New Years Bubbly!

 What is the best way to kick off the new years? With a special glass of Champagne! It really has become a tradition for most people, Champagne, food, friends, loved ones, all synonymous with ringing in the New Year. Rather than settling for your average glass of Champagne, why not make it extra special this year by just adding a couple ingredients to make a not so expensive glass of Champagne taste like you just ordered it at a 5 star restaurant! Pomegranate is a unique, slightly tart and sweet flavor that you wouldn’t normally gravitate to but it works amazing in this drink.

 I love to pair drinks with food and I also know that Champagne can be difficult to pair with food. Personally, I would stick with something simple and not too complex. First, we all know we don’t want to have bad breath before that mid-night kiss, so I would suggest putting out some fruit such as, raspberries, strawberries, pineapple, etc. Also, if you choose Chocolate, choose white chocolate. White chocolate is creamier, sweeter, and less complex than other kinds of chocolate, it makes a far better match with Champagne and wine.

Well, there you have it! I hope you all have an amazing New Years!!

 

 Pomegranate Champagne

 

Ingredients:

6 tbsp Pomegranate syrup

1 bottle brute Champagne

6 lemon twists

 

Directions:

Place one teaspoon of syrup at the bottom of each champagne flute or glass. Gently pour in champagne and garnish with a lemon twist Pomegranate syrup can be found in the international food section of your supermarket or at a local Middle Eastern foods market.

Serves 6 

No bake - Peace of cake!

 I LOVE desserts! And I also love baking, but when I am cooking a big meal in a little kitchen with limited oven space, it makes dessert difficult to fit in to your dinner plans. I could just go to the grocery store and buy a dessert, but where is the fun in that!

I have emphasized in previous entries that I LOVE the holidays and I am always looking to create delicious and easy recipes to bring to your friends holiday parties. When you want to be with family and friends, you don’t want to be slaving away in the kitchen. With minimal ingredients and no baking, this recipe is perfect! This is also a really fun recipe to make with kids, or to let them do themselves! Just set out all the ingredients on the kitchen table with a mixer and give them direction. It’s that easy and pretty fool proof. Plus, it’s much safer than having them running around you in the kitchen with the hot oven and stove.

In addition, for all my anti-sugar friends out there, you can replace the sugar with splenda or a sugar substitute. You could use a reduced fat cream cheese as well, but I really do think that it compromises the flavor and texture of the cheesecake. So I would stick with the regular cream cheese, it will make for a creamier, more decedent finished product.

 

 No Bake Pumpkin Cheesecake

Ingredients

1 pkg. (8 oz.) Cream Cheese, softened 


1 cup canned pumpkin 


1/2-cup sugar 


1/2 tsp. pumpkin pie spice


1 tub (8 oz.) Cool Whip Whipped Topping, thawed, divided 


1 Graham Pie Crust (6 oz.) 


Directions 


Beat cream cheese, pumpkin, sugar and pumpkin pie spice with electric mixer on medium speed until well blended. Gently fold in 2-1/2 cups of the whipped topping. Cover and refrigerate remaining whipped topping for later use.

Spoon cream cheese mixture into crust.

Refrigerate 3 hours or overnight. Serve topped with remaining whipped topping. Store leftover cheesecake in refrigerator