Smoothies are a big deal around here, as they have a presence in our nearly daily diets. But some people find that regular smoothies made with fruit, water and/or milk simply aren’t filling enough, especially among those who are the athletic and gym going types – which is why protein powders are an essential addition for people attempting to supercharge their smoothie efforts.

But not all protein powders are created equal; protein isolates, found in protein powders, are heavily processed, and their impact on health is the subject of many debates in holistic circles. And while I don’t believe that they’re terrible, there are less processed and more nourishing options out there.

Brown rice protein

Many vegans look to this allergen-free and high-quality protein powder for their workout and recovery smoothies. For people with sensitive stomachs, this type of protein is extremely gentle on the digestive tract. I have become rather fond of the Sun Warrior brand, as it comes in many delicious flavors.

Hemp protein

Hemp is a nutritional dynamo, and its oil is a rich source of polyunsaturated, essential fatty acids (the “good” fats). Hemp seeds contain all the essential amino acids and essential fatty acids, and hemp proteins are similar to proteins found in the human body. That  makes them easy to digest, providing us with an excellent alternative to whey and soy proteins, which are often heavily processed.

For vegan and raw athletes, hemp proteins are a solid choice for athletic recovery and muscle repair. And although the green color may put you off, hemp proteins are tasty, and come in several flavors. Unlike other protein sources, hemp protein is rich in fiber, boasting eight grams per serving!

Yellow Pea Protein

When I heard of this type of protein, I was initially shocked – I had no idea that there was such a thing as pea protein. This, however, is a favorite among raw athletes – and although I don’t know much about it, it appears to be a great vegan choice.

With so many healthy choices like this, there really is no need to consume highly processed and sweetened powders. Hemp protein, which is by far my personal favorite, is merely powdered hemp seeds. So if you’re looking for natural, it can’t get more natural than that!

And then it hit me! It was a shockingly joyous and exhilarating revelation, like the first time a four-year old discovers he can burp! One, Two, Three…they ran through my cranium so fast, I could barely keep up with the incredible wave of inspiration. I scrambled to jot down what was suddenly flooding my thoughts.

I grabbed a pen and paper, and wrote furiously. When I was finished, I sat back and took a deep breath. I raised the paper eye-level, and adjusted my focus, so that I could decipher the meaning of it all. And that’s when I realized I had become the humble recipient of a powerful, unexplain-able force - divine intervention, indeed – I’ve been called on to release the Ten Commandments of Juicing.

Having the blessing of the juice and fruit Gods reining through my chosen blood, I now bestow this incredible fountain of righteousness and wisdom on the meaning of juicing; to codify the path of the harvest believers to live a life of happiness, health, and of course, juice.

1. Thou Shall Put NO Task Before Juicing - get your juice in the morning. Not only will it give you the energy and nutrients to tackle your full day, but it will help you get into a consistent routine and give you something to look forward to each day.
2. Thou Shall Not Imitate Juice - many find supplement and vitamins to be a quick and easy alternative to juicing. The problem is that a growing body of researchers have found dietary and nutritional issues with vitamins and supplements, so I can’t suggest taking them. Besides, can anything really replace the taste of fresh juice?
3. Thou Shall Not Take The Name of Juice In Vain – when your juicer clogs, don’t curse it. It’s little motor can’t take that kind of harsh criticism. Unclog it, and try chopping your fruits and veggies into smaller chunks.
4. Remember To Juice on Holidays – I love holidays as much as the next guy, but it’s easy to get caught up in the whole “eat, drink and be merry” thing! Remember to juice on the holidays to keep up your regiment. Try some seasonal spices, fruits or veggies to keep it fun!
5. Honor Thy Juicer – keep it clean and use it properly. Your juicer should last quite a while, as long as you treat it with care!
6. You Shall Waste No Pulp – check out all the cool things you can do with juice and veggie pulp!
7. You Shall Not Commit Fruit-dultry – we know those Ring Dings look pretty awesome right there on the corner of the supermarket isle (damn those clever marketing reps!). We must avoid temptation to turn away from our juice to junk food!
8. You Shall Share Thy Juice – juice for your kids, neighbors, friends, and for get-togethers. This post was written last winter, but it’s still pretty cool. It’s my 4 favorite holiday drink recipes using fresh juice to entertain with!
9. Thou Shall Read Thy 877MyJuicer Blog – keep in touch with us! Post to our Facebook wall, join our mailing list, and Tweet at us!
10. Thou Shall Share Us – tell your friends about the blog, so they too can get a massive 15% off coupon on any product from the store!

Now go, and spread the mighty word of Juice!

Add Volume and Shine With Beer

It sounds shocking, but a beer rinse is a fabulous natural way to get glossy, voluminous locks on the cheap. Crack one open and let it sit until it’s warm and flat, then pour over hair after shampooing. Rub it in a bit, and let your hair air-dry. Don’t worry, you won’t smell like an alcoholic—the scent vanishes as it dries. Proteins in beer add volume to your locks, while beer’s natural sugars tighten up your hair’s cuticle for extra shine.

Deep Condition With Oils

You’ve probably noticed a slew of conditioning products that list olive, coconut, jojoba, or avocado oil as one of their moisturizing ingredients. Skip to the chase and give parched hair a DIY treatment with whatever oil is in your cabinet.

Massage the oil into your hair, focusing especially on dry ends, until your entire head is covered. Wrap hair in a towel or plastic wrap—the trapped heat will help the oil absorb better. Leave the treatment in for 30 minutes to several hours, then shampoo thoroughly to remove all oil. Makes a great weekly conditioning treatment for extra-damaged hair.

Thicken Fine Hair With Egg

The golden yolk of an egg is filled with protein that can coat the shaft of your hair and make it temporarily thicker. If your hair could use some extra body, whip up an egg yolk with 1/4 cup of plain organic yogurt (also a great source of protein). Coat your hair with the mixture, and leave on for 15-30 minutes. Shampoo and condition as usual.

Clarify With Baking Soda

If your hair is looking particularly dull and limp, it may be because you have too much product build-up on your strands. Baking soda is a natural exfoliant, making it one of the cheapest and best ways to clarify your hair. While in the shower, squeeze a dollop of shampoo into your palm and mix in about a tablespoon of baking soda. Massage this mixture into your scalp, then rinse and condition.

Degrease With Corn Starch

Hair stylists are obsessed with dry shampoo for its ability to soak up oily sebum and dirt while adding volume and texture to dry hair. Don’t feel like springing for the $20 bottle? Pick up a box of cornstarch—it’s the main ingredient in many pricey dry shampoos, anyway.

The next time your hair looks limp or oily, dip your fingers in the cornstarch and rake them through your roots, focusing on extra-greasy areas, such as bangs. Brush or shake as much as you can out of your hair.

photo attribute: buzzle.com

No measurements are needed in this simple chip recipe. In fact, you can do it in six lightening-fast steps:

1. Preheat the oven to 300 degrees.
2. Wash and dry one bunch of kale.
3. Chop or rip the kale into bite-size pieces, removing the tough stems as you go.
4. In a large bowl, toss the kale pieces with a few drizzles of olive oil and a few shakes of your favorite sea salt.
5. Spread the kale pieces in a single layer on a baking sheet.
6. Bake for 10-20 minutes until kale is crisp but not browned. (Keep an eye on your chips—they taste best when they’re still dark green. Burnt kale has a pretty unpleasant flavor, believe it or not!)

Olive oil and sea salt not doing it for you? You can flavor these chips any way you want, just like regular potato chips. Here are a few ideas to get you started:

1. Salt-n-pepper chips: toss a half-teaspoon of pepper in with the raw kale pieces.
2. Spicy chips: throw a few shakes of red pepper flakes into the bowl before baking.
3. Garlic Parmesan chips: toss a half-teaspoon of garlic in with the raw kale pieces, then sprinkle a generous helping of freshly-grated Parmesan cheese over the chips after they’ve baked.
4. Asian-inspired chips: replace the olive oil with a splash of soy sauce and a drizzle of sesame oil.
5. Bright lemon chips: Squeeze half a lemon over the raw kale pieces after you’ve mixed in the olive oil and sea salt.

How did your kale chips turn out?

Tell us about it in the comments below!

Even if you have partnered up for your detoxification cleanse, finding inspiration will prove to be very important for staying the course. 21 days is a long time, and, especially within the first week, motivation tends to wane.

I have found that having a few tips and nuggets of wisdom has helped me to meet my goals and feel empowered to complete the challenge (yes, cleanses are a challenge, even for the most seasoned cleanser!)

Stay Rested

Stay rested. When we skimp on sleep, our bodies resolve to get energy any way they can, which means we will crave quick energy, like chocolate, chips and the like. By logging at least seven and a half hours of sleep a night, we fortify our commitment.

Stay Active

Find ways to stay invigorated. Television and the internet are temptation islands with food commercials dominating almost 65% of the ad space. Get outside, take a walk, and go for more workouts – whatever you do, get moving! There is nothing like a boost of feel-good endorphins to keep us on track.

Reward Yourself

Find ways to reward yourself in non-food ways. There are ways to be decadent and pamper ourselves without letting anything too decadent pass our lips. Book a massage or a facial and reward your efforts!

Snack Smart

The kiss of death for resolve during a cleanse is hunger. By always having smart snacks like nuts, fruits or vegetables, we keep our energy boosted and battle the three o’clock slump at the same time.

Stay Hydrated

Dehydration has a funny way of disguising itself as hunger. When the pangs start to gnaw at you, drink a glass of water and wait twenty minutes before eating, and more often than not, you’ll find you were just thirsty. This also helps forge the habit of understanding whether you are hungry, thirsty or flat out bored.

Cook Healthier

Adopt clean ways of cooking. To help sustain your healthy living efforts beyond any length of cleanse, familiarize yourself with steaming, cooking en papillote (in parchment paper) and poaching. All of these methods preserve flavor and nutrients, while producing a minimal amount of fat.

All protein doesn’t need to come from an animal source – there are other ways to get protein into our diet without having to resort to animal-based proteins, which can impede the detoxing process. Protein can be found in abundance in chia seeds, hemp seeds, vegan protein powder, nuts, seeds and many legumes, including the glorious chickpea.

Currently, I’m having a love affair with chickpeas. Whether I’m on a detox or not, these fiber and protein dynamos are a great addition to any diet because they keep us full, and help the body eliminate waste – the whole purpose of a cleanse. Chickpeas make for an excellent detox-style supper because they’re high in nutrients, loaded with fiber, and for those of us who are meat lovers, they act as a fitting meat substitute. Believe me when I say chickpeas won’t leave you wanting more.

This recipe combines some of my favorite ingredients: cauliflower, chickpeas, Curry and coconut milk, and is beyond easy to prepare and 100% satisfying. Because of the ingredients, this meal not only leave you feeling fuller longer, but it will help to regulate your blood sugar, essential to reducing cravings. Because of the coconut milk, this dish will help speed metabolism, too – oh yes, coconut has that power!

Curried Coconut and Chickpeas

• two 398 ml can (three cups) cooked and drained chickpeas
• one head of cauliflower
• four cloves or garlic, minced
• one shallot, minced
• one tbsp coconut oil
• one tsp sea salt
• one tsp Curry
• one tsp turmeric
• one tsp red chili flakes
• 160 ml (1/3 cup) coconut milk
• one tbsp cilantro leaves

In a pot of boiling salted water, blanch the cauliflower by cooking them in boiling water for 3 minutes, then drain and set aside. Heat the coconut oil in a large sauté pan on medium high heat and add the shallots, garlic, curry, turmeric, chili flakes and one-half of the salt. Cook until everything is translucent and fragrant, about 4 minutes or so. Add the cauliflower and cook for 3 minutes, allowing some color to develop, then add the chickpeas and season with the remaining salt. Stir and cook for 3 minutes and then de-glaze with coconut milk. Be sure to scrape the bottom of the pan. Remove from heat and stir in cilantro leaves and serve!

Honey: Liquid Gold

Honey, the stuff of legend and health-full-ness is the natural product of the labor of the honey bee. A great alternative to cane sugar, honey is nature’s own energy booster, immunity builder, and natural remedy.

Honey production is one of the ever-fascinating stories that unfolds in nature. Bees feast on the nectar from flowers. The nectar mixes with the enzymes in the bees’ saliva, and it’s this process that turns nectar into honey. The bees then take the honey back to the hive for storage and future feasting (for other honey bees, humans and enterprising bears, too).

Nutritional Benefits of Honey

Immuno Booster

Honey has both antioxidant and anti-bacterial properties that can keep the flora and fauna in your digestive tract humming along healthfully.

Morning Buzz: Mix 1 Tbs honey with juice from half a lemon in a cup of warm water and drink it down before breakfast. The morning buzz will have you full of vim and vigor throughout your day.

Improve Athletic Performance

A recent study concluded that the consumption of honey after an intense workout can help you maintain optimal blood sugar levels afterwards, and assist in muscle recovery and carbohydrate restoration.

The study included 39 male and female weight-trained athletes, of whom half consuming sugar after the workout while the rest consumed honey. Researchers also found those who ate honey post-workout were more prepared to workout again just as hard the next day. Honey, it seems, has a tonic effect on athletic endeavors.

Wound Healing

The wound healing properties of honey are not only legendary, but are also factual and reproducible. Honey has been used to treat ulcers, burns, and other wounds for eons.

A study in India measured the effects of honey vs. silver sulfadiazine (the conventional treatment) on 104 first-degree burn patients. After one week, 93% of silver sulfa-treated burns had become infected; compare that to 91% of honey-treated burns that were infection free. Additionally, the honey treated burns healed more rapidly.

Honey’s wound healing ability is attributed to honey’s chemical compound of glucose, fructose and antioxidant and flavonoid enzymes.

Antioxidant Health

Eating 1 to 4 tablespoons of honey a day “raises blood levels of protective antioxidant compounds in humans,” per a University of California study. Antioxidants, of course, help reduce the free radicals (cell destroyers) that ramble around in our bodies with the intent of mayhem.

High Cholesterol and Type 2 Diabetes

In a study comparing sugar, artificial sweeteners, and honey on patients with high cholesterol, honey came out the winner. Regular consumption of honey decreased total cholesterol levels by 8% and LDL by 11%.

The same study was done with patients who have type 2 diabetes. Natural honey causes a significantly lower rise in blood sugar than either cane sugar or artificial sweeteners.

Honey Lore

The practice of beekeeping or apiculture has been around since at least 700 BC.

Honey is been used as both food and medicinally throughout history. It has also been deemed a sacred food due to its divine sweetness.

As a sacred food, honey was given to the Gods in worship. And it was also used in Egypt to assist in the embalming process.

Olympic athletes of ancient cultures were required to eat honey (and figs) as a part of their diet to enhance their performance.

Honey Selection

Choosing the best honey for you is mostly a matter of taste, but can also be a matter of style and selection of process.

Honey Styles:

• Honey Comb: pulled directly from the hive, with the honey still in the beeswax comb.
• Liquid Honey:  removal of the honey from the beeswax comb through the means of a honey extractor and the use of centrifugal force.
• Chunk Honey: a combination of honeycomb and liquid honey.
• Creamed Honey: a blend of granulated honey and liquid honey. The combination is cooled until it becomes firm.

Honey Bee and Comb

Honey Colors and Flavors

If the bee colony has abundant access to one kind of flower, then they will typically produce a honey that is ‘flavored’ with that essence. If no one flower predominates, then bees will produce a honey that is blended. Sometimes, honeys from multiple hives are blended by apiaries to create a specific flavor.  There are over 300 types of honey available in the United States.

The color of honey also ranges upon the flower source, from colorless to dark brown; it simply depends on where the bees had buzzed. Typically, darker colored honey has a strong and distinctive flavor which lessens as the honey color lightens.

Some of the most widely produced and popular flavors include: alfalfa, buckwheat, clover, fireweed, orange blossom, sage, tupelo, and wildflower.

Processing

Honey that comes to your local grocer has often been processed to be in alignment with the FDA regulations (though these days, raw honey is now often more available, especially at your local apiary or famer’s market).

• Pasteurized honey has been clarified or filtered.
• Raw honey has not been pasteurized, clarified, or filtered.

Sources

http://www.benefits-of-honey.com/health-benefits-of-honey.html

http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=96

http://www.honeyo.com/types.shtml

New Years Eve is upon us, and I must admit, I love this time of year. This is the time when people look forward to new beginnings, signaled by another calendar year. And with the dawn of this new beginning, I (like many others) have always loved to celebrate with a cocktail or two.

But getting festive with a sipper or two can become rather calorie heavy, with people consuming more calories with the drinks they consume than they do with the food they eat. This year I decided to approach holiday drinking with health in mind- yes, it is possible to still enjoy a drink while being calorie and health conscious!

What to drink on New Years Eve if you’re avoiding calories

When choosing your New Years Eve libation aim to stick with champagne, white wine and clear liquors as they are the best bet when endeavoring to cut holiday calorie consumption. Besides, it’s far more fun toasting to a new year with something light and crisp!

The addition of cranberry juice not only amps up a drink with vitamin C, manganese and antioxidants, but it also adds a festive color punch to any holiday sipper. Pomegranates, also a lovely crimson hue, are rich in vitamin C, B6 and potassium, packing more heart-healthy antioxidants per glass than two glasses of red wine. Add pomegranate or cranberry juice to champagne for a perfectly festive and seasonal way to ring in the New Year!

How to avoid a hangover on New Years Day

I would be remiss not to talk about hangovers – they come with the territory of the New Years Eve celebration…but we can all do ourselves a favor by hydrating well with water the day before and the day after. But it doesn’t stop there. By mixing our favorite spirit with water – sparkling or still – and a splash of fresh juice, we help stave off or at least minimize the severity and duration of a hangover.

Staying hydrated is important any day of the year, but on New Year’s Eve it becomes especially important – you’ll thank yourself tomorrow morning!

It said many times, but it bears repeating, especially during the holiday season – PLEASE DON’T DRINK AND DRIVE. That’s the healthiest and most responsible decision you can make all year long. Beyond that, this is a time for enjoyment, so go ahead and have a drink – it can be done with health in mind!

Stevia Lore

Stevia is a plant native to South America. It grows naturally in South America and is now found as far north as the Southwest region of North America.

The stevia plant is a small perennial shrub that is related to the sunflower. Its scientific name is Eupatorium Rebaudianum, but is more colloquially known as sweetleaf, honeyleaf, and sugarleaf.

The leaves were used for centuries as a sweetener and health aide. In the 1930s, two French scientists isolated the ‘sweetness’ glycosides in the Stevia plant, naming them stevioside and rebaudioside. This research made way for the stevia options now available from concentrate, extracts, tea bags, and packets.

Nutritional and Health Benefits

Stevia has a lot of nutrition going for it while being calorie free.  Stevia contains calcium, protein, phosphorous, sodium, magnesium, zinc, Vitamin A, and Vitamin C.

Stevia is 2-3 times sweeter than cane sugar, so even if it wasn’t calorie free, it would still offer a benefit of using less sweetener per smoothie or cup of tea.

Healthy Hair

Stevia concentrate, used as a direct additive to your shampoo, has been known to relieve dandruff, dry scalp, and dull, dry, and brittle hair. Simply add 3-4 drops of the concentrate to your shampoo. Or condition your hair with stevia tea, letting it sit for 5 minutes.

Hypertension, Diabetes, and Cardiovascular Disease

The World Health Organization evaluated Stevia in 2006. Their findings indicated that Stevia had a positive effect on people with hypertension by lowering blood pressure and those with Type-2 diabetes by stabilizing blood sugar.

Stevia has no glycemic value making it a useful alternative sweetener for those with high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes.

Stevia promotes pancreatic health and inhibits the growth of candidiasis (yeast), which is a symptomatic of diabetes.

Weight Loss 

Stevia Powder

Due to Stevia’s ‘no-calorie’ claim to fame, and obvious health benefits, it is the perfect sweetener for dieters. Stevia has been shown to curb cravings for oily or fatty foods and to generally curb hunger. Stevia’s ability to control blood sugar levels assists in maintaining a healthy weight.

Stevia also has a tonic effect by boosting energy levels without the fast and hard crash of cane sugar.

For weight-loss endeavors drink a tea made with Stevia leaves, teas bags, or extract:

Heat one cup of water (do not boil) and steep a stevia tea bag or 1 tsp of leaves or 3-4 drops of extract for 5-7 minutes. Drink 2-3 times a day, preferably 15 minutes before a meal.

Tooth and Mouth Health

Stevia has antibacterial properties that promote a health mouth and teeth. It inhibits gingivitis, cavities, tooth decay, and mouth sores. Stevia inhibits the growth of bacteria that causes these health issues according to the Department of Pediatric Dentistry at the University of Illinois.

To promote overall health of your mouth and teeth, rinse with a Stevia mouthwash. To make the mouthwash, add 3 drops of Stevia extract into a ½ cup of lukewarm water. Use daily.

Indigestion and Heartburn

Drink a stevia tea after any meal to relive gas and indigestion and to ease digestion. This use of a stevia tea after meals is a time honored tradition in Brazil, Bolivia, and Paraguay.

Bone Health

Stevia can assist in the increased metabolism of calcium and improve bone density. This is great news from osteoporosis sufferers. To use stevia to promote bone health the suggested remedy is:

Mix ½ teaspoon alfalfa, vitamin d powder, and stevia in a hot cup of water, allowing it to steep for 5-7 minutes. Drink twice a day.

Eating or Cooking with Stevia

Steve is a delightfully sweet, no-calorie way to enhance a juice or smoothie per your preference.

Cooking with Stevia can, at first, add an interesting challenge. While Stevia doesn’t degrade under heat, it also doesn’t caramelize. Because of Stevia’s intense sweetness, baking with it means you need to add bulk to the recipe that cane sugar used to provide. Add yogurt, a nutmeal, crushed fruit or some other filler that makes sense.

Sources

• http://www.homeremediesweb.com/stevia-health-benefits.php
• http://healthynutrition.me/?p=264

Enjoy! (Oh, and if you’ve got one to add, don’t forget to comment on the post!)

Homemade Eggnog 4 – Danger! – Around these parts at least, it’s just not the holidays unless my dad comes home with 9 gallons of supermarket eggnog in a plastic jug. And luckily for me, one of the few simple pleasures of being an adult is the ability to recognize that however sweet and well-intentioned he was, my dad was cheap and his palate wasn’t what I would call refined or picky, and we don’t have to follow in those footsteps.

So honor dad’s legacy this year with this easy homemade eggnog recipe!
(Courtesy of  Alton Brown and the Food Network)

• 4 egg yolks
• 1/3 cup sugar, plus 1 tablespoon
• 1 pint whole milk
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 3 ounces bourbon
• 1 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
• 4 egg whites*

In the bowl of a stand mixer, beat the egg yolks until they lighten in color. Gradually add the 1/3 cup sugar and continue to beat until it is completely dissolved. Add the milk, cream, bourbon and nutmeg, and stir to combine. Place the egg whites in the bowl of a stand mixer and beat to soft peaks. With the mixer still running gradually add the 1 tablespoon of sugar and beat until stiff peaks form. Whisk the egg whites into the mixture. Chill and serve.

Cook’s Note: For cooked eggnog, follow procedure below.

In the bowl of a stand mixer, beat the egg yolks until they lighten in color. Gradually add the 1/3 cup sugar and continue to beat until it is completely dissolved. Set aside.

In a medium saucepan, over high heat, combine the milk, heavy cream and nutmeg and bring just to a boil, stirring occasionally. Remove from the heat and gradually temper the hot mixture into the egg and sugar mixture. Then return everything to the pot and cook until the mixture reaches 160 degrees F. Remove from the heat, stir in the bourbon, pour into a medium mixing bowl, and set in the refrigerator to chill.

In a medium mixing bowl, beat the egg whites to soft peaks. With the mixer running gradually add the 1 tablespoon of sugar and beat until stiff peaks form. Whisk the egg whites into the chilled mixture.

My alteration: in a shaker, mix the eggnog and add a touch of Southern Comfort for a Holiday drink that will keep your guests humming!

Winter Sangria 1 – Safe! – Here’s a light refreshing drink that’s just perfect for the holidays and the weight watchers out there! I’ve added into my sangria mixes everything from peaches to grapes to strawberries, so go ahead and get creative – there’s not a combination of fruit and wine in the world that can go wrong!

(Courtesy of MyRecipes.com)

• 1 cup fresh satsuma orange juice (about 4 satsumas)
• 1 cup satsuma orange sections (about 2 satsumas)
• 1/3 cup Triple Sec (orange-flavored liqueur)
• 1/4 cup sugar $
• 2 whole cloves
• 1 cinnamon stick
• 1 lemon, cut into 8 wedges $
• 1 lime, cut into 8 wedges $
• 1 (750-milliliter) bottle fruity red wine

Combine all ingredients in a pitcher, stirring until sugar dissolves. Cover and refrigerate 4 hours or overnight.

Spicy Rum Punch 2 – Careful… – Cranberry juice, ginger, cider and cinnamon. Oh, and sugar. Need I say more?

(Courtesy Aaron Sanchez and the Food Network)

• 1 orange, zested
• 2 Mexican cinnamon sticks
• 5 whole cloves
• 3 tablespoons finely chopped peeled ginger
• 1/3 cup water
• 1/3 cup sugar
• 1 (25 1/4-ounce) bottle sparkling cider (about 3 1/4 cups), chilled
• 4 cups cranberry juice cocktail, chilled
• 1 (1-liter) bottle club soda
• 1 cup dark rum

Bring the orange zest, cinnamon sticks, cloves, ginger, water, and sugar to a boil in a small heavy saucepan, stirring until the sugar has dissolved. Reduce the heat and then simmer, covered, 5 minutes. Remove from the heat and let steep, uncovered, for 1 hour.

Strain through a fine-mesh sieve into a bowl, discarding the solids.

Combine the remaining ingredients with the spiced syrup in a punch bowl and stir. Add ice before serving.

The Mimosa 1 – Safe! – It’s engrained in the nature of our parents, and it’s an equation that is almost universally infallible – if dad loves eggnog, mom loves her mimosas. This is how we’ll be making ours comes Christmas morning:

• Freshly squeezed orange juice (try the Omega Citrus and Veggie Juicer!)
• Bottle of Veuve Clicquot

Mix 3 parts Veuve with 1 part orange juice by first pouring in the champagne, and gently pouring in the orange juice on top. Serve chilled with a strawberry wedge on the rim!

By the way, Veuve Clicquot is considered one of the finest champagnes in the world, and the sticker prices isn’t as shocking as you would think: I pick up my bottles at my local Total Wine for just $38.95 a pop, and it comes in a stunning box and package – making it the perfect gift for friends and family!