Holiday Spirits

You don’t need to have a vast selection of liquor to throw a great New Year’s Eve cocktail party.

Just be sure to have something special on hand for those who don’t drink alcohol and the designated drivers. There are some very nice nonalcoholic beers, wines and champagnes available. Sparkling cider or some sort of punch is a good idea, too.

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CAMPARITINI

1 tablespoon Campari

3 tablespoons vodka or gin

Ice

Lemon twist

Put Campari, vodka and ice in large mixing glass. Shake or stir and strain into martini glass. Garnish with lemon twist.

1 serving:

128 calories; 1 mg sodium; 0 cholesterol; 0 fat; 0 carbohydrates; 0 protein; 0 fiber.

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METEOR

2 teaspoons Mint Syrup

3 tablespoons vodka or gin

Ice

1 sprig mint

Combine syrup, vodka and ice in mixing glass. Strain into serving glass and garnish with mint sprig.

1 serving:

112 calories; 0 sodium; 0 cholesterol; 0 fat; 4 grams carbohydrates; 0 protein; 0 fiber.

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MINT SYRUP

1 cup plus 1 tablespoon sugar

1 cup water

1 cup mint sprigs, loosely packed

Heat 1 cup sugar and water in small saucepan and stir until sugar dissolves.

Mash mint and 1 tablespoon sugar in bowl with wooden spoon about 15 seconds. Pour sugar water over mint and let sit 1 minute. Strain through cheesecloth and chill.

1 1/3 cups. Each 2-teaspoon serving:

26 calories; 0 sodium; 0 cholesterol; 0 fat; 7 grams carbohydrates; 0 protein; 0 fiber.