Happy Holidays everyone! This will be my last post until after the first of the year – will be off celebrating my 60th…I wish you all the very best times with family and friends and I thank you for reading my blog. More to come in 2018!

If you are anything like me, one of the hardest places to cut calories is with alcoholic beverages. I really enjoy a glass of wine, a martini, a cocktail, champagne, you name it. Whether at home at the end of a long day or out at a bar with Peter, it’s yummy, it’s relaxing, it’s social.  But damn, you know it never ends with one drink. And that’s where those calories add up. What’s a gal to do?  One obvious solution is to stay away from sugary drinks – margaritas, pina coladas, mojitos, vodka tonics, mudslides – no thank you!

If you choose wine, sip slowwwwly.  I find that because of the bubbles I can sip champagne even more slowly, and the serving size is usually smaller, so less calories.  But when you want – or need – more of a ‘buzz’ that may not do.  😉   Time to go for the hard stuff, like vodka or gin, which is not so bad calorie wise if you are careful with your mixers.  A dirty martini is a good choice, or a Gibson, which is lately my drink of choice. (This is a martini garnished with a cocktail onion instead of an olive.)

And now I have a new favorite, concocted at home after experimenting with some of my usual libations…

Four ingredients:  vodka, pepperocini, cocktail olives, and cocktail onions.  Pour desired amount of vodka into a shaker with lots of ice. Add a splash of onion juice, a splash of pepperocini juice, and a tiny splash of olive juice.  Shake well then strain into a chilled martini glass…

Garnish with one of each condiment, ideally on a decorative toothpick. Voila!  So sexy!  So retro!  So gooood.   (It needs a name – any ideas?)

Using the proper glassware for your drink makes a huge difference in the whole cocktail experience. These vintage glasses belonged to my grandmother (Ginger’s mother) who was known to be a perfect hostess with a vast collection of glassware, linens, and serving pieces.  This shape is also a fun for champagne.

Now the big question: have you ever tried to do a ‘dry January’?  My two grown kids and I are committing to it!  For me it is partly for the challenge, partly to drop a few pounds.  Anybody else want to join us?   C’mon, we can support each other and share experiences! 

Who’s in???