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Party libations with a plus: festive colors

By ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published December 28, 2005

To go well with everything at your New Year's party and help cut through the sugar rush, cocktails should be mildly sweet and acidic. Cranberry juice-based drinks are a nice choice and have the benefit of being festively colored.

This year, try a cranberry, tangerine and pomegranate Champagne punch and a cherry martini, the idea being that only the martini will require actual bartending once guests arrive.

Cherry Martini

1/2 teaspoon cherry-flavored syrup

1 maraschino cherry

2 teaspoons chopped papaya or mango

1 ounce vodka

Small ice cubes or crushed ice

Pour the cherry-flavored syrup in a martini glass and place the cherry on top. Top with papaya or mango. Carefully pour the vodka over the fruit. Top with a bit of ice.

Makes 1 serving.

Recipe from Better Homes and Gardens magazine, December 1999.

Cranberry, Tangerine and Pomegranate Champagne Punch With Fresh Cranberry Swizzle Sticks

12-ounce package fresh cranberries

1 bunch fresh mint leaves

2 cups pomegranate juice

3 cups tangerine juice (about 7 tangerines)

5 cups cranberry juice cocktail

2 bottles chilled champagne (or other sparkling wine)

To make swizzle sticks, spear three cranberries alternately with two mint leaves on wooden skewers. Prepare 15 to 20 skewers and place on a baking sheet. Cover with damp paper towels and refrigerate up to one hour.

In a large punch bowl or pitcher, stir together the fruit juices. Fill glasses with ice and ladle about 1/2 cup punch into each glass. Top with champagne. Garnish each glass with a swizzle stick.

Makes 20 servings.

-- Recipe from Martha Stewart Living magazine, January 2005.

[Last modified December 27, 2005, 17:10:04]