A New Year’s Celebration just isn’t complete without Champagne, and I’ve put together a selection of three different Champagne drinks to help you ring in the New Year.

We’ll start off with a delicious “Mexican Bubbly”, along with M&J’s Champagne Spritzer and finish the trio with a Pomegranate Champagne Twist.  Champagne is a fun and easy drink to get creative with!

M&J’s Champagne  Spritzer

• 1 part Chardonnay
• 2 parts Pineapple banana juice
• Champagne

1. In a large pitcher mix the chardonnay and the juice together. Fill a champagne flute 3/4 full with chardonnay/juice mix and top with champagne.

Mexican Bubbly

• 3 parts Limeade
• 1 part Tequila
• Champagne

1. In a large pitcher mix together limeade and tequila. Fill a champagne flute 3/4 full with limeade and tequila mix and top with champagne.

Pom Pom

• Pomegranate juice
• Champagne
• Pomegranate seeds

1. Fill a champagne flute 1/4 full with pomegranate juice, fill to the top with champagne and top with a few pomegranate seeds.

This appetizer is the ultimate in make ahead.  Arrange the platter up to a day ahead, keeping the bread separate. When you are ready to serve, put the platter out on the counter finish with the bread and serve.

This can be out for several hours with out refrigeration.

Ingredients

• 8 oz or 2 large balls fresh mozzarella cheese
• 5 dates, sliced and half and pit removed
• 10 slices prosciutto
• 1 cup pitted mixed olives, in a small bowl
• 1 1/2 cups marinated artichokes, in a small bowl
• 1/2 pound Brie3/4 pound White cheddar, sliced thin
• 1/2 pound blue or gloucester cheese
• 1/2 pound parrano or gouda cheese, sliced thin
• 1 1/2 cups tomatoes
• 1 1/2 pounds salami
• 1 baguette, sliced into 1/2 inch rounds

Directions

1. Slice each mozzarella ball into 5 slices.
2. Lay half of a date on each slice of mozzarella. Wrap each mozzarella and date with a slice of prosciutto.
3. On a large platter place the bowls of olives and artichokes in the middle.
4. Arrange cheeses, salami, prosciutto wraps, tomatoes and bread around the olives and artichokes.

I’m a big fan of the sugar cookie recipe by Alton Brown of the Food Network. You can use your favorite cookie recipe or in a pinch use the pre-made dough from the store. These cookies are great for Valentines Day as well, just use heart shaped cookie cutters.

If you are making your cookie dough, add 1/2-3/4 (depending on how minty you like it) teaspoon peppermint extract in place of the vanilla extract in your recipe.  Continue to follow your recipe.
If you are in a pinch you can place store bought dough in a bowl, add 1/2 teaspoon peppermint extract and kneed well.

Pre-heat your oven according to your recipe.

Once dough is chilled, roll out on a lightly powdered sugared board.

Cut out your cookies and bake according to Alton’s recipe.

Allow the cookies to fully cool.

Add dark chocolate to a medium microwave safe mixing bowl. Microwave for 2-2 1/2 minutes, stopping and stirring the chocolate every 20 seconds or so, until the chocolate has fully melted.

Have a cookie sheet lined with a sil-pat or parchment ready.

Dip one half of each cookie in the melted chocolate. Allow the extra to drizzle off back into the bowl. Place the dipped cookie on to the cookie sheet, dip remaining cookies and allow the chocolate to set for at least 2 hours.

Serve and Enjoy.

Sometimes you find a recipe that simply can’t be topped!  In this case,  I like to use a sugar cookie recipe by Alton Brown of the Food Network.  You can use your favorite cookie recipe or in a pinch use the pre-made dough from the store.  I like to give these cookies as a gift to co-workers or my UPS driver, and they are a perfect party favor or place card holder on your holiday table.

To package as a gift, I sprinkle shredded coconut in the bottom of a cello bag or clear box to dust your tree in a coconut snow!.  Place assembled tree on top of the coconut and secure the package with a decorative ribbon.

You will need 5 metal star cookie cutters from small to large, 6 inch wooden skewers, frosting and cookie decoration.

Pre-heat your oven according to your recipe. After your dough has chilled, on a lightly powdered sugared board roll out the dough to about 1/2 inch thick.

Cut out the stars and place on a sil-pat or greased cookie sheet. With a skewer make a hole in the middle of each star big enough for the skewer to fit through.  Make two of the smallest star for each tree so you have one for the tree topper!

Run a skewer up into 1/2 of the smallest stars and place the skewed cookie on the cookie sheet. Bake according to your recipe.

1. Once cookies are baked and cooled. Frost each star leaving room around each hole in the center of the cookie. Decorate the outer points of the star. Frost and decorate the skewed top star. Allow to dry for at least 2 hours.
2. Skew the rest of the stars from smallest to largest on each skewer with a star topper. Cut down the skewer if it is too long.
3. Package, Serve or Enjoy.

I make the frosting up to 5 days ahead. Since the cookies are store bought I keep them on hand throughout the holidays so I always have a quick dessert on hand.

Makes 1 dozen

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup or 4 oz cream cheese, room temperature
• 2 Tablespoons pumpkin puree
• a scant 1/2 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 24 ginger thins or gingersnaps

Directions

1. In a mixing bowl whisk together cream cheese, pumpkin puree, pumpkin pie spice and brown sugar until well incorporated.
2. Spread 1 teaspoon of frosting on the back of 12 cookies.
3. Place the bottom of a un-iced cookie on top of an iced one. Repeat with remaining cookies.
4. Decorate cookies with the remaining icing.

Recipe created by Jill Sharpe of The Lake Kitchen. Visit http://www.thelakekitchen.com for more recipes, cooking tips, videos, blog posts and more! The Lake Kitchen – Creating. Sharing. Coming Together.