Bumpy Ride

This drink is good for Cellulite. Large amounts of water to flush out toxins, as well as fruits and vegetables with a high water content, all help to eliminate cellulite.
Bumpy Ride cleanses the entire system, blood, kidneys and lymph. The pectin in the apples strengthens the immune system.

Ingredients
200 g (7 oz) apple
50 g (2 oz) beetroot
90 g (3 oz) celery

Method
Juice together all ingredients and serve over ice. decorate glass with an apple since if desired.

Money Saving Drinks

Here are some cost-effective recipes for some drinks, if you're on a tight budget.

Rum & Coke

Probably one of the most simplest and classic of all drinks. 

Ingredients

2ounces rum (your choice)

Cola

Method

Simply put the rum into a highball glass filled with ice

Then top up with cola

Lime wedge for garnish

Variations to the drink include

Cuba Libre- simply add lime

Lounge Lizard- use a dark rum and add amaretto

Some Useful Tips for a Hangover

Now at some point in one's life, they must have had a horrible hangover after a fun night. Here are some useful tips for if you ever have another one.

1. Sip on some Ginger Tea- Sometimes hangovers can come with an upset stomach. So to settle that tummy ache, brew a warn cup of ginger tea. Ginger has been shown to help combat nausea.

2. Getting some fresh air- Oxygen increases the rate that alcohol toxins are broken down. So being in the outdoors or even doing a little exercise will help. You may even release some endorphins to boost that post-hangover mood.

3. Drinking alcohol can lead to dehydration, so fueling up on your water ever so often  throughout the night, may just help avoid the pains of a hangover in the morning.

Drink Families

There are many drinks one can create by simply taking one basic recipe and changing the liquor, the ingredients or the proportions. All drinks are related to each other and build off each other.
A simple example is shown below.

\

Watermelon Martini

With this recipe, it requires Simple Syrup. This is thick, viscous liquid consisting primarily of a solution of sugar in water. It is a commonly used ingredient in many cocktails and many other drink recipes. Simple Syrup can be bought from a local grocery or easily made on your own. A quick recipe can be 1 cup white sugar added to 1 cup water and in a medium saucepan combine both and bring to a boil. Keep stirring, until the sugar is dissolved and allow to cool.

(Serves 2)

Ingredients
1 cup watermelon juice (press watermelon through a cheesecloth or a sieve)
1/4 cup simple syrup
(4 oz) 1/2 cup vodka
1 oz fresh lime juice
ice


Garnish (Optional)
Watermelon slices
3 tablespoons salt
3 tablespoons white sugar


Method
1. Chill two Martini glasses in the refrigerator or freezer for 15 minutes so that the glass becomes frosted.

2. Combine the sugar and salt together on a plate and when you remove the Martini glasses from the refrigerator, dampen the rim of the glass with a lime wedge and dip it in the sugar/salt mixture.

3. Combine the watermelon juice, simple syrup, vodka and lime juice, along with ice in a shaker and vigorously shake 8-10 times.
4. Next, strain and pour the mixture into the garnished glass and complete the look with a watermelon wedge.

Strawberry-Banana Smoothie

One of my favourite smoothies to make is a Strawberry-Banana Smoothie. I particularly enjoy this smoothie since I love to eat strawberries. This drink can be made for any occasion whether it be a party or simply having breakfast.

(Serves 2)

Ingredients
2 ripe bananas
2 cups strawberries
1 cup evaporated milk
1 cup vanilla yogurt
4 or 6 teaspoons honey
A dash of Cinnamon
2 cups ice

Method
1. Add the ripe bananas, strawberries, milk, yogurt, honey, dash of cinnamon and ice to the blender.
2. Blend until all the ingredients are well combined.
3. Serve in you preferred glass and garnish with a slice of banana or strawberry.

Virgin Piña Colada

This is a very cool and refreshing drink that is very easy to make for any occasion.

(Serves 2)

Ingredients
14 Ounces pineapple juice
4 Ounces Coconut Cream
2 Cups crushed ice

Method
1. Add the pineapple juice, coconut cream and crushed ice to a blender.
2. Next, blend at a high speed.
3. Pour into a glass of your choice and garnish with a maraschino cherry or a pineapple wedge and serve.

Optional

• If you want to be a bit festive or want to make Piña Coladas for adults who consume alcohol, one can simply add 4 ounces of rum or 4 ounces of Malibu Coconut Rum to the recipe above. 
• Some individuals may not prefer rum, so you can also use vodka or tequila. 

Grapefruit Mojito

(Serves 2)

Ingredients
1/2 cup of freshly squeezed grapefruit juice
1/4 grapefruit (peeled and cut into small pieces)
1/4 cup of fresh mint leaves
4 tablespoons honey
Ice & Club Soda (Carbonated Water)

Directions
1. Add the pieces of grapefruit and mint leaves to the shaker. Use a muddler to break down the leaves and mash the grapefruit in order to release their flavours.
2. Combine the freshly squeezed grapefruit juice and honey together in the shaker. Stir to ensure that the honey is entirely dissolved.
3. Add ice to the shaker and secure. Shake vigorously to ensure that all ingredients and flavours are well combined.
4. Pour into glasses, and top off with a splash of club soda.

Garnish with fresh mint leaves or grapefruit peel or grapefruit slice.


Optional:

• Although this is a mocktail, it can also be a great cocktail by simply adding gin or vodka to the recipe. The measurement of alcohol added to the drink will all depend on the individuals' personal preference.  
• The club soda can also be substituted with ginger ale for an amazing burst of flavour and taste. 

The Cocktail Shaker

This is a device used for mixing drinks. Ice is usually added to this shaker to make the drink chilled quickly before drinking.

There are three main types of cocktail shakers which include:

The French Shaker- This is a two piece shaker consisting of a metal cap and a metal bottom. A strainer is always needed in order to keep the ice out of the drink when pouring into a glass. These shakers are rare but are slowly gaining popularity.

         

                             

The Boston Shaker- This is a two piece shaker consisting of a glass or plastic mixing glass and a metal bottom. Ingredients and ice are added to the mixing glass and the metal bottom is placed over the glass and tightly closed by pressing each other together. The cooling of the ice also forms a vacuum seal which keeps the glasses together. When finished shaking, the two can be separated by using your wrist are pressing against the edge. This may be difficult but with practice, it becomes easy. With this shaker, a strainer is also needed.

The Cobbler Shaker- This shaker in my opinion is the easiest to use. This shaker consists of a large metal mixing tin, a metal lid with a built-in strainer and a smaller metal cap to cover the strainer. These shakers are the most popular of them all since they are so easy to use.

Mixing a Cocktail/Mocktail

With getting familiar with the whole idea of this blog, I took the time to include some important information about cocktails/mocktails that might be beneficial to you in the future. 

There are four most popular methods of mixing a cocktail/mocktail. These include:

• To shake a cocktail/mocktail is to mix it in a cocktail shaker by hand. The average time to properly shake is 10 seconds. 
• Stirred cocktails/mocktails are mixed by stirring with ice in a mixing glass until cold. After it is then strained into a cocktail glass. 
• Blended cocktails/mocktails are mixed using an electrical blender. This method is good for mixing fresh fruits and alcohol or juices together along with ice.
• Building a cocktail/mocktail simply means that the ingredients are floated on top of each other. A tooth pick can then be placed in the glass to allow the ingredients to be mixed. 

Some cocktail/mocktail terms one may encounter include:

• Mulls - hot wine punch
• Flip - a drink made with eggs
• Frappe - to serve a cocktail over finely crushed ice
• Punch - mixed spirits or wines with spices, fruit juices and sugar. They can either be served hot or cold.

Mocktails & Cocktails

When planning house parties, small functions or even just want an afternoon drink, many individuals prefer something that is inexpensive, quick and easy to make. With this blog, all the information you may need to know about mixing drinks will be made available. Also, a wide variety of recipes for tasty cocktails and mocktails using ingredients that are easily available to you the reader. 

Many people assume any mixed drink as a cocktail, but in reality, there are cocktails and mocktails.

A cocktail may be described as an alcoholic drink comprising of a spirit or spirits that is mixed with other ingredients such as fruits, fruit juices or cream.

A mocktail on the other hand, is a derivative of two words. The 'mock' means an imitation or copy of something whereas the work 'cocktail' meaning a mixed drink. A mocktail or in other words, 'Virgin Cocktail' is a beverage that does not contain any alcoholic substances. Mocktails are usually made from multiple beverages such as fruit juices or mixers.