Two Valentine’s Days ago, my very new boyfriend showed up to my apartment at 7:30 in the morning with a bundle of sunflowers and a bottle of Champagne. We made breakfast and drank mimosas before we went our separate ways to work and the sweet gesture stayed with me the rest of the day.
Photographs by Olivia Rae James for Gardenista.
Above: Winter citrus-inspired mimosas.
Simple mimosas are one of my favorite cocktails to date, but I love to dress them up with a splash of Campari and the tang of blood oranges. The color makes it perfectly festive for Valentine’s Day—whether you’re drinking it alongside French toast in bed with your sweetheart or pitcher-style at a cozy dinner with your closest pals.
Above: The ingredients. When it comes to bubbly, I'm not at all picky. This time I used Belstar Prosecco, but Charleston-based La Bubbly is my all-time favorite.
Above: Blood oranges, sliced. I like to take advantage of winter citrus and make fresh-squeezed blood orange juice.
Above: Dark pink blood orange juice; nature's food coloring.
Above: For serving, I love these Stemless Champagne Flutes from World Market; $7.96 for a set of four.
Campari Champagne Cocktail (serves 5)
Ingredients
- 1 bottle dry Champagne or Prosecco
- 1/3 cup Campari
- 1 cup blood orange juice
Instructions
Mix campari and blood orange juice in a cold mixing bowl. Divide and pour evenly among five Champagne flutes. Finish off with Champagne or prosecco, and garnish with a sprig or two of thyme if you’re feeling fancy.
Not to miss: Olivia's 5 Ingredient Cocktail Party and her very pink Raspberry Sparkler.