Happy New Year!

Have a drink!

Here’s the last post of the year and I was wondering what to say to all of you wonderful people whom I’ve met this year. Something funny, poignant, sad, meaningful – a good, old fashioned rant, maybe?

But then I thought, is that how I plan to ring in the New Year? Am I sitting here in the dark, moaning about the awfulness of it all, or flipping through old albums and wiping away a tear at the tender memories buried within?

Er, no.

I’m fixing me a drink and having me some fun, thank you.

So why shouldn’t you? After all, had we met in real life, I’d have fixed you a drink too and much good time would have been had by all. Therefore, I’ve decided time and space are no bar to you and I raising a toast.

To all the things we hold dear and the hope for a better tomorrow!

And – because I’m so supernice – I have here a couple of recipes that are guaranteed to engender a false sense of euphoria and send you vomiting into the nearest toilet bowl at your metabolism’s leisure. In the interests of full disclosure, I should tell you that my bartending experience is… well, nil. So, er, you’ve been warned. Enjoy!

Also, DO NOT drink and drive, you hear? Don’t try and be a hero and get a cab, cheapo! It might just save your life and someone else’s.

We start things up with a Snowball coz it’s light and easy:

2 Shots Advocaat
Top up Lemonade
0.25 Shot Lime Cordial

Shake the advocaat and lime juice together. Pour into an ice filled highball. Top up with lemonade.

Next stop, the Black Shadow coz… well, I like the name.

1 Shot Blue Curaçao
0.5 Shot Crème De Cassis
Top up Champagne

Shake together Blue Curaçao and Crème De Cassis in a cocktail shaker with ice. Pour into flute glass and top up with chilled Champagne.

If all this sounds a bit too easy or boring, how about Peach Champagne Punch – with Tabasco in it?

1 (29-ounce) can peaches, drained
1/4 cup peach schnapps
1 tablespoon lemon juice
2 teaspoons Tabasco
1 (750 ml) bottle champagne, chilled

Blend peaches, peach schnapps, lemon juice and tabasco in a blender or food processor until smooth. Just before serving, pour in champagne.

And if you’re one of those Tabasco fanatics who like to douse everything they eat in the stuff, then why not try a Red Margarita?

1 cup frozen strawberries
1/3 cup tequila
2 tablespoons lime juice
2 tablespoons superfine sugar
1/2 teaspoon Tabasco
2 cups ice cubes

Combine all ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth. Serve immediately.

You can end the night with a cup of Dutch Coffee, which I personally prefer to Irish Coffee.

1 Shot Advocaat
1 Cup Black Coffee

Allow the coffee to cool for one minute. Stir in the Advocaat and add sugar to taste.

However, if you’ve been partying all night and still raring to go, try a Dutch Breakfast:

1 Shot Gin
1 Teaspoon Galliano
1 Shot Advocaat
0.5 Shot Lime Juice
0.5 Shot Sugar Syrup
0.5 Shot Lemon Juice

Shake all ingredients together with ice and strain into an ice-filled glass.

And if you’ve none of these things on hand, just break out a bottle of whatever you do have and mix it up. What the hell, it’s New Year’s Eve. Oh, and do keep a friend nearby – to hold your head as you retch and to rush you to the hospital when you come down with alcohol poisoning.

Friends – they’re wunnerful!

Detox the next morning with a Cucumber Tonic. That’s right – cucumber. Serves you right!

1 cucumber, peeled and thinly sliced
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
2 teaspoons honey
Ice cubes
2 cups tonic water

Set aside 2 cucumber slices. In a blender, combine 1 cup cold water with the remaining cucumber, the lemon juice and the honey. Strain into a pitcher filled with ice, top with the tonic water and stir. Garnish with the 2 cucumber slices.

Happy New Year, everybody! Much love.