Guilt-free celebrations with
Many people like to use the start of the New Year to assess their lives and zero in on the things they want to change.
If your 2012 focus is to be healthier, then continue exercising, maintain a healthy weight, and spend more time with family and friends.
There's no need to wait for Jan. 1 to get working on these goals, either. Granted, the onslaught of parties — and the many cocktails they offer — can make that a challenge. But you can make sensible choices and still enjoy a party.
What can help is this recipe for an alcohol-free sangria, which is based on the popular Spanish fruit and wine punch.
It's darn delicious, and family and friends may knock you down to get second and third glasses.
And at only 43 calories a glass — downsized from the average 170 calories for traditional recipes — there's nothing wrong with that.
This sangria's sweetness and hint of fruity flavor come from two good-for-you teas — pomegranate and hibiscus.
You can also add tons of flavor with fruit — citrus, berries and melon. Feel free to add others if they are your favorite fruits.
That's the versatility of sangria; it tastes delicious with any combination of fruit.
And if you want an even lower-calorie drink, don't eat the fruit and the calories drop to 22 per serving, with just 5 grams of carbohydrate.
The addition of aromatic bitters gives a subtle flavor edge.
There's a myth about bitters, that using them will make a drink, well, bitter. Not true.
They're really just a seasoning for beverages. Bitters are made from an infusion of roots, barks, fruit peels and herbs.
If you can't drink even the tiniest amount of alcohol, purchase alcohol-free bitters; they are a little difficult to find but taste just as good.
There's so much superhealthy stuff in this recipe, you may be beginning to think that it's less of a cocktail and more of a health drink. So fill your glass and enjoy.
1 cup water3 bags pomegranate tea3 bags hibiscus and rosehip tea6 packets stevia sweetener powder1 tablespoon agave nectar1 teaspoon aromatic bitters1½ cups fresh fruit, cut up (such as citrus, grapes, apples, berries and melon)5 sprigs fresh mint2 cups seltzer waterIn a small saucepan, bring the 1 cup of water to a simmer.Remove from the heat and add all six tea bags.Cover and let steep for five minutes.Remove the tea bags, pressing them to extract as much liquid as possible.Stir in the stevia, agave and bitters.Add the fruit and one sprig of the mint.Cover and chill for four to 24 hours.Fill four tumblers a third of the way with ice, then divide the chilled tea between the glasses.Add ½ cup of seltzer water and 1 mint sprig to each cup.
