Sparkling White Cosmo and The Year in Review

One more day till we count down to a new year and a fresh start.  Do you make resolutions?  Some years I've made them and kept them, other years I've made them but they got abandoned.  This year my plan is to make plans.  Rather than resolutions that feel like failures if they're not immediately implemented, I have plans for what I'd like to achieve, personally and professionally in the coming year.
But first we need to celebrate in style and I can't very well leave you without a suitable cocktail.  We've been... um... experimenting with this one for the last few days and it's a definite winner for tomorrow night.  No big party plans for us this year.  We'll stay in, make a big dinner and toast to 2014.  Not everything went right this past year but, overall we're more fortunate than many and we have each other.  No place else I'd rather be.

Per Serving:
2 oz. Vodka
1 oz. White cranberry juice
1/2 oz. St. Germaine elderflower liqueur
1/2 oz. Lime juice
1/2 oz. Simple syrup
2 oz. Sparkling wine or champagne

Combine the vodka, cranberry juice, elderflower liqueur, lime juice and simple syrup in a cocktail shaker.  Fill with ice and shake well.  Pour into a chilled flute glass and top with the sparkling wine.  Garnish with maraschino cherries, if desired.

While we were testing cocktails, I took a look back at the top ten most popular recipes of the past year.  I can't pick my favorite because I think they're all great in their own way or I wouldn't share them with you.  But these were your favorites and I'm always so happy when you stop by to see what I'm cooking and tell me how you liked the recipes you tried.  I hope you'll share more of your feedback going forward.  But, for now, here's my countdown.

Ten

Bananas Foster Bundt Cake

 Nine

Fresh Summer Quinoa Salad

Eight

Baked Spinach Chips

Seven

Baked Corn Fritters

Six

Cauliflower Fried Rice

Five

Smoked Gouda Macaroni and Cheese

Four

S'mores Martini

Three

Baked Cinnamon Sugar Mini Doughnuts

Two

Chocolate Chip Bread

One

Cheesy Quinoa and Asparagus Bake

Happy New Year!!!