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~Cranberry Margarita ~

What You’ll Need… 

• 1.5-2 oz of the Tequila of your choice (I prefer gold tequila in my margaritas)
• 1 oz of Triple Sec or Cointreau 
• 1 oz of lime juice (freshly squeezed, if you’re like me)
• 1 oz cranberry juice 
• Garnish: lime wedges & cranberries!
• (Optional) I like to top my margaritas off with sprite, I like the fizz!

The Process…

Prepare your glass by adding salt/sugar to your rim. I much prefer a sugar rim.  To add a sugar rim to your glass just pour salt/sugar on a small plate, wet the rim of the glass evenly and then place the glass upside down on to the plate, in the salt/sugar.  Twist the glass to make sure the salt/sugar sticks evenly to the rim. Next add ice in layers, dropping a cranberry in between the ice.  Finish the glass with a lime wedge.

Fill your shaker tin with fresh ice, then add the ingredients, with the exception of the Sprite!

Shake well, strain over ice and top with Sprite!

~Peppermint Espresso Martini ~

What You’ll Need…

• 1.5 oz Peppermint Vodka (Smirnoff has a peppermint stick vodka, available at most liquor stores)
• 1 oz Espresso (I just use fresh, chilled Starbucks Espresso)
• .5 oz Kahlua 
• .5 oz Bailey’s
• (Optional) 1 oz Simple Syrup (Simple Syrup can be purchased or made at home by boiling water and adding in sugar while stirring.  Then letting it set.)
• (Optional) Marshmallow cream (this will make more sense later)
• Crushed Starlight Peppermints or candy canes

The Process…

Prepare your glass by coating the rim lightly with the marshmallow cream, then sprinkling it with the crushed peppermint.  The marshmallow will hold the peppermint rim on and adds to the flavor.

Fill your shaker with fresh ice, then add the ingredients, the amounts can be adjusted depending on what you, personally, prefer

Shake well (for martinis I will typically shake about 30 times, vigorously), strain over ice.

~Pomegranate, Mint Prosecco Spritz~

What You’ll Need…

• Fresh pomegranate seeds
• Fresh Mint Sprig(s)
• Prosecco/ Champagne of your choice
• Sweetened pomegranate juice
• (Optional) Pomegranate Sorbet

The Process…

Prepare your glass by adding the desired amount of pomegranate seeds to the bottom.  If you choose to add sorbet, add one small scoop of sorbet to the bottom of the glass without adding the seeds.  

Fill your glass with the sweetened pomegranate juice (I fill about 1/4 of the way with my mixer when making drinks with prosecco/champagne). Then top off with your prosecco/champagne.  Pour very carefully, especially if you chose to add sorbet.

Finish by adding your mint sprig (before adding fresh, leafy garnishes to my drinks I put the leaf in the palm of one hand and slap it with other, this will start to extract the oils), if you added sorbet initially and withheld the pomegranate seeds you can add them now if you wish!

XOXO-MaiaElizabeth