THE VILLAGE VOICE

"Life ... is like a grapefruit. It's orange and squishy, and has a few pips ..." ~ Douglas Adams ~ 'GRAPEFRUIT' FULL MOON _______________ SEA BREEZE COCKTAIL (for each cocktail) * 2 ounces vodka 1/3 cup fresh grapefruit juice 1/3 cup cranberry juice lime wedge Shake vodka, grapefruit juice and cranberry juice. Strain over tall highball glass filled with ice. Finish with lime wedge. GRAPEFRUIT & AVOCADO SALAD 4 large ruby red grapefruit 4 ripe avocados 1 bunch baby spinach 1 thinly sliced red onion Divide grapefruit into sections. Slice avocado into 1/2-inch strips. Toss together to prevent avocado from discoloring. Keep airtight until serving time. To serve: Place spinach on plate. Arrange alternate grapefruit and avocado slices. Top with red onion. Sprinkle with Poppy Seed Dressing . (8 servings) Serve with SPICY PEPPERED WHITE CHEDDAR MUFFINS. POPPY SEED DRESSING 1/3 cup sugar 1 tsp. dry mustard pinch salt 1/3 cup white wine vinegar 2 Tbsp. chopped...

" Champagne and orange juice is a great drink. The orange improves the champagne. The champagne definitely improves the orange." ~ Philip (Duke of Edinburgh) POINTSETTIA ~ Santa never says "NO" ... __________ 1/2 oz. Triple Sec or Cointreau 3 oz. Cranberry juice slash of orange juice 4-5 oz. champagne cranberries orange slices Add chilled Cointreau or Triple Sec to cranberry juice. Add splash of orange juice. Plop 3 cranberries in champagne glass. Fill 1/2 glass with cranberry juice mixture and slowly top with champagne. Serve with orange slice. (Can also be served over cracked ice). _______________ VILLA CREEK BLACK PEPPER SHORTBREAD ~ Delicious treat from Tom Fundaro, chef at Villa Creek . _________ 6 ounces unsalted butter (1 ½ sticks) ¼ cup sugar 1 teaspoon salt 1 ½ teaspoons cracked black pepper ¾ teaspoon dried thyme 2 1/3 cups flour 5 tablespoons whipping cream Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place the butter in a mixing bowl and let it stand until softened, the...