See you next year!

The boys are having so much fun giggling over the old "see you next year" thing with their friends.  Do you remember how funny that was in elementary school?  We're reliving it around here--daily, maybe hourly!  For the non-elementary school set, here is a different kind of New Year's treat; something delicious to sip as you ring in the New Year. (I promise this won't become a cooking blog.  Food just happens to be my favorite holiday activity.  My non-holiday favorite activity too if I'm being honest).

I have a few bottles of Ketle One sitting around, thanks to a goodie bag from a recent wedding (I know!  How awesome are my perks?), so I'm going to whip up some raspberry cosmos for tomorrow night.  A little 2000-late maybe on the cocktail trends, but nothing this yummy should ever go out of style.  AND, thanks to Tradewind Tiaras, a thoroughly modern take on cocktail garnishes.  EDIBLE rice paper butterflies to rest on the rim of your glass, though any other shape created with a paper punch is possible too, and easy!  Gorgeous, glamorous, and so 2012.



Raspberry Cosmopolitans
makes 1 pitcher, about 6 cocktails

• 2 cups good quality vodka, such as Ketle One or Grey Goose
• 1/2 cup Triple Sec
• 1/2 cup Chambord
• 2 cups cranberry-raspberry cocktail juice
• 1/2 cup freshly squeezed lime juice
• fresh raspberries, sugar, rice paper garnish...all the pretty extras! 

Mix everything except raspberries in a pitcher.  Individual drinks should be poured and shaken in a cocktail shaker with ice before serving.  Garnish rim of each glass with sugar (wet rim first with vodka, dip in sugar) and a pretty edible paper garnish if desired.  Extra raspberries to float in your drink are a must! 

P.S.  I'm going to try making homemade raspberry vodka this summer. There is a restaurant in Seattle that has a huge glass container of vodka and raspberries, just sitting there on the bar muddling together and being heavenly in general.  It's the most delicious and dangerous concoction, and the reason I first fell in love with raspberry cosmos.

Ok, seriously.  Have a safe and delicious holiday.  And see you next year!