Recipes
Mimosas &
Brunch
Celebrate the holiday with these Southern staples By Glenda Sanders
Nothing dresses up a Southern holiday brunch more than crisp , bubbly , refreshing mimosas .
Made from orange juice and champagne , or sparkling wine , the mimosa has garnered a popular following since it was first introduced in the 1920s . Some histories credit a bartender at the Ritz Hotel in Paris for creating the cocktail , while others claim it was an adaption of the already popular Buck ’ s
Fizz cocktail invented at Buck ’ s Club in London . Regardless of where it originated , the mimosa has found its way on the Southern brunch menu as a traditional staple .
“ Mimosas are what you serve at a brunch in the South ,” said Bet Deweese , a member of the Meridian Restorations Foundation Inc ., owners of historic Merrehope , which draws a full house to its annual Mimosas & Merrehope holiday brunch .
From the traditional mimosa , or “ champagne orange ” as it was originally called , to the festive cranberry mimosa , referred to as a Poinsettia , there are numerous holiday versions of this super simple cocktail as people have put their own twists on the classic mimosa recipe .
“ The key to making mimosas is to make sure all of the ingredients are chilled beforehand ,” she said , suggesting refrigerating the juices the night before and placing any fruit used for drink decorations in the freezer before mixing to get good and frozen .
“ I always like to float frozen cranberries in the glass just to make it a little more festive looking ,” Deweese said .” They are frozen , so they also will help keep your drink cold .”
In addition , she said , “ Since you are mixing ingredients into your Prosecco or champagne , you can use a cheaper brand . It doesn ’ t have to be top of the line .”
When mixing , she sometimes goes by preference instead of exact measurements .
“ I go by look , by color , and I tend to be heavy on the Prosecco instead of the orange juice ,” she laughed .
Deweese , who enjoys making the fizzy cocktail , offers these mimosa tips for holiday versions that add a pop of vibrant color to the brunch table . M
Poinsettia Mimosa
Ocean Spray Cranberry Juice Cocktail One bottle La Marca Prosecco Fresh cranberries , frozen
Traditional mimosa
Tropicana Pure Premium 100 % Orange Juice , no pulp One bottle La Marca Prosecco Fresh cranberries , frozen
Add 2 to 3 ounces of orange juice to a 6-ounce champagne flute . Fill the remainder of the flute with Prosecco . Add five frozen cranberries so they are floating at the top of the glass .
Add 2 to 3 ounces of cranberry juice to a 6-ounce champagne flute . Fill the remainder of the flute with Prosecco . Add four frozen cranberries so they are floating at the top of the glass .
Grinch Mimosa
DeKuyper Blue Curacao Liqueur 46-ounce Tropicana Pure Premium 100 % Orange Juice , no pulp One bottle La Marca Prosecco Fresh strawberries , hull removed
Add 2 to 3 ounces of orange juice to a 6-ounce champagne flute . Add a capful , or dash , of DeKuyper . Fill the remainder of the glass with Prosecco , and add a fresh strawberry , upside down , to the top of the glass rim to make the Grinch hat .