HEYOOO! Man, I hate to repeat what everyone else has probably already said to you a million times, but WHERE DID THE YEAR GO? Seriously, the end of this year and the whole holiday shebang that goes with it has really crept up on me in 2014.
I guess it’s because this year has been so great, so crammed full of the good stuff that it simply raced along. Time flies when you’re having fun, as they say.
Speaking of having fun, may I pour you a drink? Let me make it a Raspberry Sparkler while I’m at it. This is so simple, and if it’s winter where you are, don’t fret, because this works absolutely perfectly with frozen raspberries.
It’s a simple puree of raspberries, sharpened up with a little lime juice and sweetened with a touch of icing sugar. A tablespoonful of that concoction goes into the base of your glass, and then you simply top it up with whatever sparkly wine you like best.
This is a party drink, for sure. The perfect thing to make that maybe less-than-stellar sparkling wine for a crowd seem like a real treat. In fact, I think this works best with a cheaper option, like asti spumanti or prosecco or sparkling Brut.
If I am lucky enough to lay my hands on a $100 dollar bottle of Champagne, the last thing I’m going to do is pour a sweet fruit puree into it. But if I’ve got my usual ~$15 dollar bottle, and a bunch of people who I would like share a drink with, then ladies and gentlemen, we will be drinking Raspberry Sparklers!
It’s been such a great year for me, you guys. I’ve had so much fun writing this blog, sharing my food with you and getting the best surprises ever when I see someone enjoy a recipe of mine! I’m taking the rest of the year off to recharge, finish off some other big projects I’m working on (stay tuned!) and hang out with my family of champions. I hope you get the chance to do so too, and I hope you have a blast. And if you don’t well then, pour yourself one of these guys and lean in to it!
The most used tags on my blog this year were: bread, breakfast, brunch, cake, caramel, chocolate, christmas, dessert, holidays, ice cream and yeast. I think that pretty much sums it up: amazing. Thank you so much for reading and being a part of this blog. Have an awesome Holiday and safe and happy New Year!
xx Sarah.
- 2 cups frozen raspberries
- 1 lime.
- icing sugar, to taste
- Sparkling wine (prosecco, asti spumanti, sparkling brut)
- To make the puree heat the raspberries in the microwave until they're soft.
- Push them through a sieve into a small bowl, and squeeze in the juice of your lime.
- Now, you need to taste both the raspberry puree and the wine to see how much sugar you should add. I start at about 2 teaspoons and add more as needed.
- Pour about a tablespoon of puree into each glass and then top up with sparkling wine and serve.
- CHEERS!
Merry Christmas Sarah, and have a great break!
Thank you lovely, you too!
Enjoy the holidays and break!!! And congrats on the past year!! You’ve done such amazing work.
Hope you have a relaxing break! Looking forward to all the amazingness that will be coming out of your kitchen in 2015!!
This looks so good. Congratulations on a successful year, and have a spectacular holiday!
I am so down with the easiness of these! Whoa!
I love love LOVE cocktails made with sparkling wine – can’t wait to try this one!
your blog is so much fun to read – so much energy and deliciousness! I can’t wait for 2015.
Cheers big ears! Thank you for all the wonderfulness this year :) Hope you have a really relaxing break and an extra merry christmas! Big hugs xx
Cheers & merry Christmas! Enjoy your time off!
I’m with you on the raspberry sparkler. I’ll drink it as champagne if someone comes across with a spendy bottle, otherwise I want THIS!!
I’m so pleased I found you this year and I look forward to a terrific year of reading your posts and trying your food.
a great idea, I’ll put in practice New Year. Thanks
oh man, dose raspberries.
It’s been such a blast following your blog this year, and I can’t WAIT to see what you have in store for 2015! xoxo!
Love the sparklers… such a great idea for prosecco. Hope you’re enjoying your well-deserved break… your blog has become one of my faves – so looking forward to following your culinary adventures in the new year!
Cheers to fancy party drinks!
Happy new year, Sarah! Thank you for brightening my days with your writing and bringing cooking inspiration into my life. You rock :)
This looks completely amazing. I’m definitely making this next time I have friends over. They’ll think I’m so fancy.
Happy New Year, Sarah! Mmm, these drinks sound awesome. I know my husband would love if I made them for a treat :)