Some Delish Holiday Goodies

Hey guys - let's kick the week off with some delicious and season-appropriate goodies for your next soiree. I have a few fun cocktails and canape ideas I found in a recent issue of Financial Times Weekend:

Cocktails:

• Caipiroska: vodka, fresh limes, and caster sugar (simple enough!)
• The Hollyberry: Plymouth gin, creme de framboise, cranberry and raspberry juice, redcurrant puree and lemon. Serve this in a chilled Martini glass (fancy!).
• Negroni: gin, sweet vermouth, campari (called the truth serum for Italians - wowza!)

Canapes:

• Venison sausage with rowanberry jelly on tiny potato rounds
• Affogato: Madeira gelato served in a glass pot with an espresso biscotti on the side and can be served with hot espresso (poured over the gelato or enjoyed as is).
• Golden Beet Brulee: roasted golden beet hollowed out and filled with lentils cooked in olive oil and balsamic vinegar with pine nuts and sundried tomatoes, and topped with carmelised aged goat's milk cheese and blood orange (guess who's making this at her next dinner party??)

Not a cook? Host a simple cocktail and hor d'oeuvres party and serve the items above. It's sure to be a great success!