Cheers! It is Celebration Time with A Randy Reindeer! - Blogger CLUE

It is celebration time!  I finally got the tree trimmed and the house decorated!  I got a bit of a late start but managed to bring it all together and to celebrate, Mr. T and I enjoyed a Randy Reindeer.  Just what is a Randy Reindeer?  It is a cocktail created by Anna at Anna Dishes.  The cocktail is filled with wonderful Christmas flavors like cranberry, pomegranate, orange and, of course, a splash of bubbly.   To me the Randy Reindeer was the perfect selection for this month's recipe exchange group, Blogger CLUE.  Each month we are assigned a blog, a theme and challenged to find a recipe that matches the theme.  The December theme was celebration!  Cheers!

I first searched Anna's blog in March as Anna Dishes was my first Blogger CLUE assignment. I was happy to pay her a second visit!  Anna's blog is packed with "homegrown, flavor-packed recipe creations".  I saw so many celebration dishes that I would prepare such as Eggnog Rum Cake with White Chocolate Snow or Almost Magic Stuffed Mushrooms, but when I saw this cocktail...well, it was decided.

Randy Reindeer

adapted from Anna Dishes

Serves 6

2 1/2 cups Vodka

2 1/2 cups Pomegranate juice

2 1/2 cups Cranberry juice

1/2 cup Triple Sec

Brut Rose Sparkling Wine or Proseco

Syrup

1 cup Brown Sugar

1 cup Cranberry juice

White or Red Sparkling Sugar for rimming the glasses

Do Ahead:  Prepare a syrup by combining one cup of brown sugar and one cup of cranberry juice. Simmer until the brown sugar has melted and the mixture becomes a thin syrup.  Cool to room temperature.  Do not refrigerate.

In a large pitcher combine the vodka, pomegranate juice and the cranberry juice.  Stir.  Next add the Triple Sec and about 1/4 cup of the brown sugar syrup.  Stir again.

In a small flat-bottomed dish, pour the sugar for rimming the glasses.  In a second flat-bottomed dish, pour some cranberry juice.  Dip the rim of your glass in the juice and then the sugar.

Place a few ice cubes in the glass and pour in the drink mixture.  Add a splash of bubbly and it is time to celebrate!

Cheers!

Note:  The original recipe calls for a bit of Peach Bitters.  We did not have any so it was omitted.  We also adjusted the amount of Triple Sec to meet our tastes.

PRINTABLE RECIPE

 Take a look at the celebration recipes that other group members selected!

• A Savory Cheesecake by Wendy from A Day in the Life on the Farm
• Almond Shortbread Cookies by Lisa from Authentic Suburban Gourmet
• Black Forest Trifle by Rebekah from Making Miracles
• Blueberry Lemon Bars by Anna from annaDishes
• Bourbon Apricot Meatballs by Christiane from Taking on Magazines
• Cheesy Garlic Blooming Loaf by Christy from Confessions of a Culinary Diva
• Cookie Dough Cheese Ball by Liz from That Skinny Chick Can Bake
• Handcrafted Baileys Irish Cream by Debra from Eliot's Eats
• Henri's Tastee Dressing by Kate from Kate's Kitchen
• Homemade Onion Rosemary Bread by Kim from Liv Life
• Italian Anisette Cookies by Sue from A Palatable Pastime
• Party Meatballs by Azmina from Lawyer Loves Lunch
• San Permis Sparkling Cocktail by Stacy from Food Lust People Love
• Tartiflette by Kate from Kate's Kitchen (will be live later tonight)
• The Randy Reindeer by Kathy from A Spoonful of Thyme
• White Chocolate Chip Cookie Souffles by Lauren from Sew You Think You Can Cook