Drink – The Empowered Kitchen

Happy New Year’s Eve 2018! What a year it has been. For me it’s been a year of opening my heart further than it’s ever been open before. It experienced deep love, followed by heartbreak. This was definitely a year of discovering more about myself, understanding how I need to grow, and feeling stronger for all of it. I’ve learned it’s all about loving yourself above all. Then you have love to give and accept from others. Here’s a virtual toast to us all creating more love in the world, for ourselves, and all of those around us.

Super ready to ring in a new year with a delicious cocktail and surrounded by the love of friends and family! I sincerely hope you do the same!

Gin & Cranberry Mash

Ingredients:

1/4 teaspoon grated ginger

1 Tablespoon plain cooked cranberries

1 oz gin

1/2 oz simple syrup

2 ice cubes in shaker

2-3 dashes bitters

1/2 ounce dry vermouth

1 oz apple cider (optional)

Squeeze of lime (optional)

Directions:

Place all ingredients in cocktail shaker. Shake well. Serve over ice.

Garnish with optional rosemary and/or fresh cranberries.

Enjoy! 🍸

Try this simple, fresh, Indian recipe for a smoothie-like drink called a Mango Lassi. This is one version, but there are ways to experiment with it. Get the freshest, sweetest mangoes you can find for the best lassi.

Mango Lassi ingredients. You can add water to adjust the consistency.

Here’s the lassi with a little garnish. Beautiful, fresh and filling for a summer party.

Mango Lassi

Yields 2 (8 ounces each)

Ingredients

2 mangos

2/3 cup plain yogurt

2 – 3 tablespoons sugar

1/2 – 1 cup cold water

Optional

Ground cardamom and/or nutmeg

Garnish with mint and/or raspberry

Directions

Carefully remove mango flesh from the skin. You can do this by cutting the mango in half along each side of the pit. You will have 2 halves with most of the fruit. Cut the remaining fruit carefully off the pit. Scoop flesh out with a spoon and place in blender.

Discard the skin and pit.

Blend mango, yogurt, sugar and water until smooth. Adjust sugar, yogurt and water to taste. Add water to make a thinner lassi.

You can blend in a few ice cubes too and even add ground cardamom in the blender.

Garnish if desired with optional garnishes.

ENJOY on a warm summer day. 😋

*You can alternatively use honey in place of the sugar.