2012: this is THE year. as in THE one. as in what we’ve been waiting for. as in don’t F*$! it up. use the extraordinary energy of the next 365 days to craft your new life… the soul mate of your dreams. the career of your dreams. the family of your dreams. for there is a spicy kick to this year that will light all that you capable of imagining on fire. (and that’s fire in a good way, for those who know me ; ) just stay away from dark thoughts and work towards the light of the dragon.

you might think that dragons are mythical creatures living only in games such as dungeon & dragons, books such as harry potter or permanently on the biceps of bikers. but you would be mistaken. i only recently learned this myself: and that is that the dragon realm is as real as any other… take for example the angels. just because you can’t see them doesn’t mean they don’t exist. think of it this way… when you look at a hummingbird, you can’t see its wings, for they are moving so quickly. but, they are there! some things vibrate too rapidly for the human eye to pick up. just like a dog can hear sounds that are inaudible to the human ear… same thing!

i know that when i am very tired and have to stay up late, i will often call on the energy of the dragon realm to help pump me full of their special brand of metaphysical cocaine. and it works! i’m always amazed that i didn’t get tired. so, this 2012, call on the energy of the dragon and fire up your life. how bout a spicy tipple to help get you started?

DRAGON MARGARITA:
3 oz charred pineapple jalapeno infused tequila
1.5 oz triple sec
1.0 oz simple syrup
1.0 oz lime juice

Shake over ice. strain into chili salt rimmed glass. Garnish with a slice of jalapenjo pepper.

PINEAPPLE JALAPENO INFUSION: Slice a ripe pineapple and a jalapeno pepper in half, and grill. Submerge into tequila-filled vessel. Allow to infuse for at least one week.

CHILI SALT: mix chili piquin with kosher salt.

as promised, i’m putting all the recipes from our holiday event (intoxicated zodiac, susan miller & todd english) online. so now all you zodiac junkies can drink your very own sign for some extra christmas cheer this year!

The work of Nicholas Culpeper, the father of western herbalism, serves as a guide when i create astrology-themed drinks. Culpeper’s books are still in print, 300 years after he wrote detailed descriptions of which plants belong to which signs and how to use them medicinally. In Medieval Herbal Astrology, plants have Zodiac signs, just like people. In the Medieval times only seven planets had been discovered as opposed to nine today. Therefore, since these drinks are based on Medieval Herbal Astrology, the ancient ruling planet for each sign is referenced.

“under the stars” is a NOISE 784 production. sponsored by TYKU, perrier and jim beam, the recipes call for these fine products. cheers!

Aries’ Cocktail features CRANBERRY as its star ingredient! Aries is ruled by Mars: The scarlet, fiery, hot planet. Flavors that are very spicy or very tart are often ruled by Mars. The cranberry’s bright crimson color, underscored by its tangy flavor certainly betrays its allegiance to the red planet, and is hence an Aries.

ARIES XMAS TIPPLE:
2 oz sochu, 2 oz cranberry syrup, 1/2 oz fresh lemon juice, perrier
(shake over ice and strain pour into an ice packed collins glass. Top with Perrier. Garnish with a floating fresh cranberry)

CRANBERRY SPICE SYRUP:
2 c white sugar, 3 c water, 1 c fresh cranberries, peel of half a small orange
(simmer for 20-30 minutes and strain)

Taurus’ Cocktail features PEPPERMINT as its star ingredient! If its divinely fragrant and tantalizingly tasty, you can bet its ruled by Venus. This beautiful planet rules all fruit, herbs and flowers that are particularly fragrant. Hence, mint falls under the dominion of Venus and may be identified as a Taurus.

TAURUS XMAS TIPPLE:
2 oz sochu, 1 oz peppermint syrup, 1 oz lemon juice
(served up with a mini candy cane garnish)

PEPPERMINT MINT SYRUP:
3 c white sugar, 2 c water, 1 tsp peppermint extract
(heat until dissolved)

Gemini’s Cocktail features HAZELNUT as its star ingredient! Culpeper lists the hazelnut under Mercury. The tree’s delicate leaves & flowers are indicative of this planet’s fleeting & wispy qualities. After all, Mercury is the fastest orbiting planet in our solar system. hazelnut is a Gemini.

GEMINI XMAS TIPPLE:
2 oz sochu, 1 oz hazelnut cocoa syrup, 1 oz creamer
(served up with a few pcs of floating chopped hazelnut garnish)

HAZELNUT COCOA SYRUP:
1 c “NUTELLA” spread,2 c water
(heat lightly and whisk until blended)

Cancer’s Cocktail features EGG as its star ingredient! The egg is ruled by the Moon, as is Cancer. They share the traits of a hard outer shell and a soft, pale, fleshy inside. Cancer is known for its innate creativity, along with a desire to “nest.” What symbolizes those two qualities more than the egg?

CANCER XMAS TIPPLE:
2 oz whiskey, 1 oz ‘nog anise syrup, 1 oz creamer
(served up with a floating star anise)

‘NOG ANISE SYRUP:
1 c brown sugar, 1 ½ c water, 2 cinnamon sticks, 5 star anise, 4 tsp chopped, fresh ginger, 3 tsp vanilla extract, 10 cardamom pods
(toast spices over medium low in pan first. then simmer for 20-30 minutes and strain)

Leo’s Cocktail features CLEMENTINE as its star ingredient! The bright, round, orange-colored, life-giving star of our solar system, the Sun, rules over Leo. Because the clementine bears a heavy physical resemblance to the sun, it is given ruler ship under it. The clementine is a Leo.

LEO XMAS TIPPLE:
2 oz sochu, 1 oz clementine rosemary syrup, 1 1/2 oz lemon juice
(served over ice topped with Perrier. Garnish with a slice of clementine)

CLEMENTINE ROSEMARY SYRUP:
2 chopped clementines, ¼ c chopped fresh rosemary, 2 c white sugar, 2 c water
(simmer for 20-30 minutes and strain)

Virgo’s Cocktail features POMEGRANATE as its star ingredient! The pomegranate is ruled by Mercury due to its astringent qualities. Mercury is the fleet-footed planet and therefore holds ownership over anything that is fast-binding and drying in nature. That is why the pomegranate is a Virgo.

VIRGO XMAS TIPPLE:
1 oz sochu, 1 oz tyku liqueur, 1 1/2 oz pomegranate grenadine, 1/2 oz lemon juice
(serve up and garnish with 3 floating pomegranate seeds)

POMEGRANATE GRENADINE:
Equal parts 100% pomegranate juice and water
(simmer for 20-30 minutes)

Libra’s Cocktail features SUGAR PLUM as its star ingredient! Libra is ruled by the Venus, the beautiful planet. Venus holds dominion over things that are sugary sweet, succulent, attractive and delectable in nature. A perfectly ripe, juicy plum would certainly fall under ruler ship of Venus, and may be called a Libra.

LIBRA XMAS TIPPLE:
1 oz sochu, 1 oz tyku liqueur, 1 oz plum syrup, 1 oz lemon juice
(serve up and garnish with a sugar rim)

SUGAR PLUM SYRUP:
2 c white sugar, 3 c water, 2-3 chopped fresh plums
(simmer for 20-30 minutes and strain)

Scorpio’s Cocktail features CLOVE as its star ingredient! The incredibly pungent and powerful clove is ruled by none other than what many refer to as the planet of war, Mars. Really, it is the planet of passion and the strength to defend and protect. In fact, clove is so strong it can be used to defeat Cancer. Today, Scorpio is considered co-ruled by Mars and Pluto.

SCORPIO XMAS TIPPLE:
1 oz sochu, 1 oz sake, 1 oz lemon juice, 1 oz clove chili syrup, perrier
(served over ice, topped with perrier, garnished with a floating clove and straw)

CLOVE CHILI SYRUP:
1 c white sugar, 3 c water, 2-3 pinches cloves, 1 small handful or approx 20 dried chili arbols
(toast chilis and clove over medium low in pan first. simmer for 15-20 minutes and strain)

Sagittarius’ Cocktail features FIG as its star ingredient The vast number of seeds in a fig makes it a fruit ruled by Jupiter, the largest planet in our solar system. This huge planet is the owner of all things Ubiquitous, prolific, abundant and colossal in nature. This is why the fig is listed as a Sagittarius.

SAGITTARIUS XMAS TIPPLE:
2 oz whiskey, 1 ¼ oz fig syrup, ¾ oz fresh lemon juice
(shake over ice and strain into glass. Garnish with a dried fig slice)

FIG SYRUP:
1 c fresh chopped figs, 1 c white sugar, 2 c water
(simmer for 20-30 minutes and strain)

Capricorn’s Cocktail features MOLASSES as its star ingredient! Discarded as a by-product, molasses is the almost black, densely thick, mildly bittersweet syrup that is born from the dregs of the sugar cane plant. Saturn symbolizes frugality, austerity and scarcity. Molasses is ruled by Saturn due to the nature of its genesis.

CAPRICORN XMAS TIPPLE:
2 oz whiskey, 1 oz gingerbread syrup, 1 oz creamer
(served up with a slice of candied ginger garnish)

GINGERBREAD SYRUP: 2 c brown sugar, 2 c water, 1 c molasses, 5 tbsp chopped fresh ginger
(simmer for 20-30 minutes and strain)

Aquarius’ Cocktail features CEDAR as its star ingredient! Saturn is the slowest moving planet, symbolizing longevity and resilience. Plants ruled by this constant planet are extremely hardy in nature–take for example the famously pest and weather-resistant cedar tree. Today Aquarius is considered co-ruled by Saturn and Uranus. That’s why cedar is an Aquarius.

AQUARIUS XMAS TIPPLE:
1 oz sochu, 1 oz sake, 3/4 oz lemon juice, 1 oz cedar syrup
(served up with a sugar rim)

CEDAR TIP SYRUP:
2 c white sugar, 2 c water, 1 c dried cedar tip needles
(toast cedar over medium low in pan first. simmer for 20-30 minutes and strain)

Pisces’ Cocktail features CHESTNUT as its star ingredient! The chestnut tree’s diameter can be as great as 17 feet, which epitomizes the grandiose qualities of the largest planet in our solar system, Jupiter. Today, Pisces is considered co-ruled by Jupiter and the more recently discovered Neptune. The chestnut is a Pisces and sheer size alone is what determines that.

PISCES XMAS TIPPLE:
2 oz whiskey, 1 oz chestnut syrup, 1 oz creamer
(served up a chestnut slice garnish)

CHESTNUT SYRUP:
2 c white sugar, 2 c water, 1 c chopped and peeled roasted chestnuts
(simmer for 20-30 minutes and strain)

ROAST CHESTNUT GARNISH:
Slice each nut prior to baking with a knife, but try not to penetrate flesh. Then it will be easier to slice them for garniature.

GINGERBREAD FIZZ
1 1/2 oz spiced rum
1 oz molasses syrup
1/2 oz cream
seltzer
brandied cherry

***build drink in an ice packed collins glass. pour rum, then molasses, then cream. this is a layered drink so you don’t want to mix or shake. top with seltzer and garnish with a brandied cherry.

GINGERBREAD HOT TODDY
2 oz spiced rum
1/2 oz molasses syrup
hot water
whipped cream

***build drink in mug. garnish with whipped cream dusted with cinnamon

SPICED RUM:
in bottle of rum, submerge an assortment of spices. cardamom, cinnamon, clove, nutmeg are all great ones to use, but be sure to include a lot of ginger. the more spices you pack into the bottle (or container), the stronger it will turn out. start the infusion as early as possible as it does take some time for the flavors to impart.

MOLASSES SYRUP:
heat equal parts molasses & water until dissolved. store in fridge.

WHIPPED CREAM:
in bowl, beat 1 cup heavy cream, 1/4 cup sugar until stiff.

BRANDIED CHERRIES:
1 cup sugar, 2 cloves, 1 cinnamon stick, 4 cardamom pods
1 quart stemmed/pitted cherries (frozen is fine), 1/2 cup brandy

simmer on stove top for 5 minutes. transfer to jar or other container and add brandy. store in fridge.

what’s the big apple without coffee and cabs?

home is where the heart is, and hopefully, you’ll be home for the holidays… but if you’re not, a good punch can feel just like home, too. you don’t need me to tell you punches are hot, so now you can trend it up this holiday at your inlaws with the latest and greatest in mixology.

christmas means dried fruit. usually in the form of a wretched fruit cake, granted, but dried fruit none the less. get your holiday cheer on with an alternative use for dried fruit: the date rum punch!

while the date is ruled by delectable venus, all signs can enjoy this sticky sweet delight. taurus, this drinks for you, as you are one of the signs that revels in holiday tradition, or any tradition for that matter. but, hey, all you other signs feel free to go forth and imbibe this rich tipple too!

DATE RUM PUNCH
1.5 parts dark rum
1 part brewed black tea
1 part homemade date syrup*
1 part fresh squeezed clementine juice
1/2 part sweet vermouth
1/2 part fresh squeezed lemon juice

(float sliced clementines in the punch bowl and garnish each glass with a date)

*you can make this into a single serve cocktail by converting the “parts” to “ounces,” or make it into a punch by converting the “parts” to “bottles” or whatever vessel you choose to use.

*HOMEMADE DATE SYRUP: simmer one cup chopped dates, 2 cups brown sugar, 5 cups water for 15 minutes. strain and chill.

“Under the Stars with Susan Miller & Friends”

***Spend the whole evening with astrologer, susan miller, and as part of the event, Listen to her one-hour talk on “All That We Can Look Forward to in 2012!”

***Renowned restauranteur, author and tv star, todd english will take you on a culinary zodiac inspired tasting.

***Indulge in an open bar featuring twelve cocktails inspired by the zodiac from mixologist and founder of Intoxicated Zodiac, Gwen Sutherland Kaiser.

***Shop in our astrology holiday shop, dance to live music, and mingle – we will all celebrate together, and share stories as we do!

Date: December 15, 2011
Time: 6:30 PM to 11:00 PM
Place: CrossBar at LimeLight, 47 west 20th street at 6th ave
Cost: $225 per ticket all inclusive of food, drinks, lecture, entertainment
(Event produced by Noise 784)
Email: Jaspre@noise784.com for more information

PUMPKIN INFUSED VODKA:
roast 1 sugar pumpkin whole. after it is cooked, slice into thin strips. place in pot, bowl or other container before covering with 1 bottle vodka. it is fine to leave the seeds in the infusion. add 5 cinnamon sticks, and 1 nutmeg. smash the nutmeg with a hammer or something heavy to break it open before adding it to mixture (see photo at bottom). cover and set aside for at least one week, stirring often. the more time you allow it to infuse the stronger the flavor will be. when you are ready to use the vodka, strain and make sure to press all the vodka out of the pumpkin.

these cocktails are perfect after dinner treats, but they’re also fun and festive, making them the ideal thanksgiving icebreaker too. be extra fab this year, and greet your thanksgiving guests at the door—they’ll be thanking you all day! or, bring the ingredients with you… so much cooler than marshmallow yams.

PUMPKIN SPICE HOT TODDY:
pour into mug: 2 oz pumpkin infused vodka, 1/2 oz vanilla liqueur (licor 43 or navan). fill with hot water. top with whipped cream. sprinkle with nutmeg.

WHIPPED CREAM:
in bowl, beat 1 cup heavy cream, 1/4 cup sugar, 1 teaspoon vanilla (optional) until stiff. it will last a few days. don’t overbeat it or you will end up with butter!

NO DAIRY TODDY:
the toddy tastes dandy without dairy, so if you’re a vegan, or lactose intolerant just leave off the cream, for a yummy dairy-free treat. garnish with a cinnamon stick instead.

PUMPKIN PIE MARTINI:
3 oz pumpkin vodka, 1 oz vanilla liqueur (licor 43 or navan), splash of cream or non-dairy creamer (coconut creamer is awesome). shake over ice and strain into martini glass. sprinkle with nutmeg.

Resolution with a Twist:
At this time of year why do we make resolutions to do and be better when we know they typically crash and burn around January 2nd?

Perhaps Edith Lovejoy Price explained our New Year’s quest for a fresh slate when she said, “We will open the book. Its pages are blank. We are going to put words on them ourselves. The book is called Opportunity and its first chapter is New Year’s Day.”

As the old year ends, we look to what changes we can make for a better new year. We resolve to begin this change January 1st on a clean slate. But as January gets underway, declarations begin to fade. Whether to exercise more, stop smoking, drink less, eat better, stop buying lattes, save money, recycle, conserve gas, or be more attentive with family, they leave a mild sense of defeat in their wake.

Oprah Winfrey said, “Cheers to a new year and another chance for us to get it right.” This “getting it right” links to a desire to feel good, both about yourself and your life.

So it’s interesting to note that New Year’s resolutions often involve giving up something you like (smoking, alcohol, lattes, shopping) or adding into your life something not wanted (more salads, regular visits to the gym, phone calls to mom every Sunday). No wonder it’s said a “New Year’s resolution goes in one year and out the other.”

After all, we are meant to follow our bliss, find our joy, be creative, live with a sense of purpose. When we don’t, we find ourselves on the psychiatrist’s couch or in the doctor’s office, unfulfilled.

The premise of the typical New Year’s resolution is to do something new that improves life, but in fact, it often is destined for failure because it is in conflict with what you truly want. One way to be more successful is to focus on how you want to feel.

Let’s assume you want to feel energetic, healthy, happy, and safe. You want to feel loved by others while having compassion toward them. Alter your idea that you have to do something significant in order to get there.

Focus more on the “what” rather than the “how.” It’s likely counter to what you’ve been taught. Most of us are taught to go out and make things happen, often when we aren’t clear on what underlies the desire to make them happen in the first place.

Many people are living lives they think they want, yet they are unhappy. They haven’t stopped to ask themselves how they want to feel each day. This is why resolutions get dropped like hot potatoes. They don’t feel good.

If you resolve to lose weight, first determine how you want to feel. Simply wanting to lose weight isn’t enough. Do you want to feel more energy? Do you want to feel more loved and accepted by society? Do you want to feel happy? Are you afraid your health is suffering and you want to feel more secure that your weight is just fine? Get clear on your intention around losing weight then focus on that intention. Make how you want to feel in the coming year the focus of your New Year’s resolution, rather than simply losing weight.

If you want to save money, go to how you want to feel first. What is it about saving money that feels good? A sense of security? Excitement? An inspiring challenge?

If you want to quit smoking, how do you want to feel every day? Peaceful? Calm? More loved?

Determine the underlying feeling you want to experience. Turn this into your resolution. This clarity will help make it happen. It’s not something you can drop that easily because you truly want it. It’s always there, beckoning you.

RESOLUTION WITH A TWIST:
1.5 oz pisco or vodka
.5 oz fresh squeezed lemon juice
10 dashes aromatic bitters
.5 oz simple syrup (raw sugar)
champagne

Shake over ice. Strain into flute.
Fill with champagne. Gently stir. garnish with a twist.

*Simple Syrup: equal parts sugar/water
(substitute stevia for sugar for no calories or glycemic index)

Cheers to a successful New Year’s Resolution!

Dr. Christina Grant is a holistic healer and spiritual counselor who uses astrology in her work to help people better understand their purpose and life circumstances. She works in person and by phone. She has helped hundreds of people attain physical, mental, emotional and spiritual well-being through personal transformation. Her writing is published nationwide. For more information, to contact her, schedule a session, sign up to receive her newsletter, or to read her blog, see WWW.CHRISTINAGRANT.COM