Christmas Tree Sours Recipes

CRUDITE CHRISTMAS TREE WITH SOUR CREAM AND CHIVE DIP

Steps:

• For the dip: Combine the cream cheese, sour cream, horseradish, lemon juice, lemon zest, granulated garlic, 1/4 teaspoon salt and a generous grinding of black pepper in the bowl of a food processor. Process until well combined and smooth. Transfer the dip to a medium bowl and fold in the chives and parsley. Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.
• Bring a large pot of salted water to boil and prepare an ice bath by filling a large bowl with ice water. Add the broccoli to the boiling water and blanch until bright green and crisp tender, 2 to 3 minutes. Remove with a strainer to the ice bath. Repeat with the cauliflower. Drain the vegetables well and pat them very dry.
• To build the tree, make a triangle of broccoli florets in the center of a serving platter. Place the cucumber piece, skin side up, at the base of the tree as a stump and scatter the cauliflower on either side. Decorate the tree with tomatoes, cucumber slices and pepper strips and stars, leaving one star for the top.

CHRISTMAS TREE ROLL-UPS

Steps:

• In medium bowl, mix all ingredients except tortillas and olive pieces. Divide mixture among tortillas, spreading to edges of tortillas. Roll up tightly. Press each tortilla roll into triangle shape, using fingers. Wrap in plastic wrap. Refrigerate at least 2 hours but no longer than 24 hours.
• To serve, cut rolls into 1/2-inch slices. Place olive piece at bottom of each triangle to look like tree trunk; secure with toothpick.

ORNAMENT DOUGH

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 300 degrees F (150 degrees C).
• Combine the flour, salt and water; mix well and knead for 10 minutes. Roll out on a lightly floured surface.
• Cut into desired shapes and make holes for hanging. Bake for 30 minutes; allow to cool.
• Decorate with poster paints or tube paints. Allow to dry and spray with clear polyurethane on both sides to preserve. Use ribbon or yarn pieces to hang.

ELDERFLOWER SOUR

Steps:

• Lemon-Mint Syrup: In a small saucepan, mix sugar, mint, lemon zest and slices, and 1 1/2 cups water. Bring to a boil, stirring until sugar has dissolved. Reduce heat; simmer 30 minutes. Let cool 30 minutes. Strain syrup, and refrigerate until ready to use (up to 10 days). (Makes enough for 12 drinks.)
• Cocktail: Pour gin, elderflower liqueur, 2 ounces syrup, and a splash of club soda into an ice-filled glass; stir to combine. Squeeze a lemon slice over the drink, then drop the slice and a sprig of mint into the glass to garnish.

CHRISTMAS TREE SOURS

Steps:

• Make the cordial: Bring 4 cups water, 1 1/2 cups superfine sugar, the zest of 2 lemons, the juice of 5 lemons and 7 ounces spruce or fir needles to a boil. Reduce the heat to low and simmer 2 hours. Strain through a fine-mesh sieve, repeating to remove all the needles; let cool. Make the drinks: Combine 1/3 cup each sparkling water and bourbon, 3 tablespoons of the cordial, the juice of 2 limes and 3 dashes bitters in a shaker with ice. Shake, then strain into 2 ice-filled glasses and garnish with spruce or fir sprigs. Refrigerate the remaining cordial for up to 2 weeks.

CRANBERRY SOURS

Steps:

• Put the cranberries, liqueurs, orange and lime juices and the maple syrup into a food processor or blender. Blitz until the berries are as finely chopped as possible.
• Strain through a fine sieve, working the cranberry pulp against the mesh with a spatula or small ladle until you have extracted all of the liquid. Chill until needed. When ready to serve, fill small glasses with crushed ice, then pour over the almost fluorescent pink cocktail.

MARMALADE WHISKEY SOURS

Steps:

• Combine bourbon, lime juice, sugar, marmalade, and bitters in a pitcher. Stir vigorously until sugar and marmalade are dissolved.
• Fill rocks glasses with crushed ice, top with bourbon mixture, and serve each with a maraschino cherry and a drizzle of cherry liquid.