Bookworms and friends, I’m delighted to share that next Friday, February 25 at 8 pm EST, I’ll be co-hosting a virtual pub night with cool drinks and good books!
Please join me and authors Mia P. Manansala, Steph Mullin and Nicole Mabry online, as we share our book-themed cocktails and read passages from our newly released mystery and thriller novels; respectively, Homicide and Halo-Halo (A Tita Rosie's Kitchen Mystery), When She Disappeared, and The Hitman’s Daughter. During our Shocktail Hour, you can mix a drink of your own, ask questions, and join the fun on Instagram Live via Steph’s account.
As promised, below is my cocktail selection for my gothic mystery. Pulling on plot threads from The Hitman’s Daughter — namely a New Year’s Eve black-tie party — I’ll be giving this recipe a shot. I figure, if nothing else, Sparkle and Spice Punch should help stave off winter’s chill! Okay, admittedly, I may not use two entire bottles of wine; and really, who squeezes clementines for juice? Nevertheless, I promise to attempt some version of this recipe to set the mysterious party mood. Hope you can join me to share a toast!
Sparkle and Spice Punch
Ingredients:
2 cups cold unsweetened pomegranate juice
1⁄2 cup clementine juice Clove & Cinnamon Syrup (recipe below) two 750-mL bottles chilled, dry sparkling wine
Directions:
Combine and stir together pomegranate juice, clementine juice and one quantity of chilled Clove & Cinnamon Syrup in a punch bowl. Pour in dry sparkling wine such as Prosecco or cava. Garnish with clementine slices or segments, as desired.
Clove & Cinnamon Syrup:
Combine 1 cup sugar, 1 cup water, 1 tbsp cloves and a cinnamon stick in a medium pot; set over medium-high heat. Boil, covered, for 5 minutes. Remove from heat and let stand until cool to infuse further. Strain. Chill thoroughly before use.
Recipe Source: Food & Drink, Holiday 2018 edition, www.lcbo.com