Unwind with a Festive Pear Cocktail

As households wind down, with some preparing for an overnight pig roast and others wrapping gifts, a well-deserved cocktail is in order on this eve before Christmas. Amidst the hustle and bustle of the past two days filled with cooking, baking, errands, gift finalizations, and cleaning, the winding-down process has begun. As the late evening sets in, there are still a few tasks to complete, but a festive honey pear cocktail is the perfect way to kickstart the Christmas celebrations.

In the backdrop of a Christmas playlist and the warm glow of candles, I'm testing out tomorrow's outfit – a long glitter dress with an open back or a simple yet elegant champagne-colored silk gown. The air is uncertain globally, with many facing lockdowns and loneliness during the holidays. Let's take a moment to make those distant phone calls and extend a helping hand to those in need. My parents are opting for a quiet Christmas in the countryside, and despite the sadness, it's the responsible thing to do. This year has shown us the reality of uncertainty, and whether celebrating with loved ones or choosing to skip Christmas, let's be grateful for the small things.

Amidst the coziness of our house and the flickering lights of our stunning tree, I'm ready to sip on this honey-roasted pear cocktail I found on Pinterest, despite Siena having a puppy flu and a little coffee mishap with our linen curtains.

Ingredients:

• 5 pears, sliced in half

• 3-5 tablespoons honey

• 1 tbsp balsamic vinegar

• Pinch of cinnamon

• Pinch of ground nutmeg & ground clove

• 2 tbsp apple juice or water

• 1 tsp vanilla paste

• Sparkling wine

• Garnish: dried clementine slices & rosemary

• Brown sugar to coat the glass rims

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 200 degrees Celsius. Line a baking tray with a greased sheet.

2. Place the halved pears (remove stems) on the tray.

3. In a small bowl, whisk together 2 tbsp honey, 1 tbsp balsamic vinegar, cinnamon, and ground nutmeg. Brush this over the pears.

4. Bake for about 25 minutes until browned and soft.

5. Once cooled, remove the seeds with a spoon. Place into a blender with the vanilla paste and apple juice or water. Blitz into a puree.

6. Scoop the puree into a mason jar and refrigerate until served.

When ready to serve:

1. In a pitcher, combine some pear puree, a pinch of ground clove, 3 tablespoons of runny honey, and your choice of alcohol. Mix together.

2. Coat the cocktail glass rims with brown sugar by adding lemon to the sides and placing the rims into some brown sugar.

3. Pour the cocktail into the glasses and garnish with a twig of rosemary and a dried clementine slice.

Cheers to a delightful and relaxing pre-Christmas celebration!

Green Baubles & Pear Cocktails

Today has been all about finalising foods, gifts and preparations for tomorrow’s festivities. We went for a family dinner at a restaurant yesterday and we made some pear pre cocktails at home with my hubby. We also decorated the tree with more green toned baubles made from all kinds of textures. The tones range anywhere from olive greens to icy matte mint hues. I love how the greens look incorporated with the gold and silver that exists on the tree already. I can’t believe it’s Christmas eve tomorrow, now it’s finally time to sit down and enjoy the moment over some Christmas movies.

To assemble the cocktail

• Gin

• Pear nectar

• Sage and ginger syrup

• Ice

• Rim: brown sugar & butter

• Garnish: fresh sage leaves and star anise

Sage ginger syrup

• ¾ cup tablespoons white granulated sugar

• ¾ cup water

• 5 sage leaves

• 1 chuck ginger, peeled and diced

Combine the water and sugar in a small saucepan. Heat until the sugar has dissolved. Add the ginger and fresh sage leaves and cook for an additional 5 minutes. Turn off the heat and allow the ginger and sage to steep for 20minutes before discarding. Set aside.

Rim the cocktail glasses with brown sugar: press a bit of butter in between your fingers and spread it on the rim of the glass. Dip the edges in some brown sugar to create a coating around the sides.

To assemble a cocktail, fill the shaker with ice 1 egg white, 1 ounce of the sage ginger syrup, 2 ounces of gin and 5 ounces of pear nectar. Shake vigorously for15 seconds. Strain out the ice and dry shake for 30 seconds. Add the liquid onto a glass with ice cubes in it and garnish with fresh sage leaves and a star anise. Repeat the process for another cocktail.

Blackberry Cocktail & Beetroot Tartar

In the enchanting embrace of this festive season, where craftiness, late-night culinary adventures, and the soft glow of dark candle-lit evenings converge to create a haven of warmth and coziness at home, my husband and I have already immersed ourselves in the charm of a few yuletide films. As we eagerly prepare to embark on the delightful tradition of selecting our Christmas tree, we find solace in staying one step ahead of the bustling holiday calendar, savoring the days leading up to the 24th. Elevate your festive tablescape with a symphony of flavors and vibrant hues. Indulge in the enchanting fusion of a Winter Blackberry & Rosemary Cocktail, where velvety blackberries meet the aromatic dance of rosemary in a champagne elixir. Complement this libation with the exquisite sophistication of Beetroot Tartare, a culinary masterpiece that marries earthy sweetness and zesty freshness, ensuring your holiday table is adorned with culinary delights that captivate both the palate and the eye.

Let not the Christmas rush consume you; instead, relish the anticipation that envelops these moments, for it is in the sweet expectancy of it all that the magic truly unfolds. Today, I am delighted to share with you a captivating cocktail and appetizer recipe, a harmonious prelude to the festive symphony that awaits. May it ignite inspiration for your Christmas table and infuse a dash of holiday spirit into your home.

Winter's Embrace: Blackberry Elixir with a Rosemary Symphony

Embark on a journey into the heart of winter with our enchanting Blackberry and Rosemary Champagne Cocktail – a masterpiece that sets the stage for any elegant evening. The velvety, deep burgundy hue serves as a sophisticated backdrop, casting a spell of allure over December gatherings or providing a delightful escape for those seeking a touch of luxury in the midst of the ordinary.

Elevating the art of preparation, our blackberry syrup can be meticulously crafted in advance, ensuring a seamless orchestration of flavors when the time comes. The versatility of this libation extends beyond expectation; feel free to dance between berries, transforming the symphony with a switch to your favorite variation. Picture the aromatic dance of thyme gracefully replacing rosemary, adding a unique twist to your sensory experience.

The crowning touch lies in presenting this elixir in 1920s-inspired crystal glasses, each with its own distinctive style, creating a vintage champagne boat that whispers of opulence with delicate, thin edges. Allow the Winter Blackberry & Rosemary Cocktail to be your portal to an evening of refined indulgence and timeless charm.

Cocktail Ingredients

• 1 cup fresh blackberries

• ½-1 cup sugar

• 1 cup water

• 1 twig of rosemary

• Butter & brown sugar for rimming the edges of the glasses

• Sparkling wine/champagne

• Garnish: long rosemary twig with fresh blackberries poked through stem

Directions

In a small saucepan, combine all the ingredients (water, sugar, blackberries, rosemary twig) to make the syrup. Bring to boil and reduce heat and cook for under 10minutes so the blackberries start to mush. Stir occasionally and let the mixture intensify into a red colour. Remove from heat, strain and allow to cool. Once cooled, place the syrup into an airtight maison jar and store in the fridge for up to a few weeks.

Rim each champagne glass with a bit of butter between your fingers. Then place some brown sugar onto a plate and press each glass rim into the sugar so it coats all around.

To make the cocktail; add some blackberry syrup to the glass, some ice and pour over some champagne or sparking wine. Give a little mix. Garnish each glass with a bare rosemary branch (except for the ends for visual impact) and pierce a few fresh berries through it. Allow it to gently rest on top of the glass. Enjoy.

Beetroot Tartar

Beetroot is a fantastic earthy compliment to a winter menu that is rich in flavour and colour. This winter root does not need much to be classic, simply paired as a salad with blue cheese, figs and walnuts is all you need to make it refined. However, a layered beetroot tartar is an exciting dish to serve at a dinner party, as it tastes wonderful. The filling is basically made from a beetroot puree and cream cheese that has some blackberries and spinach in between. You could defiantly incorporate slices of cured salmon and play around with the dimensions of flavours. For this recipe, I made the beetroot puree from scratch, but I suppose you could store by this as well.

Beetroot puree

• 5 large roasted beets (place in an oven dish, with oil, salt and pepper and roast in the oven (200c) for an hour until soft)

• 1 sweet potato roasted (place into same oven dish with beetroots to roast)

• 2 garlic cloves grated

• Butter for cooking

• About 1 dl cream

Directions

Begin by roasting the beetroot and sweet potato. Once ready, peel the skin off and roughly chop into smaller pieces.

In a large saucepan, add a generous dollop of butter and grated garlic. Stir and add in the chopped beetroot and sweet potato. Cook for about 7minutes and add in a splash of cream. This part can be left out if you prefer not to use cream, but it does a lovely taste. Let it gently cook so the cream reduces. Add salt and pepper to taste. Remove from heat and pulse with a handheld blender into a puree. It does not need to be silky smooth, as it needs to be thick to hold its shape. Place into a bowl and leave it to cool. Refrigerate the puree for an hour before using so it becomes denser.

Easy Winter Apple Cocktail

Elevate Your Winter Soirée with the Ultimate Apple Winter Cocktail

As the winter winds start to whisper through the Nordic landscapes, there's nothing quite like cozying up with a delightful Apple Winter Cocktail. Inspired by the rich, spiced flavors of homemade apple juice glögi, this cocktail is a symphony of warmth, depth, and refreshment—a perfect libation for the festive season.

Ingredients:

• About 2 cups of good quality apple juice

• About 1 cup of apple-flavored soda (or experiment with champagne/prosecco)

• A splash of your favorite gin or alcohol

• Christmas spices: Cinnamon stick, cloves, dried ginger, clementine slices

• 1-2 egg whites (optional, but adds a frothy touch)

• Handful of ice

Garnish:

• Dried clementine slices

  To make dried clementine slices, thinly slice clementines and arrange the slices on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Bake in a low oven (around 200°F or 93°C) for 2-3 hours, flipping the slices halfway through, until they are dehydrated and slightly crispy. Allow them to cool before using.

• Thyme

• Ice

Preparation:

1. Infuse the Spiced Apple Juice:

   • In a pot over medium-high heat, pour 2 cups of apple juice.

   • Add a harmonious blend of Christmas spices—cinnamon stick, cloves, and dried ginger.

   • Allow it to gently simmer for around 15 minutes, letting the spices weave their magic.

   • Remove from heat and let it cool for an hour to let the flavors meld. Strain the spices using a sieve.

   • Store this spiced apple elixir in a Maison jar and refrigerate until you're ready to craft your cocktails.

2. Dress the Glass with a Sugary Embrace:

   • Elevate the presentation by creating a sugar-coated rim. Dab honey around the glass rim and gently dip it into brown sugar on a plate.

3. Crafting the Apple Winter Cocktail:

   • In a cocktail shaker or Maison jar filled with ice, combine a splash of spiced apple juice, a generous splash of your preferred alcohol, and 1-2 egg whites for a frothy texture.

   • Shake this mixture vigorously, infusing it with winter's spirit, and pour it into your prepared glass or glasses.

   • Top it off with the crisp effervescence of apple-flavored soda. Adjust the ratio of apple juice to soda based on your preference for sweetness and fizziness.

4. Garnish and Delight:

   • Finish your masterpiece with a dried clementine slice and a sprig of thyme. The visual appeal is as important as the taste!

   • Consider experimenting with champagne or prosecco instead of soda for an extra touch of sophistication.

Notes and Tips:

• Tailor the cocktail to your liking by adjusting the amounts of apple juice and soda.

• For a frothier experience, include 1 egg white per serving. However, the cocktail is equally splendid without it.

• Feel free to play with the choice of alcohol, letting your favorite spirits dance with the winter spices.

Embrace the festive spirit and sip on the enchanting Apple Winter Cocktail—a delightful symphony of winter flavors that will undoubtedly elevate your holiday gatherings. Cheers to a year of warmth, celebration, and delightful sips!