Hap-pea New Year!

Let's take the bubbly a step further by sprucing up those sparkling drinks for the entire family to enjoy!

Make a fun kid friendly drink to cheers in the New Year.
Mimic an Italian Bellini by using frozen fruit juice concentrate (cranberry, for example) diluted 1 to 1 with water. Put about 1 tablespoon of the diluted juice concentrate into each glass and top with sparkling apple juice/cider.

For the adults, take a tip from the French and make a Kir Royal.
Start with a flute 80% full of sparkling wine, then carefully dribble in a tablespoon of Creme de Cassis liquor. Since the Creme de Cassis is heavier than the sparkling wine, it will sink to the bottom and create a fade of color similar to a sunset.

See you in 2010!

Tis the Smoothie!

Pumpkins are abundant this time of year. We carve them in October, bake them for pie in November, why not drink them in December?

It is unfortunate that pumpkins often show up in recipes that are high in fat or sugar and low in nutritional value, like pumpkin pie and pumpkin ravioli. This gives the impression that pumpkins are unhealthy, when they are actually great for you! They are high in antioxidants, which help strengthen our immune system and help neutralize free radicals. Eating foods high in antioxidants can help prevent anything from the common cold to cancer. In addition, pumpkin seeds are high in zinc, which is good for maintaining healthy bones. If you are using fresh pumpkin for this smoothie, roast the pumpkin seeds with a little salt at 350F for about 30 minutes.

Pumpkin Smoothie

Makes 4 cups

• 1 cup pumpkin puree (canned with no sugar added, or fresh)
• 1 carrot diced
• 1/2 cup of chopped kale, about 2-3 leaves (optional)
• 2 cups apple juice or apple cider (no sugar added)
• 1/2 cup plain soymilk (use vanilla soymilk for a sweeter tasting smoothie)
• 1/2 cup ice cubes

Steam the carrots and kale together until soft (the kale is optional but it adds a super boost of Vitamin A and K to your smoothie). Let carrot and kale cool to room temperature. Using a blender, blend all of the ingredients together until smooth. *If your carrot and kale were not cooled to room temperature before blending, you may want to chill the smoothie in the fridge for 30 minutes before drinking.

Kid-Friendly Recipes for Homemade Gifts 'In a Jar'

With the holiday season upon us, here are a few of our favorite super-easy recipes that make great gifts 'in a jar.' All are incredibly inexpensive and so terrifically simple, your little one(s) can make them themself/themselves! We've included labels that can be printed out on full sheet label paper, which make great sticker-labels for that extra hand-made touch.

Hibiscus-Mint Tea
Half Pint (8 oz) Mason Jar
Disposable paper tea filter bags (available at the hardware store) or a metal tea strainer ball
2/3 Cup hibiscus flowers (available at natural food stores and Latin-American markets)
1/3 Cup dried mint (peppermint, spearmint, etc.)

Preparation:
Mix hibiscus and mint to combine. If using tea filter bags, fill each with a heaping teaspoon of the mixture. If including a metal tea strainer ball, simply fill the jar with the mixture.

For the Label:
This tea is delicious served either hot or iced, with or without a touch of added sweetness and/or lemon or lime juice. Use 1 heaping teaspooon for 8oz boiling water. Steep 5-7 mins for hot tea and up to 20 mins for iced tea.


Citrus-flavored Sugar
Pint (16 oz) Mason Jar
2 cups sugar
Zest of either 2 oranges or 4 lemons or limes

Preparation:
Combine sugar and zest. If you're going for a rustic appearance, simply fill the jar and you're done! If you'd like the gift to be look more refined, let the mixture infuse for a week in an airtight container (tupperware or plastic bag), then use a strainer to sift out the zest. Fill the jar and you're done.

For the Label:
This infused sugar can be used to add an extra zip to tea (both hot and iced), to rim a glass, or to flavor an entire cake or cookie recipe. Simply use it in place of regular sugar in any recipe!

Brownie Mix
Quart (32oz) Mason Jar

Ingredients
2 1/4 cups white sugar
2/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 cup chopped pecans (if desired)
1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup chocolate chips

Preparation:
1. Pour sugar into a clean and dry one quart jar. Press down firmly.
2. Add cocoa powder and press down firmly. Pour in chopped pecans, making sure pecans are evenly layered in the jar. For a nice presentation, clean up the inside of the jar with a paper towel.
3. Combine flour, baking powder and salt. Pour into jar. Top with chocolate chips and seal the jar.

For the Label:
Directions: Empty mix into large bowl. Mix thoroughly. Add 3/4 cup of room temperature butter or vegetable oil and 4 slightly beaten eggs. Mix until completely blended. Spread batter into a lightly greased or sprayed 9 x 13 inch pan. Bake at 350 degrees F for 30 minutes or until done. Cool in pan. Cut into 2 inch squares.

"Brownie in a Jar" recipe from: http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Brownies-In-A-Jar/Detail.aspx

Peas of Mind