While anise water won’t overtake mint water,
it’s one of our favorites. Photo courtesy
McCormick.

You can also make flavored water with extracts. McCormick’s, available at most supermarkets, has the widest retail selection:

• Fruit Flavors: Banana, Lemon, Coconut, Orange, Raspberry and Strawberry
• Herb Flavors: Anise, Cinnamon, Mint
• More Flavors: Almond, Maple, Rum

We make mint water every day. The recipe: 8-10 drops of mint extract per 16-ounce bottle of water (use a clean medicine dropper).

We like a very flavor-forward water. If you’re not certain how strong you like it, start with 6 drops and keep adding until you reach your preferred threshold.

But lately, we’ve been playing with other recipes, including combinations (banana rum is a favorite). But our most favorite discovery: anise water. If you love the flavor of anise (or licorice), try it.

And let us know your favorite combinations.

You can still enjoy a few drinks on Christmas and New Year’s Eve, without breaking the calorie bank.

Registered Dietician Elizabeth Somer provides tips that help you to “drink this, not that,” to borrow a phrase from the popular book by David Zinczenko and Matt Goulding.

In fact, the book series that includes Drink This, Not That, Eat This, Not That and Cook This, Not That will help jump-start your New Year’s diet.

But back to our weekly cooking video: Spend a few minutes with it and you’ll be mindful of which drinks are highest in calories and which alternatives are just as satisfying. Or as we see it, trade off drink calories for a piece of pecan pie or cheesecake.

You not only use an unreasonable amount of paper towels (non-green greens, as it were); but you also unnecessarily crush delicate greens such as basil and mint.

Instead, use the OXO Good Grips Salad Spinner to dry your lettuce and herbs.

What separates the OXO Good Grips Salad Spinner from its competitors is the ease and versatility of use.

• The OXO Salad Spinner uses a pump style method for spinning the basket rather than a crank or rope.
• This means you can operate the spinner with only one hand by simply pushing down on the pump.

Dry your salad without wasting paper towels.
Photo courtesy OXO Good Grips.

• There is also a non-slip ring on the bowl to make sure it stays put while you’re drying your salad leaves.

The 6-quart bowl is deep, so you can toss your unwashed greens into it and fill it with cold water. This lets any sediment sink to the bottom while your salad floats to the top.

Then when you’re ready to spin, simply slowly lift the basket out of the water, pour out any dirt and spin. If you’re in a bind, the large bowl also acts as a serving vessel. You can dress the salad and put the entire bowl out for display.

Last year, another brand of salad spinner won a major industry award. We rushed to buy it. Alas, the pull-cord broke within eight weeks.

Our OXO gets the thumbs up!

It’s easy to make from scratch. Photo
by M. Sheldrake | IST.

CRANBERRY SAUCE RECIPE

Ingredients

• 1 pound frozen or fresh cranberries
• Juice of 2 navel oranges
• 2 tablespoons brown sugar
• 3 tablespoons honey (more if needed)
• ¼ cup Bourbon (optional)
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• Juice of 1 lemon
• 1 cinnamon stick
• 1 jalapeño, finely minced

1. Wash cranberries under cold water and place in a sauce pan with brown sugar, cinnamon stick, half the orange juice, salt, jalapeño and bourbon.

2. Bring mixture to boil on high heat, then maintain a simmer on low heat. The cranberries should pop and break down.

3. When the orange juice has reduced by half (about 5 minutes), add the second half of the orange juice. If the orange juice reduces too quickly before the cranberries fully break down, you can simply add water, about 2 tablespoons at a time, until the cranberries pop and resemble jam.

4. Strain the mixture through a strainer, to separate the skins and stems. Push the mixture through with the back of a spoon.

5. Place back in pan, stir and taste. If the sauce is still acidic, add honey 1 tablespoon at a time. You may not need all the honey.

6. Add a few drops of lemon juice to brighten up the cranberry sauce.

7. It’s ready to serve!

Winners will enjoy treats from Hickory
Farms. Photo courtesy Hickory Farms.

Two lucky winners will receive a Home For The Holidays Gift Box, which includes everything you’ll need for a meat-and-cheese hors d’oeuvres tray: beef, summer sausages, four cheeses, two types of mustard and crunchy crackers. Those with a sweet tooth can nibble on four strawberry candies.

All you’ll need to supply are napkins and plates.

Retail Value Of Prize: Approximately $50.00.

• To learn more about Hickory Farms, visit HickoryFarms.com.
• To Enter This Gourmet Giveaway: Go to the box at the bottom of our Gourmet Food Gifts Page and click to enter your email address for the prize drawing. This contest closes on Monday, December 27th at noon, Eastern Time. Good luck!