I just got back from Whole Foods. On Christmas Eve. The shocking part was the traffic was not bad, the parking lot was well-attended and there was zero drama. There was even minimal jockeying for position at the ham counter! Even with this smooth Christmas Eve shopping experience, I, however, managed to spill coffee all over myself and the produce department, and spill a box of gluten-free pasta all over the aisle, walk over it, spill more coffee on it, and run away leaving the aisle a crunchy (but gluten-free!) mess behind me.

I need a drink.

Of course, it’s the most festive time of the year so you don’t just want to slug back a shot of vodka and call it a holiday (or maybe you do, hey, I won’t judge) so I decided to use this box of Cuties I was sent to create a fun cocktail.

These California clementines are hugely popular in my house, and in my kid’s school, practically everywhere. Which is why my dream of making an entire punch quickly disappeared after my daughter busted into them. This was all that was left –

The kid loves those Cuties. So instead I created a Cutie Old-Fashioned, minus the cherry because we were fresh out. Which is my husband’s favorite part, but he seemed to get over after a few of these Cutie-infused cocktails. Try it! And happy, happy, happiest of holidays everyone! Keep it g-free.

XO, A

Cutie Old-Fashioned

Prep time: 5 minutes

Ingredients:

1 teaspoon simple sugar (or dissolve a sugar cube)
2 ounces whiskey of your choice (we went bourbon, cuz’ that’s how we do)
Dash or 2 of Angostura bitters
1/2 ounce juice from a Cutie
Splash of seltzer (optional)
One big ass ice cube

1. Combine sugar, whiskey, bitters, and Cutie juice in a shaker.

2. Pour over one large ice cube in an old-fashioned glass. Garnish with cutie peel or cutie slice, add seltzer for taste.

Makes: 1 Cutie Old-Fashioned