I am thinking of putting on a cooking class on holiday cocktails. What do you think?

It is not-too-distant in my future to host cooking classes. No worries. Before I start promoting classes, I will ask for emails so you can all sign up for a newsletter. THEN you will know what classes are happening when. But for now: a paltry substitute with personality reaching only from my fingertips to your eyeballs, will have to suffice. So be it. Its not like you should have to wait for holiday-cocktail inspiration. Especially since the holidays are upon us.

I recently played around with pomegranate juice---the new darling of food trends. (And hats off to their marketing dept. who 'easily' grabbed my attn. with 2 boxes of pomegranates).

Obviously, cocktails were on the short-list. By the way, I wrote down the recipes with fraction ratios... does that work for you? Then you can make it for 1 or 10. See below:

Pomtini... because of the glass, that's why. Muddle this with ice, then strain it into chilled martini glasses... ha! Like I have the patience for chilling, muddling and straining. What? No ice cubes? No problem: just pour and breath in, breath out. You will be fine:

1/4Pomegranate Juice 1/4 Fresh squeezed OJ 1/2 Vodka [good splash] Ginger simple syrup

You know this, right? Ginger syrup: 1 cup water, 1 cup sugar. Simmer to dissolve sugar. Remove from heat; pop in 2 inches of skinned, sliced ginger and let steep/cool. Store in fridge for a few weeks. The best!

Dropping Pombs.Because yes, if you drink a few of these, you will be 'pombed.'

1/4 Pomegranate Juice 1/2 Vodka 1/4 Triple Sec [good splash] Lemon Juice

note: see picture. Do you see the pomegranate seeds? I froze them in those 'water-bottle ready' ice cubes. Works brilliant for vodka shot glasses.

Dropping Rosemary Pombs.Because I love herbs... and they rock cocktails.

1/4 Pomegranate Juice 1/2 Vodka 1/4 Rosemary simple syrup

Note: make rosemary syrpup the same way I made the ginger, but with a big pile of rosemary (rosemary syrup added to your basic lemon drops is amazing!).

That's not all:

• Here is my Christmas Kazi that I created years ago; it was featured on Food & Wine's Home page.
• Mummy Juice landed itself in a bonafide cookbook---released just last month. No rum? Make it with vodka and skip the soda.
• I make sangria year round, sliced up seasonal fruit varies. Everyone loves a good sangria. It keeps things interesting.
• If you never make another recipe on this blog... at least make the eggnog. Really. Trust me.
• This is STILL my go-to drink. We all have them. What is yours?