New Book "12 Happy Hours" Highlights Holiday Cocktails, Appetizers and Stress-Free Party Ideas

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Nov. 25, 2013 - PRLog -- "12 Happy Hours," J.K.O'Hanlon's newest book in the Thirsty Jane series on cocktails and entertaining, introduces drink and food recipes with monthly themes and entertaining tips for casual, stress-free parties. Food and drink recipes from her books can be found at www.thirstyjane.com.

Available on Amazon in soft-cover and eBook formats, "12 Happy Hours" features three cocktails and three appetizers based on monthly themes from January through December. Interwoven in the book are historical fun facts on each month’s holidays and tips on everything from polite ways to usher home guests who won’t leave to how to remove red wine and juice stains.

O’Hanlon’s first book, "3 Ingredient Cocktails," empowered the average person to mix a drink with confidence and without breaking the bank. This 116-page book, beautifully illustrated with photography, is all about making memories with friends and family.

O’Hanlon, a former corporate attorney, gets her ideas and inspiration from years of hosting cocktail gatherings in her suburban Kansas home; so many, in fact, that she has been dubbed "Thirsty Jane" by her neighbors and friends who enjoy each other’s company a few times a month. That’s also the name of her popular website and Facebook account where fans can enjoy news about cocktails and fun recipes.

To get a gathering started, O’Hanlon suggests one signature cocktail and a variety of easy-to-make appetizers.

In January, after the holiday parties and while New Year resolutions of an alcohol-free zone for a while are still fresh in one’s resolve, O’Hanlon provides non-alcoholic drink recipes for a fizz, margarita and sangria, plus a recipe for making your own sour mix that’s simple and more affordable than buying it pre-made. In February, it’s all about chocolate to honor the month for lovers. Recipes include a German chocolate cake cocktail and appetizers like chocolate covered bacon.

In March, it’s not just about the Irish. O’Hanlon gives a shout out to her Polish heritage this month. She gives a simple twist to a Manhattan and a way of using the ever-popular Guinness Irish Stout, plus super-easy pepper jelly cheese puffs.

In April, it’s time to do spring cleaning and O’Hanlon gives tips on what booze from a home bar can last forever and which ones need to be tossed, plus drinks made from delicious flavored liqueurs. In May, it’s all about the margarita with recipes on new twists like pineapple-orange and cilantro-jalapeño margaritas. In June when summer brings warm days and starry nights, it’s gin and tonic time. In July the patio is heating up and it’s time for patriotic punches and appetizers.

In August, as the end-of-summer-blues might be setting in, O’Hanlon chases them away with cool and sassy fruity beach drinks and hors d'oeuvres. In September, a fall festival of apple drinks and recipes await readers, including apple spice cocktail and cran-apple cobbler.  Also, with fresh shrimp at its most delicious this time of season, O’Hanlon has included a recipe for shrimp cocktail shooters.

In October, no spooky party would be complete without a Pumpkintini, a Zombie and a Corpse Reviver drink, not to mention stuffed mushrooms and her “spider web” dip. In November, warm moments with friends around the fire can be enjoyed with her mulled wine, apple toddy and appetizers like ginger toasts and baked almond brie. In December, there’s a champagne cocktail, a mimosa and delicious dips like crab rangoon and bites like prosciutto fig wraps.

“Always remember that the goal of hosting a happy hour is to cultivate friendships and relationships. The food and drink are merely vehicles to relax everyone and get the conversation flowing,” she says.

O'Hanlon is also the author of "Objection Overruled," a romance book from Loose Id. For more information, please go to www.jkohanlon.com.