When it’s cold outside and you are looking for a little “omph” in your hot cocoa – what about making it minty AND alcoholic? That is sure to warm you up! Enjoy!

Grasshopper Hot Chocolate

yield:
Makes about 4 1/2 cups, serving 4 to 6

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1/3 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup cold water
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 cup half-and-half
• 2 1/2 cups milk
• 1/3 cup creme de menthe, or to taste
• 2 tablespoons creme de cacao, or to taste
• Whipped cream and shaved bittersweet chocolate for garnish

Preparation

In a heavy saucepan, combine the cocoa powder, the sugar, the water, the vanilla, and a pinch of salt and heat the mixture over low heat, whisking, until the cocoa powder is dissolved and the mixture is a smooth paste. Gradually add the half-and-half and the milk, both scalded, and simmer the hot chocolate, whisking, for 2 minutes.

Stir in the creme de menthe and the creme de cacao. (For a frothy result, in a blender blend the hot chocolate in batches.) Divide the chocolate among mugs and top it with the whipped cream and the chocolate.

Recipe: epicurious.com

“Sixteen Candles” Movie Menu:

• Grass-Fed Beef Meatloaf in a Bacon Blanket
• Home-Style “Tater Tots” with Truffles
• Braised Carrots with Crisp Sage
• Golden Cake with Chocolate Sour Cream Frosting

http://www.epicurious.com/articlesguides/entertaining/partiesevents/romantic-movie-menus-sixteen-candles

Ingredients:

• 2 cups cranberry juice cocktail
• 1 cup vodka
• 1/2 cup amaretto
• 3 tablespoons fresh orange juice
• Ice cubes
• Clementines, peeled, separated into segments

Preparation:

Mix cranberry juice, vodka, amaretto, and orange juice in pitcher. Cover and chill until ready to serve. DO AHEAD: Can be prepared 1 day ahead. Keep refrigerated.

To make 2 drinks, fill cocktail shaker with ice cubes. Pour in scant 1 cup vodka mixture. Cover and shake vigorously. Strain into 2 Martini glasses. Garnish each with a clementine segment. Repeat 2 times with ice cubes, remaining vodka mixture and clementine segments.

recipe & photo: epicurious.com

Photo credits: Heart dress: bridalmusings.com; sugar cubes: designswan.com; grilled cheese: ireallylikefood.com; heart pinwheel: bettycrocker.com; eclair hearts: thesohoblogspot.com; heart diamond ring: mdcdiamonds.com; cork heart: etsy.com; heart shoes: stephanie williams photography; wedding cake: weddingcakepictures.org; heart group picture: flickriver.com; ceremony setup: greenweddingshoes.com; linzer heart cookies: ifoodtv.com; cake close-up with pink heart: bakerella.com; hot chocolate: thesohoblogpot.com; felt heart bouquet: weddingscraftgossip.com; heart thumbprint napkins: Kristin Spencer Photoraphy & The Perfect Details; heart newspaper confetti: flickr.com; heart ceremony programs: weddingaccesories.net; red heart balloon group wedding picture: oncewed.com; heart place cards: frolic-blog.com

Oooh a RED lip! Such a great color on every skin tone. the right red lipstick can even make your teeth look whiter, make your breath fresher and coordinate your look! It can be the ultimate fashion accessory! And a lipstick doesn’t need to be expensive. Here are some pics of some of our favorite celebrities wearing fantastic shades of RED!

Classic Madonna – we love her look and confidence! Beautiful!!

Penelope Cryz with a great shade of red with a little orange.

Ann Hathaway has beautiful lips and this classic shade of RED is perfect!

Beyonce wears this great RED with a touch of gloss. It makes her face radiate, doesn’t it?

Angelina Joile wears this sheer RED which compliments her dress perfectly, but doesn’t over-power it.

Charlize Theron wears this great BLUE-RED. Notice how her eyes have little makeup so it doesn’t overpower her wonderful lip color!

Lucy Liu wears a sheer RED with minimal color on the eyes but lots of lashes to keep her glam look understated but polished!

Which red lipstick is your favorite? Leave us a comment and let us know!

Photos: red lips: candilicious-zizi-blogspot.com; Madonna: marieclaire.com; Penelope Cruz: beautysquared.blogspot.com; Beyonce: makeupgeek.com; Charlize Theron: swaggmags.com; Ann Hathaway: people.com; Lucy Liu: hollywoodlife.com; red lipsticks: realsimple.com

Here’s an easy cocktail that is sure to be the buzz of your next dinner party. The Bee’s Knees gets its sweetness from a quick-to-prepare honey syrup. And we’ve given this classic drink a floral twist by adding lavender. The result is unexpected and delicious: a perfect balance of sharp, fragrant, sweet and strong!

Ingredients:

• 1/4 cup hot water
• 1 teaspoon dried lavender blossoms*
• 1/4 cup honey
• 6 tablespoons gin
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice
  *available at a store like Whole Foods

Preparation:

Mix hot water and dried lavender blossoms in bowl. Let steep 5 minutes. Whisk in 1/4 cup honey. Strain into another bowl. Add 3 tablespoons of the honey syrup, gin, and lemon juice; strain into cocktail shaker with ice. Shake well and strain into 2 chilled Martini glasses.

recipe & photo: epicurious.com

Image credits: Louboutin Shoe image: Louboutin; Room and invitation image: Kristin Spencer Photography; teacup image: antiquestojewelry.com, white cake with purple flowers: flowerandflour.com; purple damask cake: weddingchannel.com; amethyst jewel: goforjewel.com; purple glassware: housebeautiful.com; anenome: colorfulwallpaper.com; rose: stidge.com; purple/white orchid: thedailygreen.com;tulips: englishgardenraleigh.com;open toed shoes: weddingshoesblog.com

American Pie

Apple Moonshine
Vanilla Vodka
Whipped Cream Vodka
Ginger Ale
Graham Cracker Crumbs

Chill your glasses with ice and water while you make your drink. Start with a healthy pour of apple moonshine. Then dump in some vanilla vodka and Pinnacle whipped cream vodka. Shake the martini shaker and rim the glasses with graham cracker crumbs

Find this drink at Prohibition in Charlotte.

It’s not hard to understand why these chicken wings are so popular. Economical and delicious: they are perfect for Super Bowl Sunday or any other party! If you know of or have visited La Brea Tar Pits in Los Angeles, you will understand how this tasty hors d’oeuvre got its name. I originally found this recipe in the very missed peridoical, “Gourmet” magazine. Enjoy!

“La Brea Tar Pit” Chicken Wings Recipe

Makes 48 hors d’oeuvres
Active time: 15 Minutes
Start to finish: 2 hours

• 4 pounds chicken wings, split at joint and wing tips discarded
• 1 cup soy sauce (use low-sodium soy sauce if you are salt sensitive)
• 1/2 cup dry red wine
• 1/2 cup plus 1 Tablespoon sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger

1) Put a rack in the middle of the oven and heat to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.

2) Arrange the wings in one layer in a large roasting pan. (I spray my pan with a little Pam/Olive Oil spray and line my pan with aluminum foil for easier clean up).

3) Combine remaining ingredients in a small saucepan and heat over moderately low heat, stirring, until sugar is dissolved. Pour evening over wings.

4) Bake for 45 minutes. Turn wings over and bake until sauce is thick and sticky, another 30-45 minutes more. Transfer wings to a platter.

photo: grouprecipes.com
recipe: epicurious.com