By: Co+op

Recipe Information

Total Time: 

5 minutes

Servings: 

2

Serving a non-alcoholic drink is a good way to make your parties more inclusive. Anyone can enjoy this juicy, blueberry-infused treat (but if people want a little booze, you can add a splash of vodka). It’s quick and easy to make, and kids like it, too.

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup blueberries, fresh or frozen and thawed
• 2 teaspoons sugar
• 1/2 large lime
• Crushed ice
• Ginger ale

Preparation

1. Divide the berries into two Moscow Mule cups or two 12-ounce glasses, and sprinkle with sugar. Muddle or mash with a fork until all the berries are burst and juicy. Slice the lime half into four wedges. Squeeze one wedge into each glass, then add the remaining lime wedge and muddle.
2. Add about ½ cup crushed ice, then top with ginger ale to cover the ice. Stir briskly to mix and serve immediately.

Serving Suggestion

For a fun garnish, skewer a row of blueberries onto a toothpick or wooden skewer, trim as needed to fit your serving glasses and freeze. The berries are a delight to eat and help keep your drink cold.

Nutritional Information

130 calories, 0 g. fat, 0 mg. cholesterol, 20 mg. sodium, 33 g. carbohydrate, 1 g. fiber, 0 g. protein

Tags: beverages, blueberries, budget, cocktails, entertaining, kid friendly, limes, new year, quick and easy

By: Co+op

Recipe Information

Total Time: 

24 hours total; 30 minutes active

Servings: 

10

You don’t have to ferment your own beverages to reap the benefits of probiotic drinks. In this easy shrub, active apple cider vinegar provides a bit of good bacterial culture as well as tartness to balance the sweet berries and sugar.

Ingredients

• 6 ounces fresh raspberries, blueberries or blackberries, washed
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup active apple cider vinegar
• Ice and club soda, to serve

Preparation

1. In a two-cup storage container with a lid, mash the berries with a wooden spoon. Stir in the sugar and vinegar, then cover and refrigerate for 24 hours.
2. Place a fine-mesh strainer over a bowl and strain the fruit, pressing with a spoon to extract all the liquids. Discard (or eat) the pulp.
3. Store the liquid in the refrigerator for up to a week, tightly covered, before serving. To serve, place two tablespoons of shrub in a glass, fill with ice, then add club soda to top it off. Stir and serve.

Serving Suggestion

Skewer fresh berries and freeze to make a fun stir-stick that can be enjoyed with the drink.

Nutritional Information

70 calories, 0 g. fat, 0 mg. cholesterol, 0 mg. sodium, 17 g. carbohydrate, 1 g. fiber, 0 g. protein

Tags: 4th of july, berries, beverages, blackberries, blueberries, budget, diy, fermenting, kid friendly, party, raspberries

By: Co+op

Recipe Information

Total Time: 

45 minutes; 10 minutes active

Servings: 

4

Caribbean sorrel drinks are made from dried roselle hibiscus flowers, which infuse boiling water with a brilliantly red tint. Similar drinks have roots in Africa, Mexico, Latin America, India and Australia. This is a simplified version of the holiday favorite, sweetened with honey. Hibiscus flowers are high in vitamin C, making this a healthful, refreshing drink.

Ingredients

• 4 cups water
• 6 allspice berries
• 1/2 a cinnamon stick
• 4 cloves
• 3 slices fresh ginger
• 1 cup dried hibiscus flowers
• 1/4 cup honey

Preparation

1. Pour the water into a 2-quart pot and place over high heat. Add the allspice berries, cinnamon stick, cloves and ginger. Bring to a boil.
2. When boiling, add the hibiscus flowers and turn off the heat. Steep for at least 30 minutes (or up to overnight if you want a stronger flavor, though it may need to be warmed for the honey to dissolve).
3. While the drink is still warm, strain into a pitcher and stir in the honey until it dissolves. Add about half a cup of water to make 4 cups.
4. Refrigerate until cold, then serve over ice.

Serving Suggestions

Serve with other Caribbean dishes, like Jamaican beef patties or a holiday favorite—rum cake. You can also enjoy this drink warm.

Nutritional Information

60 calories, 0 g. fat, 0 mg. cholesterol, 0 mg. sodium, 18 g. carbohydrate, 0 g. fiber, 0 g. protein

Tags: beverages, budget, caribbean, christmas, dairy free, entertaining, gluten-free, heart healthy, holiday, honey, kid friendly, kwanzaa, low fat, low sodium, quick and easy, vegetarian, wheat-free

By: Co+op

Recipe Information

Total Time: 

30 minutes; 10 minutes active

Servings: 

5

Make yourself a refreshing drink and infuse it with antioxidant-rich turmeric and ginger while you’re at it. This lemonade will give your tongue a little tingle, thanks to the ginger. It’s naturally sweetened with honey.

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups water
• 1 inch fresh ginger, thinly sliced
• 1/4 teaspoon ground turmeric
• 1/2 cup honey
• 1/2 cup lemon juice
• Ice

Preparation

1. Bring the water to a boil in a saucepan, remove from heat, and stir in the ginger, turmeric and honey. Let stand and steep for 20 minutes.
2. Strain the liquid into a quart jar and stir in the lemon juice.
3. To serve, fill a 12-ounce glass with ice and pour ½ cup of lemonade concentrate over the ice. For a crowd, fill a two-quart pitcher with ice and pour all the concentrate over the ice cubes.

Serving Suggestion

This tonic can also be served warm. Instead of pouring over ice, pour the still-warm concentrate into a mug and add ½ cup of hot water.

Nutritional Information

110 calories, 0 g. fat, 0 mg. cholesterol, 0 mg. sodium, 30 g. carbohydrate, 0 g. fiber, 0 g. protein

Tags: beverages, citrus, dairy free, diy, ginger, gluten-free, heart healthy, honey, lemons, low fat, vegetarian, wheat-free

By: Co+op

Recipe Information

Total Time: 

10 minutes; 5 minutes active

Servings: 

2

Warm up on a wintry day with a mug full of comfort. Infuse your tea with orange zest and cinnamon, then sweeten it with orange juice and a little honey. You can use decaf green tea if you want to enjoy before bedtime.

Ingredients

• 2 cups water
• 1 large orange
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 2 green tea teabags
• 1 tablespoon honey
• Cinnamon sticks and orange slices for garnish

Preparation

1. Pour the water into a small pot. Use a knife to pare a strip of orange zest about 2 inches long from the orange. Put the zest strip in the water and put over medium heat. Add the cinnamon.
2. When the water comes to a full boil, turn off the heat and let stand for 5 minutes. Drop in the teabags and infuse for 3 minutes.
3. Juice the orange — you should have about ½ cup.
4. Remove the teabags and stir in the honey and orange juice. If desired, heat again on low to desired temperature.
5. Garnish with orange slices and cinnamon sticks for stirring.

Serving Suggestion

Traditionally, a hot toddy features whiskey. If you’d like, add an ounce of your favorite whiskey for extra warmth!

Nutritional Information

60 calories, 0 g. fat, 0 mg. cholesterol, 0 mg. sodium, 16 g. carbohydrate, 0 g. fiber, 0 g. protein

Tags: beverages, budget, christmas, entertaining, holiday, honey, new year, oranges, quick and easy, winter

By: Co+op

Recipe Information

Total Time: 

10 minutes; 5 minutes active

Servings: 

2

Make your own spicy, fruity tea drink, and inhale the fragrance of cinnamon, ginger, cloves and pomegranate as you sip. 

Ingredients

Cinnamon Syrup

• 1 cup water
• 1 cup sugar
• 2 cinnamon sticks
• 1 slice fresh ginger
• 2 whole cloves

Tea

• 2 cups water
• 2 orange spice teabags, black
• 1/2 cup pomegranate juice
• Cinnamon sticks for garnish

Preparation

1. In a small pot, combine the syrup ingredients and place over medium-high heat. Stir frequently as the liquid comes to a boil, then reduce the heat to simmer until the sugar is completely dissolved, about 1 minute. Remove from heat and let stand until cooled. Strain into a jar and cover tightly. Lasts up to 2 months refrigerated.
2. For the tea, bring 2 cups of water to a boil, then add the teabags and stir. Remove from heat and steep for 5 minutes. Remove the teabags and discard. Stir in the pomegranate juice and 2 tablespoons of the cinnamon syrup, and warm over medium heat to desired temperature for serving. Pour into two mugs. Garnish with a cinnamon stick.

Tips and Notes

This recipe makes enough cinnamon syrup for 10 batches (20 servings) of tea, or you can use it to drizzle on fruit or peanut butter toast.

Serving Suggestion

This spiced drink can be cooled and transferred to a jar to chill for iced tea.

Nutritional Information

80 calories, 0 g. fat, 0 mg. cholesterol, 0 mg. sodium, 20 g. carbohydrate, 0 g. fiber, 0 g. protein

Tags: beverages, christmas, ginger, holiday, kwanzaa, quick and easy, winter