Celmentine Cosmos

I made these for the first time last Christmas (a few times!) and can't wait for an opportunity to make them again.  This drink is amazing!  These Cosmos are great to make ahead for entertaining.  Easy and a fun use of a Christmas time fruit.  Found the recipe on Foodnetwork. 

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Ingredients:
3 clementines, plus 1 very thinly sliced, for garnish
1 cup sugar (I only use 1/2 cup sugar)
1 cup water
2/3 cup cranberry juice
1/3 cup fresh lime juice
1 1/2 cups vanilla flavored vodka (I used only 1 cup) (I also like citon vodka better than the vanilla)

Directions:
Wash clementines.  Cut the clementines into quarters and squeeze their juice into a saucepan. Add the sugar, water and clementine flesh and bring to a boil over medium heat. Reduce the heat and simmer the mixture for 5 minutes. Pour into a strainer set over a measuring cup, pressing on the solids to remove as much liquid as possible. Discard the solids, cool the liquid to room temperature and pour into a pitcher. Add the cranberry juice, lime juice and vodka and stir well. Refrigerate until ready to serve. Put 4  martini glasses in the freezer.

To serve, pour the mixture into an ice-filled cocktail shaker and shake until very cold. Pour into martini glasses (I rimmed the glasses with sugar) and garnish each with a clementine slice. Drink up and enjoy!

Hint:  Have an extra batch of the simple syrup made, then you can whip up a new batch in a snap if need be.