Cooking Lesson #196 The Happy New Year Cocktail

The 2020 Holidays Recipe Collection

How you doin’? Over the last 9 months we’ve asked that question every weekday and now we’re starting a new year— 2021. We want to ring in the New Year on a Happy Hour note.
 
We originally planned to write this blog for a couple of weeks helping those people on lockdown create some different types of meals for their families. In the beginning we had a bent for Instant Pot recipes. But as the pandemic continued, we expanded the format to present different cooking methods. We soon added Happy Hour Fridays and broadened into bakery goods and confections. Quite frankly, it helped us keep our sanity while being locked down ourselves.
 
Last month we found out that our office building of 34 years was sold and the new owners wanted to take on the top floor for their own use. Our lease was up at the end of January anyway, so we have moved into a new facility—more on that later.
 
But for now, thank you all for participating in our daily endeavors during 2020. Thank you for taking pictures and sending in your own recipes to share with others. To our hospitality and entertainment clients (you know who you are) who have been experiencing severe hardships during 2020, we hope that you are able to quickly recover as you always have. Those of us in this industry have experienced hardships in the past and we always make it through. To all of you… we wish you good health for 2021. May God bless us all. Happy New Year!
 
Now… let’s celebrate New Year’s with a special Champagne Cocktail. Take a Champagne Cocktail,  eliminate the sugar, add some ruby port and fresh orange juice and have a "Happy New Year." It really is the name of this fantastic drink and it is an ideal way to ring in the New Year.
 
As Champagne cocktails go, this one has a little more depth than most and that is what makes it interesting. The port wine and orange juice bring in fantastic fruit notes that play wonderfully against the brandy and sparkling wine.
 
Prep time:  3 minutes
Yield:  2 cocktails
 
Ingredients
2 ounces brandy
1 ounce ruby port
1 ounce orange juice (I prefer freshly-squeezed OJ)
6 ounces Champagne
 
Directions

1. Pour the brandy, port, and orange juice into a cocktail shaker filled with ice.
2. Shake it like you mean it.
3. Strain into two Champagne flutes.
4. Top with Champagne (split the amount between the two glasses).
5. Serve.

ChefSecret:  One of the better combinations we've found is Sandeman's 10 Year Old Port (actually, a tawny port, though they make a great ruby port as well) with fresh-squeezed orange juice, Korbel Brandy and Moet & Chandon Imperial Brut Champagne. However, we really have yet to find a bad combination because this is simply a great cocktail no matter what you pour.
 
This fantastic drink can fit into any budget. There are great options in every price range for the brandy, ruby port, and Champagne/Sparkling Wine. You can spend as much or as little as you like and have a fantastic drink to serve and enjoy.

Covid-19 Quip of the Day:  “After nine months of home-schooling, my wife and I decided we didn’t want to have children. We’ll be telling them tonight at dinner.”
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Here is wishing you the very best for the holidays. To you and everyone dear to you, be strong and positive, stay well and safe and be kind to others. If you have a little extra in your pockets to share with others at this difficult time, please consider donating to Feeding America. Thanks for reading.

#Cocktail #HappyHour #HappyNewYear #ChampagneCocktail #RubyPort #Sandemans #Champagne #OJ #HolidayRecipes #Holidays2020 #QuarantineKitchen #Covid19 #FeedingAmerica #PerspectivesTheConsultingGroup 

                                            ©Perspectives/The Consulting Group, Inc., 2020

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