Mocktails For The Masses

I’ll say it. Having to stay sober for 9+ months sucks, especially when summer rolls around: the sangria flows like water, and the orange on the Oberon is the only part you can partake in.

I was standing in line at my favorite microbrewery last week (Short’s in Bellaire, MI) and was checking out the list of amazing new brews available this summer. It really hit home how much booze is incorporated into socializing, and everyone was looking at me like I was the worst mom to-be on the planet (I was waiting in line for mac n’ cheese if you must know, because they have amazing food too).

I decided to whip out my grown up chemistry skills (mixology) and experiment with some new mocktails to take the envious edge off. A big thanks to s.a.l.t. sisters, an amazing company that produces unprocessed and unrefined sea salt, organic cane sugars, seasoning rubs, vanilla infusion kits, and natural herb blends, for kicking my mocktails up to the next level!

Extra raspberries ’cause I ate all the ones we picked, and s.a.l.t. sisters Raspberry Cane Sugar

I am also pumped to use the raspberries my son and I hand-picked together at King Orchards in northern Michigan as well as the mint I grow in my herb garden (umm…BTW, anyone can grow mint. Actually, you would be considered talented if you could kill it). Hope you enjoy!

b at King Orchards picking raspberries

  
Raspberry Mojito– for when you need a little something refreshing on a hot summer night

• Handful of raspberries
• 6 mint leaves
• Juice of 1/4 of a lime
• 3/4 ounce simple syrup OR 1 TBSP s.a.l.t. sisters Raspberry Cane Sugar
• 4 oz. Sprite or Lime LaCroix (use less sugar if you use Sprite)

Directions

1. Muddle the raspberries and mint in a shaker; make sure to really crush the mint leaves, which will release the oils.
2. Add lime juice, simple syrup/cane sugar.
3. Shake it like crazy; make sure you don’t add the carbonated stuff until AFTER you shake 🙂
4. Strain into a pint glass filled with ice.
5. Add Sprite/LaCroix and stir.

Raspberry Mojito; I added a light dusting of sugar around the rim

Raspberry Daiquiri– for when everyone else has an umbrella drink at the pool

• Handful of raspberries
• 2 oz. pineapple juice
• 1/2 oz. lemon juice
• 1 TBSP (+ extra for rimming) s.a.l.t. sisters Raspberry Cane Sugar
• 1/2 oz. raspberry syrup or preserves

Directions

1. Wet rim of margarita glass with some pineapple or lemon juice. Dip in cane sugar.
2. Power up the blender and put remaining ingredients in with a handful of crushed ice.
3. Pour into rimmed margarita glass.

Raspberry Lemonade– for when you are tired of drinking water all day

• High quality lemonade (I like Newman’s or Simply brand)
• Handful of raspberries
• s.a.l.t. sisters Raspberry Cane Sugar for rimming

Directions

1. Wet rim of mason jar with lemonade.
2. Dip in cane sugar.
3. Puree raspberries in food processor; strain to remove seeds if desired.
4. Add raspberries to bottom of mason jar, top with lemonade.

Also, the c.a.n.e. sugars come in:

• Cinnamon (add to decaf mocha latte in the fall)
• Dark Chocolate (rim gourmet hot chocolate in the winter) 
• Vanilla Bean (use to caramelize on Crème Brûlée, ’cause if I can’t drink my calories, I am sure eating them when I am pregnant!)

The sugars combine a single, pure, natural ingredient with raw cane sugar, so no worries about artificial junk.

Make sure to check out their site; they are based in Goshen, IN and are sold online and in specialty food stores across the U.S.: www.saltsistersonline.com

Disclosure: I was provided with a sample of s.a.l.t. sisters Raspberry Cane Sugar for review purposes. I was not compensated for my review. All opinions are honest and my own.