Happy St. Patrick’s Month!!

It’s never too early to start thinking about St. Patrick’s Day. I know it’s only the wee early days of March, but (happily) I received my invitation to our annual Guinness-flowing, limerick-reciting, gold coin-hunting, beef stew-slurping party weeks ago – second only to Zane Patrick’s Day I am sure, but, while that happens to take place on the other coast, The Irish Riviera (Scituate, Massachusetts) is as far as my rainbow extends this year.

I am sure I am not the only one who already has plans for this “Everyone is Irish Today” celebration. Like most, you probably don the colors, paint a shamrock or two on your face and happily assimilate into the culture, traditions and fun of the day (otherwise known as “Jameson”, “Baileys” and “Murphy’s”) without much thought of from whence it all came.

After all, being 75% Irish myself (maiden name ‘Kearney – “nuff said), I’ve always, without much thought, just gone with the lure of these rich traditions and expressions of my Celtic, though twice-removed, homeland. I’ve hung an Irish flag in my dorm room, permanently marked myself with a shamrock tattoo, and made a habit of commemorating each wedding or organized function with at least one Car Bomb cocktail.

And while the shamrock tattoo used to come in handy getting in, sans cover charge, to Boston’s finest St. Patrick’s Day parties (and I am sure it had nothing to with its location on my very upper thigh) and the flag was a great conversation starter (especially with m y hall mates who were atheist teetotalers), I am not sure I ever really gave much thought to the religious foundation of this gent we call St. Patrick. Honestly, I just toasted him – like the rest of the green beer hoisting Irish lovers do that day.

But now, a few years removed from those rowdy bars and tattoo contests, I find myself not just drinking for the hell of it on St. Patrick’s Day (do you believe that?), but equally interested in the “why” of St. Patrick’s Day. Or maybe I just like having the knowledge and trivia to impart upon fellow drinkers, customers at my bar and just any old leprechaun who crosses my path. So, now you’ll have these Irish blessings as well, as we can now drink with wit and wisdom together – and isn’t that what it’s all about?

Where Did the Custom of Drinking on St. Patrick’s Day Come From?

Well, not that the Irish – or we Americans – really need an extra excuse to drink on any given day, the celebration of St. Patrick on March 17^th really does involve some extra imbibing not present, or nearly as sanctioned, on any of those other days. And the reason is because St. Patrick, who is credited with bringing Christianity to the once multi-religioned Irish in the 400’s, died on March 17^th. And we all know that Irish wakes involve quite a bit of drinking. So, to commemorate this little bit of trivia, I would then pour my bar mate a nice, Leprechaun Marti ni:

Leprechaun Martini

2 oz. vanilla vodka

½ oz. Irish Cream

½ oz. Green Crème de Mint

Combine all ingredients in cocktail shaker over ice. Shake vigorously and strain into chocolate-swirled cocktail glass. Good luck only having one!

Okay, So…Why Do The Irish Drink At Wakes Anyway?

This is because the Irish like to celebrate the life of the departed, rather than solemnly mourn the passing. A traditional Irish wake involves certain preparation, keening (vocally lamenting for the dead), visitation rituals, the saying of the rosary, and staying at the deceased’s house until midnight – even until morning if you were close friends. During this time, the guests drink and reminisce – and drink some more – for the dearly departed.

And that’s just for regular old dead folks. When you put it that way, it’s no wonder that we celebrate the life and accomplishments of a famous Saint with the royal treatment: parades, beers, parties, whiskey, limerick contests, green cocktails…and so on…

For this reason, make yourself a strong Irish Coffee (as I am sure wake guests need a few to avail themselves ‘til morning.)

Authentic Irish Coffee

2 oz. Irish Whiskey (Jameson and Paddy are authentic favorites)

3 sugar cubes

Strong black coffee

Whipping Cream

Heat a stemmed goblet with boiling water to warm. Pour in the whiskey and sugar cubes. Fill with coffee to one inch below top, and stir to dissolve sugar. Top with the cream, using back of bar spoon to float on top. Do not stir before serving.

And What Exactly Makes St. Patrick So Famous?

St. Patrick was a Roman Brit who was kidnapped as a child and held for years by Irish captors. While there, it is believed that he was visited by God in a dream, who told him how to flee, which he did. Back in Britain he became a priest and then returned to Ireland to teach Christianity to the Irish. He influenced the great leaders, and Christianity fiercely caught on. He died after more than 30 years of evangelizing and has been known as one of Ireland’s patron saints ever since. After this part of the lesson, an Emerald Isle seems in order:

Emerald Isle

2 oz. gin

1 oz. green crème de menthe

2 dashes bitters

Pour the ingredients into a cocktail shaker filled with ice cubes. Shake well, and strain into a chilled cocktail glass.

So What’s With the Shamrock?

St. Patrick supposedly used the shamrock to illustrate the interconnectedness of the Holy Trinity to his parishioners. It became a symbol of Irish Christianity, and shamrock designs have been adorning clothes – and thighs – ever since. This is where the phrase “the wearing of the colors” originated. Not actually from wearing the color green.

Feeling more enlightened? You should naturally have a Shamrock now:

Tri-Color Shamrock Shot – for an extra Irish feel

1/3 oz. Brandy

1/3 oz. Baileys

1/3 oz. Green Crème de Menthe

Layer the ingredients in a shot glass to create the Irish colors. Then shoot for posterity!

And the Green Colors, and Green Beer?

You would be hard pressed to find an establishment that actually serves green beer in Ireland – except maybe one that honors the American customs of such. That is pretty much a stateside ritual – gross that it is. And the green pancakes that my Dad made every year, or the chartreuse cookies we’d bake and food-color? Probably never happens in Ireland.

Actually, the colors that are worn on St. Patrick’s Day in Ireland are not just green; but orange, green and white, all worn together. This represents the North, the South, and white as the connector that brings the two together.

So, looking back, when I wore my bright orange denim jeans that made everyone strangely upset with me, it was because I was unknowingly showing my support for Northern Ireland in the midst of a largely immigrant suburb full of Southerners?? Hmmm… why can’t we all just get along, right?

And with that lesson in Melting Pot 101, I would recommend a nice pint of Guinness – because, usually, everyone can agree on that. Some would add a shot of ½ Baileys, ½ Jameson (me me me!), and some would have it unadulterated, straight and perfect as it is (me me me!), so I give you the one, authentic, American-untouched legacy of Ireland – the Guinness Stout.

Guinness

Find a bartender that will pour it the correct way (me me me!), and will allow it to settle and release the full aroma of the beer. It takes two steps – and about 5 minutes (10 if you are in Ireland, as I was fortunate enough to be last year… but that, my friends, is another blog. Murphy’s is a close contender as well for the perfect Irish beer to finish all perfect Irish drinking lists like this one…)

And, enjoy!

So now that you have all these recipes, and a little bit of history behind each one, you can extend your St. Patrick’s Day celebration throughout the entire month of March. Or, at least get a head start on them. So grab your ingredients, start composing those limericks, and practice face-painting those shamrocks. By the time the 17^th rolls along, your trivia knowledge, as well as your tolerance, should be at its finest. Slainte!

Drink Well!

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A Holiday for Margaritas? Could it Get Any Better? Well Actually...

Let low calorie, high fun maragaritas be a part of your National Margarita Day celebration this Wednesday, February 22. Go back to the roots of this historical day -- when real margaritas were made with nothing more than fresh squeezed limes, triple sec or cointreau, and tequila. 

Except now we know better than we did in the 1930's -- we subsitute natural sweeteners like Agave Nectar or Stevia for syrupy, sugar-laden triple sec. And we toast with a second Margarita, having saved 45 carbs and over 200 calories (as compared to sugary and artifical mixers).

So, if it's possible to make this fabulous day any better, we just did. Drink well!

Better Than Ever Margarita

2 oz. tequila

1 oz. fresh squeezed lime juice

3/4 oz. agave nectar (or simple stevia syrup)

Pour all ingredients into cocktail shaker. Add 1/2 cup of ice. Shake vigorously and strain into margarita glass over ice. Garnish with lime wheel.

For more remakes of already fabulous drinks, just without all the calories, sugar, guilt and accompanying big-girl pants, visit www.liquorchick.com

Be the MVP of Your Superbowl Party: Low Calorie Cocktails for High Scoring Fun

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The 2012 Superbowl : Giants and Patriots. Yes, they played each other 5 years ago, and I am sure there were lots of drink recipes bandied about then as well. But I wasn’t yet writing this blog – and besides lots has changed since then.  Only 10 players collectively are still on the two teams.  Manning is a lot more seasoned of a quarterback than he was then.  And most importantly, Stevia was not the near-household name that it is today.

And that’s an important change. Your drinks in 2007 may have been sugar-laden and not that imaginative – like the way our offense was based mostly on the long pass back then. Today, we have crisper, shorter (no, that’s not a shot at Welker) passes, and our fair share of running plays. I think you’ll be just as excited by our choices in beverages now too.

First Half

Things will start out strong – both for these two teams looking to make a quick impact, and for your drinking pleasure. After all, you’ve got a long way to go, and you will want to start it off with a drink that packs some punch, and has some lasting power, so you won’t need to refill too often and miss the commercials that potentially may be the best part of the whole 3 hours.

Plus, we need to pay some homage to our hometown team. We can accomplish all these things with a traditional-type drink, but with a new spin:

The New England Sidecar

1 oz. brandy

1 oz rum

1 oz. LiteHouse Mix (or ½ oz. lime juice and ½ oz. triple sec, for those less diet-inclined)

Combine all ingredients in a shaker over ice. Shake vigorously and strain into a cocktail glass. Garnish with an orange wedge.

This cocktail is good for both guys and girls. It’s got some sweets so that the women will like it. But it also is a smooth, not froo-froo kind of drink so that the guys will enjoy it too. And if they’re already thinking you’re less than football worthy because all you care about are the commercials and gossiping with your friends during the point afters, then you should at least show that you know how to drink…

Half Time

Regardless of what team is winning, half time is fun for all. Well, except that this year, Madonna is the half time show, so maybe those same guys that were dismissing your football acumen, will be more interested in drowning her out with a keg stand than sampling one of these next drinks. But when they see that it involves champagne, and we all know that champagne makes us women giddy… well, maybe they’ll turn away from Madonna to have one of these with you too:

Eye-Black(berry) Champagne Cocktail

3/4 oz. blackberry simple syrup (recipe below)
1.5 oz. gin
Sparkling wine
Fresh blackberries for garnish

Put two blackberries in a champagne flute. Pour in blackberry simple syrup and gin, then carefully top off with sparkling wine.

Blackberry Simple Syrup

1 cup water
1 cup stevia
1 basket of blackberries

Bring all ingredients to a boil. Strain into a container, pressing the blackberries to push juice through the strainer.

Second Half

This is when things get anxious. Either we’re winning, and we know we have to do everything right to hang on to the lead. Or we’re battling back and every play could be the next big moment. Whatever the case, there’s not a lot of time to mix up a drink. Even if you’re not glued to the TV like the rest of them, getting up and down to make your drink will be an interruption to the serious, armchair quarterbacks you surrounded yourself with today.

That’s where this drink comes in. It’s easy, can be made ahead, and can be sipped either slowly, or with a vengeance, depending on what your shaky nervous hands are able to do. It has a nice kick to it, and is aptly named – though not if we’re referring to Billy Cundiff (hopefully he’s been having lots of these over the past week and a half)

Cranberry Almond Kicker

2 cups light cranberry juice
1 cup vodka
1/2 cup amaretto
3 tablespoons low carb orange juice
Ice cubes

Mix ahead; cover and chill until ready to serve. Can be prepared 1 day ahead.

These three cocktails will take you happily through the Superbowl this weekend.  And if you’re looking for a game-cap at the end of the night – then you haven’t done these drinks justice. My advice would be mix, drink, repeat. And call in sick on Monday. You won’t be the only one…

Go Pats!!

The "Lazy" Days of Summer

More than two months has passed since my last entry. Was this long dry spell due to the fact that business has been booming and I haven't had time for anything of my own, nevermind writing? I suppose that's true in some way. But I always believe if you have a desire to do something, you will do it - no matter how much time you "don't have."

The real reason could be something as simple as "my husband commandeers the laptop every night".  He expects me to jump on it during the day - you know when I am "home with the kids". That's laughable -- because hardly ever are we home.  In the months since school got out, I have taken my 3 summer interns on all things Liquor Chick with me.  They have been my navigators to new stores (the 9-year old is pretty handy with a map. Which helps because the 38-year old is not); cheerleaders at my farmers' markets (though many times they often sampled more salsa than cheerled for me -- but that's another business venture, yet to be chronicled - maybe in a few paragraphs, or blogs...); and company-keepers at the manufacturing plant (AKA the restaurant kitchen that so generously allows me to concoct LiteHouse mix on premises in order to have health board approval). Not too often do we find ourselves at home.

So while the kids and I have ridden up and down the South Shore selling, and traveled into and out of Boston and Cambridge numerous times sourcing, and stayed with babysitters, camps and playdates during the times I traveled alone -- I did not one time break open the laptop and update my blog accordingly. Shame on me.  But at least now there's lots to tell.

Since beginning this journey in May, much has changed. I started selling to stores in July.  A friend of mine gave me that boost, talking me up at a local liquor store.  So when I approached this "warm call", and they were receptive to buying a couple cases of LiteHouse, I decided to try my hand at the cold calls too. And strangely enough, even though I despised that aspect of every other sales-related position I ever held, I actually now enjoyed the challenge of the completely blank slate.

I started calling up several stores a day, telling them about my new product, and how it fills a gap in the low calorie cocktail market.  A fresh, all natural, healthy approach to drinking.  It was not the oxymoron that most have always thought it was. Making impressions and affecting perceptions was something I now enjoyed.  Almost every store I asked, decided to stock LiteHouse.  There are still two hold-outs, that I am not willing to give up on. As of the writing of this blog, LiteHouse Mix is being sold in 11 different towns - mostly in high-end liquor stores.  And it was just accepted into Whole Foods in Hingham. I am hopeful that all the regional Whole Foods will soon be stocking it as well.

It seems like all this has happened extremely fast, looking back over the past few months.  Yet it seems like I have been perfecting this product forever. I have always tried my hand at making health-conscious alcoholic drinks -- especially those that I could still partake in while on any kind of diet.  Most of my diets were usually of the low-carb variety, so  that's what I would focus on. And I also was known for bringing whatever pitcher of mixed fun I had made at the moment, to whatever party or outing I was attending.  It was a natural leap to take the idea of making drinks, and then move to selling the drinks. The 'Aha moment' actually happened at one of these parties.

I had been taking the Liquor Chick business in the direction of bartending services and mixology classes, when at this one party, I was approached 14 different times by people I had just met that same night, and was asked if I would sell bottles of the drink mix, a fresh zero-carb margarita mix, I had brought that night. After about the 4th requester, I realized I was about to embark upon a new prong in the LC business.

That next day, after the party, I was phoning bottle suppliers, lime wholesalers and ingredient sourcers to see if this "idea" had any legs.  (It better, I thought, since I had promised 14 women bottles within 2 weeks!). Looking back, it did - and still does. The potential is limitless. I have expanded recipes to include vodka, rum, wine and champagne cocktails. I have been conducting tastings and events in order to gain exposure and publicity.

I am so incredibly small in comparison to the large liquor brands -- they have million dollar advertising and marketing budgets and I create P.O.S. from my home laser printer (when the husband isn't occupying that either). But I must be doing something right to swing a Whole Foods deal, to attract the attention of a few different liquor distributors and to be contacted by each and every store for re-stocks.  So when I get laptop time, kid-free time and lab-time, I create, expand and even blog.

I've got many issues, concerns and decisions to make.  The most pressing one is whether or not to keep the mix a fresh, cold and preservative-free one.  A less pressing, but equally interesting one is to decide what flavor mixer will be my next concoction.  Oh, and where to put the inground pool when I make my first million...

Next up: Networking: Behind every great woman...are more helpful and great women!

This is really happening! They want ten cases by the end of the week - what are you doing tomorrow????

The Making of a Liquor Chick

This is the first in a series of blog entries about navigating my way

through the new, exciting (and hopefully successful) business healthy light cocktails:
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I suppose I always knew the corporate 9-to-5 world was not for me. Yet, I did it - quite successfully even, for the better part of two decades. And even though I steered myself toward the most interesting and creative roles (marketing and communications) within those very conservative and not-quite-"me"-companies, I never really had that passion. You know, the one that says "I will sacrifice my own time, fun time and family time to make this work." Nah, it was always "just a job." I tried a few different ones. Increased responsibilities, accumulated longer titles, more money. Nope. Still just a job.

And then I attached my passion to my newly born son, and then his brother, then sister at the time; so it never really registered with me that perhaps those jobs were not meant to be. True, I figured I would go back full-time once the "kids were older." After all, could in good consience, not use my M.B.A.? Be, quote, just a Mom? But even when I was "just a Mom" I still consulted, contracted, worked on a project-by-project basis, so that I could still remain connected to the firms, titles and roles that I assumed I would go back to in some context, at some point.

And those jobs were just that -- jobs. More specifically, they were baseball camp payments, or dance class tuitions, or when times got tighter, grocery bills or night out money. Each one served its purpose -- not my purpose. But that's OK. I'd find one.

Oh, and I also bartended on and off during those years. No real purpose there either, but I'll admit, more passion... And that made me think. Marketing, bartending, people. Maybe I could pursue a career that combined everything I liked - and not just one that came together out of necessity or expected career-paths.

So here we are today. That was a 200-mile-an-hour explanation of how I came to this milepost in the road of my career, life and passion. Liquor Chick was born. And then LiteHouse Margarita Mix was born out of Liquor Chick. Who, people may wonder, is Liquor Chick? Fun to say, that's for sure. When I meet people and see them react to the name, it's interesting to them. It's not financial writing-interesting or law firm business development-interesting (two previous "jobs" I'd held). No, it's truly INTERESTING-INTERESTING. Or maybe that's just my opinion. And that's how I know I found something purposeful.

Now my interests include bottle suppliers, fruit wholesalers, and lots of lots of research. I don't claim to be an expert on the business side of this interest quite yet. But, the concrete side on the other hand -- on the actual creating of a consumer product that will eventually have a life of its own while still being a part of me -- that gives me interest to develop the expertise.

"You may as well use what you know." "Do what you like." We've all heard credos like these. They all make sense now. Now that I've had the other experiences to compare to. I get it. And it's what's going to make this newborn brand take hold. The passion and desire to conduct hours and hours of research, networking, phone calls and more research -- the exact same types of things I've done in careers past and felt indifferent about each and every minute of it.

So hopefully a year from now I will look back on this first official blog entry, chronicling my forray into the fabulous world of beverage distribution, with satisfaction that I've come a long way - longer than 15+ years in the Corporate Communications industry ever took me. And maybe it's because my family and I just watched Justin Bieber's feel-good movie "Never Say Never", reinforcing the undeterred following of one's dreams, that I am so full of hopefulness and optimism. So we'll see...

Next up: I have this great idea. Now what?

Even the great wardrobe didn't hold my interest in the corporate world...

Margarita Takes It All

The winner of the Margarita vs. Chocolate Martini competition is the Margarita.

Sorry Chocolate Martini, it was a close one - but in the end, the more experienced, more stable Margarita won out.

There's always next year.  And luckily, I know just how to make a low calorie, all natural margarita. I will be making one (or several) tonight to celebrate.

 

And Then There Were Two..

When last we met, I was talking about creating an NCAA-inspired drinks bracket, and match-by-match, I would whittle them down to the Championship Cocktail Tip-off. Well tonight, April 4, 2011 is the big night. In about twenty minutes, to be exact.

 

I have done some comprehensive research over the past two weeks, asking friends, coworkers and strangers alike what their favorite cocktails are. I knew that I could recreate any of their drink seeds with a lower calorie, lighter version, so I didn't ask them to stick to healthy recipes -- that would be my job after the Championship teams, I mean drinks, were determined.

 

The Sweet Sixteen included some off-the-beaten-path yet much beloved concoctions like The Sidecar (basically a margarita, but with brandy instead of tequila) and Mai Tai (it's barely spring in New England - not quite Mai Tai weather, but this definitely got plenty of votes - probably based on alcohol strength alone).  They didn't make it to the Elite Eight though.

 

Those lucky drinks were: The Margarita, The Cosmopolitan, The Manhattan, Strawberry Daiquiri, Madras, Chocolate Martini, Gin & Tonic, and The Old Fashioned.

 

A few drinks, votes and hangovers later, we came up with our Final Four: Margarita, Cosmopolitan, Gin & Tonic, and Chocolate Martini.

 

And tonight, the final match-up is: Margarita vs. Chocolate Martini.  Who will win??? Two different types of sweet drinks pitted against each other.  Each has their frenzied following.  And each can be made healthier in the Liquor Chick lab than they would be anywhere else you might order one. 

 

The pros: Margarita is great for summer afternoons on the deck, and serves as a kind of thirst quencher.  It can be made many different ways (with or without triple sec; some have orange juice; salt or not; shaken or blended)

 

Chocolate Martini is definitely a sipping kind of cocktail.  It is generally an after-dinner cocktail.  It can be creamy or clear, depending on the preferred ingredients.  It is more of a winter drink, which people order as a way to warm up.

 

Two very different drinks.  Two very different teams about to tip-off. Who will win? And how close will it be? Start pouring, watch the four quarters, and check back for the results.  Oh, and please vote for your team below, by leaving a comment.

 

Margarita vs. Chocolate Martini. Please stand for the National (drinking) Anthem...

 

 

Chocolate Martini....

 

(photo courtesy of Getty images)

 

VS.

 

 

Is that an "M" for "Margarita"?

 

(photo courtesy of Sportscape TV)

A (Lemon) Twist on the NCAA Tournament

Yes, I realize I am a few days and a couple rounds late to the Big Dance.  In all honesty, I've been watching, and reading, and listening about the brackets, the missed calls and crazy upsets. And all the while, I've been wondering -- what kind of drink should I make to watch these games?  Maybe it was the mention of "rounds" so many times, but, inevitably the NCAA tournament makes me thirsty.

 

So would my drink choice be ranked above someone else's choice?  And then I thought some more... brackets!

 

What would the Final Four of Cocktails be?
Well, on first thought, it's easy to break them down into mixed drink, wine, beer and spirit.  Or maybe we could pit vodka, gin, rum and tequila against each other and see which is the last one is standing.  And, I probably need to recruit some opinion givers.  Yeah, that should be hard...

 

Who knows- maybe an underdog like Florida State would win out (to me, the equivalent would be a Tequila Sunset - not one that surfaces much, but when it does, to a very specific fan frenzy) over the usually popular choice (like the Margarita? Am I saying Texas A&M’s drink of choice is a margarita? Hmm. I wonder how they would react to that). 

 

Or maybe a last-minute surge of votes would push a drink to claim the title (just like when Morehead State’s Demonte Harper buried a 3-pointer with 6 seconds left for an upset win over 4^th seeded Louisville).

 

We'll see.  The mechanics are yet to be worked out.  Kind of like Kansas in the first half against Boston University in the first round.  Yet, to my dismay (alma mater), they picked it up and handily won against the Terriers.  But just because that 16th seed couldn't unseat a number-1, doesn't mean that a Cinderella Cocktail can't win out over a Past Champion.

 

Next up: the brackets  and the rules of this Tournament of Tastes. Be sure to check back once the rankings are up, and start your voting.

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

Photo courtesy of www.schneiderdowns.com

Soooo.....The Results Are in!

Experiment successful!! In my last entry, I talked about the idea of cheating along a not-s0-great vodka into tasting like a nice one. Could I actually do it? Well, here's how I left the solution for about 2 1/2 hours:

Crappy vodka cooking with orange peels for less than 3 hours worked just great.And then, with a few Liquor Chick-approved splashes (light cranberry juice, fresh squeezed pineapple jucie), we made this:


With a few additives, gutter shelf vodka tastes like top shelf. And boy did we enjoy it. We must have - we made 3 more (two each, total). The vodka did impart some orange flavor in that short period of time - especially since we only took about 8 shots of vodka for the quick infusion. Sooo, that lesson in budgetnomics and creativity is:

If you don't want to splurge on the expensive, you can fool your taste buds (and head - no hangover today! Must have been the juices) into thinking you're drinking the best with a little bit of time and planning.

Drink Well!!

Less-Than-Fancy Vodka Experiment Yields Fastest Infusion Ever

Today, Wednesday, is the 6th of 7 days in my budget week. We try to stick to a certain cash figure each week, and try as I might - I always seem to spend to the last penny. I always think it’s due brilliant planning and money management on my part. He, well, he thinks it is more of the hole-burning phenomenon. Either, way with two full days left until cash flow Friday, things get a little tight on Wednesday.

Which is problematic. Because we all know that Wednesday is also Wines-day. And unlike many of my friends who amazingly always have stocked fridges and liquor cabinets, we subscribe more to the Toyota way of doing things - JUST IN TIME. We don't stock for the "just in case" situations. No, we run out, after inviting half the neighborhood over, and realizing they actually accepted, to the package store and amazingly buy "just enough" to get through the party of the moment. Kind of like my budget money, hmmmm.

So when in the mood for adult libations on Wednesday, and even worse on Thursday, we need to get creative. Yes, our first choices are generally of the Belvedere, Chopin and Ciroc varieties (Oh, sorry - we were in the mood for vodka drinks. Could we have settled for kegerator beer - sure. But since last night saw a restless night of vomit-interrupted sleep, thanks to a sick 8-year old, and today gave way to no free time at all thanks to the same named 8-year old, we felt we deserved a true "drink" drink tonight.).

So off I went to the corner store, with my very specific number of dollars in mind, and in my wallet. And what do you know; I found a bottle that was priced at the exact same figure that I was carrying. Well, two dollars fewer - since I promised said 8-year-old a Gatorade to help with his...issues.

Transaction made, I skipped home, happy to not have had to dip into credit on this second-to-last day before the budget week ends. The last day is a little easier to justify -- and perhaps if it were for an inhaler, or a humidifier, or antibiotics-- that would have been less offensive also.

Then, home again; showing my prize like a proud Momma Bear, I actually saw my purchase in the full light of the day. It looked, well, like it should have cost what it did – no bragging of triple filtering or spring fresh waters on the label. No Wine Spectator medals adorning it. But that's ok - I am Liquor Chick, and I infuse vodkas to taste better. Granted, I start with at least middle shelf vodkas, but I am pretty handy, and have been known to squeeze money from stone, after all. So why not try and infuse it?

And infuse it, I did. 90 minutes ago with the strongest, most concentrated orange peels and piths I could muster. Hey, I would trade medicinal for bitter in a heartbeat, if it at least tasted a little citrusy instead of isopropy-ish. Tick tock. Oh, and I only poured 1/3 of the bottle (roughly the exact amount that I predict we will have drunk tonight at the end of our Wednesday, which will cause me to think again about how we are like Toyota. And hey - if the vodka gets recalled, we get our measly dollars back, right?? Ya know, for things like inhalers and antibiotics....)

Check back for the results, and recipes of the less-than-fancy vodka experiment.

Every Cocktail, I Mean Cookie, Has a Mission, Say The Girl Scouts Say

According to the Girl Scouts, that mission is to "To Help Girls Do Great Things."  Well, that seems appropriate, doesn't it?  Liquor Chick Cocktails seek to help women do great things, too, Granted our readership and membership for that matter is a tad bit older (and yes, I saw you, Ms. High School Senior, trying to "like" me on Facebook.  Did you not read the fine print?? You must be legal drinking age to Like me.  Well, maybe your grade level belies you age, or you live in Canada and it's copasetic - let's hope.)

But, for the most part, we Liquor Chicks are not current girl scouts -- unless you count the mom leaders and Cookie Moms. And if you are one of these, then you totally need the recipes in this blog more than the rest of us. I mean, months of preparation, logistics, order taking, money handling, lugging, lifting, sorting, standing outside freezing while hawking -- you've done enough!!  And I bet you, unlike the rest of us don't even want to LOOK at another box of Thin Mints, Caramel deLites (no more Samoa?) or Trefoils [always thought that was an odd name (yes, I know it's a leaf – or I do now –  and a shape name - like the cookie. I just never saw the brainstorming AHA moment in that one.)] 

I don't want to look at another either - but that's because ever since they've been delivered to me 2 short days ago, I have ingested 16 Lemonades (yes that is a WHOLE box), 4 servings of Thin Mints and a whole lot of will power juice NOT to open the freezer and dig into my other favorites.  But they are still there, taunting me, every time I reach past them for the kids' chicken nuggets or the low fat frozen yogurt. I think, Man how good would that ice cream, I mean frozen yogurt be on top of a Peanut Butter Patty!!??

Well, I'll never know, because instead I reached for my cocktail shaker, and here's what I've come up with to remedy the Girl Scout Cookie cravings we either all have - or are sick of indulging in - right about now.  And the best news is that while a serving of Lemonades or Thin Mints has roughly 8 grams of fat, 155 calories and 22 carbs (YIKES!), these fabulous concoctions weigh in at a Liquor Chick worthy 0 grams of fat, 130 calories and fewer than 3 carbs each.  What are you waiting for, start mixing!! And I hope you started infusing that peppermint vodka and peanut rum like I strongly suggested earlier.

So here they are: my 4 favorite Girl Scout Cookies remade as my now 4 favorite drinks.  Let me know if I haven't included your favorite, and I'll be sure to get you that remake as well...

#4 - Thin Mint (I know it's most cookie connoisseurs’ favorite, and I always think I'm going to love it the most, but then every year, I'm left a little flat, thinking, humph I could have gotten away without ordering this one again.  And I don't know, maybe it's me, but this year it tasted a bit more like toothpaste than it has in the past years. Sorry ABC Bakers!) Anyway, I present you the cocktail version of the Thin Mint:

1 ½ oz. Peppermint Infused Vodka

1 ½ oz. Cocoa Bean Infused Vodka

Splash Blue Agave Nectar

Combine all ingredients in shaker over ice.  Shake vigorously and strain into cocktail glass. Garnish with a mint sprig to be fancy…or a junior mint to be a little naughtier. 

 

#3 – Caramel DeLite (Samoa?!).  I love the combination of coconut, chocolate and caramel in this cookie.  I have not opened the box yet, because I know I will be the only one eating from it – not the h-band’s or kiddies’ favorite by any means.  So I will keep it closed, and I will open up the booze instead: (I usually advocate making your own infused vodkas to cut down on calories and carbs, but this Van Gogh Caramel Vodka is pretty hard to replicate – besides it’s only one ounce and we can just shake a little faster to speed up the calorie burn, right?)

1 ½ oz. Cocoa Bean Infused vodka

1 oz. Van Gogh Dutch Caramel Vodka

½ Coconut Milk

Splash Blue Agave Nectar

Combine all ingredients in shaker over ice.  Shake vigorously and strain into cocktail glass. Garnish with shaved coconut – and I always think coconut and pineapples go hand in hand, so add a pineapple wedge too, Besides, this cocktail will take you into summer too – not just cold dark winter when all you want to do is hide away with your cookies. Your bikini will thank you for this little addition – and what the hell, drizzle it with a little (light) chocolate syrup too.

 

#2 Lemonade.  Decadent, refreshing, cakey, icing-y (those are words, right?) – this cookie has it all.  But it doesn’t have enough to be my #1.  Probably because of its newness factor.  I don’t think it’s been around long enough to overtake an old standby of Girl Scout Cookie Stardom.  That’s just my thought.  But this cookie – and drink – is great because you feel like you are doing your waistline a bit of a service with the citrus fruit, and since the box actually says “naturally flavored” (you are NOT, as it also says “…and artificially.”  Gotcha!.) But let’s see what we can do with the drink at least to make it all better:

 

1 ½ oz. Lemon-infused Vodka

1 ½ oz. Light “Bailey’s”

Combine ingredients in shaker over ice.  Shake vigorously and strain into cocktail glass. Garnish with a stevia-covered lemon wheel.

 

#1 Peanut Butter Patty. You probably have already guessed this by now, so I will forego the drumroll (after all you’ve already read about the four boxes I bought from my very lovely Cookie Mom. It was the only one left to be cocktailed. That, plus, if you remember my Halloween Candy Cocktail Entry, you’ll remember the Reese’s Cocktail was an LC must-have too).  But yes, peanut butter, chocolate, crunch – how can you go wrong? Well, if you EAT it, you can – that’s for sure. Who wants to use up the 165 calories and 9 grams of fat, never mind the 20-something carbs if you actually ate the COOKIE.  Don’t do that – do this:

1 oz. Peanut-infused rum

1 oz. Cocoa Bean-infused vodka

1 oz. Light “Bailey’s”

Combine all ingredients in shaker over ice.  Shake vigorously and strain into shaved dark chocolate-rimmed cocktail glass.

 

And there you have it.  So, stay out of your freezer, or your kitchen pantry or snack cabinet.  Reach only into the liquor cabinet and satisfy your Girl Scout Cookie cravings with these low calorie drinks instead.  You’ll not only be doing something great for your waistline, but you’ll also be doing it for all the girlfriends that come over too.  And that’s what Girl Scouts is all about. Great Things for Great Girls – no matter whether they’re Cookie Selling Moms or cookie-regretful moms

See and download the full gallery on posterous

Day 1 - 10 pounds UP

I woke up this morning feeling lighter already. So I checked the scale, and HUH! I had actually lost 2 pounds since yesterday. I WAS pretty good yesterday - worked out to the Biggest Loser Kinnect Game, shoveled about a million square feet of snow, danced to Dance Central with friends.. PLUS I avoided the snacky snacks that were put out at our friends' house, and instead stuck to clear, low calorie VODKA. On to something? Of course! Lesson of pre-30 day Challenge day: Leave the snacks on the table and you CAN have those (light) cocktails. Isn't that more the point anyway?

So here's what I started my DAY 1 with: Let's see if I can continue the mysterious weight loss for the rest of the 30 days:

Breakfast

Healthy Breakfast Burrito: 2 egg whites, 1 whole egg, mushrooms, splash of shredded low fat cheese in a whole wheat wrap
Skinny Latte - 2 shots espresso, 1/4 cup skim milk, splash Blue Agave Nectar for sweetness, dash vanilla extract

Lunch (we ate late!)

Hummus Plate - red peppers. olives, artichokes, housemade hummus, whole wheat pita triangles
Cup Vegetarian Chili
2 Beers (oops!! I really tried to say wine, or even vodka -- BUT, we were at Hingham Beer Works so I did what any health-conscious diner would do... I ordered the Stout. Twice.)

Dinner

Slice of Veggie "Quiche" - 6 egg whites, 2 whole eggs, frozen summer vegetables, dash Panko crumbs, dash taco cheese. Baked at 350 degrees for 15 minutes
Carrots, celery & low-fat veggie dip
2 Light Vodka Drinks

Workout

50 minute OUTDOOR run (in 23 degree weather). This, I think, counts as double because of the frigid temps, acrobatics I did around snowbanks and oncoming cars, and DID I MENTION IT WAS 23 DEGREES???!!) Just don't ask me how far I ran, or my awesomeness will go down a few notches in your eyes... Plus, I will simply respond: "I ran 50 minutes." As an aside, my thighs were so frozen that I couldn't tell if my spandex pants were falling down [they usually do, so I erred on the side of "Yes" and pulled at them every once in a while with my stone cold, Halloween glove-clad fingers. (kids have North Face, I have iParty...)]

The Will Power Moment of My Day

When a leftover large cheese pizza was brought in by a friend who drove my 6-year old home from a birthday party. I watched as four kids gnoshed at the slices, wanting one, and thankfully did not give in. Besides, I reasoned -- the drink will taste better than the pizza, so I poured a new one. And it did.
~~~~

Diet-Worthy Drinks To Whittle Away the Pounds

This is a new installment to be updated regularly over the next month, and will follow the food, drink and workout habits of our resident Skinny Bitch, as she aims to get even more so. Ten pounds in 30 days, to be exact. Care to join her?

I am not sure when it started, but I have decided "it" ends today. Now I haven't changed my eating habits (fad-diets, "healthy" movements all the while), drinking habits (steady, frequent) or exercise regimen (even added some extra cardio with all this shoveling lately – no seriously, I was running between shovel paths) in the past few years-- so what gives? There is a big white devil-elephant in the room, and it's called my expanding midsection. Today I realized that my abs were no longer noticeable, no matter how much I inhaled. I also realized that the usual straightening up of my posture, and "sucking it in" STILL made me look un-thin. YIKES MOMENT!!!

So what's a Liquor Chick to do? I am swearing here, on this blog, to do something about it. I feel I had to put it in writing and not just whine about it to the husband, friends and children that just don't get it. ("You were probably too thin to begin with!" reasoned one logical girlfriend - Um. that's not helpful. "That's what happens when you get older!" said the oh-so-lawyerly spouse. Yeah, that'll get you lots of action this weekend. "You need to lose weight" said the four-year old. AHA! Now that's what I am talking about! Out of the mouths of babes comes the truest ‘dat’ that I've heard all week.

Don't get me wrong -- I am still one of the fittest bad-ass chicks you'll ever know. I mean, how many women actually ask for 30-pound hand weights for Christmas? And, I can hold a plank the longest of anyone in my family. Hey, that's pretty impressive -- My four-year old now takes yoga. Push ups? 40 reps, straight as a board (no wimpy knees for me). So all in all, fitness and strength levels -- gooood.

But there is that pesky (multiplying) layer of skin (okay, fat?) that has adhered itself to my six-pack, glutes and hammies...and it now needs to go AWAY!! Is it winter warmth that my body aims to create, by packing on a few extra? It wasn't THAT long ago that I looked this this:
And I am not doing too much differently than I was doing back then. Same old occasional indulgences or a once-in-a-while vacation from healthy eating. But I used to be able to do this from time to time, remark about the Guinness Gut that I developed (aptly named in Dingle, Ireland) and know that this temporary condition would be gone faster than it took me to run out of the chilly peninsula’s ocean when I saw the sewage pipes nearby.

Or that was how it used to go. Now –and by now, I just mean since the start of the cold weather, when I will speed up the hour of cocktails or sample a few too many low-fat warming brownies – the Guinness Gut seems to have made way to a Perma-pooch. And I am not gonna take it anymore! This is the year of 20th high school reunions, friends with hot tubs and a constant need to look one’s best (Isn’t every year though?)

Speaking of hot tubs, I was in one last week with my college girlfriends who hadn’t seen me in over a year, and one of them remarked, “Hey, isn’t that the bathing suit you were wearing for the Boston Globe photo?” (seen above, when my daughter and I frolicked on the beach and we weren’t ashamed to have our pictures taken doing so. Today she would probably throw her body in front of mine, since, as she claims, I need to “lose weight”. Sweet girl). I responded that yes, this was the suit. And you know what that was met with? Total silence. I know what they were thinking – “Hey, that photo must have been airbrushed, because you don’t quite look the same in it HERE in front of us.”

Oh well, at least it still fits. Wait, do two piece bathing suits ever NOT fit, or do we just finally give in to the fact that we are spilling out of them in all the wrong places? Good question. I have always been the one with the opposite of a self-confidence problem. Always thinking I look fabulous, I have finally realized that since I now think I may be looking not quite my best – that I must really look atrocious. White elephant-like, even.

So where can I place this blame?? That’s another blog I suppose. But here I am taking up the initiative to change. Where do I start? Not swiping the peanut-butter and jelly crusts left over at mealtime? Passing by the bowl of candy and not having “just one.” Swapping out my decadent coffee creamer for skim milk? Try all of the above and more. When I stop to really think about it, all those stolen bites and smallish indiscretions have really added up – just like the numbers on the scale.

I am undertaking this blog to chronicle my journey back to looking like the Boston Globe hottie. Today is Day 1. I will detail my eating, exercising and drinking habits daily, in hopes to get a handle on what's created these love handles... Though maybe I should start tomorrow – I just made kids’ lunches, and… well… let’s just say I should go shovel the driveway AGAIN to make up…

But don’t think this new dedication to tracking my intakes and outputs will sacrifice any sort of fun I have. After all, Liquor Chick drinks are healthy, low calorie alternatives to high sugared alcoholic drinks. We all know we need THOSE from time to time (okay, daily).

Seriously, I am determined to show you that we can stick to our lose-10-pounds plan and not give up drinking. After all, what’s the fun in that? We can’t deprive ourselves of EVERYTHING just because we want to see our abs again. Plus, it was another snow day from school today. We’re lucky we’re not drinking already!! Though I am counting the minutes.

BOTTOM LINE: In order to be happy with my bottom again, I will keep track of my meals, snacks, workouts and cocktails in this blog. Follow along with me, and we’ll both be looking hotter than hot come our 20th year reunions this summer (though my goal is February 21st – one month from today). When you see me, feel free to keep me honest… I’ll try not to spit my drink at you.


~~~~~

I Always Knew Christina And I Were Connected Somehow

So we all either saw, or read about, or watched over and over again, the National Anthem flubbing by Christina Aguilera.  And I say, to that -- who the HELL cares?? Well, actually, I care - but not in a "wow she's unpatriotic, a traitor, a disrespecting bad BAD girl" kind of way.  No, I care, because – hey, if SHE can mess up a song, than I don't feel so bad messing up my things once in a while either.

So, thanks, Christina.  Thanks to you, I can fully admit that I got way into the moment (wasn’t that your “excuse”?) of the ski get-away weekend I was planning for, and then on, this past week, that I lost my place [in my 30 day Challenge] myself.  Boy do I feel better knowing I have company the likes of you! I always knew we had a lot in common...

Now, can both us chicks just MOVE ON, PEOPLE??  Back to the Challenge. I am picking up on the day I left off on, even though it was about 6 days ago.  For those of you that actually, noticed – thanks for not tweeting, blogging and exposing me on all the gossip sites…I owe you a drink.

 

I mean -- check out the resemblance.  Uncanny.

Healthy Cocktail Ingredients Every Home Bar Should Have

To drink healthy, you don't need to stick with just wine (though an earlier post told you all about how to do that in the lowest calorie way too). Keep thee non-alcoholic staples in your house and you'll be ready to whip up some low calorie and high taste fun drinks anytime: Sparkling water - but don't worry, I am not going to tell you to just make vodka-sodas ( a.k.a. the Skinny Bitch) with it. You can get a lot more exciting than that - think wine spritzers, fruit puree splashes and even mixing with a simple infused vodka. And sparkling water is lower in sodium than club soda, so for the healthiest fizzy, get the real thing. Blue Agave Nectar - I love this stuff! This organic and all natural sweetener is lower on the glycemic index than sugar, meaning it doesn't spike your blood sugar as severely as sugar-- which also means you don't crash as severely either. I use this whenever a recipe calls for simple syrup. But Ii also add it to several of my infused vodkas when I am trying to create more of a liqueur or a schnapps-type spirit, but without the artificial flavor or unnecessary sugar. Mojitos, margaritas, chocolate martinis all benefit from the use of this healthier alternative to the white devil itself, sugar. Light, low-carb and home-squeezed mixers - Just because your favorite bars don't stock up on light juices (and WHY is that!?) doesn't mean your home bar can't be smarter than that. Cranberry juice comes in low-sugar and even diet versions. Though nothing compares to making your own at home, and combining it with - you guessed it -- blue agave nectar rather than sugar. It's easy, too - a 3-step process that will have you enjoying a lightened up Cosmo on no time! Besides cranberry juice, other must haves include low sugar orange juice, fresh squeezed lime juice, and home-made sweet and sour mix. Check back for Liquor Chick recipes for these light juices. Crystal Light packets are handy little flavor bursts for mixing drinks too. Champagne punches, vodka and gin drinks are made tastier with flavors like fruit punch, kiwi strawberry and pink lemonade (of course, you'll need to mix the packet with water first- hey, another healthy perk to drinking like Liquor Chick -- hydration!!) Select sodas - Fresca is the best choice in terms of carbs, calories and usability. This diet-friendly mixer adds only two calories per serving. And the tangy citrusy taste mixes well in a margarita, wine spritzer or countless other healthy mixed drinks. Besides fresca, Diet Coke is always in my pantry for a quick diet coke and vanilla vodka or diet coke and light rum drink. Fresh fruits - not only for making your own fresh-squeezed juices, but also for a simple way to add huge flavor to your drinks whether by muddling with some (yep!) Blue Agave Nectar or just dropping in, fresh fruits are mandatory in any home bar. Add pineapple chunks and berries to wine spritzers, champagne punches and any vodka drink to dress up an otherwise boring healthy cocktail. When the fruit flavors blend together you'll have unique and fun concoctions that will make you not miss that artificial daiquiri mix or high-sugared mojito at all. Suggested fruits: oranges, limes, lemons, pineapples, strawberries, raspberries. Miscellaneous - Coconut Milk (which has lots of health benefits) makes for tropical tasting healthy mixed drinks. It is fabulous with champagne and grapefruit juice! Or with rum and lime. It's an easy additive that delivers fancy taste to usually vanilla drinks... Speaking of vanilla, the vanilla bean is a smart bartender's go-to flavoring. Its taste is so potent that it usually flavors a half bottle of vodka in less than a day. And its simplicity makes it a quick and easy way to add some complex flavor to any drink recipe (a Skinny Vanilla Bitch would not be scorned as being boring!) Olives - a staple in martinis, olives are rich in vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. A dirty martini (which substitutes juice from olives for vermouth) is quite a healthy way to do your drinking. Low-sodium tomato juice - Never, ever use Bloody Mary Mix in your home bar (don't you wish all the other bars prescribed to this advice too?). Tomato juice with its disease-fighting antioxidants and minerals, is a much healthier choice, and makes for a tastier drink too. It lasts forever, so even if you only drink one every Sunday, you'll be stretching your healthy habits well into the New Year! Fresh Mint - for infusing spirits like rum and vodka, and for making healthier mojitos. Yes, I will make you a mojito in my home bar (bartender's most hated drink to make), but only if you make me an Old Fashioned first... ~~~ And with this fairly comprehensive list of must-haves, you will be ready and able to serve anyone that comes along -- and if that's just you and your husband on a random Tuesday night, then all the better!! At least you'll be mixing something cooler than A Skinny Bitch! Take this list with you next time you head to the grocery store. And do it tomorrow -- looks like we'll all be snowed in on Wednesday!!! Leave a comment below yo let us know what favorite healthy staples are always in YOUR home bar. We'll be adding to this list often.

Drink Skinny This New Year's Eve, and Into the New Year

New Year's Eve is the perfect opportunity to drink smart -- and no, I don't just mean taking advantage of free public transportation or making a resolution to read something besides the comic strips... I mean the actual drink of choice on this night -- champagne (or sparkling wine, depending on your preferred region) is a favorite of the Hollywood glamorous and skinny models all over the world.  And we know they know what's what.

Sparkling wine is low in carbs - usually about 5 per glass for the dryer varietals ("brut", in champagne speak).  The sweetest varietal is only 10 carbs per glass -- not bad, considering most nights out find us slurping on sugary mixed drinks and artificially flavored liqueurs.  And you can count on fewer than 100 calories per glass of this celebratory libation. 

If you don't want to drink the stuff straight (or simply want to mask the taste of a not-so-great, yet affordable bubbly) you have plenty of options that will still keep you in healthy mode --as long as you mix accordingly.  Here are a few of Liquor Chick's favorite champagne-inspired recipes (and take-offs on some un-chick worthy ones), that will keep your calories down, and your fun up tonight.  Cheers to a fabulous New Year!

Chick Champagne Cobbler

1/2 teaspoon fresh lemon juice

1/2 oz. orange-infused vodka

orange slice

champagne

Fill goblet with crushed ice. Add lemon juice, orange and vodka and stir.  Top off with champagne and stir gently again. 125 calories

 

Magna Carta, Chickified

1 1/2 oz. tequila

1/2 oz. orange-infused vodka

1/4 oz. Blue Agave Nectar

Champagne

Add nectar, tequila and vodka and stir.  Add ice, then champagne and stir gently. 140 calories - but remember, tequila breaks up fat and lowers cholesterol so the extra few calories are well-spent!

 

Lightened Up Poinsettia (featured in South Shore Woman's December Issue of Wink Webzine)

½ oz. Orange-infused vodka*

Brut Sparkling Wine

Splash light cranberry juice (or make your own – it’s so easy!)

Tsp. Organic Blue Agave Nectar

In a champagne flute, stir together agave nectar and chilled vodka.  Add sparkling wine, and top with cranberry juice.  For extra holiday spirit, muddle some fresh cranberries in bottom of glass with the nectar.

 

Pear Sparkler

 

1/2 oz. Pear-infused Vodka

Brut Sparkling Wine

Splash Light Cranberry Juice (or make your own!)

 

1/2 tsp. Blue Agave Nectar

 

Start with (chilled) vodka and nectar in bottom of champagne flute. Stir thoroughly.  Add the sparkling wine. Top with splash of cranberry juice. 130 calories

 

If you want to make this as a punch for some sort of party (New Years Eve, anyone?), then keep to these ratios:

1 part Vodka
2 parts Sparkling Wine
1 part Juice

 

Other tips when drinking something besides plain champagne:

·     Avoid Kir Royales or other similar type drinks that call for the addition of high-sugared liqueurs to the bubbly. 

·     If you must add something, add natural infused spirits like orange-infused or cranberry-infused vodka to keep your carbs down.

·     Have one glass of water for every glass of champagne consumed throughout the night.  It will keep your pace down, and help to keep you hydrated so that you avoid the mother hangover of them all - NEW YEARS DAY!

·     And one last thing - Toast to the Liquor Chick way of life, in this year and beyond!!

 

 

 

Homemade All Natural Cranberry Juice -- For Mixers Of Course!

It really does pay to be married to me. Well, okay - only if you like your drinks. But I think it's a pretty nice surprise when your lucky spouse comes home after a long day, and finds that you've made him a nice, home-made....dinner? Nope, not in this kitchen. ...cranberry juice! I can just see his excitement now.

Why would I make it when it is so readily available, you may ask. Well, I have turned over a new leaf to be healthy, not just in what I eat and how often I exercise -- that's easy, and I've always been good about those things. But, now I have added "healthy drinking" to my repertoire of interests. Yes, the drinking interest has always been there, but why can't we find healthy alternatives to our favorite mixed drinks? Well, one mixer at a time, you can. Right here.

So here's the recipe for the all-natural cranberry juice. While it was simmering, I also juiced a few oranges, limes and lemons. Think all-natural Cosmo when the weary husband comes home. And hey, if it just ends up being for me, then that's ok too. We both win. I'll have to think of something manly for all those fresh squeezed ingredients for you men. Scotch recipes to follow, perhaps.

Anyway, back to the cranberry juice recipe:

2 bags fresh cranberries - look for bright red, firm berries.
6 cups water
1/2 cup Blue Agave Nectar (most recipes call for a cup of sugar. Blue Agave Nectar is an organic, all-natural sugar substitute that has a nice smooth, sweet flavor. I use it instead of sugar now everywhere.)

Bring cranberries and water to a boil. Loosely cover and simmer for 15 minutes, until all berries have exploded. Strain through cheesecloth, being careful not to press to hard on the berries. Put liquid back onto stove, stir in the Blue Agave Nectar and return to a boil. Then reduce heat and let simmer for 3 minutes. Remove from heat and allow to cool to room temperature before placing in refrigerator.

Drink and enjoy. Well, actually, mix and enjoy. I've been infusing some vodka with oranges for a few days. My cosmopolitan will use this instead of sugary Cointreau, along with fresh cranberry juice and fresh lime juice. Oh, and of course the regular vodka too. Is it really only Tuesday? Oh well, I am sure you can find a reason to enjoy one of these with me. Antioxidants, vitamins, mixologist's pride. You'll think of something.

For more recipes, reviews and all things booze, please visit my website.