mocktails

so i am finding that the inability to drink alcohol is really bugging me. not because i'm a huge drinker, and never have been. but i do like a glass of wine with dinner, or a beer when we go out. and since i'm not "allowed" to have any (truthfully i don't think it's so bad to have a drink once in a while, but i won't do it in the first trimester), i resent it. =)

so... onto mocktails! i've never been a girly-drinker in my life, but now that i can't have my wine or my martinis, i think the mixed mocktails are the way to go! at least they taste good, and they make me feel better now that the summer is approaching.

i've found some fun mocktail recipes, so here we go:

Not So Dark & Stormy

The traditional dark & stormy is made with dark Bermuda rum, ginger beer, and a squeeze of lime. Ginger beer has no more beer in it than ginger ale has ale, but it tastes zippier. We've upped the lime and replaced the rum with a dash of molasses (what rum is distilled from in the first place, and a very good source of iron, calcium, potassium, and other minerals).

1/4 cup fresh lime juice
1/2 tsp. blackstrap molasses
1 cup ginger beer
Garnish: lime wedge

In a wide glass, add ice, lime juice, and molasses, then pour ginger beer over all. Stir well, as molasses is thick, particularly when cold. Float the lime wedge on top. Your average bar may not have molasses on hand; see what else the bartender can offer!

Mock Mojito

The mojito was rumored to be Ernest Hemingway's drink of choice when in Cuba. It normally contains a good dose of rum, but tastes equally refreshing and complex without it.

4 or 5 springs of fresh mint
1 lime
1 oz. simple syrup
6 to 8 oz. soda water
Garnish: lime wedges and mint sprigs

Muddle the mint (reserve one sprig for garnish) with the simple syrup in the bottom of a tall glass. Add ice cubes. Squeeze half of one lime into the glass, reserving the other half for garnish (slice it into three or four wedges). Top with soda water. Stir, drop in lime wedges, and decorate with the last sprig of mint.

White Sangria

This refreshing and tasty recipe is perfect for your next dinner party, or just whip up a pitcher to have on hand whenever you need a bubbly beverage break.

Ingredients:
4 cups white grape juice
1 cup pink grapefruit juice
1 tablespoon lime juice
1 bottle club soda (750 milliliters)
Pink grapefruit slices
Preparation
In a large pitcher, combine all three juices. Refrigerate. Just before serving, add the soda water and grapefruit slices (and other fruit, if you'd like). Makes about 12 servings.

Cosmo-Not martini

Ingredients

• 6 ounces of freshly squeezed and very cold orange juice.
• 2 ounces of freshly squeezed and very cold tangerine juice.
• 2 orange rind twists.
• 2 very, very thin orange slices.
• 1 lime cut in half.
• 3 ounces of cranberry juice.
• 1 ounce of pomegranate juice.
• 4 drops of vanilla extract.
• 1 ounce of seltzer water.

The mix

• Add all of your juices and vanilla extract to a shaker 1/2 full with cracked ice.
• Shake for a full minute.
• Squeeze in the juice of your lime and swirl the shaker ten times.
• Strain into 2 large, frozed martini glasses.
• Top each glass with an orange slice and one orange twist.
• Slowly pour one tablespoon of seltzer into each glass (over the orange).
• Serve them up and watch the smiles.

Mint Edition martini

A minty, refreshing and cool looking martini.

Ingredients

• 1/4 cup of fresh spearmint leaves.
• 1 ounce of freshly squeezed lime juice.
• 1/2 teaspoon of powdered sugar.
• 8 ounces of cold tea (black tea works just fine).

The mix

• Crush your mint leaves.
• Rub a pinch of mint on the inside of the bowl of two frozen martini glasses.
• Pour your tea and lime juice into a shake 1/2 full of cracked ice.
• Add your crushed mint leaves.
• Shake gently, in a diagonal motion for a full minute.
• Add your powdered sugar and shake for another full minute.
• Strain into your martini glasses.
• If you are truly chic, you'd add one of our Cocktail Monkeys to the edge of the glasses!

Bouncing Baby Bellini

Mix it up:
Stir 2 ounces of chilled peach nectar with 2 ounces of nonalcoholic sparkling wine (or sparkling apple cider). Pour into a champagne glass and add a splash of grenadine. Garnish with sliced peaches.

Next Generation Ginger Soda

Chicago's Sushi Wabi adds a Japanese touch to a fizzy refresher. Mix it up:

Peel a ginger root and cut into pieces. Marinate them in an 8-ounce glass of soda water for a few hours. Strain 1/2 to 3/4 of the ginger mixture into a tall glass with ice. Top it off with a splash of Sprite (or caffeine-free Coke, for color). Garnish with a slice of starfruit and a lime.