And I am just the gal to do it!  I’m thinking that next year I’ll pair cocktails with holiday movies.  Makes perfect sense, right? We sipped a drink with maple syrup while watching Elf.  Last night we watched The Santa Clause (the original…only ever the original) and indulged in Santa’s Little Helper.  I’m thinking something wine based with Home Alone (a nod to a lovely cheese pizza).  A spiked eggnog in honor of Cousin Eddie.  Oh, yeah, the possibilities are as endless as Christmas movies.

Santa’s Little Helper has appeared on the holiday cocktail list annually for the last however many years I’ve been doing this.  It’s pretty.  It’s tasty.  That’s my criteria for the perfect holiday cocktail.

Santa’s Little Helper (recipe from Celebrations from Home)

1 oz vanilla vodka
1/2 oz amaretto
3 oz cranberry juice cocktail

Now, I usually quadruple this recipe as that makes for two generous cocktails.  I also drop maraschino cherries into the bottom of each glass.  Add all ingredients to a cocktail shaker full of ice.  Shake, shake, shake.  Now you’re a helper, too!

For those keeping track, this is wassail number eight!  Four more to go!  I’m holding onto a margarita recipe to go with tacos sometime before the end of this, so watch for that.