Gourmet

To get the most juice out of lemons, be sure they're at room temperature when you squeeze them.

This cooked version of eggnog (without any booze) gets chilled overnight and up to two days, so you can make it ahead and serve it to anyone who comes through the door.

We preferred pure cranberry juice in this recipe but it's possible to substitute the more commonly available cranberry juice cocktail  — simply omit the sugar called for.

We found that a small amount of Pernod in the rickeys added an interesting but unimposing accent. If you don't care for the flavor of Pernod, simply substitute an equal amount of additional vodka.Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less but requires additional unattended time.