Healthylicious Drinks for Christmas

Getting Glass Smart

1. A highball glass or cocktail glass is about 12 to 14 oz. and is straight sided all around. It is used to serve many types of mixed drinks, both on the rocks, meaning it is served over ice, and neat, meaning it is served with no ice or mixer.

2. A brandy snifter is a short glass with a stem that is larger at the base and decreases in circumference toward the top in a pear-type shape. The shape of the glass is used specifically for brandy and cognac.

3. White wine glasses are usually a little taller and thinner, with a longer bowl that tapers inward at the top. These glasses are usually about 8 oz. in size.

4. Red wine glasses are larger, with more of a bowl shape, and also get gradually smaller towards the rim of the glass. Red wine glasses are about 8 oz. in size.

5. Sparkling wine and champagne are served in champagne flutes, which keep the bubbles from escaping and the drink from going flat.

While hosting a Christmas party can be immensely stressful, if you have the right recipes, half your worries can be put to rest. Recipes particularly that related to drinks can be enjoyed at any time of the festive season – while decorating your house and your tree or sitting beneath your Christmas tree and opening presents or even at the Christmas party.

And if these drinks can do their bit to enhance your health too, who can resist the temptation to toast at the drop of a hat? So, here are a few Christmas drinks that promise to keep you in a good spirit and health all through the festivities.

Drinks with the Benefits of Green Tea
Health freaks have turned their throats sore harping on the health benefits ushered through consumption of Green tea. Green tea is believed to be a stock house of antioxidants, which play an important role in regularizing blood pressure and diabetes, as well as preventing the onset of coronary heart diseases and certain types of cancers. They also keep you younger looking for ages and improve your immunity.

When Green tea can bring about such a huge array of health benefits, why not make this wonder beverage a part of your Christmas drinks?

• Boil bottles full of green tea. Add plenty of honey and either keep it in your fridge to chill or serve it hot, depending on whether your guests wish to have it hot or cold.

• Serve it with half a measure of squash of your choice mixed with some water. Choose between orange, lime, peach or pineapple squash to get the ice tea of your most preferred flavor ready in minutes.

• Finely chop and pound all fresh fruits available at home. Mix them and put them in ice trays of varied shapes. Freeze them. Serve them with any juice or green ice tea.

Drinks with the Goodness of Fresh Fruits
Whether in the form of juices or cubes, fresh fruits can be made an integral part of beverages that score very high on not just their taste but also on their health benefits and aesthetic appeal due to their naturally vibrant colors.

Most fruits are a rich source of antioxidants. Citrus fruits are rich in vitamin C and those red or yellow in color such a water-melon, papaya, banana, mango, etc are high in vitamin A.

Try the following recipes for some scintillating drinks:

• Cut grapes, watermelons and papaya, mangoes (tinned of-course) into cubes. Mix them and divide them into all glasses. Top them with a scoop of vanilla or caramel ice cream and some Mirinda to get a wonderful glass of ‘Tropical Soda’ ready.

• For a ‘Scarlet Lady’, blend together some watermelon and seedless grapes until smooth. Add red grape juice and pour this into chilled glasses. Garnish with a few grapes dipped in lightly beaten egg white and granulated sugar.

• Serve ‘Strawberry Colada’ by mixing in lots of strawberry crush with pineapple juice and a dash of coconut cream.

• Your invitees will love a ‘Pussy Foot’ made from orange and pineapple juice served with chilled cola well shaken.

• For a ‘Virgin Colada' all you will need is some pineapple juice mixed with a dash of coconut cream and topped with vanilla ice cream.

Drinks with Alcoholic Delight
If Alcohol is what is on your mind, there isn’t any reason to feel dejected, for alcohol isn’t as bad for health as its reputation goes. In fact, alcohol consumption (in moderation) can be the key to good health.

There are certain alcoholic drinks that can assist in controlling the levels of bad cholesterol in your body.

While the health benefits of red wine are numerous, other alcoholic beverages like whisky, vodka, gin, and beer too are capable of cheering both your mood and wellbeing this winter. Here are some ideas that will ensure a bottom’s up before you can get the second glass ready:

• A measure of blue curacao and vodka each mixed with just a dash of lemon topped with some Sprite and ice cubes should set the ball rolling for Christmas.

• Take some ice cubes in a goblet. Add a measure of gin followed by ginger-ale, some lemon juice, and soda.

• Mix Hawaiian punch with some soda and pick one out of rum/vodka and brandy to get the best punch ever.

• Ever tried mixing chilled beer with your favorite black fizzy drink (Pepsi/Coke)?

• This one’s a complete knock out – mix white rum, vodka, and gin with pineapple juice and coffee cream.

Now go ahead, get creative and give them your own names.

Just make sure you and your guests don’t go overboard with these alcoholic drinks. The thumb rule of two drinks for a lady and three or four for a man should be helpful in guiding you the threshold limit.