Remind me sometime to tell you about the hogmany (New Year’s Eve) that I spent in Paris. It was an amazing night spent partly on a roof top balcony in Montemarte and partly on the steps of the Paris Opera House. I’d tell you about it tonight but I’m busy preparing food for a family get-together this weekend. What I can tell you is that we started the night drinking kir royal (a mix of Crème de Cassis and sparkling white wine) in a tiny family run restaurant and ever since I’ve had a real soft spot for the cocktail.
Tragedy struck the other evening when I finished my bottle of Crème de Cassis whilst marking Higher papers (thanks for the tip, Christina – it really did make the marking less painful!). With Christmas presents and a ski trip to pay for, I was in no financial position to go buy more. It was time for some experimentation. The following cranberry syrup was the result.
Mix a dribble of this syrup with some normal or sparkling wine to create a rather Christmassy cocktail! 🙂
Cranberry Syrup
500g cranberries
300g caster sugar
150ml water
Zest of one lemon
- Add all the ingredients to a pan and bring to the boil.
- Mash the berries down so that all of their juice is released.
- Turn off the heat and let the mixture cool slightly.
- Pour through a fine sieve.
- Bottle and cool.
- Mix 1 part syrup with 5 parts sparkling wine for a Cranberry Royale. 😉
A Wee Bit of Cooking 
Excellent improvising Wendy! I love creme de cassis but cranberry is a lovely festive twist.
I hope none of your students are reading about your marking techniques 🙂
Yummy!
I have been meaning to start making cocktails at home, tks for tip, Wendy!
What a good idea! And we can tell ourselves that it’s a “healthy” cocktail.
Fantastic idea! Cranberry’s so good for you that I almost feel it’s my duty to make these cocktails ; ) I remember your telling me a little about that night in Paris when I made Creme de Cassis earlier in the year, and I remember what you said all the time. It sounds like the most magical night – I even tried to get my husband over there for New Year’s this year! I must have had your story in the back of my mind.
Beautiful little red orbs you have there, Wendy.
Great cocktail idea. I’ll be holding you to that Hogmany festival.
Sophie – Thought it might be prudent to keep this particular technique to myself!
Patricia – You’re welcome!
Rosa – That was my thinking too. 🙂
Amanda – It was a magical night. Always makes me smile when I think about it!
Lucy – Why, thank you. 🙂 Will keep my promise.
Sounds yummy! And I still have a few of my treasured cranberries left!
Katie – I always find it oddly stressful when I only have a little of something left thinking: what is the best way to use it?!
What a great idea – cranberry syrup! I love cranberry things, and I’m going to make the syrup and the cranberry royale. Merry Christmas!