White Bullet Martini (Low Carb, Gluten Free)

White Bullet Martini with Trust Me Gluten Free Vodka
Photo: Equinox Photo

As previously mentioned, I recently partnered with Trust Me Vodka, an amazingly clean-tasting gluten-free vodka. It's the perfect addition to any cocktail.

I've created several holiday-themed vodka cocktails that are also Bulletproof Diet friendly so you can stay on plan and hopefully hangover free throughout the holidays. Drinking alcohol is not technically "Bulletproof", however if you are going to drink, you'll want to minimize the negative effects you get from a typical cocktail that is most likely a sugar/carb/gluten bomb - a recipe for hangovers and weight gain. You might also want to leverage this alcohol guide published by Bulletproof. I personally swear by their Bulletproof Coconut Charcoal and always carry it with me.

This creamy concoction is a play on a "White Russian" but without the heavy dairy, sugar and carbs traditionally found in this drink. Instead, you'll start with a creamy Bulletproof Coffee Cold Brew - any flavor works well - and add gluten-free vodka. Trust Me Gluten Free Vodka is my favorite.

White Bullet

by VeronicaCulver, The Enchanted Cook

makes one martini

2 oz. Trust Me Gluten Free Vodka

½ of a Bulletproof Cold Brew Coffee, or about 6 oz (any flavor or pick the one with Collagen for an added boost of protein)

1/8 of a Bulletproof Fudge Brownie Collagen Bar, crumbled

pinch of Himalayan pink salt

candy cane garnish (optional and not Bulletproof)

Fill a cocktail shaker half full of ice and add Trust Me Gluten Free Vodka and Bulletproof Cold Brew Coffee. Shake well, then strain into a martini glass. Add the Bulletproof Fudge Brownie Collagen Bar crumbles to the top and a pinch of Himalayan pink salt and serve. It's that easy.

PS – Remember when you were a kid and used to dip your cookies in your glass of milk and then when you got to the bottom there was all that mushy cookie crumble goodness? That’s what you’ll find at the bottom of this martini - yum.

Optional: Add a candy cane garnish if you’re feeling extra festive, just remember the candy cane (sugar) isn’t Bulletproof.

Yum!
Photo: Equinox Photo

   

White Sage Elixir Martini (Low Carb, Gluten Free)

White Sage Elixir Martini with Trust Me Gluten-Free Vodka
Photo: Equinox Photo

This holiday season, I've partnered with Trust Me Vodka, an amazing gluten-free vodka that tastes every bit as great as their artistic bottles look. They offer an organic version of their vodka, as well as this gluten free. This vodka tastes clean and light, making it the perfect addition to any cocktail.

I've created several holiday-themed vodka cocktails that are also Bulletproof Diet friendly so you can stay on plan and hopefully hangover free throughout the holidays. Drinking alcohol is not technically "Bulletproof", however if you are going to drink, you'll want to minimize the negative effects you get from a typical cocktail that is most likely a sugar/carb/gluten bomb - a recipe for hangovers and weight gain. You might also want to leverage this alcohol guide published by Bulletproof. I personally swear by their Bulletproof Coconut Charcoal and always carry it with me.

The first recipe I'll share is this White Sage Elixir Martini. It's mildly sweet despite not having any added sugar - thanks to the addition of Bulletproof FATWater infused with B vitamins and Brain Octane. The blood orange falls in the “suspect” or yellow zone of the Bulletproof Diet Roadmap. There is only a small amount (juice of 1/2 an orange, or approximately 1 ounce) in this drink however, please be aware in case you are sensitive to oranges. The fresh sage adds a dimension that doesn't overpower yet is noticeable in just the right way. And let's face it, this cocktail is stunning to look at.

Impress your friends with this craft cocktail that is actually very easy to make. Fancy ice cube optional.

White Sage Elixir Martini

makes one cocktail

2 oz. Trust Me Gluten Free Vodka

½ of a blood orange, freshly squeezed (or 1/2 of a medium size orange, if blood oranges aren’t in season)

½ of a lime, freshly squeezed

Bulletproof Mango FATWater (or your favorite FATWater flavor) to top it off

leaf of fresh white sage (or regular sage)

pomegranate arils/seeds (optional)

Fill a cocktail shaker half full of ice and add Trust Me Gluten Free Vodka, blood orange juice and lime juice. Shake well, then strain into an ice-filled rocks glass that has been rimmed with fresh sage (just rub the rim of the glass with the sage). Smack the sage between your palms to release more of its aromatic oils, then place the leaf in the cocktail. Top off with FATWater. FATWater is delicious and adds just the right amount of sweetness to this cocktail without adding any sugar. It’s also infused with Brain Octane oil and B vitamins to help keep you hydrated and hangover free.

Optional: Add a teaspoon or so of pomegranate arils to the cocktail for a splash of red color. You may also consume the arils which are a source of vitamins, like vitamin K and C, and polyphenols.

Optional: For an extra special presentation, use a fancy ice cube like the round one pictured and float the sage leaf on top before serving.

Pomegranate Arils make a pretty addition to this cocktail
Photo: Equinox Photo

Fill with Bulletproof FATWater
Photo: Equinox Photo

A delicious combo
Photo: Equinox Photo

Rangpur Gimlet (inspired by Manny at Parcel 104)

Rangpur Gimlet (inspired by Manny at Parcel 104)

Every now and then a drink comes along that just makes your taste buds sing. Recently I was at Parcel 104 in Santa Clara, CA, which by the way, is a foodie's paradise - fresh, seasonal ingredients selected from small organic farms in the area make up their creative menu. Anyway, my friend Shirley Betz and I strolled up to the bar expecting to enjoy a decent cocktail and some girl talk, but what we stumbled upon were the most amazing cocktails either of us had ever had.

Manny, the bartender.. actually let me stop right there.. he's not just a bartender, he's a master mixologist. Well, Manny served us what he has dubbed as the "Rangpur Gimlet", a smooth lime concoction that is both tangy and mildly sweet. He and another bartender created this cocktail, along with many others on the menu. If you're in the Bay Area, you should definitely make your way over to Parcel 104.

This cocktail was so good, I decided to try and recreate it myself. My taste buds are starting to hum so I think (hope) I may have done it justice.

Serves 1

Ingredients:

• handful of fresh mint (about 8 leaves)
• 2 ounces Tanqueray Rangpur Gin (a typical 'shot' is 1 1/2 oz but I liked this with 2 oz)
• 2 ounces freshly squeezed lime juice (about 1 1/2 limes)
• 2 ounces simple syrup (made with equal parts sugar and water, heated just until sugar melts - syrup should be cooled or at room temperature before using)

Place mint, gin, lime juice, simple syrup and ice in a cocktail shaker and shake with wild abandon. Strain and pour into chilled martini glass, garnish with fresh mint leaf, and enjoy the cool, refreshing lime goodness.

Fritz's Sonoran Sunset (inspired by Sunset Magazine)

Fritz's Sonoran Sunset

I found the recipe for this deliciously refreshing summer cocktail in Sunset Magazine's Fast and Fresh 2010 edition. Prickly Pear Cactus Syrup and fresh squeezed ruby red grapefruit give this drink its color and charm. The only trouble I had was locating Prickly Pear Syrup. You could use grenadine but if you can get your hands on this syrup, I highly recommend it. I ordered mine from Cheri's Desert Harvest.

Serves 1

Ingredients:

1/2 cup fresh-squeezed ruby red grapefruit juice (about 1 1/2 grapefruits)

1 1/2 Tablespoons tequila (I used Patron Silver)

1 Tablespoon prickly pear cactus syrup (I used Cheri's)

Mix grapefruit juice and tequila together and pour into glass filled with ice.  Drizzle prickly pear cactus syrup on top.

This was before I stirred the drink. Once stirred it became a darker pink and the sweetness of the syrup was more present.

Blackberry Pineapple Mojito (adapted from Scottsdale's Deseo restaurant)

Blackberry Pineapple Mojito

Muddling

Oh boy, was this refreshing and delightful! Perfect after a day in the sun. I normally only have one cocktail, however, this one left me wanting another. I found this recipe in Sunset's Fast & Fresh. Thanks to my friend Cristina Heustis for telling me about the magazine - it's chock full of..well, fast and easy recipes!

I sweetened mine up just a bit, so if you like your mojitos the "normal" way, you may want to ease back on the sugar by a 1/2 tsp or so. Here's how I made it (serves 1):

• 
  
  
  
  3 organic blackberries
• 
  
  
  
  3 small chunks fresh pineapple
• 
  
  
  
  6 fresh mint leaves
• 
  
  
  
  2 1/2 teaspoons ultrafine sugar (baker's sugar, see Cook's note)
• 
  
  
  
  juice of half a lime
• 
  
  
  
  1/4 cup light rum (I used Bacardi)
• 
  
  
  
  1/4 cup club soda

*Muddle blackberries, pineapple, mint leaves, ultrafine sugar and lime juice in bottom of glass. Add rum and stir. Add club soda and ice, garnish with fresh mint sprig and wedge of lime.

*To muddle - use wooden spoon handle or a muddler and mash ingredients together to blend.

Cook's note: If you don't have ultrafine sugar, just make a simple syrup using equal parts sugar and hot water (2 1/2 tsp sugar + 2 1/2 tsp hot water). The hot water will dissolve the sugar.