Sake, Japanese rice wine with complex flavors, combined with zippy raspberry tea creates a totally delicious weekend beverage.
Refreshing Ginger Tea Drink
Here is a refreshing summer drink that you and your loved ones will take a liking to. With the hot weather here we all need to drink plenty of liquids to stay hydrated!
INGREDIENTS
4 Cups Boiling Water
15 Individual Green Tea Bags
3 Cups White Grape Juice
1 Cup Apple Juice
2 Tablespoons Honey
2 Tablespoons Minced Fresh Ginger
2 Tablespoons Fresh Mint Leaves
1 Green Apple Sliced For Garnish
In a slow cooker combine the boiling water and the tea bags. If you don’t have a slow cooker you can make this on the stove in a large pot on simmer. Cover and let stand for 10 minutes. Throw away the tea bags and stir in the grape juice, apple juice, honey and ginger. Cover and cook on low for 3 hours or until heated through. Strain and transfer to a large covered pitcher (or two covered pitchers). Place in the fridge for at least 6 hours. When ready to serve pour into glasses and garnish with fresh mint leaves and apple slices. Makes about 2 quarts.
Even More Skinny Cocktails
There is a huge demand for “Skinny Cocktails,” but it’s not easy coming up with reduced-calorie cocktails. There are several lighter-calorie alcohol brands that have come onto the market in the past few years. Skinnygirl Vodka and Voli Light Vodka are two low-cal vodka brands that have become quite popular. Skinnygirl was launched by former Real Housewives of New York cast member Bethenny Frankel who sold it to Beam in March 2011. Voli is owned by singers Pitbull and Fergie. TY KU Sake is a low-calorie, gluten-free premium sake brand which is owned by singer/producer CeeLo Green and The Millionaire Matchmaker, Patti Stanger.
Gin & Lime Juice
INGREDIENTS
1 1/2 Ounces Gin
3/4 Fresh Lime Juice
1 Teaspoon Simple Syrup
1 1/2 Ounces Seltzer Water
Lime Wedge
Add all ingredients except the seltzer water into a shaker. Shake and pour into a glass filled with ice. Top with seltzer water and garnish with a lime wedge. Serves 1. 155 Calories.
Daiquiri
INGREDIENTS
2 Ounces TY KU Sake
1 1/2 Ounces Light Rum
1/2 Ounce Lime Juice
1/2 Ounce Agave Nectar
Add all ingredients into a shaker. Shake and pour into a glass filled with ice. Serves 1. 163 Calories.
Light Bloody Mary
INGREDIENTS
2 Ounces Low-Calorie Vodka
2 Ounces Tomato Juice
1/2 Ounce Fresh Lemon Juice
1/2 Teaspoon Worcestershire Sauce
1/2 Teaspoon Hot Sauce
1/8 Teaspoon Celery Salt
Lime Wedge
Cucumber Slice
Celery Stalk
Add all ingredients into a shaker filled with ice. Shake and pour into a glass. Garnish with lime wedge, cucumber slice & celery stalk. Serves 1. 122 Calories.
More Skinny Cocktails
While one cannot consider these “health drinks” these cocktails are less guilty alternatives to the cocktails that are heavy on calories. Stay on weight goal track with my Skinny Cocktails. You can have your “cake and eat it too!”
Vodka & Citrus Cocktail
INGREDIENTS
2 Ounces Thyme & Citrus Blend
1 Ounce Vodka
1/4 Ounce Absinthe
Combine all ingredients in an ice filled shaker. Shake and pour into a glass. Tope with soda water. Serves 1. 200 Calories
Prosecco Fresco
INGREDIENTS
4 Ounces Chilled Prosecco
1 Cucumber
1 Lime Wedge
Splash of Hot Sauce
Pinch of Sea Salt
Peel the cucumber and puree it in a blender. Strain the cucumber juice into a large glass. Top off with the prosecco. Finish with a splash of hot sauce and a pinch of salt. Gently stir to combine and garnish with a lime wedge. Serves 1. 130 Calories
Skinny Cocktails
Spring seems to be poking its head out and the weekend is here so why not sit outside this weekend and enjoy an evening cocktail. The problem is that mixed drinks have a lot of calories so here is a cocktail with just a fraction of the calories (under 200 calories) that a regular cocktail would have. Enjoy your weekend!
Skinny Margarita
INGREDIENTS
1 1/2 Ounces TY KU Citrus Liqueur
1/4 Ounce Silver Tequila
1/4 Ounce Agave Nectar
Squeeze of Lemon
Combine all of the ingredients in a shaker. Shake well. Serve on the rocks or blend with ice. Serves 1. 100 Calories
Skinny Gin & Grapefruit Cocktail
1 1/2 Ounces Gin
1 Ounce Sugar-Free Simple Syrup
3 Ounces Fresh Grapefruit Juice
Combine all of the ingredients in a shaker. Shake well. Pour into a glass filled with ice. Garnish with a slice of grapefruit. Serves 1. 110 Calories
Bourbon Blizzard
Let’s be honest, New Year’s Eve is the drinking holiday for many party goers around the world. Whiskey isn’t just a man’s drink anymore and with the comeback of traditional cocktails you just may want to try your hand at the Bourbon Blizzard. Remember to drink responsibly.
INGREDIENTS
3 Ounces Bourbon
1 Ounce Cranberry Juice
2/3 Ounce Lemon Juice
1 Ounce Simple Syrup
Lemon Twist
Ice
Place ice into a cocktail shaker. Pour the bourbon, cranberry juice, lemon juice and simple syrup into the shaker. Secure the lid and shake well. Strain the liquid into a cocktail or martini glass and garnish with a lemon twist. Makes 1 Bourbon Blizzard.
Christmas Punch
Everyone needs a good Christmas Punch to serve to guests.
INGREDIENTS
8 Cups Cranberry Juice
2 Cups Orange Juice
3 Cups Ginger Ale
Ice Cubes
In a pitcher combine the cranberry and orange juices. Just before serving stir in the ginger ale. Serve over ice. Feel free to add orange slices if you like. Serves 12
Sunday Morning Cake Donuts
Cake doughnuts don’t take nearly as much time as raised doughnuts. If you want a two bite treat just remove the doughnut holes from the cutter and fry them up for tasty little snacks.
INGREDIENTS
4 Cups Unbleached Flour
2 Teaspoons Baking Powder
1/4 Teaspoon Kosher Salt
2 Eggs
1 1/4 Cups Sugar
2 Teaspoons Vanilla Extract
2/3 Cup Milk
1/4 Cup Melted Butter
Vegetable Oil For Frying
Powdered Sugar, Granulated Sugar, Chocolate Glaze Or Powdered Sugar Icing
In a medium size bowl combine the flour, baking powder and salt. Set aside. In a large size bowl combine the eggs, sugar and vanilla. Beat for 4 minutes until thick. In a small size bowl combine the milk and melted butter. Add the flour mixture and the milk mixture alternately to the egg mixture. Beat after each addition just until combined so make sure not to overbeat. Cover and put in the fridge for 2 to 4 hours. On a floured surface roll the dough to a 1/2 inch thickness. Make sure not to stir in the additional flour. Cut the dough with a floured 2 1/2 inch doughnut cutter. Reroll the dough as needed. Fry 2 or 3 doughnuts at a time in a deep hot oil for 3 minutes or until the doughnuts are golden born. Turn once. Remove with a slotted spoon and drain the doughnuts on paper towels. Repeat until you have fried all of the doughnuts. Cool the doughnuts slightly and coat with powdered sugar, granulated sugar, chocolate glaze or powdered sugar icing. Or you can leave them plain if you want to. Do the same with the doughnut holes. Makes about 16 doughnuts and holes.
Eyeball Punch
Halloween is fast approaching and if you’re having a party and in need of a creepy drink then look no further.
INGREDIENTS
8 Cups Grape Juice
3 Cinnamon Whole Sticks
1 Tablespoon Whole Cloves
1 Tablespoon Whole Allspice
3 Slices of Fresh Ginger
3 Cups Peeled Green Grapes
3 Bottles Chilled Ginger Ale (12 Ounces Each)
First you will need to peel the grapes by plunging them into boiling water for 20 seconds and then transfer them to ice water. This will loosen the skins. Peel the grapes and set aside. In a large size saucepan combine the grape juice, cinnamon sticks, cloves, allspice and fresh ginger. Cook over a medium heat and bring to a boil. As soon as you’ve brought to a boil remove from the heat and set aside for 1 hour for the mixture to cool. Do no put in the fridge just let it sit out on the counter. Strain out the cinnamon sticks, cloves, allspice and ginger. Throw the spices away. Pour into a pitcher and chill for two hours or until cold. When you are ready to serve pour into a punch bowl and add the ginger ale and grapes. Serve immediately. Serves 12
Classic Martini
Here’s an idea, why not have a martini party?
INGREDIENTS
2 Ounces Gin
1/2 Ounce Dry Vermouth
3 Green Olives
Lemon Peel
Thread 3 green olives on a cocktail pick and set aside. In a cocktail shaker combine the gin and vermouth. Add ice cubes. Cover and shake until VERY cold. Strain the liquid into a martini glass. Garnish with the olives and lemon twist. Makes 1 serving.
