Skinny Seasonal Spirits

'Tis the season...to consume that booze!  This time of year there are plenty of Christmas and New Years parties to attend and all of them include copious amounts of alcohol to drink.  But as we all know, alcohol is not calorie-free and consuming 2, 3, 4, or maybe 5 drinks per night can start to add up. 

Pomegranate Champagne Punch
Pump some antioxidants into your punch with this refreshing, fizzy drink.

2 cups champagne
1 cup pomegranate juice
1 cup seltzer
1/2 cup citrus vodka
Lemon twists, for garnish

Combine champagne, pomegranate juice, seltzer and vodka in a large bowl or pitcher. Serve over ice with a twist of lemon.

Serving Size: 3/4 cup
Calories: 128 kcal
Carbohydrates: 7g
Sodium:  5mg

Whispering Wreath
This warm mixture is a distinctive twist on the classic hot buttered rum.

1 cup sugar
1/4 cup fresh mint leaves, plus 10 for garnish
1/4 cup fresh sage leaves
4 cups water
10 dashes bitters
12 ounces dark rum (1 1/2 cups)
2 tablespoons butter

1.)  Using a muddler or large wooden spoon, mash sugar and herbs together in a large saucepan until the herbs are bruised and fragrant.
2.)  Add water and bitters; bring to a simmer over medium-high heat, stirring often, about 5 minutes. Stir in rum and cook for 1 minute. Add butter and cook, stirring, until it melts.
3.)  Strain the mixture into a pitcher. Let stand for about 10 minutes to mellow the flavors. Serve in cordial glasses or other small heat-safe glasses, garnishing each drink with a mint leaf.

Serving Size: 1/2 cup
Calories: 178 kcal
Carbohydrates: 20g
Sodium: 4mg

Pear-Ginger Shooters
Fresh ginger and fragrant cinnamon infuse this chilled pear soup. Serve it in large shot glasses.  Guests can add a splash of vodka as they take one.

4 ripe pears, peeled and quartered
1 cup apple cider
1 cup dry white wine
1-2 tablespoons minced fresh ginger, or ginger juice
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 4-inch cinnamon stick
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 tablespoons honey

1.)  Stir pears, cider, wine, ginger (or ginger juice) to taste, lemon juice, cinnamon stick and salt in a large saucepan; bring to a simmer over medium-high heat. Cover, reduce heat, and gently simmer until the pears are very tender, about 20 minutes.
2.)  Discard the cinnamon stick. Pour the soup into a large blender or food processor; add honey. Blend or process until smooth. (Use caution when pureeing hot liquids.) Pour into a large bowl, cover and refrigerate until cold, at least 4 hours. Pour into small glasses to serve.

Serving Size: 1/3 cup
Calories: 67 kcal
Carbohydrates: 14g
Sodium: 50mg

Monkeylada
If you like piña coladas, try this lower-calorie version using ripe bananas blended with fresh pineapple and coconut milk. Serve it in festive tropical-drink glasses.

2 very ripe bananas
1 cup diced fresh pineapple, plus 4 wedges for garnish
1 cup pineapple juice
1/2 cup lite coconut milk
3 cups ice cubes
6 ounces (3/4 cup) light rum

Puree bananas, diced pineapple, pineapple juice, coconut milk and ice in a blender. Stir in rum. Divide among 4 glasses. Garnish with pineapple wedges.

Serving Size: 1/2 cup
Calories: 228 kcal
Carbohydrates: 28g
Sodium:  12 mg

Very Merry Punch
There was a time when every household had its own recipe for spiced hot-wine punch. Folks would roam from house to house testing each one. With the blend of flavors in this punch, revelers might never move on to other houses on the block.

1 1/2 cups water
1 cup packed light brown sugar
2 750-ml bottles hearty red wine, preferably Cabernet Sauvignon
1 apple, sliced
1 orange, halved and sliced
1 cup pineapple chunks, fresh or canned
4 whole star anise
1/2 cup orange curaçao

1.)  Place water and brown sugar in a Dutch oven. Cook over medium-high heat, stirring often, until the sugar has dissolved, about 2 minutes.
2.)  Add wine, apple, orange, pineapple and star anise. Reduce the heat to medium and cook for 10 minutes.
3.)  Stir in orange curaçao and cook for 5 minutes more. Discard star anise. Serve the punch in heat-safe wineglasses or coffee cups, spooning a little fruit into each glass.

Serving Size: 3/4 cup
Calories: 199 kcal
Carbohyrdates: 27g
Sodium:  11mg

Spiced Hot Cider
Try this classic holiday drink, without the guilt!

4 cups apple cider
1 cinnamon stick
5 whole cloves
1/2 cup applejack, (apple brandy)
2 tablespoons cinnamon schnapps
Cinnamon sticks, for garnish

Bring apple cider, cinnamon stick and cloves to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 5 minutes. Add applejack and schnapps. Garnish with a cinnamon stick and serve hot.

Serving Size: 3/4 cup
Calories: 143 kcal
Carbohydrates: 23g
Sodium: 0mg

This year, don't feel quite so guilty when you grab for those cocktails at your Holiday parties.  You can have a great time without having to worry about what its doing to your waistline!  Enjoy them all in moderation.