Seen the weather forecast for this week? Looks like we may get into the eighties! It's been a mighty long time coming. Two days and counting untll May, and what better way to celebrate than with a spiffy cocktail, full of sparkling sunny flavor.

My kids, Greta and Zan, stopped by for dinner and I asked them to whip up something cheery with a kick; a warm-up cocktail to bid adios to the long, cold gray days behind us. This is what they concocted, which Zan informed is "...a slight riff on a French 75".

According to wikipedia, the French 75 is "....is a cocktail made from gin, Champagne, lemon juice, and sugar. The drink was created in 1915 at the New York Bar in Paris — later Harry's New York Bar — by barman Harry MacElhone. The combination was said to have such a kick that it felt like being shelled with the powerful French 75mm field gun, also called a "75 Cocktail", or "Soixante Quinze" in French. The French 75 was popularized in America at the Stork Club in New York."

Yield: 1 cocktail

Ingredients:

2 ounces gin

3/4 ounce fresh squeezed lemon juice

1/2 ounce Grand Marnier

1/4 ounce simple syrup*

Sparkling topper, such as Champagne, sparkling wine or water

Fresh raspberry garnish

*To make a simple syrup combine equal parts of water and white granulated sugar. Place in a sauce pan and bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer until sugar is completely dissolved. Thoroughly chill before using. Will keep a month, covered and refrigerated.

Directions:

1. Combine gin, lemon juice, Grand Marnier and simple syrup in a cocktail shaker filled with ice.
2. Shake well, then pour into a flute glass. Top with your choice of sparkler. Garnish with a raspberry and serve.

Peggy Lampman is a real-time food writer and photographer posting daily feeds on her website and in the Food & Grocery section of Annarbor.com. You may also e-mail her at peggy@dinnerfeed.com.