Low Cal Cocktails

calling all slim and svelte bachelorettes pondering the hazardous effects of sugary cocktails on your perfect figure! Guess what? you can now kick back a few without worrying because someone’s got your back. kim, that is. kim hassarud is the author of 101 mojitos and other muddled drinks and, girls, does she have the skinny on summer drinks that are bikini-body-friendly … and refreshing, too. this guide is going right in your beach tote with low-cal recipes for the perfect mojito in every variation, including unexpected combinations like watermelon-basil, passion fruit-sage and cucumber-cilantro. the book also pays a little homage to advanced mixology with recipes for numerous muddled drinks using fresh, local ingredients plenty of fruit, vegetables and herbs. but most importantly you’ll find tips for mixing up great-tasting low-calorie cocktails. thanks, kim!

Grand SmaSh

ingredients

1 3/4 oz. Grand Marnier (113 calories) 5 lemon wedges Pinch of mint leaves Total calories: 128

PreParation

In a mixing glass, muddle lemon wedges with the mint and Grand Marnier. Top with ice and shake vigorously. Strain over NEW ice into a rocks glass. Garnish with a mint sprig. This is a quick 3-ingredient cocktail. It has no additional sugar added. It tastes like adult lemonade. For an added twist muddle in a couple of strawberries. Hint: When preparing a Mojito gently mash mint with a muddler, just enough to bruise the leaves and release the essential oils.

Skinny Strawberry SmaSh

ingredients

1 1/2 oz. SKYY Infusions Dragonfruit (105 calories) 4 lemon quarters 1 oz. cranberry juice 2 strawberries 2 packets Truvia (Stevia-based) Total calories: 142

PreParation

In a mixing glass, muddle the strawberries with the lemon quarters, cranberry juice and Truvia. Top with ice and shake vigorously. Strain into a rocks glass filled with ice. Garnish with strawberry and basil.

black & blue mojito aka “Skinny jeanS mojito”

ingredients

1 1/2 oz. 10 Cane Rum (96 calories) 1 oz. limejuice 1 oz. sugar-free sweetener, i.e. Monin* 3 blackberries 10 blueberries 10 mint leaves Splash of club soda Total calories: 122

PreParation

In a tall Collins glass, muddle the berries and mint with the limejuice and sugar free syrup. Add the rum. Top with crushed ice and stir well. Garnish with mint sprig and berry. *Monin is a syrup company from France that offers 100+ syrups. They also have a line of sugar-free syrups ranging from sugar-free triple sec syrup in raspberry to blackberry. They are sold at specialty grocers and online at Monin.com.

Kim is a liquid chef and founder of Liquid Architecture. She has been a judge on Iron Chef America, as well as appearing on several foodie TV and radio programs. Her cocktails have been featured in hundreds of magazines and newspapers and she created the official cocktail for the 2010 Academy Awards served at the Governor’s Ball – the “Golden Glamour.” Fun Fact: The Mojito originated in Cuba and the history of the Mojito and Bacardi Rum are somehow intertwined although there is some debate over the exact origin. Apparently a similar cocktail called the “El Draque” was made with unrefined rum, mint, lime and sugar. Somewhere down the line Bacardi refined rum, the “El Draque” became the Mojito and Ernest Hemingway started drinking and writing about the muddled mixture.