This festive mocktail is a refreshing apéritif for the holidays—and can be made into a cocktail with a splash of gin, tequila or vodka (we like gin or flavored vodka best).

Or, see the tip below to add spirits, including flavored vodka.

Thanks to Pampered Chef for the recipe.
 
 
RECIPE: CRAN-RASPBERRY FIZZ

Let the sorbet soften at room temperature as you prepare the other ingredients.
 
 
Ingredients For 16 Servings

 
Preparation

1. SLICE two of the limes into wheels for garnish. If you have a mandoline with a v-shaped blade, it’s much easier. Set aside.

2. POUR the cranberry juice concentrate and water into a large pitcher.

3. JUICE the remaining limes and add to the pitcher. If you have a citrus press, you can juice them right into the pitcher.

4. SCOOP the sorbet into the pitcher using an ice cream scoop; whisk to combine.

5. ADD the ginger ale and the lime slices. Stir gently to mix (you don’t want to burst the bubbles). Serve over ice.

[1] This Cran-Raspberry mocktail can be easily turned into a cocktail (both photos © Pampered Chef).

[2] This Large Plunger Pitcher from Pampered Chef does the mixing for you.

[1] Butternut squash (photo © Good Eggs).

[2] Sweet potatoes (photo © North Carolina Sweet Potatoes).

[3] You can mash either butternut squash or sweet potatoes. The choice is yours (photo © Chef Ingrid Hoffmann)

It’s the time of year where lots sweet potatoes and winter squash are served up.

They’re both orange, a color that owes thanks to lots of the antioxidant† beta-carotene.

They’re both yummy.

But are they equally nutritious? Nope.
 
 
SWEET POTATO SHOCKER

Sweet potatoes have about double the calories, carbs, and sugar than than butternut squash (see the chart below—source).

While sweet potatoes do have more fiber and protein than butternut squash, the numbers are not significant like the calorie and carb numbers:

 
We side with the squash.

And actually, cup for cup acorn squash is the most nutritious of all the winter squash varieties—but it’s smaller and thus yields less meat‡.

It has more calcium, folate, magnesium (nearly one-third of a day’s worth in one cup) and potassium than butternut, hubbard and spaghetti squash.

Of course, all winter squash varieties deliver on nutrition. In addition to fiber and protein, their nutrition includes:

 
So at it’s basic best, winter squash is health food!
________________

*There are 11 types of winter squash: acorn, banana, buttercup, butternut, delicata, hubbard, kabocha, pumpkin, spaghetti, sweet dumpling and turban squash. Summer squash has a thin peel that can be eaten. Yellow squash and zucchini are examples.

†An antioxidant is an enzyme or other organic molecule that reduces the rate of particular oxidation reactions and can counteract the damaging effects of oxygen in tissues. Here’s more about antioxidants.

‡In addition to referring to the flesh of animals used as food, “meat” also designates the edible part of anything, e.g. a fruit or nut.

Rum Raisin ice cream is typically a holiday special in American grocery stores, although it’s delicious year-round.

Raisins are plumped up with rum and mixed into vanilla ice cream.

But if you buy a commercial brand, you’re more likely to get raisins plumped in rum flavor instead of alcohol. And that doesn’t produce much rum flavor.

So the joy of making your own Rum Raisin is getting an authentic rum hit in every bite.

Our recipe is below. But first…
 
 
THE HISTORY OF RUM RAISIN ICE CREAM

Rum Raisin ice cream was first introduced to the U.S. market in the 1980’s by Häagen-Dazs®. But it has a much older history.

The origins of Rum Raisin ice cream can be traced back to a popular ingredient in European dessert dishes, called Málaga. It was a sweet condiment or sauce made using marinated Málaga raisins.

Málaga raisins were made from Muscat grapes on Spain’s Costa del Sol (home of the port city of Málaga).

These meaty, juicy, higher-sugar raisins were special enough to earn a P.D.O. certification (Protected Designation of Origin) from the E.U., certifying that they are produced in the specific region.

Among other uses, the raisins were soaked in wine and added to cakes and other desserts. And, they were exported across Europe.

The First Rum Raisin Ice Cream

The Sicilians were the first to create Málaga gelato, the forerunner of Rum Raisin ice cream, using the Málaga raisins marinated in Sicily’s Marsala wine (the history of ice cream).

The raisins were soaked overnight and mixed into vanilla gelato, providing a bursts of sweet raisins and Marsala in every bite.

But in the late 17th century, Europe saw a massive increase in sugar and rum imports from the Caribbean. Many traditional recipes were adapted to incorporate them.

It turned out that rum was an excellent substitute for wine in the making of Málaga—and with more of an alcoholic flavor!

As a result, the Sicilians switched to using rum in their Málaga gelato. The recipe came to the U.S. during the late 19th century wave of Italian immigration [source].
 
 
RECIPE: RUM RAISIN ICE CREAM

Make a more eye-catching ice cream with a mix of dark and golden raisins (sultanas). You can also toss some dried cranberries into the mix.

Most recipes suggest marinating the raisins in rum overnight. The longer they marinate, the more alcoholic they get. For the full buzz, you can marinate them for up to a week.

We prefer the more complex flavors of dark rum. If you don’t have any and don’t want to buy a bottle, you can use what you have on hand. You can also use spiced rum.

For a separate use, you can use the marinated raisins as a topping on scoops of ice cream (caramel, chocolate, strawberry…), or layered in a parfait.

If you’re tempted to add more rum, note that alcohol does not freeze. The more rum, the softer, creamier consistency of the ice cream. Adding a tad more than the two tablespoons of reserved rum, and you’ll end up with soft serve.

The day before, read the manufacturer’s directions on your ice cream maker; you may have to freeze the bowl overnight.

And if you don’t have the time or inclination to make ice cream from scratch, here’s how to make Rum Raisin ice cream with store-bought vanilla. Check out the different types of vanilla ice cream below
 
 
Ingredients For 1-1/2 Quarts

 
Preparation

1. PLACE the raisins and rum in a small bowl, cover with plastic wrap, and let marinate for at least 8 hours or overnight. Then drain, reserving 2 tablespoons of the rum. Set the raisins and reserved rum aside.

If you don’t have 8 hours to marinate, speed the process by placing the rum and raisins in a small saucepan over high heat. When the mixture begins to boil, remove it from the heat, let cool and allow to soak for two hours.

(Note: You don’t have to throw out the rest of the rum marinade. It’s perfectly drinkable!)

[1] Rum raisin ice cream. For more eye appeal, use a mixture of both dark and golden (sultana) raisins (photo © Wisconsin Dairy).

[2] PDO Málaga raisins, the original raisins in Rum Raisin ice cream, are especially plump and juicy (photo © Spanish Shop Online).

[3] A dark rum is preferable for Rum Raisin ice cream (photo © WP Wines).

[4] Just want to buy a pint? Haagen-Daz is a standard—but we mix in some real rum (© Haagen-Dazs).

[5] Which type of vanilla ice cream should you use? We prefer the creamier French Vanilla or Old Fashioned Vanilla (photo © Alden’s Organic).

3. POUR the custard through a fine strainer into a large bowl. Stir in the drained raisins along with the 2 tablespoons of reserved rum, the cream and the vanilla. Cover with plastic wrap, pressing it against the surface of the custard, and refrigerate until chilled or overnight.

4. POUR the custard into an ice cream maker, and process according to the manufacturer’s instructions until churned and thick. Transfer to an airtight container and freeze until set, at least 4 hours.

5. SERVE. For adults, consider passing the rum bottle or a small pitcher of rum, to optionally pour over their ice cream.
 

THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF VANILLA ICE CREAM

Some brands offer only basic vanilla, others also make French Vanilla.

Alden Organics, offers three types of vanilla ice cream:

 
Which type should you buy?

For the Rum Raisin ice cream, pie à la mode or other dessert, it’s up to you. The flavor nuances are less easy to discern in a shake or a malt.

But here’s a fun suggestion: Buy all three and have a taste test!
 
________________

*Some brands also add egg yolks to their Old Fashioned Vanilla ice cream.

[1] Butternut squash risotto: creamy and toothsome with crunchy pine nuts and notes of sage (photo © DeLallo).

[2] Asiago cheese. Serve extra Asiago on a cheese or charcuterie plate, or on a sandwich (photo © Wisconsin Cheese).

[3] Fresh sage is a favorite fall herb (photo © Good Eggs).

[4] Arborio rice gives risotto its creaminess. See why in the Arborio Rice paragraph (photo © Sassy Radish).

We made this risotto over the weekend because we love both risotto and butternut squash.

An Italian classic, this fall take on risotto is brimming with flavor, adding pine nuts and balsamic glaze.

It’s easy enough to make on a weeknight.

If you can’t find Asiago cheese, you can substitute other Italian grating cheeses: Grana Padano, Pecorino Romano or Parmigiano-Reggiano (here’s more about Italian grating cheeses).
 
 
RECIPE: BUTTERNUT SQUASH RISOTTO

Ingredients For 6 Servings

 
Preparation

1. PREHEAT the oven to 350˚F. Peel the squash, remove the seeds and cut into 1/2-inch cubes.

2. ARRANGE the squash on a baking sheet. Season with garlic, sage, and salt and pepper to taste. Drizzle with 1 tablespoon of olive oil and toss to coat squash.

3. ROAST for about 30 minutes, until the squash becomes tender and golden. Remove from the heat and discard sage leaves and garlic. Purée half of the squash and set the other half aside. In the meantime…

4. COOK the rice. Bring the chicken stock to a slow simmer on low-heat in small, covered pot. In a large saucepan, heat the olive oil on a medium setting. Add the shallots and cook until they become translucent and softened, but not browned—about 8 minutes. Stir the in rice and mix until coated and the grains become clear, about 4 minutes.

5. ADD the wine and continue to cook and stir until the wine has completely absorbed. Using a ladle, add 3/4 cup of hot broth to the rice. Use a wooden spoon to stir the rice constantly. When the rice has absorbed most (but not all) of the liquid and the mixture is just thick enough to leave a clear wake behind the spoon, add another 3/4 cup broth and the squash purée.

Continue to add broth when mixture gets thick, stirring constantly, until all the broth has been used, the grains are al dente in the center and suspended in a liquid that resembles heavy cream— about 18 minutes.

6. TURN off the heat and stir in the butter, squash pieces, pine nuts, and 1/2 cup of Asiago. Once the butter has melted and the ingredients are fully incorporated, remove from the heat and season with salt and pepper. Serve immediately, topped with the remaining 1/2 cup of Asiago and drizzled with balsamic glaze.
 

WHY ARBORIO RICE?

Arborio rice is essential for risotto. Arborio rice develops a creamy texture around a chewy center and has exceptional ability to absorb flavors.

The creaminess comes from a high starch content. Arborio is a japonica cultivar, the same variety that produces the other “sticky rices,” including mochi and sweet rice.

Primarily used in risotto, this medium-length, round-grained rice is named after the town of Arborio, in Italy’s Po Valley, where it is grown.

The grains have a more tan color with a characteristic white dot at the center of the grain.
 
 
> THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF RICE

Newby Tea is a British brand that puts fine tea in bags, just right for tea lovers who don’t like to deal with loose tea.

Newby is one of the newer tea companies, founded in London at the turn of the millennium with a clear mission: to revive the world’s love for quality tea.

Newby’s fine teas and tisanes can be found globally in five-star hotels, Michelin-starred restaurants, high-end stores and heritage venues.

With more than 140 awards to date, including the Global Tea Championship, Newby Teas is world’s most highly-awarded luxury tea company (wow!).

The company is a member of the Ethical Tea Partnership, a global, not-for-profit organization committed to improving the lives and environment of tea workers throughout the world.

Newby also shares the ETP’s aims of making tea production better, fairer and more environmentally sustainable.

Newby’s regular tea bags have been certified as being biodegradable, made from wood pulp and abaca. The silken pyramid bags are made from biodegradable cornstarch.
 
 
WHAT MAKES NEWBY TEAS SO GOOD?

The tea leaves used are among the finest available. Only first and second flush leaves, those picked in prime season from March to July go into Newby products.

Newby chooses only the leaves from the season’s best harvests. Highly skilled tea tasters test thousands of cups before selecting the leaves for blends.

The leaves are then shipped directly to Newby’s state-of-the-art preservation, storage, blending and packing facility in India.

The facility is strategically located in the heart of the fine tea-growing regions of the world, thus reducing transit time to preserve quality.

It is the only facility of its kind in the world for tea, and receives the highest accreditation in safety and quality by BRC Global Standards and HACCP, year after year.

The close location minimizes the exposure of the leaves to negative influences. Mechanisms that control temperature and humidity levels guarantee that each blend is painstakingly protected from environmental contaminants.

It’s all about the craft of fine tea, from field to cup.
 
 
EVERYDAY BOXES & BEAUTIFUL GIFTS

You can treat yourself to boxes of Newby Teas (photo #2), and give beautiful gift boxes (photo #1) to tea-loving friends.

There are also handsome metal tea caddies filled with loose leaf tea in black, green and tisane blends.

In addition to black tea, green tea and fruit and herbal tisanes, there are:

 
For the health-minded, the different teas have been grouped into a page of more than 30 “immunity boosters.”
 
 
READY TO DRINK A CUP OR GIVE A CUP?

Head to NewbyTeas.us.
 
 
> THE HISTORY OF TEA
 
 
> THE HISTORY OF THE TEA BAG
 
 
> TEA TERMS & THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF TEA

[1] Beautiful gift boxes are available in black, green and tisane teas. (all photos © Newby Teas).

[2] Ready to trade up to better tea for yourself? Buy standard boxes of Newby Teas.

[3] Relax with a tranquil cup of tea.

[4] Whether for breakfast, a tea break or an after-dinner cup, you’ll relish the flavor of Newby.

[5] Add a sprig of evergreen or holly to cup at a holiday meal.