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.

Putting Low Carb Drink Mixers to the Liquor Chick Taste-Test, Part I

I have been checking out the low calorie mixed drinks scene for quite some time now. As a bartender I often make (as well am was asked to make) lighter margaritas, cosmopolitans and other flavored martinis. These are one-off's, made on the fly -- yet usually to ravishing reviews. It wasn't hard when I had a top shelf and upscale selection of booze, fresh fruit and my imagination. But I've wondered, could I replicate these in my own home? Better yet, were there any already made low calorie mixers that I could employ both at home, and even at the bar, that would satisfy this obvious hole in the market?

Cue the testing (and by that i mean 'tasting') lab.... I set out to the liquor store with the plan to buy low carb mixers. I was not alone on this very important journey. Yet I am not ashamed to admit that my four year old, Nintendo DS in hand, accompanied me on this trip, because I did not purchase any alcohol. Had she ever been there before, you may ask, on other missions? Well, not to incriminate myself, but she did exclaim when we entered "Oh mommy- we are in the colorful store again!" I don't know, I think she may be confusing Curtis Liquors with the local nail salon, but, irregardless, I met her observation with a casual "Yes I suppose there ARE a lot of colors in here." Never one to admit anything character-flawing.

And when lovey daughter made her way to the checkout counter 10 minutes later with me and knowingly asked where the lollipop basket had gone, I clarified the issue just as knowingly by refuting, more for the staff than my daughter "Why, yessss, this does look just like the bank. You must be confusing this place with that one."

Smarter-than-a-fifth-grader lovey daughter didn't buy it and immediately shot back at me with a know-it-all, correct-your-dumb-mother attitude in her voice that I can only assume she'll continue to perfect well into her adolescence, and scoffed, "Noooowa (I love how one word syllables become three when you're a 'tude strutting female)! We were just AT the BANK - remember?? You said you needed to get money for the WINE store?! THIS wine store!?" Love to be called out by the little princess. But I was righteous today. There was no wine in my carriage. Just a pre-schooler, her stuffed penguin, dirty security blanket and about 15 'Bahama Bob' NONALCOHOLIC mixers. Ha! Take a lollipop, and put it in your lovey mouth, princess.. So we drove off, each of us looking forward to something when we got home. Lovey daughter, a jelly and fluff sandwich for her and her penguins to enjoy. And about eight different varieties of low-carb no-guilt mixed drinks for Mom. But how would they taste? And on marshmallow-tipped fingers, no less? We'd have to wait 'till later into Thirsty Thursday to find that out. And I hoped I could wrestle up some tasting buddies....