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Orange, Ginger, Mint Honey Tea
Makes 1 French press (about 6 cups) Ingredients ¼ cup fresh mint leaves 1 tablespoon dried orange peel (optional) 2 slices fresh orange slices 1 slice fresh or dried ginger 3 tablespoons honey Hot, just boiling water Directions In the French press or another tea pot, place fresh mint leaves, ginger and orange peel and…
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Ramptini
Makes one cocktail INGREDIENTS 2 ounces gin 1 ounce dry vermouth ½ ounce pickled ramp juice Ice Pickled ramps (recipe follows) DIRECTIONS Shaken: In a shaker combine the gin, vermouth, and ramp juice and ice, shake vigorously. Strain into a martini glass and garnish with pickled ramp. Stirred: In a large glass filled with ice,…
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Detox Shots
Makes one shot Beet Basil Shot ½ cup fresh beets, 1 cup fresh basil leaves, ¼ cup orange juice Grapefruit Parsley & Lemon-Thyme ¼ cup grapefruit juice, ½ cup fresh parsley leaves, ½ cup fresh lemon-thyme leaves Lemon Ginger Mint ¼ cup lemon juice, ½ inch chunk fresh ginger, ½ cup mint Cucumber Parsley Mint…
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Cactus Fruit (Prickly Pear) Cilantro Lime Tequila Coolers
Makes 1 cocktail INGREDIENTS 1½ ounce tequila blanca 1½ ounce Grand Marnier 1 ounce cactus fruit syrup (recipe follows) 1 ounce agave syrup 1 ounce lime syrup (recipe follows) DIRECTIONS Add all ingredients into a strainer filled with ice, shake vigorously. Strain through fine mesh strainer. Serve over ice garnish with a lime wedge and…
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Mango Agua Fresca
Makes 1 gallon INGREDIENTS 2 ripe mangoes, peeled, deseeded and pureed Zest and juice of 2-3 limes ½ cup honey or light brown sugar 1 cup hot water Gallon of ice cold water DIRECTIONS In a gallon pitcher combine the pureed mangoes, the lime juice and zest and the hot water, add the sugar or…
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Persian Lime-Ginger Soda
Serves 8 INGREDIENTS 2 cups lime juice, freshly squeezed 1½ cups sugar 1 2-inch piece of ginger, peeled and sliced Ice Soda water DIRECTIONS In a small saucepan over medium heat, add lime juice, sugar, and ginger, and warm until sugar is dissolved and syrup is infused with ginger. Strain, and cool. To serve, fill…
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Grapefruit Tarragon Soda
Serves 8 INGREDIENTS ½ cup water 1 cup sugar 2 fresh tarragon sprigs 2 cups fresh grapefruit juice Ice Soda water DIRECTIONS In a small saucepan over medium heat, add water, sugar, and tarragon, and warm until sugar is dissolved and syrup is infused with tarragon. Strain syrup and cool. Once chilled, add tarragon syrup…
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Cactus Fruit (Prickly Pear) Lime Tequila Coolers
Makes 1 cocktail INGREDIENTS 1½ ounce tequila blanca 1½ ounce Grand Marnier 1 ounce cactus fruit syrup (recipe follows) 1 ounce agave syrup 1 ounce lime syrup (recipe follows) DIRECTIONS Add all ingredients into a strainer filled with ice, shake vigorously. Strain through fine mesh strainer. Serve over ice garnish with a lime wedge. Cactus…
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Pomegranate Ginger Champagne Cocktail
Makes 1 cocktail INGREDIENTS 1 cup pomegranate juice 1 tablespoon fresh ginger, peeled and chopped fine 4 tablespoons light brown sugar or sugar in the raw Prosecco, Cava or Champagne DIRECTIONS In a small saucepan, combine pomegranate juice, ginger, and sugar. Bring to a boil, making sure that all sugar is dissolved. Reduce heat, and…
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Pomegranate Sage Manhattan
Makes 1 cocktail INGREDIENTS For cocktail 2 sage leaves 1 ounce rye or bourbon ½ ounce sweet vermouth Dash of angostura bitters 1 pomegranate bourbon dried cherries, for garnish For the pomegranate bourbon dried cherries 1 cup pomegranate juice ½ cup sugar-in-the-raw ½ cup rye or bourbon 1 cup dried cherries DIRECTIONS Rub and crinkle…
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Lavender White Hot Chocolate
Serves 4-5 INGREDIENTS 1 cup water 1 lemon myrtle tea bag or 1 tablespoon lemon myrtle tea 1 tablespoon fresh lavender leaves 1 vanilla bean, split open ½ cup light brown sugar 4 cups milk 8 ounces white chocolate, chopped fine Lavender leaves, for garnish Bee pollen, for garnish (optional) DIRECTIONS In a large sauce…
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Indian Fruit Punch
Makes about 2½ quarts INGREDIENTS 2 cups fresh raspberry juice 2 cups fresh strawberry juice 2 cups fresh mango juice 2 cups fresh banana-mango or other banana fruit juice 1 cup fresh orange juice 2 tablespoons grenadine syrup 1 cup heavy cream DIRECTIONS Combine all of the ingredients in a large plastic pitcher with a…
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Indian Rose Milk
Serves 6 to 8 INGREDIENTS 1 pound unsprayed or pesticide-free, fragrant and dried rose petals, washed and drained 4 cups water 2 cups sugar, or to taste ½ cup rose water 4 cups chilled whole milk DIRECTIONS Combine the rose petals and the water in a large pot. Bring to a boil, and cook until…
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Mango Lassi
Serves 4 to 6 INGREDIENTS 3 cups plain yogurt Juice of ½ lemon 1 cup canned mango pulp (preferably Ratna Alfonso brand) ½ cup cold water 20 ice cubes ¼ cup sugar, or to taste DIRECTIONS Combine all ingredients in a blender, and process until the yogurt is frothy and the ice is is crushed…
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Indian Lemonade
Makes 1½ Quarts INGREDIENTS 3-inch piece fresh ginger, peeled and coarsely chopped 41⁄3 cup water 2 cups sugar 1 cup lemon, lime, or Key Lime juice, or any combination DIRECTIONS Combine the ginger and 1⁄3 cup water in a blender, and process to a paste. Strain through a very fine strainer or stainer lined with…
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Chai
Serves 4 to 6 INGREDIENTS 2 cups milk 1 cup water 1½ tablespoons loose Darjeeling or Earl Grey tea A 1½-inch piece cinnamon stick, brown in half 9 green cardamom pods, crushed slightly in a mortar and pestle to open 7 whole cloves A 1½-inch piece fresh ginger, peeled and cut into chunks 6 black…
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Winter Herb & Citrus Yogurt Granita
Serves 6 INGREDIENTS ½ cup honey 2 cups plain Greek yogurt 1 cup fresh citrus juice (tangerine, lime, Meyer lemon, orange, or combinations are excellent) ¼ cup citrus zest 2 tablespoons fresh thyme leaves, chopped fine 1 tablespoon fresh rosemary leaves, chopped fine DIRECTIONS Whisk together all ingredients in a medium mixing bowl until well…
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Mulled Hot Apple Cider
Makes 1 quart INGREDIENTS 1 quart fresh apple cider 1 cinnamon stick 3 cloves 1 star anise 1 teaspoon nutmeg, freshly grated 1 to 2-inch piece of ginger, sliced thin (peeled or not peeled) PREPARATION Place all items in a large pot on high heat. When mixture begins to boil, reduce heat and simmer for…
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Apple Cider Sidecar
Makes 1 drink INGREDIENTS 1 oz apple brandy or apple jack 1 oz lemon juice 1 ounce Cointreau (triple sec, orange Curacao or Grand Marnier) 1 oz apple cider 1 dash cinnamon Apple slices, for garnish PREPARATION Place first 5 ingredients in a shaker filled with ice. Shake vigorously for about 10 seconds. Strain into…
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Ginger Infused Mulled Wine
Makes 1½ liters of mulled wine INGREDIENTS 2 bottles dark red wine (Syrah, Zinfandel or Cabernet Franc) 1 cup pear brandy 1 medium Valencia orange, sliced 1 inch piece of ginger, peeled and sliced thin 2 whole cloves 1 cinnamon stick ¼ cup brown sugar PREPARATION Place all ingredients in a large pot and simmer…
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Spiced Apple Cider with Dark Rum
Makes one gallon INGREDIENTS 1 gallon fresh apple cider 1 tart apple, sliced horizontally 1 cinnamon stick 1 star anise 1 teaspoon freshly ground nutmeg 2 whole cloves 1 tablespoon brown sugar 1-2 cups dark rum (can be omitted for non-alcoholic version) PREPARATION Place all ingredients in a large pot and simmer for about 15…
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Cranberry Gin & Tonics
Makes one drink INGREDIENTS 1 lime wedge 4-5 cranberries, fresh or frozen 1 teaspoon sugar 2 ounces gin Tonic water PREPARATION Lightly crush the lime wedge, sugar and cranberries in a 10 to 12-ounce glass with a muddler or the end of a wooden spoon. Next, add gin. Fill the glass with ice and top…
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Agua de Valencia
This Cava cocktail, straight out of the Valencia region of Spain, showcases the fresh sweet oranges of the region and makes a terrific addition to any Sunday brunch.
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Pear and Cranberry Bellini
Serves 6 INGREDIENTS 2 pears, peeled, seeded and chopped ½ cup fresh cranberries 2 tablespoons brown sugar Prosecco PREPARATION In a small saucepan, add pears and cranberries and cook until soft, 10 to 15 minutes. Remove from heat and allow to cool, then add to blender. Blend until smooth and strain through fine mesh strainer.…
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Pomegranate & Tangerine Granita
Makes 3 cups. INGREDIENTS 1 cup fresh pomegranate juice 2 cups fresh tangerine juice, pulp included ½ cup honey PREPARATION Whisk together honey and about ½ cup of the tangerine juice until honey is dissolved, add remaining juice. Pour into a metal pan with sides and allow to freeze, scraping with a fork occasionally. To…
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Pisco Sour
This Peruvian specialty also has roots in Chili. Pisco is liquor distilled from grapes, namely three varietals of white grapes, including the Muscat. The Peruvians take great pride in their Pisco sour, which they keep like their ceviche, simple. While the Chileans have few different varietals of the Pisco Sour including the mango Pisco Sour…
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Ginger Ale
Sometimes inspiration is sought, and sometimes inspiration appears before you and you must figure out what to do with it. I like both avenues in which it is delivered. Often the later is challenging, but and can also give witness to some of the best creativity one has to offer. We have recently begun to…
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FRESH GINGER LEMON ICED TEA
Sometimes inspiration is sought, and sometimes inspiration appears before you and you must figure out what to do with it. I like both avenues in which it is delivered. Often the later is challenging, but and can also give witness to some of the best creativity one has to offer. We have recently begun to…
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Blackberry Mango Mint Cava Granita
Not quite a cocktail but still makes the cut on our list of spectacular summer herb & sparkling wine recipes and we just simply couldn’t leave it out!
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Lemon Verbena Basil Cava Cooler
This exotic and intoxicating cooler will wow you and it stronger than it tastes so look out!
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Raspberry Sage Prosecco
Deep aromatic sage blends in an amazingly masculine way with the femininity of the tart raspberry, sure to make a hit with the crowd.
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NJ Peach Tarragon Bellini
Local never tasted so good with this delightful classic brunch cocktail!
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Ginger Beet Prosecco
Sweet earthy and spicy this recipe is sure to bring decadence back into your summer dinner parties with its exotic flavor and deep fusica color!
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Blueberry Mint Cavatini
A delicious way to enjoy the summer blueberry season and get your drink on!
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Blueberry Rickey
INGREDIENTS 2 liters seltzer water 2 cups lime simple syrup (1 cup sugar, 1 cup water, 2 T lime zest) 2 cups fresh blueberries Fresh mint leaves for garnish PREPARATION Smash blueberries in a medium sized mixing bowl. In a pitcher, add seltzer, lime simple syrup and smashed blueberries. Pour rickey over ice and blueberries…
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The Puebla Cocktail
INGREDIENTS Cilantro ¼” strip of fresh jalapeño pepper ¾ oz lemon juice ¼ oz agave nectar 3 oz jalapeño-infused tequila PREPARATION Muddle the cilantro in your mixing glass with jalapeño pepper, lemon juice and agave nectar. Fill glass with ice. Add tequila. Shake vigorously. Strain over ice into rocks glass. Garnish with a sprig of…
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Shaolin Shadow
INGREDIENTS 3 leaves of fresh sage 2 oz bonded rye ¾ oz aperol ½ oz Curacao Angostura bitters PREPARATION Rub sage leaf around the rim of a cocktail glass and muddle that same sage in your mixing glass. Next, add the first 3 ingredients and ice, stir for 30 seconds and strain using julep strainer…
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King’s Country Buck
INGREDIENTS Fresh ginger Fresh basil ¾ oz lime juice 1½ oz dark rum ¾ oz Madeira Ginger beer Lime wheels, for garnish PREPARATION In a mixing glass, muddle a thin strip of fresh ginger and 3 leaves of fresh basil with lime juice. Next, add rum, Madeira and icem and shake vigorously. Strain over ice…
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2nd Ave Cocktail #2
INGREDIENTS 4 wheels of cucumber, 1 reserved for garnish 2 sprigs of dill ¾ oz honey syrup ¾ oz fresh lime juice 2½ oz gin PREPARATION In a mixing glass, muddle the cucumber and dill with honey syrup. Next, add lime juice and gin and shake vigorously. Strain through a fine mesh sieve into a…
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Strawberry Mint Fizz
Makes 1 serving INGREDIENTS 3 tablespoons strawberry syrup, recipe below Juice of 1 lime 3 tablespoons roughly chopped mint 1 cup chilled sparkling water PREPARATION In a tall glass muddle strawberry syrup, lime juice and mint. Fill glass with ice and sparkling water, stir well and serve. Strawberry Syrup INGREDIENTS ¼ cup fresh strawberries, mashed…
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Lemonades – Creative Ideas
Here’s your chance to get creative. Blueberry Lemon Sparkle Just add mashed blueberries to sparkling lemonade recipe Raspberry Mint Lemon Sparkle Just add mashed raspberries and chopped mint to sparkling lemonade recipe Tropical Mango Limeade Just add pureed mango to limeade recipe Waterme-lemonade Just add pureed watermelon to lemonade recipe Blackberry Fizz Lemonade Just add…
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Sparkling Lemonade
Makes 1 Gallon INGREDIENTS 2 cups lemon juice (20 big juicy lemons) 1 tablespoon baking soda 2 cups lemon sugar syrup, recipe below (see note*) 2 tablespoons lemon zest 6 cups water 6 cups sparkling water PREPARATION In a one gallon pitcher combine lemon juice, baking soda, lemon sugar syrup, lemon zest, and water, stir…
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Limeade
Makes ½ Gallon INGREDIENTS 1 cup lime sugar syrup, recipe below (see note*) 2 tablespoons lime zest ½ cup lime juice (10 to 15 juicy limes) 7 cups water PREPARATION In a half gallon pitcher combine lime sugar syrup, lime zest, lime juice, and water, stir well. Serve over ice with lime wedge. Lime Sugar…
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Lemonade
Makes 1 Gallon INGREDIENTS 2 cups lemon sugar syrup, recipe below 2 tablespoons lemon zest 2 cups lemon juice (20 big juicy lemons) 12 cups water PREPARATION In a one gallon pitcher combine lemon sugar syrup, lemon zest, lemon juice, and water, stir well. Serve over ice with lemon wedge. Lemon Sugar Syrup INGREDIENTS 1…
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Lavender Lemonade
Makes ½ Gallon INGREDIENTS 1 cup lavender lemon sugar syrup, recipe below (see note*) 1 cup lemon juice (10 to 12 big juicy lemons) 1 tablespoon fresh lavender flowers 5 cups water 2 cups sparkling water PREPARATION In a one gallon pitcher combine lavender lemon sugar syrup, lemon juice, lavender flowers, water, and sparkling water,…
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Strawberry Basil Lemonade
Makes 1 Large Pitcher INGREDIENTS 1½ cup of sugar 1 pint of strawberries, hulled and quartered 10 lemons, halved and seeds removed 1 tablespoon lemon zest ¼ cup fresh basil leaves , chopped fine 15 -20 cups of water PREPARATION Juice the lemons with a hand juicer, set aside. In a medium wooden bowl mash…
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Almond Recovery Smoothie
Makes 4 cups INGREDIENTS ½ cup raw pre-soaked almonds 2 tablespoons whey or soy protein powder ½ cup mixed blackberries, blueberries, raspberries 1 tablespoon flax seeds or oats (optional) 1 banana, chopped 1 tablespoon honey 1 cup 1% milk, soymilk or almond milk 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1 cup low fat plain or vanilla yogurt…
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Rosemary Gin & Tonic
Makes 1 drink INGREDIENTS 1 lime wedge 1 3-inch fresh sprig of rosemary 2 ounces gin Tonic water PREPARATION Lightly crush the lime wedge and rosemary in a 10 to 12-ounce glass with a muddler or the end of a wooden spoon. Next, add gin. Fill the glass with ice and top off with tonic…