My 17th Birthday Soiree

by Katya Simkhovich

We kept it classy with "mocktails."

 

Of course there was cheese.

And of course there were mini quiches. Brie and apple mini quiches.

Bacon wrapped dates are a must for a classy cocktail party.

 

Prosciutto wrapped melon is classy.

You are witnessing some serious classiness right here.

A tower of cupcakes. It doesn't get much classier.

Champagne cupcakes.

Chocolate cupcakes with chocolate ganache.

Out of this world caramels that were gone too quickly to take a picture of.

Kahlua spiked chocolate mousse shots.

Someone got excited.

The aftermath.

Drink Recipes:

Virgin Sex on the Beach

  • 1 part orange juice
  • 1 part cranberry juice
  • Peach nectar to taste – depending on how sweet you’d like it.
  • 1 tbsp grenadine syrup
Mix equal parts of orange juice and cranberry juice, add nectar, and pour over ice. Sink the grenadine, garnish with a pineapple wedge, and serve.

Virgin Manhattan

  • 1/4 cup cranberry juice
  • 1/4 cup orange juice
  • 1/2 tsp cherry juice
  • 1/4 tsp lemon juice
Shake ingredients with ice, and strain; either into a chilled cocktail glass, or on the rocks in an old-fashioned glass. Garnish with a maraschino cherry, and serve.

Virgin Bloody Mary

  • 3 ounces tomato juice or V-8
  • 3 ounces cranberry juice
  • 1/2 tsp. Tabasco (more to taste)
  • 1 tsp. lime juice
  • Fresh ground black pepper (to taste)
  • Garnish: cilantro sprig, celery stick, lime wedge, or pickle!

Pour all ingredients over crushed ice. Stir, garnish, and serve.

Faux Kir

  • 1 tsp. raspberry syrup (available in coffee and gourmet stores) or grenadine
  • 6 ounces sparkling cider, chilled
  • Garnish: fresh raspberries – failed.

Put a teaspoon of syrup in a champagne flute, add the sparkling cider, and float several raspberries on top. Cheers!

Food

Bacon Wrapped Dates

Prosciutto Wrapped Melon

Mini Brie and Apple Quiches and I used pate brisee for the crust.

 

Desserts

Devil’s Food Cupcakes

Champagne Cupcakes

Fluer De Sel Caramels