Yule Recipes, Day 1: Pomegranate-Ginger Cooler

[From The Pampered Chef® Season’s Best™ Recipe Collection (Fall/Winter 2010).]

This colorful and refreshing cocktail can be enjoyed year-round!

1 4-in (10 cm) piece of peeled fresh ginger root

1 can (12 oz) of frozen pomegranate-cherry juice concentrate, thawed

5 or 6 limes

3 cups (750 mL) of chilled club soda

1 bottle (750 mL) of sparkling wine such as spumante

4 cups (1 L) ice plus additional for serving

1. Using Food Chopper, finely chop ginger root. Place ginger root and juice concentrate into Large Micro-Cooker®. Microwave, covered, on HIGH 6-7 minutes or until mixture comes to a boil. Carefully remove from microwave; cool 10 minutes. Meanwhile, juice limes with Juicer to measure ¼ cup (50 mL).
2. Using (5-in/13-cm) Strainer, strain pomegranate mixture and lime juice into Family-Size Quik-Stir® Pitcher discard ginger. Slowly add club soda and sparkling wine; plunge gently to mix. Carefully add ice; plunge gently. Place additional ice in eight Dots Stemware glasses; pour beverage over ice. (For non-alcoholic version, substitute an additional 3 cups of club soda for the sparkling wine.)

Yield: 8 servings