To Imbibe + Imbibe Some More.

I just recently watched the newish Danish film Another Round and was left with so many interesting feelings. The movie is about four high school teachers who decide to test out a theory where they must consume alcohol on a daily basis to see how it affects their social and professional lives. The film explores how much our inhibitions can prevent us from being fully present in life and also how losing those inhibitions can do the exact same thing. 

As someone who doesn’t drink 90% of the time, I can attest to this mode of thinking. I still remember how loose + limber alcohol made me feel. It’s no accident that it’s called liquid courage. Depending on how much you have it can act as your cloak of invisibility, hiding away your shyness and insecurities. As I’ve become the staple non-drinker in social situations I sometimes find myself grasping for words and relevance in conversation. I find myself yearning for that giggle-inducing chatter with girlfriends and the gentle push of bravery that a margarita may provide. 

As I reminisce about my old bar-hopping days I’ll leave you with three fabulous non-alcoholic drinks that are just as dandy as their boozy alternatives.

Pomegranate Mint Spritzer

½ oz pomegranate concentrate

4 sprigs of mint, muddled

1 teaspoon agave syrup

3 oz of sparkling water

Pomegranate concentrate is the juice of pomegranate seeds but is undiluted. You can find it in Middle Eastern or kosher specialty stores. Feel free to use POM brand juice if you can’t find it.

Spicy Lemon Spritzer

2 oz lemon pepper simple syrup

6 oz sparkling water

If you’re missing that burn that alcohol has you can make this spicy concoction. It’s like if lemonade had a cool older sister that no one knows about because she’s constantly traveling the globe and doesn’t have social media.

Lemon Pepper Simple Syrup

½ cup water

½ cup sugar

Juice + zest of a large lemon

1 tablespoon cracked black pepper

1 teaspoon red pepper flakes

Bring all ingredients to a quick boil then let it completely cool and steep. Once cooled strain pepper from the syrup.

Pineapple Ginger Margarita

3 oz pineapple juice

2 oz lime juice

½ tablespoon agave syrup

½ teaspoon grated ginger

This is one of my favorite drinks. It has the sour from the lime juice, the tanginess from the pineapple juice, and the kick from the ginger which makes it the perfect faux margarita. This drink is too delicious to just have one.

As always feel free to adapt any of my recipes to your liking + let me know if you try any of these out.

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What I’ve Eaten Recently: The best scariest looking pickled tomatoes of my life. I honestly thought these were going to be a mushy mouth feel but boy was I wrong. These are pickled green tomatoes that held their firmness in the brine. Probably the crunchiest pickle I’ve had in a very long time. Hot damn, these were so very good.

Cook. Eat. Repeat.

Natalie 💗✨