To make the cocktail:

• Pour a little of the purée into a champagne flute (about 1/4 of the glass), top with the fizz and give it a quick stir.

Simple, elegant and delicious.

Happy New Year!

K&K xxx

Fizzy Piglet

In honour of The Lucky Pig launching tonight, TGOC has created a sparkly beverage to tickle you....erm...pink (what else?)!

Fizzy Piglet

• Grab a cocktail glass and get it nice and cold with some ice, leave it on the side to chill.
• Pour 50ml of vodka, and a dash of pineapple juice into a shaker along with some watermelon chunks
• muddle (that means smash into it with a tiny rolling pin or bar spoon) and top with ice
• shake really vigourously as this will give it a nice froth (that's what the pineapple does)
• Chuck the ice out of your chilled glass and strain the contents of the shaker into it
• Drizzle 25ml of chambord into the glass

where's the fizz bit?

• Serve with a shot of champagne on the side
• A fun but optional garnish is a cocktail stick with a cherry, a watermelon chunk and a twirl of red liqourish

This little piggy's off to Clipstone Street!

XXX

Something for the Weekend: Polish Slut

Friday was a busy day so I neglected my TGOC duties, but to make up for it, here’s an extra delicious drink to get you thought the weekend. Again, it’s very simple to make and looks really pretty. Apple and cherry is a classic flavour pairing and the bison grass infused in the vodka gives a less harsh taste that marries the two perfectly.

It’s perfect for getting you in the mood to go out, just as long as you don’t accidently knock it on the carpet when you’re attempting the single ladies dance in your bedroom.

Polish Slut

Pour 75ml of Zubrowka over ice and fill nearly to the top with apple juice. Add 15ml of cherry brandy (Heering is the best) and a squeeze of lime. Garnish with a lime wheel.

Best enjoyed through a straw – no idea why – just is.

Something for the Weekend

It's 5pm on Friday folks. Time to get your drink on.

One half of TGOC used to bartend through her uni days and has always been a keen amateur mixologist. Every Friday (that we have the time and inclination), Katy will post a recipe to kick-start your weekend. Frequently roped in to man the bar at parties for family, friends, colleagues and clients they promise to be as delicious as they are easy to make.

Our first concoction is my favourite to pull out at a BYOB party. With 4 basic ingredients built over ice it’s easy to make quickly so you can get back to working the room (read dancing like a doofus). It’s a hybrid of a classic Dark & Stormy and an apple pie shooter so if you like a fruity little number with a kick, this one’s for you.

American Pirate

Pour 50ml spiced rum over ice in a tumbler - I like Sailor Jerry or Kraken but you can use any brand (but not Captain Morgan’s as, frankly, it’s disgusting). Briefly squeeze 2-3 lime wedges and toss them in as visually it looks fancy. Fill the glass a quarter full with apple juice (long life / from concentrate is actually better than those you find in the chiller section, i like Princes...because of the name). Top with ginger beer and enjoy. Garnish with a lime wedge on the rim of the glass.

N.B. to really impress your fellow party goers shake some cinnamon into your glass while ‘flaming’ it with a lighter

Difficulty: no fiddly bits - just whack it all together.

Expense: pretty cheap as only one spirit, but for optimum taste go for the higher end rums.

Type: makes you feel a bit rock ‘n’ roll & boys won’t feel emasculated holding it.