The summer is a great chance to test a few sweet non-alcoholic cocktails. Try a few of these recipes, provided by local restaurants.
Prickly Pear Smoothie
Courtesy of the Boulders Resort
INGREDIENTS:
5 oz. Prickly Pear Puree
1 Whole Gala Apple
One ½ Banana
1 Whole Peeled Orange
6 oz. Ice Cubes
¾ Table Spoon of Honey
PREPARATION:
Cut all ingredients into small pieces and place in blender. Blend on high speed for two minutes, serve with a strawberry garnish.
Basil Bliss
Courtesy of Soi 4 Bangkok Eatery
INGREDIENTS:
2 oz of pineapple juice
½ cup of Basil leaves cleaned and torn into pieces
2 oz of soda water
PREPARATION:
Mix pineapple juice, soda water and basil leaves
Shake with ice
Serve in tall glass cold
Echinacea Lemonade
Courtesy of Chakra 4 Vegetarian Restaurant
INGREDIENTS:
1 cup fresh lemon juice
1 cup sweetener (adjust to taste), such as raw sugar, raw honey, or agave nectar
4 cups water plus 2 cups water for making Echinacea tea
2 tablespoons Echinacea root (available at Chakra 4 Herb & Tea House)
1 tablespoon Rosewater (optional, will soften the tart flavors)
PREPARATION:
Step one: make Echinacea tea. Simmer the Echinacea root in 2 cups water over low heat in
covered stainless steel pan for 20 minutes. Strain out the Echinacea root.
Step two: Combine 1 - 2 cups fresh lemon juice, 1 cup sweetener (adjust to taste), 4 cups water.
Stir in the Echinacea tea, chill, and enjoy!
A Bottle of Energy
Courtesy of Chakra 4 Vegetarian Restaurant
INGREDIENTS:
A caraff or large glass of water (ice is optional)
4 large orange slices
5 crushed mint leaves - crushed to help release the essential oils
A few drops of an energizing flower essence blend called Pure Energy by Lotus Wei, also available at Chakra 4 Herb & Tea House
PREPARATION:
Allow it to sit for 5 to 10 minutes to infuse the orange and mint.
Damiana Iced Tea (caffeine free)
Courtesy of Chakra 4 Vegetarian Restaurant
INGREDIENTS:
4 tablespoons Damiana leaf (natural aphrodisiac with an uplifting flavor)
2 tablespoons Green Rooibos (the unfermented leaf of the African Rooibos bush, high in
antioxidants)
1 tablespoon Lemon Balm (uplifts the spirit, calms the nerves)
1 tablespoon crushed Coriander seeds (exotic flavor, used to increase libido)
1 tablespoon crushed Cinnamon (warms the soul)
2 teaspoons Rose petals (mild flavor, and to open the heart to love)
½ teaspoon Stevia leaf, not the white Stevia powder but the actual green Stevia leaf (optional)
PREPARATION:
2 ice cube trays filled with orange juice, frozen, to use as your ice cubes
Steep loose herbs in 6 cups water for 20 minutes. Strain out herbs, and add 4 cups room
temperature water; stir well.
Chill, serve with a few orange ice cubes.
Enjoy with your favorite person.
