Easter will be celebrated by many this Sunday, April 20

If you are like most people, and like myself, you buy way too much food. So what do we do with all of those leftovers? If your house is like mine, what’s left is the healthy fare. The vegetable tray is usually still full at the end of the day. What is also left is the fruit platter. For some reason, Easter must be the “cheat day” of many people because they choose not to partake in the fruits or veggies, and instead consume the alternatives. Don’t throw those healthy platters away just yet. Turn them into cocktails! You can make delicious, healthy cocktails using your leftover fruits and vegetables by blending them into purees and incorporating them into your after-holiday libations. Happy Easter and cheers!

WATERMELON-CUCUMBER COOLER

- courtesy of www.MarthaStewart.com

Ingredients:

• 5 cups Cubed seedless watermelon (about 1 1/2 pounds)
• 1 large English cucumber, peeled and cut into chunks
• 1/4 cup Fresh lime juice (from 2 limes)
• 2 tbsp. Honey
• 2/3 cup Vodka
• Ice
• Cucumber slice or lime wheel, for garnish

Preparation:

1. Set a large fine-mesh sieve over a large bowl or pitcher. In a food processor or blender, puree watermelon. Pour watermelon puree through sieve, pressing on solids with a rubber spatula (you should have about 2 cups juice). Puree English cucumber and pour through sieve into watermelon juice.
2. In a small bowl or measuring cup, stir together lime juice and honey. Add to watermelon and cucumber juices, along with vodka. Adjust sweetness with more honey if desired. To serve, fill four glasses with ice and top each with cocktail. Garnish with cucumber or lime wheel.

GINGER AND CARROT COCKTAIL

- courtesy of Food Network

Ingredients:

• 1 oz. Vodka
• 3 oz. Carrot juice
• 1 oz. Apple juice
• 2 Thin slices of fresh ginger
• Lemon wedge garnish

Preparation: Muddle the ginger slices in the bottom of a shaker glass. Add the remaining ingredients. Shake well for approximately 10 seconds then pour over ice. Garnish with a lemon wedge.

BELL PEPPER COCKTAIL

- courtesy of Organic Authority

Ingredients:

• Four rings of bell pepper (any color)
• 2 tsp Fresh mint
• 3 oz Grapefruit juice
• 1/2 oz Lemon juice
• 3 oz Vodka
• 1 1/2 oz Chartreuse liqueur

Preparation: Muddle bell pepper rings and fresh mint in the bottom of a shaker. Add all other ingredients and shake well. Strain into a hollowed out pepper.

If you need a bit of detoxing or are getting back on that diet after the holiday binge, the following is a delicious, healthy virgin drink by Dr. Oz. Of course, as with anything, you can add a little alcohol to this cocktail!

DR. OZ’S GREEN DRINK

Ingredients:

• 2 cups Spinach
1/2 Cucumber
1/4 Head of celery
• 1/2 Bunch parsley
• 1 Bunch mint
• 3 Carrots
• 2 Apples
• 1/4 Orange
• 1/4 Lime
• 1/4 Lemon
• 1/4 Pineapple

Preparation: Combine all ingredients in a blender. Serve and enjoy!