Everyone’s got their favorite comfort foods. I also have my favorite comfort cocktail snacks. As Covid keeps us confined or we just want to stay indoors because it’s winter weather out there, I’m sharing some of my favorite comfort cocktail snack combos. I like to keep my pairings to items I either already have – or easily could – in my fridge and cupboards. First up:
Calvados Highball with Pigs in Blankets
This is a fun and really easy cold weather combo and it makes a nice nod to winter flavors with the pork, apple brandy and maple syrup. Plus everyone loves pigs in blankets! (except vegetarians, so they’ll have to find their meatless versions)
Calvados Highball recipe (recipe from Maxime Potfer)
45 ml Calvados*
1 tsp Balsamic Vinegar
1 tsp Maple syrup
Soda water
Put the Calvados in a highball glass (or anything that is tall)
Mix in the Balsamic Vinegar and syrup
Add lots of ice
Top with sparkling water
*if you cannot find Calvados where you are, you can also use apply brandy
Pigs in Blankets recipe
I keep this pretty simple and pick up nice sausages at the shops and pre-made pastry. I use a pizza cutter to slice the dough into the appropriate number of slices, cutting across like a pie, for long triangular slices that look prettier when you roll sausages in them. Then pop them on a baking tray and into the oven, just keeping an eye on them for when they look ready. Maybe 20 minutes or so.
If you want to get fancier, you can put a nice maple glaze on your sausages and make your own pastry. This recipe from David Lebovitz is an easy option you can use if you’re feeling a little more energetic than just rolling out something from the shops. (the post is for an apple tart, but if you scroll to the end there is also the recipe for the quick puff pastry)
Keep an eye on our growing collection of Comfort Cocktail Hour Pairings
