Lets Raise a Glass to The Year Ahead.

Ok so it’s that time of year again where we all are saying good bye to the year at hand and welcome the New Year with hopes and admirations, and a slight or heavy buzz. Yes it’s the new year, and parties are spring up left and right, so why not wow your guest with a great Punch for your party. No I’m not talking about putting together some sherbet and sprite with some vodka in it. I mean, let’s put something together that will bring in the New Year with style, class, and will not have your guest saying “Why in the hell did I drink that!?” 

Yes, 2011 is going to be the year of  the punch and why not start the year ahead of the curve by serving a punch at your New Years Eve Party. Now just so you know- if you have a favorite cocktail it can be batch into a punch, but try to be a little more creative, and I think I can help.

Spiced Pear PUNCH!

6-oz of roasted pear puree'

6-oz of old tom's gin or just a great London dry gin Oxely is a good one.

6-oz of ginger liqueur such as king's Ginger, also maybe ginger beer would work.

6-oz of cognac

3-oz of lemon juice

18-oz of prosecco

Combine all ingredients except prosecco chill for several hours. Then when ready to serve add prosecco and ice.

Pear Puree'

 Oven to 350, peel, halve and core 5 RIPE pears. arrange in a roasting pan with 4 table spoons of demerara sugar, 4 oz of cognac, 6 cinnamon sticks 8 star anise and 12 cloves. cut 1 vanilla bean lengthwise, and scrape out the seeds and then add them to roasting pan along with pod. Roast for 30 min. remove the spices and vanilla bean pod, then puree the pears and liquid a blender. 

If this seems a little to much work to have prepped by tomorrow night- I have given a great recipe (that will take half the time and have the WOW just the same) to a good friend of mine, Hawlie Ohe. You can check out on here web site: http://thefablifeofahousewife.wordpress.com/

                                                                    Pimm's #1 Punch

            So this will more then likely be my last blog until the New Year, and I say this... Good news is just not the same without champagne. Lets all enjoy the quest and please have a safe New Year.

    Cheers!