Tomorrow is National Champagne Day (appropriately, it’s New Year’s Eve).

Most people bring a bottle of Champagne as a gift to New Year’s Eve parties. Add a book about Champagne, and your gift will be remembered long after the bubbles are gone.

See one of our favorite books on Champagne.

Photo courtesy Sugardaddy’s Sumptuous Sweeties.

Hickory Dickory dock,
The mouse ran up the clock,
As twelve bells rang,
The mousie sprang,
Hickory Dickory dock.

But no one will be springing away from these yummy chocolate “surprise” mice cookies, no matter what hour of the day or evening you serve them (we’re waiting for the clock to strike twelve on New Year’s Eve). These mousies are filled with Cholives, olive-shaped chocolates with chocolate ganache centers (perfect for chocolate martinis, glamorous garnish or simply indulgent popping).

If you can’t get your hands on Cholives before New Year’s Eve, you can substitute. Miniature Easter egg shapes work as well; Hershey’s Kisses will work, but they’re not of the quality of Cholives. We haven’t tried Dove Promises in this recipe—they’re square rather than oval—but they’re filled with delicious soft centers, just like Cholives. As long as you mound the dough correctly, your choice of chocolate should work.

A sweet way to start the New Year—or any
day of the year! Photo by Lisa Leick.

This recipe was adapted by Cholives from Cookies, Brownies & Bars, Classic Pillsbury Cookbooks, 1991 (you can find copies on Amazon).

Cholive-Filled Chocolate Mice

INGREDIENTS

- 3/4 cup sugar
- 1/2 cup butter, softened
- 1/2 cup shortening
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1 egg
- 2-1/4 cup unbleached flour
- 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 3 dozen Cholives (or Kisses or other chocolate)
- White, silver or colored nonpareils (tiny sugar balls) or miniature chocolate chips, for eyes
- Chocolate or black string licorice, for tails, cut into 2-inch pieces

PREPARATION

1. Heat oven to 325ºF. In large bowl, beat sugar, butter and shortening until light and fluffy. Add vanilla and egg; blend well.
2. Lightly spoon flour into measuring cup; level off. Stir in flour, cocoa and baking powder; mix well.
3. Shape dough into 1-1/2-inch balls. Push Cholive into ball and roll gently in hands until Cholive is covered in dough.
4. To form Cholive-filled mouse, pinch one end of ball to form nose. For ears, make two tiny balls of dough and flatten slightly; gently press into dough on upper front of each mouse body. For eyes, press 2 nonpareils into dough below ears.
5. Place shaped cookies 2 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheets. Bake at 325ºF for 8-13 minutes or until set.
6. Remove from oven. Immediately insert piece of licorice “tail” into the rounded end of each cookie.
7. Remove from cookie sheets.

Makes 3 dozen chocolate mice. Recipe can also be adapted to make Chocolate Cats and Chocolate Dogs.

Egg nog is more festive in martini
glasses. Photo courtesy Wisconsin Milk
Marketing Board.

We ring in the New Year with Champagne. But before the clock strikes midnight, we dazzle guests with flaming egg nog.

1. Make or buy the nog. If you purchase it, spice it up with 1-1/2 ounces of spiced rum per 4 ounces of nog.

2. Chill and pour into a martini glass if you don’t have traditional glass cups.

3. Grind fresh nutmeg to garnish. (Check out these nutmeg tips.)

4. The key to flaming is using 150-proof rum (different from the spiced rum, or the 80-proof rum most people have in the house). Float half an ounce of this high-proof rum on top of the nog. Ignite the drink in front of the guest, using a long wooden fireplace match. It’s holiday magic!

5. If you don’t want to ignite the drinks, skip Step 4 and serve.

Looking for a special cocktail for New Year’s Eve?

We love both Grey Goose La Poire pear-flavored vodka and Domaine de Canton ginger liqueur. They’ve been combined into one special cocktail with perfect holiday flavors that bring Ginger Joy to good (adult) girls and boys.

Domaine de Canton ginger liqueur is a stunning complement to Grey Goose La Poire, and the gorgeous bottle makes it a terrific gift.

In fact, if you need a gift to bring to a New Year’s Eve party, bring a bottle of each along with this recipe!

Joy to the world: This Ginger Joy
cocktail is delicious! Photo courtesy
Grey Goose.