The Interactive MAP in FULL SCREEN The orange pinpoints are the location of each organized group of Daily Kos readers. If you'd like to join a group, click on a point and a box will pop up showing contact links. If you'd like to start a group, contact navajo for instructions.
| A daily series, Connect! Unite! Act! seeks to create face-to-face networks in each congressional district. Groups regularly socialize but also get out the vote, support candidates and engage in other local political actions that help our progressive movement grow and exert influence on the powers-that-be. Visit us at Daily Kos every morning at 7:30 A.M. Pacific Time to see how you can get involved. The comment thread is fun and light-hearted, but we're serious about moving the progressive political agenda forward. |
Among the many reasons I love the holidays are the festive drinks to be had. Brian and I have thrown many holiday parties over the years we’ve been together. We particularly enjoy highlighting a different signature drink for each. We’ve done variations on eggnog recipes, cranberry liquor in hot apple cider, Tom and Jerry’s, mulled wines, champagne cocktails. None, however, have been so popular as our Grasshopper Cocktail. With it’s sweet mix of chocolate, mint, cream and booze, it thoroughly pleases.
The basic recipe is simple. Combine ¾ ounces each of cream, white creme de cacao and green creme de menthe. Shake with ice in your cocktail shaker until very cold and serve in a pretty glass, perhaps with a miniature candy cane as a garnish.
The first year we made these, we decided to ramp it up a notch and use ice cream instead of regular cream. The first batch we made, it was quickly discovered that a blender would be needed to get a desirable consistency. It worked well enough, but then it was suggested we should blend a few ice cubes in there to get it exactly right. Aha! Complete success. The only problem was that at this point we had partaken of three batches. It was during the fourth batch when things took a turn.
I was at the helm and mixed everything up just so. But there was yet another problem. The damned blender was acting up. It seemed to take on a life of its own trying to get the job done. It was a blender possessed, trying to bounce itself across the counter. I shouted for Brian to come quick. He unplugged it as I was cussing it out for not being able to even mix ice cream and ice. He stopped me mid-rant and turned to show me the now mangled spoon I had used to fold the Häagen-Dazs in with the rest of the ingredients. It was not a good mix.
Strong coffee was made and I haven’t yet lived that one down. Let’s talk of Christmas Drinks Past.
What’s your favorite holiday cocktail? UPDATES AND NEWS FROM THE DAILY KOS LOCAL GROUPS BELOW