Wednesday, December 29, 2010

Happy New Year! Champagne Cocktails! Broken Bells!

House parties are my favorite New Year's Eve celebrations.  I like to ring in the New Year with close pals over great music, witty banter, festive Champagne cocktails, delish appetizers, & either "Anderson Cooper 360" (with Kathy Griffin) or good ol' "Dick Clark's Rockin' Eve" (with Ryan Seacrest since Mr. Clark is an octogenarian plus, but looks good!). 

Of course, it's also fun to get swanked up & head out for a big NYE celebration... Whether you stay in with a few close friends or family, throw a huge party, or spend a night on the town, we will all likely drink bubbly!  

 As such, I bring you easy Champagne Cocktail recipes, which can also be made non-alcoholic by substituting sparkling water or tonic water for Champagne. Let's Toast, Friends!

Pomegranate Champagne Cocktail: Place a sugar cube in the bottom of a Champagne Glass, fill 1/2 of a glass with Champagne, & then top with pomegranate juice. Garnish with pomegranate seeds on top.  Sparkly!

Blueberry Champagne Cocktail: Same as above, except use blueberry juice.  I like Sparkling Blueberry Juice from Trader Joe's.  Float fresh blueberries on top. Sweet!

Raspberry Mint Champagne Cocktail:  Muttle together raspberries & mint with a splash of orange flavored liquor (like Cointreau or Triple Sec) to make a juice.  Fill a glass 3/4 up with Champagne; and then add the orange liquor, raspberry, mint mixture on top.  Garish with a mint leaf.  Minty!

Chambord Champagne Cocktail:  Fill a glass 3/4 full with Champagne, & top it off with a splash of Chambord.  Easy!

And finally my last music selection of 2010!!

Many great artists released excellent albums and songs this year - The Black Keyes, Tom Petty and the Heart Breakers, Florence and the Machine, Arcade Fire, Vampire Weekend, LCD Soundsystem, Bruno Mars, Katy Perry, Jason Derulo, (yes I do listen to some pop) but my favorite 2010 release is the first self-titled album from BROKEN BELLS

A Starbucks impulse buy one late March morning, I grabbed this album (and a latte) after hearing our intelligent & music savvy dept. intern raving about it.  He was right - it's a great album.  A combination of James Mercer from the Shins & Danger Mouse, this melodic duo transcended their collective genres to create an airy, wispy, quasi space-agey, but grounded and fresh sound.  I can't wait for James and Danger Mouse to give us the second album!

If you haven't seen the non-official Hall and Oates dubbed version of THE GHOST INSIDE, check it out below - it's funny!!


And now for the official version of THE GHOST INSIDE.



Finally friends, as 2010 comes to a close, I must say a heartfelt THANK YOU for reading and supporting The Rockin' Foodie blog on this food/music adventure.  I am happy to report that the Rockin' Foodie is global with readers in Denmark, Russia, China, UK, Spain, Australia, Malaysia, Brazil, Germany, Slovenia, Lebanon, United Arab Emirates, Canada, France, and of course, the US of A.  I deeply appreciate your time, readership, comments, and support.

I look forward to hearing more from you all in the New Year.  As such, please feel free to drop me a comment or an email, & let me know your thoughts & what you are listening to & cooking. 

Cheers to a sumptious, harmonious, and safe 2011!

Happy New Year!

Hugs and Kisses.

2 comments:

  1. Happy New Year Z! Thanks for all the great food and fun music. I have a few new artists in my iPod thanks to you. ;) Can't wait to taste and hear what you've got cookin' for 2011. Cheers!
    2sday

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  2. Thanks 2sday! Warms my heart to read your comment. Hope to share a meal together in 2011. xoxo Z

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