A cool idea from a groovy lady

Food writer Monica Bhide has come up with a nifty idea for promoting her excellent new book, Modern Spice - a virtual potluck dinner! And I'm in charge of drinks, unsurprisingly.

I went with Monica's Pomegranate Delight. It's a simple, refreshing summer cocktail, the pomegranate cutting the sweetness of the grenadine and rum. Quite a success, I'd say!

Here's how it's done:

Pomegranate Delight

Serves 1

Ingredients:

1/4 ounce (1/2 tablespoon) grenadine

1/2 ounce (1 tablespoon) store bought pomegrate juice (see Note)

1/2 teaspoon sweetened lime juice such as Rose's

1 1/2 ounces (3 tablespoons) white rum

Ice as needed

4 ounces (1/2 cup) chilled club soda

Mix the grenadine, pomegranate juice, lime juice and rum in a tall glass. Add ice and the club soda and stir gently. Serve immediately.

Note: You can use plain POM pomegranate juice for this recipe, or try one of the mixed varieties such as Pomegranate-Blueberry for an exotic-tasting cocktail. You can use pomegranate liqueur too, if you like - add 1/4 ounce (1/2 tablespoon.)

I drank two of these yesterday, very, very happily, while my husband slaved away at a borscht. The sun even came out! I credit the Pomegranate Delight.

Visit Monica's blog this evening and see who else is cyber-cooking what else from her fantastic, pretty much failsafe new book, Modern Spice.