It's been a tough week. Late, last-minute gift hunting in overcrowded, under-stocked, stores. Hundreds of other stressed-out shoppers pushing, shoving and banging into each other. In the parking lot.

The week was spent cramming five days of work into three, so you can take a couple of days off over the holidays. And your family is in town. For two weeks.

You need a drink.

Try the Mission Accomplished. Besides being appropriately named, it's not the typical creamy, noggy "holiday" drinks that have been forced on you lately. Perfect to mix for your girl who's working to fit into her New Year's dress. Or to get her out of it.

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED
4 oz. vodka
2 oz. Triple Sec
2 splashes lime juice
2 splashes grenadine

Mix the ingredients in a shaker with ice. Shake well and serve in an old-fashioned glass.

Recipe reprinted with permission from the book The Daily Cocktail - 365 Intoxicating Drinks and the Outrageous Events that Inspired Them, by Dalyn Miller and Larry Donovan.