Holiday Party Drinks

By Mixologist Mitch Harrishttp://www.paradisebar.netThis pumpkin pie cocktail makes for a great start to a dinner party, a drinks after work gathering, or heck, why not whip up a few and sip 'em while you are stuffing your Thanksgiving bird. It's a whole lot easier to accomplish than a scratch pumpkin pie!Mitch Harris created this recipe just for us here at Celebrations.com for the 2009 holiday season. I worked with Mitch on a new show on TLC called "Battle of the Wedding Planners," on which he mixed many an inventive libation.Catch me starring in this special one-hour show this November 13th and November the 14th on TLC--Battle of the Wedding Planners.

Another delicious duo is Sangria and Satays--I know you might be thinking,--Spanish and Thai, that is some oddball geography. This pair might seem unlikely, but trust me: the bold, festive flavors of the fruity wine saddled up with the sweet peanuty sumptuousness of the skewered chicken make them true culinary partners-in-crime!Find the Chicken Satay with Spicy Peanut Sauce recipe here.My friend Annemarie created this Sangria recipe during the time she spent living in Madrid, and she always serves it up at her famous parties. It's great as a holiday drink as the festive jewel-tone colors of flavorful diced fruit seem to lend themselves to the season of good cheer.

For our first dynamic duo, I've combined a strawberry and champagne cocktail with a new and improved bacon-wrapped scallop dish.  This scrumptious couple is a triple threat of taste pairings --sweet & salty, crunchy & chewy and hot & cold.

Tip: Liqueurs in funky flavors--Ginger, Violet, and Elderflower--are very trendy right now. They're not that expensive and for the cost of a bottle (around $30) you can make elegant cocktails for a crowd.

Always serve a signature cocktail at parties, and makes this one something Holiday inspired!The GREY GOOSE Pomegranate Fizz uses Vuevue Cliquot Champagne, GREY GOOSE vodka and pomegranate juice is what I served for this one.  Here is the easy to follow recipe:

 It is also important to remember your guests who don't drink alcohol. Sambazon's Acai Nog is a healthy twist on a holiday classic.