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I love holiday parties and dinners. I think a big part of that has to do with the fact that, while I enjoy cooking, I always look forward to having a break! I’d much rather only worry about one or two dishes than an entire meal. Everything about holiday meals are food lover’s haven but, I have to admit, the one place that they usually fail are in the drinks. Imagine having a perfectly laid out spread, with beautiful food, table settings, silverware set just so, everyone dressed nicely…with glasses filled with plain old water. It’s a serious downer! Don’t get me wrong, I love water but I enjoy a little something extra with a nice meal.
So what’s a hostess supposed to do?
Why not add some special holiday drinks to the menu, ones that are family friendly, still incorporate water, and add that extra special touch your meal needs? Let me show you how easy it is to whip up a festive drink-Sparkling Strawberry Balsamic Mocktails.
A Drink Lover’s New Best Friend
Let’s introduce you to your new best friend when it comes to fun and festive drinks, the SodaStream Power Automatic Sparkling Water Maker. I have no doubt that you’ve heard about the SodaStream Power. It’s the world’s number one sparkling water brand and has been on my Christmas list for years and I’m thrilled to have one sitting on my countertop. SodaStream helps people everywhere, embrace a healthier lifestyle by providing a simple, fun and sustainable way to enjoy beverages that are better for you.
Here’s why I love it. First, it’s sleek and doesn’t take up much room. A plus for someone like me without much countertop space. Second, it’s easy to use. All you have to do is fill up the accompanying bottle with water, choose your fiz setting (I like the 3 the best because I love fizzy drinks!), and then add your flavor. It’s literally that easy. Third, because I love fizzy drinks so much, I don’t always drink enough water, but I since having this machine in my kitchen, I have been drinking more water. I love how fun it is to create exciting new drinks too!
As part of this campaign, I was given a SodaStream Power Automatic Sparkling Water Maker, along with four bottles of SodaStream Waters drink mixes. They included the Waters Sparkling Gourmet – Blackcurrant Lime, Waters Fruits – Berry Mix, Waters Zeros – Cranberry Raspberry, and Waters Sparkling Gourmet – Basil Lime.
To create this gourmet holiday drink, I used the SodaStream Sparkling Drink Mixes in the Fruits-Berry Mix. The Fruits line is derived from fruit components in a variety of mouth-watering flavors.
Sparkling Strawberry Balsamic Mocktail
When it comes to flavors, I’m a huge fan of incorporating herbs. Admittedly, before I started working with them, it seemed strange to throw basil into a drink, but, trust me, it’s amazing! Herbs add a new depth of flavor to your drinks. I think I went through four of these drinks when I made them. So much for sharing, right? But that’s how good it is!
To make this Sparkling Strawberry Balsamic Mocktail, I poured the Fruits-Berry Mix into a cold fizzy bottle of carbonated water (I used the 3 setting for the carbonation). In a glass, I muddled 3 strawberries, 2 Basil leaves, and one teaspoon of balsamic vinegar.
Next, I added in enough of the mixed SodaStream water to fill the glass. The final touch was a strawberry on the rim with a fun straw.
The balsamic adds an additional flavor that isn’t overwhelming but just enough of that special zing to put this mocktail over the top! If you’re doing this for a family meal, you may find that kids don’t appreciate the flavors. For my kids, I muddled up strawberries, added some ice, and then poured the mixed SodaStream water until it filled the cup. They drank it right up!
This is a fun and festive drink to add to your holiday feast!
Interested in snagging or giving a SodaStream Power? Sodastreamusa.com offers free shipping on all orders over $50, and you can find the latest SodaStream offers by clicking here. You can buy the SodaStream Power directly fromsodastreamusa.com or by finding a favorite retailer.
Find more recipe ideas and information by following SodaStream on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, and YouTube. Speaking of YouTube, here’s a great video that shows you how easy the SodaStream Power is to use (and check out their other videos too!).
