Mojito

Makes 1 drink

Ingredients:

1 1/2 oz white Rum
5 oz club soda
3 oz simple syrup
Lime
Mint
Cucumber

Place 2 lime wedges and fresh mint leaves into a serving glass and muddle.
Add 3 oz of simple syrup, muddle again.
Add ice, rum and soda and a slice of cucumber.

To make the simple syrup:
Mix 1 cup of sugar with 1 cup of water and bring to a boil till everything is dissolved.
Cool. You can keep this in a jar in the fridge to use later.

Lemon Drop Martini

Makes 1 drink

Add the following ingredients into a cocktail shaker and shake till mixed. Rub a lemon around the rim of the martini glass and dip it in a plate of fine sugar to coat the rim.
Pour into a tall martini glass.

Ingredients:

1 1/2 oz Vodka
1/2 oz Triple Sec or Cointreau
3/4 oz lemon juice (freshly squeezed)
1 tsp super fine sugar
4 - 5 ice cubes

Pina Colada

Makes 2 drinks

In a blender or vitamix, combine the following and process till smooth.
Pour into a tall glass and garnish with pineapple and a cherry.

1 cup of ice
1 cup diced frozen pineapple (or fresh)
2 oz (1/4 cup) coconut cream
5 oz pineapple juice
3 oz Rum (white/dark)

Prosecco Cocktail

This festive cocktail can be served on the holidays with some red, green and white!

Ingredients 

1 Bottle of Prosecco or another sparkling wine, or sparkling apple cider

8 TBS Ginger or Elderflower Liqueur

10 pink peppercorns

20 mint leaves

Directions 

In each glass, put a few mint leaves with 2 tablespoons of the liquor and a few pink peppercorns.

Top with the Prosecco or sparkling wine and enjoy.

This recipe is from Chef Wilhelm at the Bay Colony Golf Club in Napes, Florida.

Sami's Hangover Cure

Sami Bloom is a Sydney, Australia based Vegan Nutritionist. She posted this recipe on Instagram and I thought it was a good one to have on hand for those nights where you party too hard and need a boost in the morning. Tried it and loved it!
Check out her website: samibloom.com

Ingredients

1 cup of coconut water
1 banana
A huge handful of spinach
1/2 cup of frozen mango chopped
1 fresh pitted date
1 tsp of spirulina powder *

Directions

Add the ingredients in this order to a Vitamix or blender.
Blend till smooth.

Feel better.

* Spirulina powder is available at health food stores or Whole Foods.
It's nature's green superfood and a rich source of vitamins and minerals.

Turmeric and Cinnamon Tea

This is a wonderful tea to have hot or cold. Make a large batch, let it cool and then put it in a glass container in the fridge. Drink each day to feel great!

Makes 4 cups

Ingredients 

4 cups of pure water
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp organic turmeric powder
1-2 cinnamon sticks

Directions

Pour the water into a pot. Add the cinnamon, sticks, and turmeric.
Gently heat for about 5 minutes.

Mix thoroughly before drinking as the spices will sink to the bottom.

Turmeric is an anti-inflammatory.

Pineapple & Spinach Smoothie

This is super simple breakfast smoothie you'll enjoy making every day!

Makes on 16 oz serving, or 2 8 oz servings

Ingredients:

1 cup of almond or cashew milk
1 fresh banana
2 cups of fresh spinach or kale
1/2 cup of frozen pineapple or mango
1 serving of protein powder
1 tsp fresh turmeric (chopped)
2 fresh mint leaves (optional)

Directions:

Put the ingredients into a Vitamix or blender in the order listed. Process till smooth.

Note: When chopping fresh turmeric, it can stain your knife (stainless or ceramic). Use a cleaner like vim or barkeeper's friend to clean the knife.  It can stain your hands as well. You can use powdered turmeric but the fresh has a fragrant smell and adds a fresh taste to your smoothies. Turmeric is known for reducing inflammation in the body.

Banana Mango Smoothie

This is a simple smoothie with lemon & parsley to give it a little zing!

Ingredients:

1 Cup Unsweetened Almond Milk
1 Banana
1 TBS protein powder
1 cup of fresh parsley
1 cup of frozen mango
1/2 inch turmeric root (fresh), peeled and chopped
  or a pinch of dried turmeric
1 squeeze of lemon juice  (1/4 slice)
1 TBS hemp seeds

Directions:

Add the ingredients in the order listed. By putting the frozen fruit on top of your green ingredients, they don't tend to get stuck around the blades and freeze up the blender.  Blend in a vitamix or blender till done.

Fresh turmeric can stain your hands, cutting board, knives (particularly ceramic knives).  To clean, use a cleaner like VIM, or Barkeepers Friend to get the color out.  The fresh turmeric adds a nice taste to the smoothie!

Chocolate Cashew Shake

Ingredients: 

1 Cup of Cashew Milk
  (or 1 cup of water and 1 TBS cashews, blended for 2 minutes)

3 pitted dates

2 TBS Cacao powder

1 tsp hemp seeds

2 TBS Chia Seeds

1/2 frozen banana

2-3 ice cubes

Put all ingredients in a Vitamix or blender and blend till smooth.
Blend the water and cashews first for 2 minutes if you are not using cashew milk.
You can substitute almond milk if you prefer it.

Serves 1-2

Green Machine Smoothie

This is a healthy, energy-boosting smoothie you can make for breakfast or lunch. 
It's best to use yellow fruits like peaches, mangos or pineapples when you are adding greens like spinach, kale or arugula. If you add strawberries, raspberries or blueberries, the color will be less appealing. It tends to be brown - so remember your color-wheel when combining. 

Ingredients: 

Add the ingredients in this order. Adding the frozen ingredients last, on top of the greens, will avoid the blades getting stuck. You can vary the amounts of fruit and greens to your liking. 

1 cup of coconut water 

1 scoop of protein powder (Organic vegetable based is good)

1 banana 

squeeze of lemon juice

1 Tbs coconut oil 

slice of fresh ginger or slice of fresh peeled turmeric

1/2 cucumber chopped

handful of parsley 

1 stick of celery, chopped into 2" pieces 

handful of fresh spinach or kale

1 cup frozen mango or pineapple

1 Tbs hemp seeds, or a tsp flax oil 

5-6 ice cubes 


Directions: 

Using a vitamix blend on the smoothie setting till done. Or if you're using a blender, blend till it looks smooth. If you like your smoothies colder, add some ice cubes, mix, then remove the cubes. 


Serves 2 

Perfect French Press Coffee

Make this your morning ritual to enjoy a rich tasting French Press Coffee.
You can vary the amount of the coffee if you find this recipe too strong.

Let this stand for 1 minute.

After 1 minute fill just to the top of the metal band.

Let sit for an additional 3 minutes - so 4 in total.
Gently press the plunger after 4 minutes.

Use a fine mesh strainer to remove grains that make it through the press filter. 

Steps to a perfect cup of coffee: (using a single French Press as shown)

Using a regular teaspoon, put 3 heaping spoons of coffee into the French Press.  Use 2 spoons if you like weaker coffee. I like to use Illy Espresso coffee (silver can with a red band and it will say Espresso).  Although it is really finely ground, it has the best flavor.

Boil the water and let it sit 45 seconds in the kettle, before pouring it.

Pour the water into the press to about 1/3 full. Stir. Set the timer for one minute.

Add the rest of the water to the metal band (not too high).  Set the timer for 3 more minutes.
Set the plunger on top of the press, but do not push it down yet.

Meanwhile, if you take cream or milk, add it to your cup.  You can microwave it for about 10-13 seconds to take the chill out. You can also use any of the nut milks for a vegan choice.

When the timer goes, gently and slowly press the plunger down. Be careful not to point the spout towards you in case you get a burst of coffee.  This is why you don't fill it too full. I usually point it towards the sink.

Put a fine sieve over your cup and pour the coffee through it, moving the press in a counter-clockwise motion. The sieve will filter out the tiny grains that make it through the mesh of the French press.
Some models are better than others in filtering. You will find some sediment in the very bottom of your cup, so don't drink it all the way to the very end!

* Illy also makes a really good decaffeinated coffee (green band) and you can mix some decaf with the espresso if you find it's too much caffeine.

Enjoy!

Dark Chocolate Smoothie

Makes 1 serving (16 oz)

1 cup of non-dairy milk (almond, cashew, walnut, hazelnut, hemp)
1 banana
1/2 cup ice
2 TBS cocoa powder
1 scoop of protein powder (optional)

Add all the ingredients into your vitamix or blender in the order listed.
Process till smooth.

Top with a fresh sprig of mint. Or you can add a fresh mint leaf to the ingredients.

Beet and Strawberry Detox Smoothie

This smoothie recipe is from the Minimalist Baker website:  http://minimalistbaker.com

I adjusted the original recipe slightly to make it less sweet and not as thick. It's delicious and contains iron, folate, vitamin C and potassium with natural sweetness from the fruit. You can add a protein powder if you like.  Freeze leftovers into popsicles for a healthy snack.

Serves 2

Ingredients: 

1/3 cup (45g) peeled and chopped raw beets (organic if possible)
  (approximately 1/2 of a medium sized beet)
1 cup of frozen organic strawberries (if fresh, add ice)
1/2 ripe banana - fresh or frozen, (peeled and sliced)
2/3 cup apple juice
1/3 cup water
Fresh mint for garnish

Directions: 

Disposable latex gloves are great to use when handling beets.  Lemon juice will also help get the stains off your hands.

Add the beets, berries, banana and apple juice together in a blender or vitamix.  Blend until creamy and smooth, scraping down the sides.

Taste and adjust the flavor as needed. More banana for sweetness.

Garnish with fresh mint, or shredded coconut or banana slices.

Will keep in the fridge for up to 2 days.

Strawberry Smoothie

This is a great way to start the morning.
Add a mint sprig for extra flavor instead of the cinnamon and use chocolate protein powder.  I like the brand Garden of Life - Organic Raw Protein Chocolate Cacao, available at Whole Foods.

Serves 2

Ingredients 

1 cup unsweetened almond milk

1 banana

1 tbs protein powder (vanilla or chocolate)

9 frozen strawberries (or any mixed berries)

1 tsp cinnamon

1 tsp vanilla extract (optional)

1 tsp stevia or honey (optional) 

1/2 tsp flaxseed oil

Add all the ingredients in your blender or vitamin and process till smooth. 

Harry's Famous Cosmopolitan

         3 oz Grey Goose Vodka

         1 oz Cointreau

          ¼ of a fresh lime

          3 oz Cranberry Juice

1.     Chill the Martini glass by filling it with ice cubes and water.  Let this sit while you prepare the drinks.

2.    Put 7-8 ice cubes into a cocktail shaker. 

3.    Pour vodka, Cointreau and cranberry juice into the shaker. 

4.    Squeeze the lime so the juice goes into the cocktail shaker and then throw the squeezed lime into the shaker.

 

      5.    Let the mixture sit for 30 seconds.  

6.    Shake the cocktail shaker vigorously for 20 seconds.  

7.    Drink the ice water that is in the martini glass, and then throw the ice away. 

8.    Pour the mixed drink from the shaker into the martini glass – using the strainer that comes with the cocktail shaker.

9.    DO NOT consume more than 2 of these drinks in one evening.  If you really need to have a third, wait until the next morning when you are thinking more clearly.  You can use plain vodka or L’Orange flavored.  The orange flavored vodka will create a sweeter martini.