Healthy and Delicious Summer Cocktails
Reality star Bethenny Frankel, of Bravo's "Real Housewives of New York City" and "Bethenny's Getting Married" has had a busy few years. Apart from juggling her TV shoot schedule, the formally trained chef has recently gotten married, had a baby girl, and has written three successful cookbooks, including "The Skinnygirl Dish."
On "The Early Show" Thursday, Frankel shared delicious and healthy summer cocktail recipes, which are based on the concept in her book of eating well while staying low-calorie.
Frankel is on the cover of People magazine this week. In this week's issue, she discusses her checkered past and her eventual success over adversity.
Recipes:
Skinnygirl Sangria
Serves 6 to 8
8 peaches, sliced into wedges
4 white plums, sliced into wedges
1 pound of green grapes split in half
3 bottles of Prosecco
1 can of diet lemon lime soda
1 can of club soda
Combine all ingredients into a large pitcher and add ice. Chill for an hour to set or serve immediately.
*FOR RED sub the Prosecco for light to medium bodied red wine and apples, red grapes for all other fruit.
Skinnygirl Mojito
Serves 1
Mojitos made with mixes have a lot of sugar. Request the Skinnygirl version, or make your own at home. I created this for Daisy Fuentes in my column for Health Magazine. It won't weigh you down or make you feel like you just drank your dessert.
1/2 Fresh line, cut into 6 wedges
2 tablespoons torn fresh mint leaves
1 cup of ice
1 1/2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
1/2 teaspoon of honey, gently warmed (microwave for 5 seconds)
2 ounces of clear rum
4 ounces of club soda
Fresh mint sprig and lime wedge for garnish
In a martini shaker, muddle the lime and mint with a pestle or a long spoon until well bruised and fragrant. Add 1 cup of ice and the lime juice.
Combine the honey, rum and club soda in a glass or small bowl. Stir gently to dissolve the honey. Add this combination to the muddle mixture. Stir until the mixture is well chilled. Strain into a rocks glass filled with ice. Garnish with the mint sprig and lime wedge.
Skinnygirl Cosmo
Cosmos are such a popular drink, but I think they are too sweet. This version tastes delicious and has just a fraction of the sugar and the calories. Indulge and still fit into your jeans the next day.
Serves 1
2 ounces of vodka
2 ounces club soda
splash of cranberry juice
Juice from 2 lime wedges plus 1 lime wedge to garnish
Combine all of the ingredients except the garnish in a shaker full of ice. Stir and pour into a chilled martini glass. Garnish with the lime wedge.
Skinnygirl American "Virgin"
I created this drink for a Richard Branson Virgin America flight launch. You can make it a true virgin drink as is (no alcohol), or you can make it with peach vodka in place of the peach juice, for a less than virginal version.
Serves 1
2 ounces of peach juice
2 ounces of club soda
splash of orange juice
splash of lemonade
lemon wedge for garnish
Combine all of the ingredients except the garnish in a shaker full of ice and stir to blend. Strain into a rocks glass filled with ice. Garnish with lemon wedge.