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It’s Valentine’s Day again, which means it’s the perfect time to sit back and relax with a cocktail or two with your mate. Worried that the alcohol might not be the healthiest thing for you given those pesky New Year’s Resolutions? Well, here are a few cocktails that are totally easy to make and really pack a nutritional punch.
- Poinsettia Cocktail
Ingredients:
1/4 cup vodka, chilled
Crushed ice
1/2 cup cranberry juice
1/4 cup Champagne
2 strips of orange zest
Servings: 1
Directions:
Combine the cranberry juice, champagne, and vodka in a tall-stemmed red wine glass. Add crushed ice. Twist orange zest over rim of glass, add on top of drink.
Who knew that champagne was healthy? (Show of hands, please.) Recent studies have shown that champagne’s phenolic compounds can improve our spatial memory. Doctors conducting these studies with rats have concluded that a moderate amount of champagne is associated with an improvement in memory. Cranberries are also incredible for you. This superfood outranks practically all other fruits and vegetables in antioxidant capacity (second only to blueberries).
- The New Yeller
Ingredients:
3 cups frozen pineapple (more if needed)
Orange slices, for garnish
3/4 cup spiced rum
1/2 cup orange juice (more if needed)
1/4 cup banana liqueur
Servings: 4
Directions:
Combine banana liqueur, orange juice, pineapple, and rum in a blender and mix until smooth. Add pineapple to thicken and orange juice to thin, if necessary. Garnish with orange slices.
This tasty island-inspired concoction combines the Vitamin C powers of orange juice, an antioxidant and essential nutrient, with high levels of manganese from the pineapple, another essential nutrient.
- Sunshine On Your Shoulders
Ingredients:
1 cup chopped ripe strawberries (5 large strawberries)
1 cup chopped seeded watermelon
1 cup chopped fresh peach
1 cup raspberry sorbet
1/4 cup orange juice
1/4 cup light rum
Servings: 2
Directions:
Combine watermelon, peach, sorbet, orange juice, rum, and strawberries in a blender and puree until smooth. Easy peasy.
We already know about orange juice – what else is healthy about this sunny treat? Strawberries are also a great source of Vitamin C, fiber, potassium, and other flavonoids. Watermelon is another good source for Vitamin C. Get a huge amount of your daily intake with one cocktail.
- Mulled Cran-cider
Ingredients:
1 (1-inch) ginger root, peeled
2 cups cranberry juice
1 cup cranberries
2 cinnamon sticks
Whole orange peel
2 whole cloves
1 quart apple cider
3/4 cup whiskey
Directions:
Combine cranberry juice, whiskey, orange peel, ginger, cinnamon, cloves, and apple cider in a saucepan over low-medium heat. Bring to a simmer and reduce to low. Simmer for 15 minutes. Discard orange peel, cinnamon, and cloves. Serve in mugs.
While this may seem like a bit of work, this would be the perfect drink to sip with your partner by the fireplace. The cranberry and spices give a twist beyond regular old cider and whiskey. Ginger is a wonderful source for Vitamin B6 and magnesium, and has been used as a folk remedy for colds. Studies have also shown that cinnamon may help type 2 diabetics control their blood glucose levels. Finally, cider is an awesome source for potassium.
Try something different for Valentine’s Day. Let’s make a toast: to your health!
the poinsettia and the cran cider sound really good