Christmas Mocktails

As the silly season approaches it’s a good time to reflect on your health and not use this time as an excuse to let things get out of hand. To help you with this we are sharing recipes for some delicious mocktails! Not only will they help with the waistline, but they'll also leave you with some extra money to spend on something nice for yourself.

Strawberry Mint Fizz

Ingredients:
2 large limes, quartered
1/2 bunch mint leaves
8 strawberries, quartered
½ cup white sugar, dissolved in ½ cup hot water
4 cups cold soda water
Ice cubes

Directions: Squeeze the lime quarters into a sturdy glass jug. Put the juiced limes into the jug along with the mint, strawberries, and sugared water. Crush the fruits together with a muddler to release the juices from the strawberries and the oil from the mint leaves. Stir in the soda water until everything is well mixed. Pour into the glasses over ice cubes to serve.

Original recipe: http://allrecipes.com.au/recipes/tag-2772/mocktail.aspx

Grapefruit Lemonade Mocktail

Ingredients:
120ml water
120ml soda water
300ml lemonade
300ml grapefruit Juice
1-2 strawberries
4-5 mint leaves
1 ruby grapefruit
1 orange

Directions:

1. Fill one ice cube tray with lemonade and another with grapefruit juice. Chop strawberries into small pieces and drop one piece into each lemonade cube and do the same with the mint leaves and the grapefruit juice. Leave trays in fridge until frozen.

2. Mix the remaining lemonade and grapefruit juice with the soda water and water in a jug.

3. Peel and remove the pith from the ruby grapefruit and orange and cut into small (1cm) pieces and add to the jug.

4. Place three or four ice cubes of each flavour into individual glasses and top up with the jug mixture. Spoon out the fruit if necessary to distribute evenly.

Original recipe: http://allrecipes.com.au/recipes/tag-2772/mocktail.aspx

Shirley Temple Mocktail

Ingredients:
1/2 cup orange juice
1/2 cup lemon-lime flavoured soft drink
1 tablespoon grenadine syrup
1 maraschino cherry

Directions: In a tall glass, combine orange juice and soft drink. Add grenadine and let it sink to the bottom. Garnish with a maraschino cherry and a straw for stirring.

Original recipe: http://allrecipes.com.au/recipes/tag-2772/mocktail.aspx

Watermelon, guava and lime slushy

Ingredients:
1/2 (about 500g) small seedless watermelon, peeled, chopped
1 1/2 cups (375ml) guava juice
1/4 cup (60ml) lime juice
2 tablespoons caster sugar
Mint leaves, to serve
Lime wedges, to serve

Directions:

1. Place the watermelon in the jug of a blender and blend until smooth. Strain through a fine sieve into a jug. Add the guava, lime juice and sugar and stir until sugar dissolves. Transfer to an airtight container. Place in the freezer for 4 hours or until almost frozen.

2. Remove from freezer and quickly break up with a spoon. Transfer to a food processor and process until slushy. Pour evenly among four drink bottles or cups with airtight lids. Return to freezer to set.

Original recipe: http://www.taste.com.au/recipes/18878/watermelon+guava+and+lime+slushy

Virgin Banana Pina Colada

Ingredients:
2 very ripe bananas
1 cup diced fresh pineapple, plus 4 wedges for garnish
1 cup pineapple juice
1/2 cup coconut milk
3 cups ice cubes

Directions: Puree bananas, diced pineapple, pineapple juice, coconut milk and ice in a blender. Divide among 4 glasses. Garnish with pineapple wedges.

Original recipe: http://www.eatingwell.com/recipes/virgin_banana_pina_colada.html