Minty Merrymaker

Refresh and delight your holiday guests with the flavors of chocolate and peppermint.

One simply cannot attend our annual Christmas Eve gathering without sipping one of my mother’s famous Chocolate Peppermint Martinis. It has become a staple at our holiday party.

My parents live on a beautiful lake in the foothills of North Carolina, and every year our family and friends congregate in the open basement to celebrate the holiday. With the fire roaring and the food table overflowing with various covered dishes, we all anticipate playing the Gift Game. To assist in our mingling skills, the bar is stocked with all the essentials, including wine, hot cider, liquors and mixers; however, the truly desired cocktail is the Chocolate Peppermint Martini.

I come from a very small family so the majority of attendees are a culmination of my friends and my parents’ friends. Adorned in our most festive outfits, we sip these fancy martinis while discussing the events of the past year. I can almost smell the room and feel the fire just writing about it. Life can be quite hectic around the holidays with travel and parties and purchases, but remember to slow down and enjoy the moment.

So here’s to memories we will create with our families and friends as we pour some much needed holiday cheer!