4 Healthy Valentine’s Day Cocktails

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.

valentines drinks

  1. 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).

  1. 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.
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Banana Cupcakes with Coconut Spiced Rum Buttercream

rum cupcakes

Banana Cupcake Ingredients:

1 ¼ cup flour

1 tsp baking soda

1/8 tsp salt

¾ cup sugar

½ cup vegetable or canola oil

2 eggs

1 cup mashed banana (about 2 large)

1 tbsp Blue Chair Bay Coconut Spiced Rum

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350º. Line twelve regular size muffins pans with paper liners

or grease well. In a small bowl mix together the flour, baking soda and salt.

In a large bowl, whisk together the sugar, oil and eggs until blended. Add

banana and rum. Beat well. Add dry ingredients and beat again until smooth.

Fill cupcake wells about 2/3 full. Bake approximately 25 minutes or until a
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Lettuce Chicken Tacos

This is a great recipe to use with any left overs really. Easy during the holidays as well. You’ve been cooking non stop, have all these left overs, don’t want to cook dinner anymore- so why not use up anything you’ve got on hand to make a healthy meal?

lettuce

Lettuce  takes place of a tortilla or hard shell taco, making it healthier. You pick your meat , anything from pork, chicken to turkey and they your vegetables. This is really a make it your own, mix and match kind of deal .

 

Ingredients

2 cups cubed cooked chicken ( or your choice of meat)
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Celebrate with Ho-Ho-Holiday Cocktails & Punch

The holiday season is upon us.  This year, be the “hostess with the mostest” with some perfect holiday drink recipes. Mix up some festive-favorites for both adults and children, like the Candy Cane-tini, Pomegranate Punch and Apple Cinnamon Sparkler.

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The base for each of the beverages is a sparkling water that is calorie-free, sugar-free, sodium-free and gluten-free, making them a healthier alternative to traditional, high-calorie holiday drinks. Cascade Ice flavored sparkling waters are free of calories, sugar, sodium and gluten, making them a delicious and refreshing alternative to sugary juices and sodas.
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Chocolate Cake Mix Cookies

This is a great cookies recipe that kids can help out with. It’s super easy and fun to make. It also makes great gifts for people. I usually end up making a bunch of these for the kids teachers and or the entire class for the holiday , they always enjoy them!

cookies2

Ingredients

1 stick of butter – room temperature

8 oz cream cheese – room temperature
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Apple, Pecan & Blue Cheese Spread

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Cheese Spread

Makes: 24 servings, 2 Tbsp. each
Ingredients:
½ cup BREAKSTONE’S Greek Style Sour Cream
1 tub (8 oz.) PHILADELPHIA 1/3 Less Fat than Cream Cheese
1 apple, finely chopped
¼ cup ATHENOS Crumbled Blue Cheese
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Wild Blueberry Sauce

 

This recipe makes 2 1/2 cups

 bluberry sauce

3 cups wild blueberries

1 cup sugar

1 cup water

Juice and zest of 1 orange

1 teaspoon ground cloves

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1 tablespoon cornstarch (for thickening if necessary)

1.    In a large saucepan, heat the wild blueberries, sugar, 1 cup water, orange juice and spices on high. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer 15 minutes. *If the sauce is too thin, you may add a cornstarch slurry (1 tablespoon cornstarch and 2 tablespoons water) to thicken.
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Thanksgiving Cocktails

That special time of the year is approaching when we gather with loved ones to celebrate what we’re thankful for, eat delicious food, and toast to the start of the holiday season! When planning the indulgent spread, don’t forget to include a signature cocktail or two to compliment your seasonal fare. SMIRNOFF has two new confection flavors, SMIRNOFF Wild Honey Flavored Vodka and SMIRNOFF Cinna-Sugar Twist Flavored Vodka that are perfect additions to Thanksgiving libations.

Alongside these delicious cocktails, don’t forget to have a staple red and white wine on hand so you don’t leave any of your guests out. Sterling Vineyards Carneros Pinot Noir and Aromatic White pair great with appetizers at any Thanksgiving gathering. Below, please find two delicious and easy-to-make SMIRNOFF cocktail recipes and wine pairing info that are sure to become a part of your Thanksgiving traditions!
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