I’m not a huge fan of Valentine’s Day, but I will never say no to a delicious cocktail or something chocolaty to acknowledge the occasion. February is kind of a non-eventful month, so it is nice to have an excuse to indulge. For this Valentine’s Day, I will be whipping up some simple cocktails. It’s citrus season, and I wanted to make use of my favorite citrus fruit – Cara Cara oranges. When it comes to cocktails, the simpler the better for me. If I see a cocktail with any more than six ingredients, I usually sense an instant headache in my future, so I tend to avoid these. For me fresh juices, fresh herbs, and a little alcohol make the perfect combination. I have recently been adding a couple of slices of fresh blood orange to a simple gin and tonic, which turns it a beautiful pink and adds a perfect bitter sweet flavor. That’s how simple I like my cocktails. This Cara Cara sparkler is essentially a mimosa with a twist of lime. It’s wonderfully refreshing and perfect at any time of the day. In this post I’ve also included some chocolaty recipes and another classic cocktail, which could make your Valentine’s Day just a little more indulgent.
Recipe
Serves 2
- 120mls of freshly squeezed Cara Cara orange juice
- 120mls of sparkling white wine / Prosecco
- Squeeze of fresh lime juice
Method
- Divide the fresh orange juice into two glasses.
- Add a squeeze of lime juice to each glass.
- Top with the Prosecco.
- Garnish with a sliver of orange rind and a sprig of fresh rosemary on a cocktail stick.
If you fancy putting in a little more effort and cooking up something chocolaty and gooey for your loved one, these chocolate orange souffles would go down a storm.
If your loved one is gluten free, you could always surprise them with these home-made dark chocolate buckwheat cupcakes flavored with coffee and whiskey, and topped with a white chocolate frosting.
If your beau/ belle is more into the classics, I would go with these caramel pecan brownies (they are always a hit), and a classic Manhattan with a brandied cherry. 
