Roll out the red carpet and put on somethin’ fancy because we’re celebrating today on LFM!  Not only are The Oscars this weekend, but I’ve got my own reasons for celebration.  Things have been a bit quiet around here because I’ve been trying to move my site to a new host.  That didn’t go as smoothly as planned, but it is finally finished and I’m dancing happy jigs and looking more like a crazy person than is normal.  But seriously, I am SO happy, because the move needed to happen forever ago.  Yahoo!!  What better way to celebrate than to let someone else do the work today?  My friend Barb, the creative genius behind Creative Culinary, is making sure your glasses don’t run empty this weekend with a fabulous addition to my Fuji Happy Hour series.  She dreamed up a special mocktail/cocktail duo for this weekend, and is sharing the mocktail here and the cocktail over in her neck of the woods.  Thank you Barb!!

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I’ve been thinking of adding some ‘mocktails’ to my offerings for my weekly cocktail series for some time and the impetus I needed was having Rachael invite me to do one for La Fuji Mama; nothing quite like a friend needing something to give me the push I need!  The Oscars are upon us, a sparkling cocktail in a pretty glass seems appropriate and with pomegranates still available I couldn’t help but make something ‘Red Carpet’ ready.  Much like cranberries over the holiday season; I think pomegranates are meant to be married to orange and with citrus season in full bloom, this seemed perfect in every way.

Despite the fact that I get called the ‘booze queen’ (albeit lovingly I’m sure), it might surprise some how little I actually imbibe. If I drank as much as everyone thinks I do I wouldn’t be writing regular posts at all! Another truth I will deny under oath? Many times when I’m re-creating a cocktail that calls for Champagne, Cava or Prosecco I’ll actually use sparkling soda when it’s time to get a photo. It’s true!

This ‘Red Carpet’ cocktail is perfect. Filled with the combination of sweet and tart elements from both the pomegranate and orange, it was refreshing and just as importantly to me? Beautiful. It took a bit. This was my third go around and that doesn’t happen often. It wasn’t the flavor components, it was those beautiful little red jewel orbs from the pomegranate. They sink to the bottom of a bowl of water after cleaning them; can you blame me for thinking they would do the same in another liquid? Big Mistake. HUGE.

They floated when I wanted them to sink and sunk when I expected floating. So…I punted for the win. I filled the glass with ice, scattered them over the ice and then filled it with my juices and sparkling soda. You’ve heard third time is a charm. This effort was proof positive.

Thanks Rachael for inviting me over. I promise…the day we actually meet these will be ready!  {Rachael says: See?  Isn’t Barb incredible?  Now that you’ve drooled over her spectacular creation, make sure you go give her some love and check out her beautiful site!}

 Print This Recipe

The Red Carpet

Makes 2 – 3 cocktails on size of glass

1 cup pomegranate juice
3 Tbsp Grenadine (I make my own; recipe at http://www.creative-culinary.com/bacardi-cocktail-another-classic)
3 Tbsp Orange Simple Syrup (Mix 1/2 cup sugar with 1/4 cup strained orange juice; heat just until sugar dissolves and then cool before using for recipe)
Crushed Ice
Arils from 1 Pomegranate
Chilled Sparkling Water of your choice, plain or flavored. I used a lemon lime; not to be confused with something like 7-up which is much sweeter.
Orange twists for garnish

1. Chill glasses in the freezer.

2. Combine the Pomegranate juice, Grenadine and Orange simple syrup in a shaker filled with ice. Shake vigorously for 10-12 seconds.

3. Fill the cocktail glasses with crushed ice. Sprinkle a generous amount (approximately 2 Tablespoons) of Pomegranate arils over the ice and then fill each glass 3/4 full with the juice mixture. Finish by the filling glasses with sparkling water and garnish the top with an orange twist.

Tagged as: cocktail, Creative Culinary, Fuji Happy Hour, mocktail, orange, pomegranate, The Oscars, the red carpet