Category Archives: Drinks

December 24, 2011 · 1:35 am

Classic Holiday Eggnog

I believe that I once told my boyfriend I would like to someday be the mom/wife who was barefoot in the kitchen. I don’t care you can call me old fashioned. I love things that are old. Old sweaters, old cars, used boxes and mix tapes. I didn’t get a digital camera till two years ago. I know it may be contradictory having an IPhone, writing a blog and at the same time being obsessed with Bing Crosby during the Holidays and Old Fashioned Recipes; Like fruit cake and Eggnog. But I am. No apologies necessary. Recently I was invited to a friend of mine’s annual Christmas Family Caroling Extravaganza. The family is one of the oldest in the city I live in and in their tradition, lined walls, corner to corner are pictures of newspaper clippings, election bills from 1965 and memorabilia of the family’s residence in Beacon. It was fascinating. I lucked out and skipping out on the caroling, I instead got introduced to a most fabulous version of Eggnog!!! Two funny things I know about Eggnog; ONE. Eggnog was how my boyfriend discovered he was lactose intolerant(sorry it had to happen this way sweetie) and TWO. It can get you drunk if your intake isn’t carefully monitored.

Eggnog is also an interesting way to get your protein and I strongly suggest when making this recipe exclusively to use Fresh, farm raised, organic eggs. Apparently the FDA no longer allows eggnog to be sold with more than 1% eggs. This recipe most certainly could not pass that regulation. So that is why you can make it yourself. The best kind of ANYTHING!!

Here it goes. The recipe was extracted 40 years ago from The Daily News and let me tell you people, forty years ago they didn’t mess around with alcohol consumption one bit. This batch is strong and this is a halved recipe from the original. But I will tell you, if you are looking for a delicious old fashioned batch of Eggnog, this is it!!

The Recipe:
(Use with Caution)

1/2 cup Peach Schnapps
1 cup Brandi
1/2 cup Rum
1 cup Sugar
6 Eggs Separated
3 cups Milk
1 cup Heavy Cream
1 tablespoon Nutmeg

Whisk egg yolks and sugar together and add to alcohol mixture; let sit over nite. When ready to prepare add milk and cream to the alcohol mixture.
Beat egg whites to form a meringue and then add it to the top of the eggnog.

Enjoy and I would suggest sharing this with many people and definitely not driving after consuming, or just have a taste, in fact that will probably be all you need

Most importantly enjoy your holidays!!

Love and merriness to all of you everywhere!!!

Leave a Comment

Filed under Desserts, Drinks

July 7, 2011 · 4:17 pm

Family, Mango Lemonade, Hummus, and Ice Cream (Dairy Free that is)

The other day I had my family over for a nice picnic inside. The menu?

Mango Lemonade with Blueberries

Hummus and carrot sticks with Sopressata

Romaine Heads with Cherry Tomatoes, Balsamic and Vinegar Dressing

Fruit Cups

So simple yet satisfyingly delicious

There is no match for simplicity in my mind. That is why this lunch didn’t take me long yet everyone was happy and the taste buds were satisfied

Mango Lemonade came in a bottle, but I added my own special ingredients including Lemon wedges, fresh blueberries and Sparkling Water.

The salad was a breeze, washing the lettuce and adding the cherry tomatoes then allowing the crowd to dress it themselves

The Hummus was store bought (I was in a time crunch) and the carrots were a cinch, just peel and slice and the rice crackers made a nice accent

The fruit cups, apples, blueberries, and peaches were the mix. Chopped em’ up just to eat em’.

It’s not as hard as one may think, creating a spread good enough to feed a king. Every guest deserves a welcoming into a home and I firmly believe that. I think it would be Emily Post who would be proud! I also like to think so would Julia Child, especially with the improvisation.

Enjoy and bon appetite!

And Coconut Cherry Ice Cream to finish

Leave a Comment

Filed under Desserts, Drinks, gluten-free, vegan, vegetarian

June 2, 2011 · 1:39 pm

ICED TEA!! Come and Get It!!

There have been a few really hot days here!! All I wanted to do was eat and drink things that were cool to the tongue and touch. A perfect solution was some home made iced tea. Better than any store bought in my humble opinion, and a nice healthy refreshing way to pick you up during the morning, or afternoon.

Here’s what you do:

Find your favorite Green Tea, Herbal Tea, Black Tea, ETC…

Brew a very strong version in about 6 oz. of water.

Fill another cup with ice

Crush fresh mint, lemon, or lime in the bottom of the glass

Add (if you want it sweetened) a drop of agave nectar

Pour tea concentrate over ice, and stir

Sip, Relax and enjoy!!!

Leave a Comment

Filed under Desserts, Drinks, gluten-free, IMMUNITY CLEANSE, low-calorie, vegan, vegetarian

April 25, 2011 · 12:53 am

Smoothie Delicious

Smoothie Sunday. Okay so today isn’t Sunday; but this smoothie is made for a Sunday morning, sitting out on the porch enjoying the style page from The New York Times, yes this sounds quite nice. Delicious, simple, full of enzymes and protein this smoothie is a great simple way to start your day right. It also is good to aid with digestion for the rest of your day.

Papaya’s are such wonderful magical fruit. When I am eating them alone I feel as if they are medicine, healthfully delicious. However when papaya is mixed with other fruits, I enjoy their “medicine” a little more.

Tis’ the season for fresh fruit my friends!! Fruit is so simple and that in itself is a reason to eat!!!

Enjoy and Bon appetite!!

Caitlyn’s Enzyme Packed Smoothie

Yields 2 healthy servings of smoothies

1 cup fresh papaya seeded

1 cup raw cashew pieces

1/2 cup coconut milk

1 tablespoon lime juice

1 cup honey dew melon

Throw your ingredients in the blender and enjoy for a morning snack or meal!

Leave a Comment

Filed under Breakfast, Brunch, Drinks, IMMUNITY CLEANSE, vegan, vegetarian

February 21, 2011 · 3:02 am

Rice Stir-Fry with Tea

I think everyone is feeling a little under the weather these days, at least most of the people I know. The “almost end” of winter is arriving and the stresses of the holidays perhaps are finally catching up to us. Sickness is simply an imbalance in our bodies.

Perhaps a little too much sugar, or not enough sleep. Whatever the imbalance, it is our jobs to take control of that imbalance and work to find balance again. What works for me? Taking a moment, perhaps a long moment, if needed, and focus on finding my center again.

To refocus, and to find the center within myself, gives me the opportunity to find what is important, and to realize where my center actually lies.

Imbalance comes from stretching ourselves too far one way and not equalizing it with a pull from another place.

Just as in yoga we strive in each pose to find balance within our bodies to stretch to our fullest and then to settle into that center point.

It also correlates into most everything in life including the food on our plates. If we eat most of one thing, and less of another we can surely find an opportunity for imbalance.

My suggestion to myself this time around catching my immunity at a low, was to start thinking about creating balance within my life, and doing this by finding a focus.

You can also do this by taking the time and awareness to balance the food on your plate. This takes focus and it results in feeling better all around.

My Balance:
A pot of Echinacea Immune Support Yogi™ tea (you can find their info and teas here

Then I added sliced fresh ginger for vitality
some organic lemon for a shot of Vitamin C
and a touch on honey to generate some healthy heat and replenishment

For lunch:
Sauteed in coconut oil(to help moisturize) organic tomatoes, carrots, and spinach. All high in vitamin C, D, and E. Over top sweet rice stir fried with Ghee, fresh ginger a little cinnamon (helps get the blood flowing) and cardamom (helps to relieve tension and find mental clarity) adding these spices adds to the already vitamin packed essentials that the stir fry holds.

Along with some relaxation techniques and this healthy food I was able to immediately start feeling more alive, awake and all around BETTER!! It is just another lesson about maintaining balance in your life and the importance of it all.
Enjoy and bon appetite!!