Beverage Recipes

Japanese pickled cauliflower, a quick refrigerator pickle with green pepper and celery in a sweet-tart brine with a surprising splash of cola for caramel depth.

Ripe avocado halves stuffed with a bold Roquefort cheese, olive oil, and parsley mixture, garnished with sliced olives on a bed of Boston lettuce. A 5-minute French-inspired appetizer.

A refreshing blended melon drink with fresh mint, lime juice, and ice. Use cantaloupe, honeydew, or crenshaw melon. Ten minutes, no sugar added, naturally sweet and hydrating.

Tender beef strips with colorful peppers, celery, and tomatoes in a savory-sweet sauce. This classic Chinese pepper steak uses Coca-Cola for tenderness and depth.

Homemade cinnamon liqueur steeped with cloves, coriander, vodka, and brandy. Three weeks from jar to glass, and it makes a gorgeous homemade gift.

Pineapple buttermilk smoothie blends frozen tropical fruit with tangy buttermilk for a frothy 5-minute breakfast or post-workout drink. High in fibre, low in calories, no banana required.

Big-batch homemade hot chocolate mix. Cocoa powder, powdered milk, creamer and sugar whisked together. Store in jars and scoop ⅓ cup per mug for cold-weather sipping.

Homemade cream liqueurs blended with sweetened condensed milk, whipping cream, and your choice of whiskey, amaretto, or rum. Stores in the fridge for up to a month.

Homemade cherry liqueur with just three ingredients: Bing cherries, sugar, and vodka. Layer them in a jar and wait three months for a rich, fruity spirit.

Indonesian es alpukat layers creamy avocado puree with chocolate milk for a sweet, decadent drink. A street-vendor classic from Jakarta that doubles as dessert in a glass.

Homemade blueberry liqueur infuses crushed berries in vodka with lemon peel and clove for a deep ruby-purple cordial. A long, slow steep delivers a gift-worthy fruit liqueur.

Homemade Kahlua coffee liqueur with just four ingredients: instant coffee, sugar, vanilla, and vodka. A slow-simmered coffee syrup base that tastes like the real thing. Great for gifting.

Nonalcoholic white sangria punch with white grape juice, pink grapefruit juice, lime juice, and sparkling soda water. A fizzy alcohol-free party punch for baby showers, brunches, and family gatherings.

Pineapple peach frappe blended with low-fat yogurt and skim milk. A sugar-free, low-fat smoothie that's diabetic-friendly and ready in 20 minutes. Kid-approved and naturally fruity.

Microwave Irish coffee combines strong black coffee, Irish whiskey, sugar, and floated whipped cream for the classic warming after-dinner drink. Made in under 3 minutes with no special equipment.

Coca-Cola basted ham slow-roasted and glazed with dark brown sugar, two mustards, and bread crumbs for a sticky, caramelized crust. A holiday showstopper.