Cucumber Gin Spritz, by Cheryl

I was looking for a light and refreshing cocktail to make for when we had friends over the other night. This just hit the spot! I felt like it needed more tonic so I added more than what the recipe called for and it was perfect. Would make it again! Yum!

Ingredients: 

3-5 slices fresh cucumber

fresh mint, diced

1 ounce lime juice

1 ounce simple syrup

1.5 ounces gin

3 ounces tonic water

sugar to rim the glass

Directions: 

1) Add the chopped cucumber slices and mint to the cocktail shaker. Use a muddler to break up the cucumber and mint so that the juices come out.

2) Add the simple syrup and gin.

3) Fill the cocktail shaker with ice and shake for about ten seconds.

4) Rim the glass with lime and sugar.

5) Strain the drink into the glass, with ice, and top the drink with seltzer.

6) Garnish with cucumber slices and mint.

Immunity Fire Cider, by Diane

 

I love to make a fire cider in the start of fall to be ready for cold and flu season as well as to combat the fatigue and stress of the long dark days. This recipe is so good for you, and so easy to customize as you like it! It's also kind of fun to watch as the days go on. I don't remove any skins or stems like you normally would, because the nutrients in these are good for the cider. This can be used daily for prevention, or for when a cold or illness strikes, or just as a fun tasting additive to recipes for a health boost!

Ingredients:

1 small red onion, quartered

1 large knob of ginger, sliced with the skin on (enough to make about 1/2 cup of slices)

1 large knob of turmeric, sliced with the skin on (enough to make about 1/2 cup of slices)

1/4 cup grated fresh horseradish

1 medium bunch thyme

1 medium bunch rosemary

4 smashed cloves garlic, peels removed

1 jalepeno, sliced lengthwise (option to keep ribs and seeds if you want this spicier!)

1 large cinnamon stick

Apple cider vinegar, with the mother

Raw honey

Other options: serrano pepper or other peppers, elderberries, ground black pepper, burdock root

Directions:

1. Fill a large mason jar with all the dry ingredients onion through cinnamon. You may have to pack the ingredients down to fit.

2. Fill the jar to the top with vinegar until there is no more room in the jar, making sure to cover all ingredients completely.

3. Place a plastic lid on the top, or if using a metal lid cover with plastic wrap in between the liquid and the lid. 

4. Store in a warm place for 6-8 weeks, shaking daily to infuse all ingredients. 

5. At this point, the liquid can be strained and saved discarding the solid ingredients, OR you can blend all ingredients in a high speed blender and let sit for an additional week without shaking to allow the solids to settle before straining.

6. Once step 5 is done, add the honey in to taste and combine well. 

7. This can be used as a digestive tonic on it's own, added to water (1 oz to 8 oz), or even in dressings.

Manischewitz Jello Shots, by Cheryl

Yes, I made Jello shots for my Passover seder. Someone sent me the recipe on Instagram and I just knew I had to make them! They weren't strong at all, but they were so good! Next year I'm making a bigger batch. Yum!

Ingredients:

Jello packet

1/2 cup manischewitz wine

1/2 boiling water

Directions:

1) In a bowl pour the Jello mix, wine, and boiling water together. Mix until dissolved. 

2) Pour into little shot glassed. Put in the fridge for at least 20 minutes.

Akananda Ma's Rehydration Tea, by Diane

 

I did a 3-day ayurvedic cleanse over the weekend based off a quiz I took that was shockingly accurate on current problems like low energy, and it was a gentle way to fix them. This was recipe was really easy to make and kinda like natural gatorade. I can imagine in hotter weather this is going to be amazing! It contains ground kola nut, which is a super health source and does a zillion great things in the body. It's got salt and lime for electrolytes as well. It also uses turbinado sugar which is raw brown sugar, so it's a really clean way to hydrate.

Ingredients:

4.5 cups water

2 heaping tbsp fresh mint

1 heaping tsp brahmi (gotu kola)

1/4 tsp salt

1/4 tsp lime, juice squeezed

2 tsp turbinado sugar

Directions:

1. Boil water. Add in mint, kola, salt, and lime. Steep for 10 min.

2. Strain (I didn't because I like the mint), mix in sugar and serve warm for all weather or chilled for hot weather. 

PB&J Smoothie, by Diane

 

I ran out of greens for my typical morning smoothie at the same time that this recipe popped up on my instagram from @thefeedfeed- kismet! This was a little more time to make since I had to make 2 batches, but it was really good! My only advice would be to use as little liquid as possible because both batches were a little thinner than I would like. I also added a little stevia to the berry portion because it was too tart for me. I loved it though and would definitely make it again!

Ingredients:

1 whole frozen banana

1 cup milk of choice (I used almond coconut- start at 1/2 cup and go up as needed to blend)

2 dates

1/4 tsp cinnamon

2 tbsp nut butter (I used almond)

4 tbsp oats

protein powder of choice (I used collagen)

2 cups frozen berries

1/2 lemon, juiced (I might skip this next time since it was tart)

1 cup water (again I would start at 1/2 cup and go up as needed to blend)

Directions:

1. Blend the banana through protein powder in one batch until smooth and creamy. Pour into a large glass and set aside.

2. Blend the remaining ingredients berries through water until smooth.

3. Using a large glass or mason jar, start by pouring 1/3 of the berry mixture in, then 1/2 the pb mixture, then alternate until it's all in. You can swirl it a bit if you need. I actually really liked drinking it unblended because it was nice to get both tastes in just like a real PB&J! 

White Chocolate Martini, by Cheryl

I was looking for a pretty and pretty tasty drink for my family Hanukkah party this weekend. I tried a few different recipes and this one seems to be a winner! It's a combination of a lot of different ones that I tried.. trial and error! I had some edible blue glitter from one of the kid's birthday parties and we were good to go! This was sweet and STRONG! Yum! 

Ingredients:

1.5 oz vanilla vodka

1.5 oz white creme de cacao

2 oz. white chocolate liquor

1 oz heavy cream

1/4 tsp vanilla extract

edible blue glitter

vanilla frosting

Directions:

1) Put all of the liquid ingredients into a martini shaker with ice. 

2) Line the rim of the glass lightly with vanilla frosting, then dip in the glitter.

3) Pour liquid into the glass. Sprinkle with glitter on top.

Christmas Old Fashioned, by Diane

 

I forgot to take a photo but here's a much prettier one from the recipe!

I've had this recipe from @halfbakedharvest saved for a while, and wasn't drinking alcohol around the holidays. But recently I took a weekend trip to a quiet little farm and we wanted some drinks to go with dinner, and I knew just the recipe! This cocktail was so delicious I wound up drinking 3, and if you know me you know that doesn't often happen! And, the maple cardamom syrup was great leftover the next day for sausage. Yum.

Ingredients:

For Syrup:

1/2 cup maple syrup

1 cinnamon stick

10 green cardamom pods, lightly crushed

1/4 cup water

For Drink:

2 oz bourbon

1 oz orange juice

1 oz lemon juice

1-2 dashes bitters

1-3 tbsp syrup mix

ginger beer

orange zest or sugared cranberries for garnish

ice

Directions:

1. Make the syrup by combining the ingredients in a pot bringing to a boil for 2-3 min then remove from heat and let cool. This makes enough for 6 drinks.

2. Combine drink ingredients with ice and garnish (you can do a cinnamon sugar rim if desired).

Limoncello, by Diane

 

I came across this recipe in the spring and thought it would be the perfect drink for summer! It's incredibly easy to make yourself and looks so pretty! It came out really smooth, and pretty strong. I tried it straight, but am also looking forward to combining it with something fizzy to make as a spritzer and cut the strength too. Overall, indeed this is a wonderful summer drink :)

Ingredients:

750 ml grain alcohol

9 organic lemons, yellow peels only and washed well

1.1 Liter water

2.5 cups sugar

Directions:

1. Combine lemon peels and alcohol in a large glass jar and store in a dark cool place for 30 days.

2. After 30 days, bring a large pot of water and sugar to a gentle warm temperature and stir until combined. Allow to cool to room temperature. 

3. Strain the alcohol mixture and discard the lemon peels. Combine the alcohol with the cooled sugar mixture and stir well with a wooden spoon. The mixture should become cloudy.

4. Store in a glass container for another 30 days in a cool dark place until ready to serve.

Lemongrass Tea, by Diane

 

Tonight I hopped out of the shower and I was HOT, and all I wanted was a glass of iced tea. I had some leftover lemongrass from a recent recipe, and it reminded me of the lemongrass tea I had frequently in Asia. So cool and refreshing! This recipe reminded me the most of cooling off on those hot afternoons in Bali, and so I whipped this up. I added the lime in the drink because that’s how I liked it in Bali :) I increased the brewing time because it was too weak, and it was perfect!

Ingredients:

2 cups water

1 stalk lemongrass, cut into 1/4’s

1/2 lime, juiced

2 tbsp sugar

Directions:

1. Boil the water with the lemongrass for 10 min, then simmer for another 10. 

2. Add to a glass with ice (or hot) and stir in lime and sugar. 

Apple Pie Martini, by Cheryl

I found this recipe (or actually, this recipe found me) and it looked so delicious and perfect for Thanksgiving Day. This is like drinking an apple pie... it's so good! It's super easy to make and it goes down smoothly (almost too smoothly, haha). This will definitely be a staple for years to come. Yum!

Ingredients: 

3oz vodka 

1oz butterscotch schnapps 

2.5oz apple cider 

caramel sauce 

cinnamon sugar 

apple slice 

Directions: 

1) Fill a shaker with ice and add the alcohol and cider. Shake until mixed and chilled. 

2) Line the rim of a martini glass with the caramel sauce, then dip into the cinnamon sugar. 

3) Pour mix into glass and top with apple slice.

Pumpkin Spice Turmeric Latte, by Diane

I didn’t even bother with this photo, because this was horrid!! I had such high hopes for this recipe, but the spices were so intense that even with more milk added I had to pour the entire thing out. Ah well. 

Ingredients:

3/4 cup almond milk

3 tbsp pumpkin purée

1/2 tsp ground turmeric

1 tsp cinnamon

1 tsp coconut oil

1/2 tsp vanilla

1/4 tsp each ginger, nutmeg, clove, cardamom

Pinch black pepper

Directions: combine all ingredients in a saucepan over medium heat for 5 min, then transfer to a blender to thicken. Top with coconut cream. 

Spiked Mulled Cider, by Cheryl

I need a clear glass mug!

Yay for fall! It's cider and pumpkin time! It was my turn to host the gal's night with my two friends and since the weather has gottenslightly cooler I thought it would be nice to serve some spiked mulled apple cider while we sat outside. It was sooo good! It was perfect for a fall night and the sweetness combined with the alcohol and warmth really made our night so cozy. We also munched on some farm bought apple cider donuts. Yum!

Ingredients:

Half gallon of apple cider 

A few star anises 

A few cinnamon sticks

Maybe a tablespoon of whole cloves (that was my plan, but didn't have any so I used ground and you really couldn't tell the difference)

1 inch fresh ginger, peeled

Darker alcohol like bourbon or dark rum (I used a dark rum)

Directions:

1) Put everything except the alcohol in a pot on medium high heat. Reduce to low once it starts simmering. Keep on stove for about 2 hours to let the flavors meld together. 

2) Add the alcohol, mix, and serve! 

Ginger Milk Tea/Teh, by Diane

When I was in Malaysia and Singapore, I drank the most amazing ginger milk tea. Back home in this cold I’ve been craving my daily “Teh’s” and decided to create a Whole 30 version. No where near as good as the original, but close and super healthy too!

Ingredients:

1-2 inches ginger, sliced into coins and smashed (depends on how spicy you want it)
2 bags black tea (Ceylon is the legit kind)
2 cups water
2 cups milk of choice (they use sweetened condensed milk or cream, I used coconut milk)
Sweetener of choice (they use sugar, I used date syrup!)

Directions:

Combine the ginger and the water and milk until boiling, add in tea and sweetener and simmer for 4-5 minutes (stir frequently so milk doesn’t scald!). Strain and enjoy!

Homemade Coconut Milk, by Diane

I suppose it was bound to happen that I would make this recipe at some point. Having already made my own oat milk and almond milk it was only a matter of time! I recently switched to coconut because I wanted to see if almonds were giving me headaches, and I was eating a lot of my milk in soaked oats so having oat milk seemed like overkill. I've been buying store bought coconut milk for a few weeks now, but I don't love all the added chemicals and lack of nutrients that raw coconut has, plus I know it's way cheaper to make your own milks at home! So this week I learned how to make coconut milk, and let me tell you, it's not only easy and cheaper than store bought milk but it's also WAY tastier! Coconut acts really different than grains and nuts, so there were a few variations on this recipe that differed from the other two. When I looked online, no two recipes were the same. Some had the coconut soaking for a while before using, some had varying ratios of coconut to water, etc., so I just did what made most sense to me which is below!

I keep finding new ways to customize it by adding flavors, proteins for easy smoothies or tonics, or spices to help boost the immune system. This batch here has tocos and cinnamon in it and it's delicious. I also made a matcha version that is seriously seriously good and tastes amazing on soaked oats! Of course, the plain version is also fine :)

Ingredients:

*makes ~7 cups of milk*

2 cups shredded unsweetened coconut
6 cups of hot water (I use our spring water that we get locally, but filtered water would work too)
1 tsp vanilla
Pinch sea salt
Optional sweetener (I don't think it needs it unless you're drinking it plain)


Directions:

1. Soak the coconut for a while. It can be 30 minutes or it can be overnight, if you're pinched for time it doesn't have to be soaked at all!

2. Heat the water- you want it to be hot but not boiling. Apparently this helps the coconut release more of the good stuff.

3. Strain the coconut and add it into the blender with the water. Make sure you use a spatula to really push the liquid out before adding it. (Some recipes say you shouldn't drain the water the coconut is soaking in, I'll try that next time!)

4. Blend on high power for about 5 minutes to allow all the nutrients to leach out of the coconut.

5. Strain the mixture, pushing with a spatula to get all the liquid out of the coconut, then add the milk back into the blender along with whatever other ingredients you are adding (if using vanilla, salt, and sweetener, add them now). Blend on high for 30 seconds (or long if you are adding powders).

6. Pour the milk into a sealed container and refrigerate for up to 5 days. Shake well before using.

Sore Throat/Cold Tonic, by Diane

I have had some kind of allergy/cold mix for 9 weeks now, and my throat has had it!! I created this drink as a knock off of two of my fave cold remedies, and it is SO good! Basically, you make a slurry ahead of time and store it in the fridge, and then you add hot liquid and go!



Ingredients:

1 small red apple, sliced into small bite sized pieces
3 tbsp wildflower honey (regular works too)
1 tbsp each cinnamon, turmeric, ginger

1/2 lemon, squeezed
Hot water
Optional: 1 cup gynostemma tea (good immune and mood booster!), apple cider vinegar


Directions:

Make the slurry of apple, honey, and spices. Add some water until the apples are covered and store in an airtight container in the fridge. The mixture should sit for at least a few hours to marinate, it gets better each day! When you're ready for the drink, put some of the slurry into the bottom of a mug with hot water and lemon (and the optional ingredients too if you want).

Green Mylk, by Diane

Lately, I haven't been drinking smoothies or juicing because it's been so cold, and I haven't been eating as many leafy greens. I was brainstorming a way to solve this problem when I came across an article for green mylk, and I knew this was perfect for me to try (note: I now cannot find this article...). Basically, you can use any type of milk and any greens, and you can sweeten it or keep it plain. I typically whiz up a batch and keep it in a mason jar for a few days in the fridge. If I'm feeling lazy I will use store bought milk/mylk and add greens from there. Either way, if you're using a mild green like spinach you'll barely taste this, but still get a great boost! Win!

Note: I usually use the recipe for my homemade oat milk, but lately I've been subbing the oats for coconut with awesome results! :)

Ingredients:

1 cup oats
3 cups filtered water
3 soaked dates or 2 tbsp. honey
1 tsp vanilla
1/4 tsp pink sea salt
2 cups spinach


Directions:

Blend until completely smooth and store in an airtight container.

Mood Changer Juice, by Diane

The local juice shop by me has this delicious juice called the Mood Changer. It has all kinds of ingredients that have mood boosting effects, and it's really good! A few mornings ago, I was prepping to my make typical AM green juice (apple, kale, parsley, lemon, ginger, and cucumber) but I had some strawberries that were about to go bad. I realized that all of the ingredients except the parsley and cucumber were in the Mood Changer juice, so I threw the strawberries into the mix. I kept the parsley and cucumber too, because why mess with perfection and hydration! This combo turned out to be SO good, I will definitely have it on regular rotation now! The apples I've been using are fresh picked from a local orchard, and having them fresh and in season definitely helps as well.

Ingredients:

1 small green or yellow apple, preferably tart or sweet and sour like a Cameo
1 inch ginger (use 1/2 this if you don't like the taste)
10 small-medium strawberries
1 small handful parsley, leaves only
3 large leaves of kale, stalks included
1 small cucumber, peeled
1/2 lemon, rind removed


Directions:

Juice the first three ingredients together, then the greens, then the cucumber and lemon last. Stir and drink immediately!

Sick Tonic, by Diane

This was hard to get a nice shot of....

I've been meaning to post this for a while- this is my go to AM tonic when I am feeling under the weather. Whether it's a stomach bug or a sore throat, this tonic is not only really delicious but it's warm and soothing on a day when you don't feel your best. The ingredients boost your immune system, soothe any inflammation in your throat or stomach, and help boost your mood and alertness. Did I mention it's really delicious! It's also just good in general for cold winter mornings where you need something to warm you up. Sometimes I'll drink it along with some gentle yoga and twists, and in about 30 minutes I am feeling nearly all better! I always have these ingredients on hand to make this at the last minute, because you never know when you're gonna need it...

Ingredients:

3 thin slices of fresh ginger (you can use 1/4 tsp of powdered ginger if you don't have this on hand)

2 cups filtered or spring water

1/4 tsp each: turmeric, cinnamon, cardamom 

1 tbsp mulling spices (Whole Foods brand has cloves and orange peel in it as well, which make this taste so good!)

2 tbsp honey (wildflower honey is the best tasting version in this drink IMO)

Directions:

1. Combine the fresh ginger and water, bring to a boil (this really helps to diffuse the ginger into the drink).

2. Add remaining ingredients, stir and cover for a minimum of 5 minutes.

3. Either strain the liquid from the ginger slices and mulling spices, or keep them in and drink with a straw.

Green Turmeric Juice, by Diane

I came across this recipe from the website Juicing Vegetables as a good juice for inflammation and energy. I decided to give it a try, and it was just ok. Taste-wise I would reduce the lemon to a 1/2 because it's pretty bitter, and maybe even add in an apple or something to improve the overall flavor. But, I knew that health-wise it was good for me and that helped!

Ingredients:

2 inches turmeric
3 large carrots
1/2 head romaine lettuce
1 cucumber
1 lemon

Directions:

Juice in the above order and drink right away!

Pumpkin White Hot Chocolate, by Cheryl

The ingredients for this came together randomly as I just started adding things to the mix. It turned out really well and they blended deliciously together. It was a great way to start the day! Yum!

Ingredients:

1 cup whole milk (I added some water to the cup in order to fill the mug)

1 tablespoon cocoa

1 cup pumpkin puree

2 or 3 tablespoons white chocolate chips

cinnamon 

Directions:

1) Heat the milk in a saucepan. Add the cocoa and the white chocolate chips. Stir until fully mixed. 

2) Add the cinnamon and pumpkin. Mix. 

3) Enjoy!