Cocktails and Mocktails

President's Day Cocktails

2012-02-18T12:49:00.000-08:00

To most of us, President’s Day is nothing more than a day to get a good deal at the mall. It’s all about the sales, isn’t it? It’s kind of funny how we distort the true meaning of just about every single holiday there is. I mean, is Christmas really about presents and Valentine’s Day about flowers? Of course not. But, at least we actually know what we’re supposed to be celebrating on those days. What are we supposed to be celebrating on President’s Day? Hint: it’s not a good sale.

President’s Day is an interesting holiday because of the way it evolved. Is it a day where we’re supposed to be honoring all presidents, past and present? That’s definitely not how it began. We celebrate President’s Day in February because it is the month when two important Presidents were born. So, which was born on the third Monday of the month? Neither (and who celebrates their birthday that way, anyway?). Washington’s birthday (February 22nd) used to be a national holiday – every year on that date. Lincoln was born on the 12th of the same month, but his birthday was never a national holiday.

In 1971, Washington’s Birthday (the national holiday) was officially moved to the third Monday of February. During Nixon’s time as President, there was a spoof printed in the NY Times stating that he declared the day a day to celebrate all presidents, including himself. The quote never came from Nixon, but it stuck. Although the day is meant to celebrate Washington’s Birthday, many celebrate all presidents instead.

If that describes you, you might want to try an Obamatini or a “Bill Clinton” on Monday. But, if you’re a purist, you may want to throw back a homemade beer in honor of the founding father that made this holiday possible, George Washington.

Valentine's Day Cocktails

2012-02-12T15:42:00.000-08:00

Saint Valentine’s Day is almost upon us, and love is in the air. What better way to get into the mood than to start off the evening with a cocktail or two? If things get a little spicy, of course, you can always opt to end the evening with a few mocktails. But, for now, let’s throw caution to the wind. I’m all about the cocktails!

If you’re preparing a homemade dinner for your honey this holiday, consider serving a few appetizers with specially-selected cocktails for the occasion. Think of it as a cocktail hour before dinner. What fun! If you’re planning to go all out for dinner, you don’t have to get crazy with the appetizers. Simple bread sticks or cheese and crackers will work just fine in a pinch. Just remember to serve them up in a fancy heart-shaped dish!

Here are a few ideas to help you starti your Valentine’s Day off with a cocktail in hand:

Champagne and strawberries – It doesn’t get much easier than this. Just serve some chilled champagne (in champagne flutes, of course) and drop a slice of strawberry into each glass. Again, it’s simple; but doesn’t it just ooze romance?

Besame – Besa me means “kiss me” in Spanish. So, with this drink, you might get a little kiss along with your cocktail. It’s made with raspberries, Chambord, fruit juice, and a tequila liqueur called Agavero. Agavero has been known for centuries as a potent aphrodisiac, so the kissing may come naturally after a few sips.

Raspberry Chocolate Kiss Martini – Really, any pink or red martini will do the trick; even a cosmo. But I just liked the name, and I thought chocolate and Valentine’s Day have such a natural connection. Why not serve it along with your appetizers?

Personally, if I can find the Agavero, I’ll definitely be making a few Besames on Tuesday. Of course, since my husband is a tax accountant and this is his busy season, we’ll have to take it easy on the Besames, but we’ll have one or two, for sure.

What’s your cocktail of choice?

Cocktails From a Bygone Era

2012-02-03T16:03:00.000-08:00

Maybe it’s my recent obsession with Mod Cloth or maybe it’s the fact that I’ve been spending time visiting my grandfather at his (55 and over) complex, but I have seriously grown obsessed with the 50s. Clothing, music; you name it. I’m there. There’s something about that time that makes me nostalgic for better days. No, I wasn’t around then. My mother was barely even born in the 50s, but I really feel like we’ve lost something as a society that can be found by looking back to that time. Was it a simpler time? I can’t be sure. Every decade has its own set of problems. What I can tell you is that people valued relationships much more in those days.

I recently saw a comedian who joked about the contrast between his parent’s generation and our own. At his parent’s house, they welcomed people who dropped by unannounced and even had a coffee cake on hand for such occasions. Today, when someone unexpected rings the doorbell, we dim the lights and pretend we’re not home. It’s a sad but true reality. If someone stopped by my house today, I’d do the same. Why? Because my house isn’t ready for company. The laundry is in a pile in the hallway and the coffee cake is still sitting on the shelf at the store.

But, with my newfound affinity for this bygone decade, I think it’s time to change my ways. It’s time to get the house ready and prepare for company. And, well, you know I wouldn’t entertain without some good cocktails. So, here are a few cocktails that were popular in the 50s. Time to get the ingredients and stock the bar because we’ve got company!

1. Vodka Martini

2. Sidecar

3. Singapore Sling

4. Gimlet

5. Champagne Cocktail

6. Vesper

5 Reasons to Serve a Mocktail at your Next Cocktail Party

2012-01-29T06:29:00.000-08:00

Although I normally post recipes on this blog, I wanted to take this post to talk a little bit about the reasons to make a mocktail for your next event. Cocktail parties can be a lot of fun, but not everyone can partake in the alcoholic beverages. Does that mean they shouldn’t join in on the fun? Heck, no. If you have a mocktail version of every cocktail you serve, everyone can partake. And the best part? Mocktails are higher in nutrients and lower in calories than their alcoholic counterparts.

Here are some reasons why your guests might appreciate a good mocktail.

Pregnancy – If you have any guests that are pregnant or even nursing, a mocktail is a must. Even parents with young kids might not want to have cocktails, so it’s good to have options.

Recovering alcoholics – If you’re having a big get-together, you might have a person or two who has quit drinking, and you don’t even realize. Although these people can always have soda or juice, a mocktail just makes it feel more like a party.

Heavy drinkers – If you notice someone has had one too many, you can offer them a non-alcoholic mocktail. They’ll be much more likely to accept another salt-rimmed drink than a boring old glass of water.

Designated drivers – If you don’t want people drinking and driving, you should seriously consider serving a mocktail at your next cocktail party. After the cleanup is done, you’ll rest easy knowing that none of your guests will have a brush with a police officer – or worse.

Dieters – It’s no secret that cocktails have a lot of calories. Usually the mocktail version isn’t quite as rough on your waistline as the full-alcohol version.

The Magical Mojito

2012-01-22T05:15:00.000-08:00

Ah, the mojito. I’d be lying if I said it was my absolute favorite drink, but there’s definitely something special about that minty tropical libation. I can still vividly remember the first mojito I ever had. Okay, so it was only a few years ago, but it was a magical time nonetheless. Let me go muddle us a few mojitos, and I’ll tell you all about it.

It was a hot but rainy September afternoon in South Beach. My boyfriend (at the time; husband now) and I were in Miami for a long weekend. It was his birthday, so we had something to celebrate (as if we need a reason to celebrate). Anyway, because of the rain and impending hurricane, South Beach was a ghost town. But, a little rain wasn’t enough to dampen our fun. Heck, no.

We wandered around town, taking in the sites between the raindrops, until we reached a little place called Mojitos. There was no one there, but there was no one anywhere, so it didn’t really matter. We took a table outside under the ample canopy and ordered us up some mojitos. We were both mojito virgins, so we didn’t know exactly what to expect. The mint and lime were so fresh-tasting, and the sugar cane garnish added an extra jolt of sweet that just made the drink amazing.

After some time, the owner came out and struck up a conversation. He talked about how he came to own this place, visions for improvements and the history of the mojito. Once he heard these were our first mojitos, he insisted we also try a flavored version, which he immediately had the bartender whip up for us and presented them “on the house.” Maybe it was the alcohol; maybe it was the fact that we had the entire town to ourselves, but it will always stick out in my mind as a truly magical moment. We were young; we were in love; and we had mojitos. What more could you ask for?

This was my first mojito, but I know now it’s the best I’ll ever have. I wish I had the recipe to recreate that exact cocktail, but alas, I do not. Instead, I’ll share with you my favorite basic mojito recipe, and a mocktail version for those who want to avoid the rum.

The cocktail version can be found at All Recipes, and the mocktail can be found at Rachel Ray's website.

Mint Julep Cocktail and Mocktail Recipe

2012-01-12T13:08:00.000-08:00

Okay, so I know it’s the middle of the winter, but I’m sitting here sipping on my peppermint tea and daydreaming about warmer days. Can you guess what instantly comes to mind? You got it: the mint julep. Everyone can appreciate a well-made mint julep; from the sweetest southern belle to the burliest FBI agent (although the latter might be more reluctant to admit it).

A mint julep is traditionally made with just four ingredients: bourbon or gin, sugar, water and (of course) mint. In the south, they tend to be quite particular about how their mint juleps are made, and they prefer it be with spearmint (not just any old mint leaf). However, unlike its mint-containing Spanish counterpart, the mojito, a mint julep is not muddled. That means that the mint leaves should barely be bruised, if at all.

Getting back to tradition, the mint julep should really be served in a silver or pewter cup. Since those aren’t as popular these days, you can usually find them sold as mint julep cups. Don’t fret if you don’t have any of these fancy vessels. You can still make a great mint julep and serve it in a old-fashioned or highball glass. No one will turn her nose up at it; I promise.

Like most cocktails, the mint julep has an uncertain history, but many believe that it originated in the southern states during the eighteenth century. You don’t hear the word “julep” much these days, but it does have a meaning outside the cocktail. It refers to a sweet drink that was usually served alongside medicine. The mint juleps in the early days were almost always made with bourbon, but these days, it’s more common to find a gin-based julep.

Since I already told you how to make a mint julep cocktail, I’ll just focus on the mocktail recipe here (by the way, this makes a pitcher):

4 cups water

4 cups lemonade

1 cup fresh mint leaves

Combine the water and lemonade and add fresh mint leaves (be careful not to bruise them too much). Stir and refrigerate until you’re ready to serve.

Mimosa Cocktails and Mocktails

2012-01-06T11:46:00.000-08:00

When I think of New Year’s, I usually think of the party on New Year’s Eve. Then I think of the hangover the next day. But then, finally, I think of the New Year’s brunch. In my family, it’s a tradition to get together for brunch on New Year’s Day. It’s a nice and low-key time to talk about what we all did the night before and our plans and resolutions for the upcoming year. Almost inevitably, after partaking in too much holiday cheer the night before, one of us resolves to never drink again. That resolution is usually swept under the rug pretty quickly, but until then, I’ve made it a habit to prepare some virgin mimosas to have on hand for the brunch. Virgin mimosas are actually a great and festive way to rehydrate after a night of too much partying. The vitamin C works wonders as long as you’re not completely sick the next day. In that case, just stick to water and your resolution not to drink alcohol – ever again.

Mimosas are really easy to make, so I’m not going to bother with a formal recipe here. You just need to mix some champagne with some orange juice and add a tiny splash of grand marnier. You would normally add mostly champagne and a bit of orange juice for color, but some people like theirs more fruity (and less bubbly). So, make them however you’d like. For the mocktail version, all you have to do is replace the champagne with ginger ale or club soda and omit the grand marnier. Personally, I like ginger ale because it gives the drink more flavor (similar to what the champagne does). But, again, do what you like.

Regardless of how you make yours, a mimosa should always be served in a champagne glass. It’s just the way it is. I think that’s part of the fun of having them; you just feel a little extra fancy. You don’t need a garnish, but if you’d like, you can add some orange zest or a small orange slice to the rim.

Festive Sangria Cocktail and Mocktail Recipes

2011-12-29T12:26:00.000-08:00

Sangria is often thought of as a summer drink, but it’s not really much more summery than a champagne punch, which is usually designated to holiday parties. So, I like to buck the trend and serve sangria to my guests on New Year’s Eve. It’s always appreciated; I can tell you that much. Sangria is a wine punch that comes from Spain or Portugal, I’m not sure which was first, but now, it’s consumed throughout the world. I like to serve sangria along with tapas – either at New Years or any old cocktail party. Sure, some guests will prefer beer, but most enjoy the fruity taste of this alcoholic beverage.

Whenever you serve sangria, you should keep in mind that the alcohol is largely masked by the fruitiness. So, if guests aren’t careful, they can easily overdo it. Although the wine is diluted with fruit juice, there is also triple sec and sometimes also brandy added to the mix. In order to combat the potential drunkenness, it’s a good idea to have a mocktail version on hand. By the way, it’s also a nice gesture to have a virgin sangria around for any kids, pregnant women or just anyone who doesn’t drink alcohol. This way, they still feel like they’re partaking in all the festiveness of the event. At my party this year, I’m inviting a few people from work. The accountant is a recovering alcoholic and the paralegal is expecting, so I know at least two people will be enjoying the sangria mocktail.

Here are two recipes you can try:

Sangria Recipe

1 Bottle of zinfandel (red, not white)

1 Lemon cut into wedges

1 Orange cut into wedges

1 Lime cut into wedges

2 Tbsp sugar

½ cup of orange juice

2 Shots triple sec

1 shot brandy

1 Small can of diced pineapples (with juice)

4 Cups ginger ale

Pour the wine into a large pitcher and squeeze in lemon, lime and orange juice from each wedge. Toss the wedges in and add pineapple, orange juice, triple sec and brandy. Refrigerate overnight, and then add ginger ale right before serving.

Sangria Mocktail

Sangria Recipe

1 qt grape juice (not from concentrate)

1 Lemon cut into wedges

1 Orange cut into wedges

1 Lime cut into wedges

2 Tbsp sugar

½ cup of orange juice

1 Small can of diced pineapples (with juice)

4 Cups ginger ale

¾ cup powdered lemonade drink mix

Pour the grape juice into a large pitcher and squeeze in lemon, lime and orange juice from each wedge. Toss the wedges in and add pineapple and orange juice. Refrigerate overnight, and then add ginger ale and lemonade mix right before serving.

Orange Pomegranate Champagne Punch Recipe

2011-12-21T12:27:00.000-08:00

You can’t have a holiday party without a good champagne punch, can you? Ok fine, I guess technically you can, but it just wouldn’t be the same. Just in time for your New Year’s preparations, I thought it would be a good time to highlight a nice champagne punch recipe.

Champagne punch is an easy and relatively inexpensive beverage to serve guests at any party, but it’s traditionally served at holiday parties. If you’re going to serve this punch, I highly recommend doing it out of a classic punch bowl. Otherwise, you lose some of the effect. Guests may think it’s just a standard mixed drink, but we know it’s so much more than that.

Did you know that punch actually has Indian origins? At least, that’s the popular belief. Many believe that punch was inspired by an Indian beverage called “panch.” Panch essentially means “five ingredients,” which is what it contains. Modern punches don’t always contain exactly five ingredients and none of them even resemble the original ingredients in panch, but this is the history I was told.

Making punch is really easy, but there are a few things you should know.

Regardless of what else is in the punch, if it sparkles, add it last. So, add the champagne or seltzer last in this recipe.
Chill all of your ingredients ahead of time, so you don’t have to rely on too much ice to keep the punch cold.
Use a large block of ice instead of small cubes. The large block will stay frozen longer, which will keep your punch from getting diluted too quickly.
Don’t spend too much money on the booze. With all the other ingredients, your guests will barely taste the alcohol, so buying top shelf stuff would be a waste.
Don’t make it too strong. I know, it’s tempting, but do you remember how drunk the company software engineer got at the last holiday party? Boy, was his face red when he had to face his peers at work the next day. Everyone will have more fun if no one gets too wasted.

Champagne Punch Recipe

2 cups pomegranate juice
3 cups orange juice
1 cup white rum
½ cup simple syrup
1 bottle brut Champagne
8 fresh mint leaves
1 orange, cut into thin slices

Makes about 10 servings

Add pomegranate juice, orange juice, rum and simple syrup to your punch bowl. Stir. Right before the guests arrive, add the champagne and give it all a gentle stir. Garnish with mint and orange slices. Add the ice block and you’re ready for guests to indulge!

Champagne Punch Mocktail Recipe

2 cups pomegranate juice
3 cups orange juice
1 bottle lemon flavored seltzer or 7 Up
8 fresh mint leaves
1 orange, cut into thin slices

Add pomegranate juice, orange juice, rum and simple syrup to your punch bowl. Stir. Right before the guests arrive, add the seltzer and give it all a gentle stir. Garnish with mint and orange slices. Add the ice block and you’re ready for guests to indulge!

Coquito Recipes: Cocktail, Mocktail and Vegan

2011-12-15T13:08:00.000-08:00

Have you ever heard of comfort food? Of course you have. But, have you ever heard of comfort drinks? Ahh, probably not, right? If so, it’s time to change that – with the Coquito! Oh, this drink is good; I kid you not. It’s often referred to as Puerto Rican eggnog, but I believe if more people tasted the coquito, they’d forget all about eggnog. I was never a big fan of eggnog anyway, but after becoming vegan, it was definitely off-limits. By the way, even if you and your guests aren't vegan, some might be lactose intolerant, so making a veganized coquito might still be a good idea.

You can veganize either drink (coquito or eggnog), but easier and tastier to veganize the coquito. The vegan version is also better for your health. So, for today, I’m going to share a cocktail and mocktail and a veganized cocktail. They are all kind of thick and sweet, so a coquito isn’t really the kind of drink you have too many of in one sitting. Keep that in mind, if you’re planning a holiday party. Definitely add the coquito the drink list, but be sure to have a few lighter drinks too. Just make enough coquitos for each guest to have two or three. More than that would be overkill.

Whether you try these recipes or not, I really hope you try the coquito – you won’t be disappointed. You’ll always remember your first coquito. For me, it was in my college years. At the time, I was temping as an administrative assistant at a major insurance company. The rest of the party wasn’t so memorable, nor was the job itself, now that I’m thinking about it, but the coquito? That, I remember.

Coquito Recipe

1 750-ml bottle of vanilla rum

1 13-1/2 ounce can coconut milk

1 15-ounce can cream of coconut

2.5 12-ounce cans evaporated milk

1 14-ounce can sweetened condensed milk

Blend ingredients and refrigerate. Sprinkle with cinnamon and garnish with cinnamon sticks before serving.

(Virgin) Coquito Mocktail Recipe

Follow the recipe above, but substitute the vanilla rum for 2 teaspoons of pure vanilla extract.

Vegan Coquito Recipe
1 can Coconut milk

1 tsp. pure vanilla extract
1 can Cream of Coconut
1 cup Almond milk
2 cups Bacardi rum

Blend ingredients and refrigerate. Sprinkle with cinnamon and garnish with cinnamon sticks before serving.

Feeling Down? Try a Little Hot Toddy

2011-12-07T08:51:00.001-08:00

Have you ever heard of a hot toddy? Don't let Usher confuse you. It’s actually an alcoholic cocktail that people drink when they’re sick, usually with the flu. Its history isn’t really known, but the best info we have points to the notion that it was created in Scotland in the 1700s to make the taste of scotch more appealing to the female gender. And just like most other home remedies for the flu, there are many variations of the hot toddy.

I’m going to share one variation with you today, but you may have heard of or even tasted others. That’s fine. Stick with the one you like best. But if don’t have any hot toddy recipes up your sleeve, you may want to give this one a shot. All of the recipes will be similar in that they contain a spirit, sweetener and a warm beverage. You can experiment with different versions of this drink using warm apple cider, brandy and sugar or coffee, rum and syrup. Use your imagination to create one that works for you. If you’re avoiding alcohol, or making a hot toddy for a sickly minor, just omit the alcohol.

You might notice that the mocktail version of the hot toddy looks a little familiar. It truly isn’t much more than tea with lemon and honey, but in this version we spice things up a little with freshly grated cinnamon. Serve it in an Irish coffee glass with a cinnamon stick to make it even more special (and less like your standard old tea).

For those of you making the cocktail version, I just have one bit of advice: Use the good stuff! The other ingredients in the drink aren’t strong enough to mask the flavor of a poor quality bourbon. I always say, if you’re going to taste it, make it good!

Hot toddys really work wonders at making you feel better, if only for the moment. Be sure to also drink a lot of water and take some vitamin C, and you’ll be back on your feet in no time, so you can get back to your day job as a postal worker, tattoo artist, lawyer, or whatever it is you do so well. Just remember to pay it forward. Remember to tell your coworkers about the hot toddy when they’re feeling down and out.

Hot Toddy Recipe

1 black tea bag

1 oz. bourbon

1 tsp. honey

1 tsp. lemon juice

Freshly grated cinnamon

Steep the tea in 6 ounces of boiling water. Add bourbon, honey and lemon juice. Stir and top with freshly grated cinnamon.

Hot Toddy Mocktail

1 black tea bag

1 tsp. honey

1 tsp. lemon juice

Freshly grated cinnamon

Steep the tea in 6 ounces of boiling water. Add honey and lemon juice. Stir and top with freshly grated cinnamon.

Time to Party Holiday-Style: Eggnog Cocktail and Mocktail Recipe

2011-12-01T09:04:00.001-08:00

With Thanksgiving behind us, it’s time to start putting up the Christmas decorations. And, really, who does that without a nice warm glass of eggnog in-hand? It adds another element of fun to your holiday preparations. Plus, if you practice making your eggnog before your holiday get-togethers, you’ll be a pro by the time the big event rolls around.

Eggnog isn’t one of the easiest drinks you can make, but nothing else is quite as synonymous with the holidays. Although mastering a good eggnog isn’t easy, virginizing it is. All you have to do is omit the alcohol and you’ll have a tasty, kid-friendly version.

Just one note of caution: The eggs in eggnog are only lightly cooked. Eating raw eggs can possibly lead to salmonella poisoning, so take steps to avoid it by using only fresh, refrigerated eggs for your eggnog. Also, don't cook them for less time than the recipe states. You want guests to remember your party, but not because they all got sick for a week after.

Eggnog Cocktail and Mocktail Recipe

4 cups milk
¼ tsp ground cloves
1 tsp ground cinnamon
12 egg yolks
1 ½ cups sugar
2 ½ cups light rum
4 cups heavy cream
½ tsp ground nutmeg

In a medium saucepan, whisk milk, sugar, cloves and cinnamon until the sugar is completely dissolved. This should take about 1 to 2 minutes. In a large bowl, whisk the egg yolks. Pour the hot milk mixture onto the yolks, while whisking constantly, in a slow and steady stream.

Return the eggnog mixture to the pan and cook over medium-low heat, stirring often for about 20 to 25 minutes. Just don’t let it simmer or the eggs may start to clump. When it’s done, the mixture should be thick enough to coat the back of a spoon.

Strain the mixture into a bowl and stir in the heavy cream and alcohol (if you’re making the cocktail version). You can serve your eggnog warm or cool, depending on what you’re accustomed to. If you’d like it chilled, you cover it with plastic wrap and put it in the refrigerator for about 2 hours before serving.

Garnish with nutmeg prior to serving.

Oh yeah, one more word of caution: If you’re drinking the alcoholic version, don’t be afraid to switch to the non-alcoholic version after one or two. You don’t want to get too drunk, especially if you’re not among close family and friends. Remember how drunk the company tax accountant got at last year’s holiday party? You never want to be that guy.

The recipe above is one of the best eggnog recipes I've found, but there are many others. You may have to try a few or tweak one a bit to find one that suits your taste buds. For yet another eggnog recipe, watch the video below:

Apple Martinis: Powerful Cocktail, Tame Mocktail

2011-11-21T15:01:00.000-08:00

Being a good host or hostess is about so much more than just what you’re going to serve. It’s about making sure your guests have fun and making sure they get home safe when the night is over. That’s why it’s always a good idea to make an alcoholic (cocktail) and non-alcoholic (mocktail) version of every drink you serve. This way, the designated drivers and straight edgers don’t feel left out. Everyone can rave about how great your drinks are, and everyone can have a taste.

Today, we’ll look at a cosmopolitan classic. No, it’s not the cosmo (not today, anyway). It’s the appletini. Appletinis fall into the category of dangerous drinks because they taste super yummy, but they pack quite an alcoholic punch. So, say you have a friend who has imbibed in one too many appletinis. Now is a great time to pull the old switcheroo and pour her a mocktail instead. If she’s had more than three appletinis already, I guarantee you, she won’t know the difference. She’ll enjoy that sweet, hydrating beverage thinking it’s the same cocktail she’s been downing all night. The only difference is, she won’t end up puking in your flower pot. On the other hand, if she's one of those people who insist on driving home after they've had too many drinks, your little switchroo could save her from having an unpleasant encounter with a police officer (or worse).

By the way, apple martinis are the same as appletinis; it’s just a different name. The only problem with appletinis is that they can be stronger than you realize. If you look at the cocktail recipe below, you’ll notice that they are mostly alcohol. This makes them much stronger than other mixed drinks you might be used to, such as a gin and tonic or vodka and cranberry. That's exactly why it's always a good idea to have a good mocktail recipe on hand.

Appletini Cocktail Recipe:

2 oz vodka

1 oz sour apple schnapps

1 oz lemonade

Appletini Mocktail Recipe:

2 oz. apple juice

½ oz simple syrup

1 ½ oz lemonade

Instructions for both:

Combine all ingredients with ice in a cocktail shaker. Shake and pour into a chilled martini glass. Garnish with an apple slice or maraschino cherry.

Note: To successfully pull of the switcheroo, you’ll need to add a tiny drop of green food coloring to the Mocktail, so be sure to have some on hand. The sour apple schnapps in the cocktail gives it a bit of a green hue that you'll need to replicate.

Ways of Convincing Your Child to Finally Eat That Broccoli

2011-11-11T05:58:00.000-08:00

It’s not easy to raise children. They always want to make things their way, despite the fact that you have the best intentions for them. You want them to grow up healthy and you try to convince them from the early stages of their life to make the best decisions. For the past months you’ve been learning how to become a nutritionist, so you are very well aware of the importance of healthy meals and that you are what you eat.

You are familiar with the expression “Eat your vegetables!” For you, this doesn’t put you in any difficulty, since you’ve always been a veggie lover and you eat them on a daily basis. However, you have a problem when it comes to convincing your child to eat them also. You can make him to eat tomatoes or cucumber, but broccoli is a no-go.

So how do you convince him to eat it? You’re not an expert when it comes to child psychology, but you think it might be helpful to convince him using role models of his: “You said you wanted to be a cop. You know that police officer who lives next door? Do you know how he got his job? He ate broccoli”. It’s not. Your child gives you that look, like you have no idea what you’re talking about. The only thing you could do, apart from giving up, is to try and make broccoli more appealing to him. For many kids, broccoli has the appearance of a green little monster – they just don’t like its texture and they would probably try it if only it would a bit different. You can try out these recipes and be prepared to be asked to make them more often!

Broccoli and potato pancakes

Your child loves potato pancakes, so we have half of the problem solved. Now, we only need to take care of the broccoli, which won’t be that hard. All you need is a cup of finely chopped broccoli, 3 eggs, 2 sliced green onions, 1 cup of boiling water, 2 tbs. of flour, ½ tsp. of salt, vegetable oil, 1/8 tsp. of pepper and one backing peeled potato and you’re ready to go. You have to put the broccoli and the boiling water all together in a bowl for 5 minutes. In a different bowl, you have to beat the 3 eggs and add all the other ingredients, minus the oil of course and mix them. After you have your mixture ready, you add the broccoli and the shredded potato at the end, right before you’re ready to cook and that’s it.

Broccoli Cheese Emerald Nuggets

Your kid adores nuggets. It was love at first sight, ever since he saw that McDonald’s commercial. However, despite the fact that those were chicken nuggets, he’ll love these ones as well, especially because the broccoli is barely noticeable. All you need for them is a bag of frozen chopped broccoli, thawed and drained, 8 ounces of finely grated and sharp cheddar cheese, 2 eggs, ½ tsp. salt and a cup of Italian breadcrumbs. You blend the broccoli and the eggs until they become a puree. When this happens, you put the whole content into a bowl and stir in the cheese and salt. Half of the breadcrumbs have to be spread onto the surface of a cutting board and you press the puree on top of them, then you add the remaining breadcrumbs over the broccoli and cheese mixture. Finally, you slice and bake them in a preheated oven to 425 degrees for about 9 minutes.

These recipes are both healthy and delicious! After trying them, your child will regret calling broccoli a monster.

Exquisite recipes you can cook with everyday ingredients

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It can’t get any better than that! You’re officially a student at the kaplan university and you’re excited to jump into this new adventure. The best part of it is that you won’t be alone in this; you will have two friends with whom you’ll be able to share the wacky experience of being a student. You know these two from kindergarten and you can’t imagine how it would be like to face the unimaginable horrific experience of listening to that professor talk for 4 hours straight and to have no one to complain afterwards.

All you three are like sisters; only two weeks have passed, but it was enough to prove the great chemistry between you. You could see yourselves living like this forever. Who would have thought that sharing an apartment could be so much fun? But…but all this is just too good to be true – at this point, something bad has to happen, right? Well, it hasn’t happened yet, but a disaster might be just around the corner. Why is that? Because it’s Freaky Friday, the day when you girls have dinner at home and prepare it yourselves. You’ve been assigned with the soup and the dessert, so forget about those special sandwiches of yours.

You’re not fond of the memories of your first cooking attempt. After you were done, the whole place looked like a battlefield. You squirted that red sauce everywhere – you almost could have called a crime scene investigator , that’s how bad it was.

But you’re willing to give it another try; after all, cooking isn’t rocket science. It helps to know that your friends have no special requests or blacklisted ingredients. Listed below are two tips for a soup and a dessert which would definitely impress them. What’s good about them is that they don’t require ingredients which are hard to find, like quail eggs or squid ink.

· Gazpacho with shrimp

Now, don’t worry about this one; it’s not as bad as it sounds. You want to start with a soup, so here is an exquisite one that won’t take more than an hour to prepare it. If you’re worried about the shrimp, don’t be! You can buy those already cooked from the supermarket. Also, you can even make the soup several days in advance, if your Friday, for some reason might be too busy. To see in detail what it takes to prepare one of these, check this video out:

· No-bake Cheesecake

And now, the dessert! Again, it’s something very simple and delicious. If you can’t find Graham cracker crumbs, you can replace those with very thin chocolate cookies which you crush. The best part of this dessert is that, as its name states, you don’t need the oven to prepare it (pheww!).

Watch this video to receive step-by-step guidelines:

Easy, right? Just make sure to follow the guidelines. This will keep the kitchen stained-free and make your friends awestruck.