I hope your day is going well so far. I’m popping in for a second time today because I have a special guest post for all of you from Courtney of Model Behaviors. Model Behaviors is a site that has a mission for loving, celebrating and supporting women from all walks. Not only does the site Courtney writes for sound amazing, but Courtney seemed like a really amazing woman too (and the recipe she wanted to share sounded super tasty!) so when she asked about writing a guest post for me I said YES!
Now, I’ll let Courtney take it away 🙂
After the holidays have come and gone, I’m always left feeling a little blue. The anticipation and building excitement have passed, I’ve said goodbye to friends and family I rarely get to see, and the cold has finally arrived in Texas. (It was almost eighty on Christmas Day here!) No more Christmas songs. No more Christmas tree. No more New Year’s revelry. Everything goes quiet.It’s good to have this period of rest and retreat because it gives me time to reflect on what I hope to accomplish in the coming year, but January can also be quite a contrast to the previous month of mad dash preparations, holiday travel, and general celebration. My recipe for a CranApple Clove Sparkler takes a dash of Christmas and a touch of New Year’s to help me get through the slower, more contemplative month of January.
One of my biggest goals for this year is to make a lifestyle change. I want to eat healthier and make exercise a regular part of my routine, whether it’s running, hiking, or thirty minutes of yoga. I want to get my body moving and remind myself what it feels like to be athletic. I joined the Model Behaviors team a little over a year ago, and one of the biggest things we try to focus on is balance. Toni, who founded the site, gets up and runs 510 miles every morning and always makes some sort of fresh juice. I’m not trying to be that ambitious, but I have started juicing every once in a while. I can’t deny how yummy it is and how energized I feel after drinking it.
Here’s what’s so great about the CranApple Clove juice that makes up the mixer in this yummy cocktail. First of all, it has lemons, which are an excellent source of vitamins C and B6. Lemons are also a great source of potassium and flavonoids (source). Speaking of flavonoids, did you know that cranberries are rich in flavonoid quercetin, which inhibits the development of some breast and colon cancers (source)? The strawberries in this juice provide antioxidants that are great for improving the immune system (source). And the clove can help to clear up any cold or sinus irritations you might be suffering (source).
5 apples (red or green, depending on how tart you want your juice to be)
1 large box of strawberries
1 tsp of ground cloves
1 bottle of champagne brut or sparkling wine
Instructions
Wash cranberries.
Wash and peel lemons.
Wash and core apples.
Wash and cut tops of strawberries.
Toss all fruit and clove ingredients into the juicer and activate.
Stir juice.
Pour two shots into your glass (use a large spoon to hold back any foam) and top off with
champagne.
Garnish with cranberries.
Enjoy your CranApple Clove Sparkler!
Category:drinks, beverage, holiday, fruit, vega
Cuisine:drinks, beverage, holiday
About Courtney: Courtney Leigh writes young adult novels and makes music with a band called The Villettes. She blogs at Model Behaviors about music, travel, recipes, and social justice issues. When she’s not at home writing and sipping on some white wine, she’s usually out watching friends play shows around town in Austin, TX.
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