Crowd Pleaser: Spiced Apple Cider

This weekend, it was a packed one. Two workout dates with friends, a movie date with my husband and a housewarming party that was sure to take the s'more.

To try to prepare in advance, I took a rest day Friday and Miles and I got the grocery shopping done before I had to go to work. Supplies for dinners (chicken burritos, chili and lasagna soup) were bought, and I made sure there were ample freezer goodies for the boys when I'm gone later this week for the Bourbon Chase.

The one thing I didn't have was something to take to the party.

Sure, just ask the pregnant lady to buy some beer. It would be bad enough to watch them drink it but to buy it, nope. Not gonna happen.

I could have easily scrounged up a side (read: picked up something at the deli) but I thought it would be better to bring something that I would enjoy - and happily - as everyone took in the libations.

Spiced Apple Cider! It couldn't have been a better pick either, as the high hovered in the mid- to high 40s and there was a light drizzle to make sure the bonfire (and my Reese's s'mores) would be downright dreadful. It was warm and flavorful and served hot, it took the chill out of the air.

I brought the Zevia, my slow cooker and an orange, and I picked up the cider and cinnamon sticks on the way to the party.

In less than 5 minutes, I had the orange sliced and every thing brewing, so to speak, in the slow cooker. It would easily work on the stove but I wanted it to be warm throughout the night. I started it on high for 30 minutes and then turned it to warm when the cider was hot.

I absolutely loved it as did the other guests. In fact, Betsy saved the leftovers to store in the fridge when no-nap Miles made it clear it was time to go. (And, yes, after a day full of food that included bowl full of chili and two deviled eggs plus bad posture, I am showing. Already.)

Spiced Apple Cider

2 (12-ounce) cans Zevia Orange soda
3 cups apple cider or unfiltered apple juice
1/2 orange, sliced
3 cinnamon sticks (or a small pinch will do)

 In a small sauce pan add the Zevia Orange soda, apple cider or unfiltered, juice, orange slices and cinnamon sticks. Heat on medium low for 10 to 15 minutes – this well infuse the cinnamon into the cider but it will also make your house smell great! Pour into mug and enjoy!

Slow cooker variation: Place all ingredients in crock and heat on high for 30 minutes or until hot. Reduce setting to warm while serving.

- Adapted from Zevia

Disclosure: I have a working relationship with Zevia, and they sent mocktail recipes to me for consideration. I made this of my own accord and was not compensated or sent any samples to make and share this specific recipes.

Inside Zevia: A Q&A with CEO Paddy Spence

For better or worse, I am not a blogger who routinely checks her stats. I write to write and share what I want to share. But when I have checked over the past few months, I've noticed something interesting: a lot of the search engine traffic is related to Zevia.

Zevia is a zero-calorie soda that is sweetened with stevia, monk fruit extract and erythritol. It could be considered a healthier alternative to diet sodas that feature artificial sweeteners and other chemicals and colorings.

I've been drinking Zevia for years - my current favorite flavors are Orange and Cola Lime - before the blog and before the company reached out to me. For me, it fills the void left by former Diet Coke addiction without making me feel like I'm chugging formaldehyde. I usually drink about one a day, with lunch or dinner, and love having the treat.

When the rep contacted me most recently, I had one thing I wanted - and it wasn't more Zevia (though that is always nice). I wanted to respond to the perceived interest in Zevia and ask the CEO, Paddy Spence, about his thoughts on the product. Is it bad for you? Are there side effects? Can it be incorporated in a healthful diet?

Q. What does "sweet smart" mean?
A. "Sweet Smart" is our new natural sweetener blend, which uses a high-purity form of Stevia mixed with Erythritol and Monk fruit extract. The addition of Monk Fruit makes Zevia much sweeter, but contains no fructose or calories and – just like stevia – is natural, does not effect blood glucose levels and has no negative side effects. Our new sweetening system has significantly enhanced the taste of Zevia, making it the #14 diet soda in U.S. supermarkets, according to SPINS/IRI data.

Q. Are there any side effects to Zevia?
A. Zevia's zero-calorie natural sweeteners allow people to indulge in a guilt-free way, due to the lack of calories, sugar and artificial sweeteners. I personally consume around 8 cans of Zevia per day, and drinking Zevia has had no negative effect on my health. In fact, since replacing sugar with stevia in my diet, I feel better than ever before.

Q. Many people are concerned about consuming sugar substitutes. What makes Zevia/stevia different?
A. Stevia and Monk Fruit are plant-based sugar alternatives that do not cause side effects. Other sugar alternatives such as Aspartame, Sucralose and Neotame are artificial sweeteners that some studies indicate may have a variety of negative health consequences. In fact, a recent University of Iowa study of almost 60,000 women found that those consuming two or more artificially sweetened diet sodas per day had an increased risk of heart attack and stroke. Zevia offers an alternative to sugary, high-calorie drinks that is naturally sweetened and contains zero calories or sugar.

Q. What goes into formulating a flavor?
A. Every soda flavor has a variety of different flavor “notes,” and so the starting point for us at Zevia is choosing how we would like a given flavor to taste. Cola, for example, contains both “spicy” flavors such as cinnamon, clove and nutmeg, as well as citrus flavor notes from lemon and lime. Once we have determined the balance of flavor notes, we create a range of prototypes and taste, taste again, and then taste some more. It can be a lengthy process to get the flavor just right, but tasting soda is quite enjoyable, and the final results speak for themselves.

Q. Are there any new flavors coming? 
A. We are always working on new flavors, and our fans give us a lot of great suggestions. Right now, we don’t have anything new we can share, but we will have new announcements in the next few months.

Q. How does Zevia stay on top of new research and developments?
A. Our fans, who are passionate about what they want to see from Zevia, are the most exciting source of new ideas for us. In addition, we closely monitor new ingredient developments and new products on the market, as we are committed to continuous improvement and innovation in our product line.

Sugar hangover: Recovering and getting back on track

I put a little life into living this weekend. Actually, I put a lot of life into living.

Especially, if life includes sugar - in all forms. Smores, banana pudding, ice cream, cake, more ice cream. Between the Fourth of July, a birthday for party (how is my baby THREE today?!?) and emotions that tasted like buttercream, I found myself abandoning my NSNG lifestyle and eating without regard or responsibility.

And that's OK, to an extent, but I paid for it. My 6-mile run was sluggish and challenging despite my partners keeping the pace controlled. My gut was angry, too, and a killer headache kept me company most of the day.

The sugar hangover was a good reminder as to why I am choosing to limit the carbs and focus on a vegetable-heavy, higher fat diet. It makes me feel better.

But, the few days after a "binge" are almost just as bad as I find that it takes the body some time to temper and even out. The hunger is more frequent and pronounced, and cravings are more frequent and harder to fight.

For me, sugar is most definitely an addiction or a compulsion, at the minimum. Even with experience, it can be difficult to make the better choices in the beginning. But it can be done. Paddy Spence, CEO of Zevia. quit sugar cold turkey in an effort to upgrade his health about 12 years ago.


"I thought I was a health-conscious person – I exercised frequently, consumed meat in moderation, and used natural and organic products whenever possible. But when I really looked at my diet, I found I was consuming up to 250 grams of sugar per day, between protein shakes, energy bars, juice-based spritzers and other foods and beverages. That’s about 1,000 calories a day, just from sugars."

Tips for Cutting Out Sugar From Your Diet

Be a sugar sleuth. Take an inventory of your diet to track down where you’re getting most of your sugar. It’s easy to pinpoint sources like the sugar in your coffee, but sugar finds its way to us in all kinds of guises.

Forget fruit knock-offs. Whole fruits offer fiber and other good-for-you ingredients like vitamins. Fruit juice and dried fruit, on the other hand, are sugar-concentrated versions of the real thing.

Cut down on condiments. There’s a reason kids love ketchup…it’s one of the most sugary condiment culprits, and barbecue sauce is just as bad. Perhaps the sneakiest of the lot, however, is salad dressing — especially fat-free varieties. The best way to control sugar content is to make your own.

Cast out coated snacks.  From a sugar perspective, treats like honey-roasted nuts, teriyaki jerky, and yogurt-covered pretzels run neck-and-neck with candy bars. Opt for the naked versions.

Steer clear of cereal. Some choices — like Frosted Flakes and Honey Nut Cheerios — are obvious sugar pushers. But don’t be fooled by seemingly healthy options like granola.

Forego fruit-flavored yogurts. A cup of regular fruit-flavored yogurt can contain about 30 grams of sugar (that’s not much less than a can of Coke)! If you want blueberry yogurt, you’re much better off stirring fresh blueberries into plain yogurt. They’re naturally low in sugar.

Not all sweeteners are equal. Although your body metabolizes different sweeteners differently, at the end of the day it’s all sugar. Try stevia, a natural no-cal sweetener. It’s great for both coffee and baking, and a little goes a long way.

Curb cravings with protein. Everyone’s different, but a high-protein snack can help suppress a sweet tooth. Try a hard-boiled egg, a cup of cottage cheese, or a spoonful of natural peanut butter to stave off a hankering.

Go for lower-sugar desserts. Dark chocolate gives taste buds a treat without sugar overload. A bowl of low-sugar granola with milk will also satisfy an after-dinner appetite.

Don’t try to be superwoman. Trying to eat healthily is a noble goal, but being too strict will set you up for failure. Rather than trying for gluten-free, sugar-free, dairy-free, vegan everything, focus on just one.

What are your tips?

Earth Fare: A grocery experience

I died and went to heaven.

Or, I drove to the other side of town and finally visited the Earth Fare that opened recently.

The organic grocery store is the first of its kind in my tiny pocket of northeast Indiana. While we do have a Fresh Market, there is not a store of this size or one with similar buying power devoted to healthy living and organic produce. The opening had people so excited that the northeast store had caused traffic back-ups and shopping was cart-to-cart, according to friends who live in the area and went to explore.

If you are unfamiliar with Earth Fare, the company says that, "What really sets Earth Fare apart from other stores is the list of things we don't offer...like any products containing high fructose corn syrup, trans fats, artificial colors and sweeteners, and synthetic growth hormones in fresh meat and dairy. We believe food should be as close to the ground as it gets, and we are proud to read the labels so you don't have to!"

According to me, what sets Earth Fare apart is the taste of big city shopping that we just don't have here. The store was clean and bright, the signs were fun and bold and the selection was wide. I was particularly happy to see things like bulk bins for nuts, grains and beans that I don't have at my neighborhood Kroger (though some of the nicer ones do).

There was also freshly ground nut butters and dispensers for honey, agave and maple syrup. Again, given what's available in the city and my neighborhood, especially, it was all so novel. If I didn't have self restraint and serious hunger pangs from HIIT training, I might have gotten all the stuffs as everyone needs 10 pounds of nut butter.

Rather, I limited myself to a few choice things including Lemon Lime Zevia, which I had not seen before, a few bars for California and a special treat for Mark - specialty raviolis from the bulk pasta bins. I was sure that the goat cheese sundried tomato variety would make up for my cross-country solo trip. I even got fresh Parmesan to complement the dish.

I will say that my one moment of weakness came when I spotted the salad and hot bars. I was hungry, tired and the cucumber-tomato salad I had packed seemed less than sexy compared to some of the things I spotted. And, the hot bar is oh-so-cool. Right? Maybe. Not so much if you live in a major metropolitan area (and are thus not even reading this because you don't care about my Earth Fare).

But I resisted. If anything, it gives me a reason to go back.

I'll Drink to That: Sipping Smarter with Zevia

I couldn't have been trying harder, well, if I was trying harder.

A cocktail in a Ball jar with a friend helping me to pose for a photo that was intended solely for the blog.

Even worse, to some, the drink was my attempt to sip smarter at our friend's backyard barbecue.

After all a cocktail made with zero calorie soda by proxy has no calories ... or something like that.

Regardless, my attempt at an "adult" root beer float hit the spot as we sat in the sun and watched the kids play. It paired well with the hamburger (sans bun, if you really want to know) and was a refreshing way to wash down the sriracha slaw I made. It was also nice to feel like I was joining the crowd, which tends to drink more freely than I do. It's not that I have anything against beer but I gave up social drinking when I joined Weight Watchers, and I am still very mindful of those liquid calories.

Zevia's Ginger Root Beer is one of my favorite indulgences, and it was a no brainer to spike it when the company sent me some of its new-formula sodas to try for summer. Zevia now features a combination of stevia and monk fruit, which are both natural and calorie free, but features the same great taste I've come to love.

Especially with vanilla vodka. And a splash of vanilla almond milk, which makes it root beer meets white Russian meets my belly. I did it after the requisite posed photos and was quite pleased.

If you are looking for something a little more, let's say, fruity, try this Calaveras recipe. I know I plan to.

The Calaveras

6 Basil leaves
1.5 ounces Anejo
0.5 ounce Gran Marnier
0.5 ounce Lime juice
0.5 ounce  Agave
0.5 ounce Grapefruit Juice
2 ounces Zevia Grapefruit Citrus

Shake all items over ice (except for the Zevia Grapefruit Citrus soda) Strain over ice and top with the Zevia. Enjoy!

Disclosure: I was provided samples of Zevia at no cost but was not otherwise compensated for this post.

Zevia - the other 'diet' soda: A product review

It had seemed that just as the headlines about diet soda - it makes you fat, it's just as bad as regular soda - had started to fizz out, there was a new story about the beverages bubbling up.

 

The sales of diet soda were dropping - and dropping at a faster rate than regular soda. According to a CBS News story, the sales of non-diet sodas have declined 2.2 percent, while diet sodas have declined 6.8 percent.

And I 'm not surprised. After all, I went from someone who publicly professed her love - and addiction - for Diet Coke to someone who cut it out entirely from her diet. I'm sure my two (or three, or four)-a-day habit put Coca-Cola in the black each year.

In all seriousness, I took on on Dr. Fuhrman's Healthy Holiday Challenge in November 2012 and gave up all artificial sweeteners - including aspartame and, by proxy, diet drinks. And though some of those had wiggled back into my diet, I never went back to Diet Coke. Even the moments I thought I'd indulge, like the day it was 83 degrees in the office, Diet Coke never tasted good. In fact, the once favorite drink now tastes like battery acid.

What made me try the soda that day wasn't just the coolness but the refreshing mouthfeel that a carbonated beverage has. I often drink sparkling water, sometimes flavored, and it can fill that void ... to a point. It was with great enthusiasm, as you can assume, that I accepted an offer from Zevia to sample their stevia-sweetened, no-calorie sodas.

I had tried the sodas before, on my own accord, before I gave up Diet Coke as part of the challenge. I considered them to be a "healthier" alternative as stevia, it seems, doesn't have the side effects and health concerns as aspartame. I was a big fan of the Black Cherry and had, once, wiped out an entire Kroger shelf when it was on sale. However, when I gave up sweeteners, I also gave up my Black Cherry Zevia.

I didn't get the BC in the generous shipment from Zevia but a number of the company's 15 flavors - Ginger Root Beer, Cherry Cola, Cream Soda, Grape, Ginger Ale and Grapefruit Citrus.

I was completely prepared to dislike most of these. I had once tried the Ginger Root Beer and found it to be quite unsavory and I loathe - I mean loathe - Ginger Ale. However, I liked all of them with the Cream Soda and, a shocker, the Ginger Root Beer the most. The Grapefruit Citrus reminded me of Fresca, and the Grape was nostalgic.

Now, let me tell you, drinking Zevia is not like drinking soda or even diet soda. There is a taste difference. I gave Mark a sip of the Grape, and you would have thought I gave him Pedialyte. As someone who is accustomed to these type of sweeteners and flavors, I found the drinks to be refreshing and a welcome addition to my beverage lineup at lunch. And, yes, my lunch has a beverage lineup - water, coffee and Nuun/Zevia.

Of course, I think there is a personal responsibility when it comes to drinking a beverage like Zevia. Even though stevia is considered "safe," I am not going to pound a Cherry Cola before a 5 a.m. run, a Ginger Root Beer with breakfast, a Cream Soda at lunch ... well, you get the picture.

The price point is a little higher, making the above a bit more prohibitive - which might be a good thing. Just like Zevia.

• Zevia has no sugar, no artificial sweeteners and zero calories. 
• Zevia is sweetened with 82 percent Stevia, 15 percent Monk Fruit and 3 percent Erythritol. 
• Read more about SweetSmart here. 
• 15 flavors include: cola, ginger ale, lemon lime twist, black cherry, grapefruit citrus, strawberry, ginger root beer, caffeine free cola, grape, cherry cola, cream soda, mountain zevia, dr. zevia, orange, and lime cola. Read the Zevia story here. 
• Print $1 off a six-pack coupon here. 
• Follow Zevia on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Instagram and use the hashtags #SodaSommelier and #SweetSmart.

Disclosure: Zevia provided me with product free of charge for consideration of review. All thoughts and opinions are authentic and belong to me. Except for Mark's reaction. He can keep that.

Five for the road

This weekend was cause for celebration.

With a lot of love, work and the grace of God, Mark and I marked five years of marriage. It's been quite the ride, these 1,800-plus days, but I think we're both happier for having taken the journey.

This anniversary seemed like such a milestone, much bigger than the others, and so we decided to celebrate in the most fitting way: Ordering carry-out and fighting with Miles to eat his dinner.

You might think I'm kidding but I'm not. Our anniversary day, Friday, was non-descript - work and family. We had considered going out but Miles was in no mood to be in public and our baby-sitter (aka my mother-in-law) was recuperating from surgery. Before you feel bad, which I know you don't, I think it should be said that a) I think it was a good celebration of the life we created; b) we had a date night last week; and c) there was cake.

An amazing chocolate-strawberry cake from a nearby panaderia. Oh. My. Word. It was so delicious and far better than the cake I had on my wedding.

Wait. I didn't have cake at my wedding. Sad but true. I was too busy dancing and talking to eat the piece my friend had saved. When I went back for it, the catering crew had thrown it away.

The one thing Mark and I reflected on, over this weekend, was that the wedding and the marriage was/is so much more than us. It's about the family we've made, the friendships we have fostered and the bonds we celebrate.

Terrible photo but it does show that people were actually at my house.

So it was only fitting to have some of those who were there for us on Dec. 13, 2008, to be with us this weekend as well.

I made a dinner of braised short ribs and creamy polenta, and our friends brought green bean casserole (hello, it's the holidays!), bread and wine.

It was a delicious meal filled with food, conversation and drink. While I was not hip to the custom cocktail when I was in the midst of planning my nuptials, I made a perfect drink for our guests.

Made with ginger ale Zevia, triple sec and pomegranate juice, it was fruity and sweet and a bit too smooth. As in you can drink several before you realize that you are drinking alcohol. It was a gorgeous burgundy color that made it quite festive for the season. For the under 21 population, it can easily become a mocktail by substituting orange juice for the liqueur.

Ginger Holiday Sparkler

1 ounce triple sec
4 ounces pomegranate juice
Ginger ale Zevia, chilled

Pour triple sec and juice into a wine glass. Top with Zevia. Garnish with orange slices. Drink and be merry.

Disclosure: I was provided with Zevia, free of charge, for an upcoming review but was not required to create a recipe or write a post. All opinions and alcohol consumption are my own.