Making Spirit’s Bright… Without Spirit’s.

I am a self proclaimed “Jane of All Trades.”

I am pretty good at a lot of things, but not truly expert level *great* at anything.

But, if I had to pick one thing that I do do particularly well it’s Christmas trees.

… A vital life skill. I know.

As a kid, decorating the tree was an art to my dad.  We always had a huge tree and decorating was a process.  Under ten, it was hard to have patience, but now I can appreciate the process and all the mental notes I took.

First, the nonnegotiables:

1. It’s gotta be real.

Puhlease. I don’t do fake food, friends, or designer brands. You think a Christmas tree would be any different?!

2. It’s gotta be huge.

We have high ceiling’s in our living room. Anything smaller than 12 feet would just look silly.  Plus, it’s just so much more fun…!  Don’t ask Adam about this one…

While this sounds like it would make shopping for a tree a chore a la Lucy Van Pelt, but it really isn’t. I know within a few moments if we have a winner or if we should keep walking.

When decorating  I really have fun.  To make a tree truly magical, there is a system to stringing the lights deep into the branches then out.  The placement of shiny ball ornaments deep in the tree is key as it helps to reflect the lights.

As an adult, Adam and I both have learned that a pitcher of festive cocktails or bottle(s) of wine really help to get the creative juices flowing and just makes everything that much more memorable.

But, just a couple weeks ago, Adam looked at me with a slight bit of sadness on his face.

“Oh no,” he exclaimed. “You won’t be able to drink wine when we decorate the tree this year!”

Don’t worry, Trost.  The thought had already crossed my mind as well as all the other times throughout the Holiday season when I might miss an adult beverage.

It’s not just when decorating the tree that I enjoy a cup of cheer, but I also love a cup of hot cocoa and Bailey’s when sitting by the fire and our fabulous tree on a relaxing Friday night.

I believe in having a good glass of red wine that warms your soul while watching Christmas movies.

In my opinion, on Christmas Eve, it just makes sense to toast Jesus’ birth with a glass or two of champagne.

Life is just better smiling with friends and a fresh cranberry cocktail at a holiday party.

And, my Dad is known to make Santa’s Cap’s, basically a layered strawberry daiquiri with with whipped cream made to look like Santa’s hat, every Christmas day as we open gifts.

… I get that the list of drinks I associate with different events throughout December seems a little… umm… suspect.  There is no problem here. Bible.

It’s just that, just like food, there are drinks that evoke memories and emotion too.

And, even while I’m overwhelmed with happiness this pregnancy and totally fine with abstaining this Christmas season, I still will miss these drinks. And, sometimes I still want to feel like an adult.

Plus, there are plenty of days where I get a little bored with just plain old water. But, at a bar or a party? All of these feelings grow… immensely.

So, to give myself an early Christmas gift I created a few “mocktails” to put into rotation this December.

I really enjoy making cocktails because I have learned to love the process of making simple syrups. I love how the flavor from fruits, vegetables, spices and herbs can be manipulated and found in a drink.

So the first drink plays with thyme and cranberry simple syrup. Both thyme and cranberries are seasonal and offer huge compliments to one another.

Cranberry Thyme Spritz:

Cranberry Thyme Simple Syrup-

1 cup sugar

1 cup water

1 cup whole, fresh cranberries

5 sprigs thyme

Add all ingredients to a small saucepan and bring to a boil while stirring so that the sugar does not burn.  Once sugar dissolves and cranberries pop open, about 5 minutes, reduce heat to a simmer for another 7 minutes.  Remove from heat and strain.

Cranberry Thyme Cocktail-

2 tablespoons cranberry thyme simple syrup

2 tablespoons cranberry juice

Ginger Ale

Add simple syrup and cranberry juice to a glass.  Mix then fill with ice and top with ginger ale.

 

For Thanksgiving I bought myself some Italian sodas from Whole Foods thinking they would be great in a wine glass to give myself a little something more fancy to sip on. They are good, but so sweet that I could really only enjoy one glass.

When drinking anything, wine or cocktails or whatever, I am not a huge “sweets” fan. There should be a hint of freshness and sweet, but I avoid super sugar drinks. From what I have found, when ordering mocktails things go sweet very fast without the bite of booze.

So, I have mixed up the blood orange Italian soda with some tart grapefruit juice, herbs and club soda in the next mocktail to cut the sweetness a bit and really build on the flavors.  The combo is fresh but festive.

Blood Orange, Grapefruit and Basil Cocktail:

3 large basil leave, sliced

2 ounces Ruby Red Grapefruit Juice

4 ounces blood orange Italian soda

2 ounces club soda

Add basil and grapefruit juice to a glass and muddle until fragrant.  (If you do not have a muddler, the base of a wooden spoon works great.)  Ad the blood orange soda and club soda. Mix well and top with ice.

The third mocktail is super easy. I like for open bar situations like office parties and weddings because any good bartender will have all the components right in front of them.

It just a little cranberry juice, ginger ale and a splash of lemon or lime (sugar rim optional, but encouraged…) and you have a sparkling drink that won’t have you missing the booze… until they play the “Wooble”- again.

I told you. I am good at most things. Not great.

So, sorry. I can’t help you there.

Cranberry Sparkler:

3 ounces ginger ale
3 ounces cranberry juice
A squirt of fresh lemon or lime juice
2 tablespoons of sugar, if creating sugar rim

To create sugar rim- Rub a lemon or lime around the rim of the glass then dip into sugar on a plate.

Fill glass with ice, add the cranberry juice, the lemon or lime juice and top with ginger ale.