Fun Times at Romantic Times
I just got a couple of photos back from my cocktail demo at this year's Romantic Times Convention, so I wanted to share!
Here's me showing how to make the "Miranda" Cocktail--the one my heroine gets a little more than tipsy on in the first chapter of Can't Stand the Heat! It's a sweet, tart, bubbly concoction involving rose-petal infused vodka, sparkling wine, and raspberries...
Every guest at the demo had her own little shot of the rose vodka, a few ripe raspberries in a bowl, and a champagne flute. The mixing got a little mixed up (all my fault! I'll be more clear next time, I swear!) but the results were still delicious.
Then I asked for four volunteers from the crowd to c
ome up and participate in a Sangria Off! The challenge: to take the ingredients I had provided and come up with the best version of sangria they could. We had two contestants making white sangria with Pinot Grigio, and two making red with
Merlot. The other ingredients they were give were:
Granny Smith apple
Oranges
Limes
Lemons
Grapes
Strawberries
Ginger beer
Canned peaches
Canned pineapple
Cinnamon sticks
Cloves
Sugar
Brandy
Cointreau
I think that's it. I was on hand to help slice the fresh fruit and fetch and carry, but for the most part, the contestants were on their own--and I was so impressed with their results! Our three volunteer judges, also from the audience, proclaimed two w
inners, one of the whites and one of the reds, and then we all got to taste the sangria. Delicious! They ranged from tart and fruity to sweet and fairly...ahem...alcohol forward. ; ) I loved them all, and was happy to be able to send all four contestants home with signature Recipe for Love aprons and signed copies of On the Steamy Side.
What a fantastic party. Well, I had fun, at least! I think everyone else did, too. In fact, it was so much fun that I'm already thinking about when I might be able to host another one...
Looks like a great time was had by all. And I love the big streamers behind you!
Maria Geraci said... May 24, 2010 at 11:40 AM
What an awesome sounding party. Wish I could have been there. :(
Maureen McGowan said... May 24, 2010 at 5:04 PM
My dad said to me, "You know what your party was missing? Sangria."
Then I told him about this demo. He was bummed. lol
Kristen Painter said... May 24, 2010 at 5:17 PM
Sounds like both you and the crowd had a good time. I really want to try the "Miranda" cocktail. It just sounds great
Maria said... May 24, 2010 at 9:24 PM
I love the big streamers behind you!
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prashant said... June 22, 2010 at 1:40 AM
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