Champagne Cocktail

<< Champagne Cocktail is a stunning 'drink' to serve on New Year's Eve or whenever you feel like clinking glasses and saying L'Chaim! Follow the recipe as indicated below and note that you can substitute a non-alcholic beverage in place of the champagne. Cut and paste the source webpage cited below for a gorgeous photo of the finished product.

Increase the amount of champagne 'jelly' to 3 cups instead of two if you wish - increase powdered gelatin by one packet (or about 2.5 tsp.) and add an extra cup of champagne - adjust sugar to taste.

Ingredients:

• 2 lbs. fresh sweet cherries, pitted*, plus one cherry per glass with stem and pit as garnish (fresh cherries are best - if you cannot find any, substitute colorful, beautiful blackberries or another tangy berry of choice - quality and form are important
• 2 (1/4 oz.) packets or 5 tsp. unflavored gelatin powder
• 4 tbsp. sugar
• 2 cups cold dry champagne (a white or rose sparkling wine or non-alcholic beverage or white grape juice could also be used)
• 6 Champagne Flute glasses (high and narrower than coupe or tulip-shaped glasses - a wine glass can also be used - not too wide or large

Evenly distribute pitted cherries between the six glasses and place them in the fridge. Set aside one unpitted cherry with stem for each glass.

Place one cup of cold water in a bowl on top of pan of simmering water.

Sprinkle gelatin in bowl of cold water and stir gently until dissolved. Stir in sugar and mix until dissolved. Remove bowl with gelatin mixture and place it atop ice that is sitting in a larger bowl. Stir gently until gelatin mixture cools down to room temperature.

Gently stir in the champagne, mixing slowly with a spoon for a few seconds only.

Pour champagne mixture into flute glasses already chilled and filled with cherries, evenly distributing the liquid. Clean or skim off any foam that accumulates around edges.

Refrigerate for at least 3 hours until firm. Place one stemmed cherry upright on top of hardened, chilled champagne in flute glass and serve.

Champagne Cocktail serves: 6

Source: http://www.costcoconnection.com/connection/2007_recipes/#pg222

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