Pomegranates and cranberries are both widely available in the fall, making this the perfect cocktail for any holiday party.

　　

Ingredients

8 to 12 servings

　　1 cup ice

　　1 1/2 cups Simple Syrup (recipe follows)

　　1 1/4 cups pomegranate juice, chilled

　　1 cup cranberry juice, chilled

　　1 (750 ml) bottle Prosecco, chilled

　　2 limes, thinly sliced

　　1 bunch fresh mint, for garnish

　　1/2 cup (2 1/2 ounces) pomegranate seeds, for garnish

　　Special equipment: a 6- to 8-cup capacity punch bowl

　　

Simple Syrup

1 cup water

　　1 cup sugar

　　(makes 1 1/2 cups)

　　

Step 1

Place the ice in the punch bowl. Add the Simple Syrup, pomegranate juice, and cranberry juice. Stir well. Slowly pour in the Prosecco. Garnish with lime slices, mint sprigs, and pomegranate seeds and serve.

　　

Step 2

As an alternative to serving from a punch bowl, make the bellini mixture in a 6- to 8-cup pitcher. Divide the pomegranate seeds between 12 champagne flutes, add 1 slice of lime and 1 sprig of mint to each glass, and pour the bellini mixture into the prepared glasses.

　　

Simple Syrup

Step 3

In a saucepan, combine the water and sugar over medium heat. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the sugar has dissolved. Take the pan off the heat and allow the syrup to cool.

　　Reprinted with permission from Giada's Kitchen: New Italian Favorites by Giada De Laurentiis. Copyright © 2008 by Giada De Laurentiis. Published by Crown Publishing Group. All Rights Reserved.Giada De Laurentiis is the star of Food Network's Everyday Italian and Behind the Bash. She attended the Cordon Bleu in Paris, and then worked in a variety of Los Angeles restaurants, including Wolfgang Puck's Spago, before starting her own catering and private-chef company, GDL Foods. The granddaughter of movie producer Dino De Laurentiis, Giada was born in Rome and grew up in Los Angeles, where she now lives.