ENTERTAINING | The SavvyBostonian

Cocktail Club: Spiked Sparkling Cider

Spiked Sparkling Cider, Mood Lighting Optional!

Thanks to my lovely roommate and her friends, I’ve been inducted into a cocktail club. Each month, a group of ladies get together at someone’s home to try a unique drink paired with a delicious nibble. The best part? The host takes care of the food/drink, allowing the guests to relax. How often are you a guest at someone’s home and are told to bring nothing, except for your delightful self?

A recent cocktail club introduced me to a delicious new drink that’s a play on sparkling cider. Ripped from the pages of Real Simple Magazine, this drink pairs my love of prosecco with two very unexpected ingredients – apple juice and goldschlager. Sure, you could purchase store-bought cider and add alcohol to it, but this drink feels and tastes slightly more sophisticated. From the fizzy prosecco, to the not too sweet combination of apple juice and goldschlager, this cinnamon scented cider has become a go-to winter cocktail in my apartment.

For a cocktail club or dinner party occasion, serve with roasted pork tenderloin, green beans and a mushroom risotto.

Spiked Sparkling Cider – Serves 20

4 bottles chilled Prosecco
6 cups chilled Apple Juice
3/4 cup Goldschlager

Mix, clink glasses with your friends and enjoy!

For more of my recipes, click here.

BOSTON, ENTERTAINING, RECIPES

Easy Entertaining: The Cocktail Club

Bloody Mary Cocktail Club Event

With new roommates come new traditions. Instead of hosting a typical dinner party each month, my new roommate and her friends take turns hosting “The Cocktail Club.” Created as a way to taste and learn how to make classic cocktails outside of a bar, the monthly host selects a signature drink and pairs it with a suitable entree.

Last month’s cocktail club was inspired by brunch. A Bloody Mary bar allowed guests to learn how to mix their own drinks as spicy or mild as they desired. Only half of the guests had tried a Bloody Mary before, making it a great opportunity to expand their mixologist skill set.

Ellie Krieger's Blueberry Almond French Toast Bake

The dish of the night was Ellie Krieger’s Blueberry Almond French Toast Bake. Perfect for busy professionals, the recipe must be prepared the night before and can be popped into the oven as guests arrive. In contrast to the spicy Bloody Mary, the french toast bake was sweet, yet filling. To round out the meal, serve fresh fruit and a veggie platter for guests to nosh on in advance of the main entree. To view the recipe from the Food Network’s website, click here.