Celebrate! It's the end of the year and a beginning of a new one, actually the end of a decade. (Wow, did 10 years just whiz by me?)
It's a time to share with friends and family. A time to reflect on the year. For me this year included, a lot of fabulous stuff: an absolute dream of six months eating my way through France and Italy plus a bunch of great new friends I found along the way, starting this blog and meeting a whole new community of people that live for travel and food as much as I do. It's a time for reviewing accomplishments and setting new year's resolutions---maybe THIS will be the year I actually exercise more and lose those extra "pastry chef" pounds (ya right). My friend makes a "bucket list" and at the end of each year she crosses off the things she accomplished and adds new items to her list. On my list for 2010 is to travel more, try more new foods, and write more. Maybe I'll even make my own "bucket list." What's on your "resolution" list for the coming year?
Food and alcohol are usually a big part of a New Year's Eve celebration. This spiked Meyer lemon granita is a perfect beginning and end to your celebration. Along with the recipe for the drink, I've included a few of my favorite pictures from Sicily where I had similar versions of this cocktail. I hope you make it and enjoy a little taste of Sicily with your New Year's celebration.
Spiked Meyer Lemon Granita Cocktail
(Makes 8 cocktails)
4 cups Meyer lemon granita (recipe below)
1 cup Vodka (citrus flavored, preferred)
8 slices of lemon
Place 1/2 cup of the granita into each of eight glasses. Pour a 1-ounce shot of vodka over the granita in each glass. Garnish the rim of each glass with a lemon slice and serve.
Meyer Lemon Granita
(makes 8 servings)
2 cups water
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
Rind from 2 Meyer lemons (use a peeler and remove all of the white pith)
1 1/2 cups lemon juice (from about 8-10 lemons)
Boil the water and granulated sugar. Remove from the heat once the mixture boils, and cool to room temperature. Add the rinds from the lemons and lemon juice and put in the refrigerator for 1 hour. Strain out the rinds, and pour into a 13x9-inch glass dish. Put in the freezer. Every 30 minutes, scrape the mixture with a fork. Repeat this process every 30 minutes for 3 to 4 hours. The mixture should be frozen but in small chunky shavings.
Here's to a happy New Year's Eve for everyone!
Related Posts:
Christmas Markets and Events in Italy
Twist on a Venetian Spritz and Embracing Italian Culture
A Merry Christmas Gingerbread House
Christmas Baking Memories and a Snowball Cookie Recipe
A Culinary Traveler's Year in Photos
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What a fun (and refreshing) cocktail! Happy 2009!
Posted by: Lindsay | December 30, 2009 at 12:06 PM
Time DOES fly when you are traveling around Europe!! :-)
Anyway, ... My family and I ENTHUSIASTICALLY recommend this as a festive and delightful cocktail. We actually had them to celebrate Christmas, but may do them up again for New Year's since they WERE A HUGE HIT .... left people asking for more & more ....
Posted by: Paula Aiello | December 30, 2009 at 12:44 PM
This cocktail could well be the salute we need to bring in the New Year. I love that you posted the photo's of Sicily to tie it in with.
Posted by: Jozee Pizzurro | December 30, 2009 at 02:57 PM