These are the Dry January Essentials you’ll want to keep around all year
Not sure how it ended up being mid-January so fast? Us, too. The holidays flew by and honestly, some days it can feel like we’re still recovering from all the hustle and bustle the end of the year always brings. Then there’s the weird week between Christmas and New Year’s that feels like a time warp (it’s called “Twixmas”, actually). Oh, and then there’s the week after New Year’s where we’re trying to get back into the swing of things and get the kids back to school and remember our routines. It’s no wonder so many of us opt into Dry January. And we’ve got the Dry January essentials to make it a great one.
Dry January is traditionally the month you take to refrain from drinking after the holidays, with the idea that people drank often between Thanksgiving and New Year’s and can use January to abstain. But that’s not the only reason. On the flip side, there are many people who take January to refocus on fitness goals, mental health, or just a full-body reset. Lots of folks are also sober as a lifestyle, not to mention people who simply don’t care for drinking. Maybe you’re just looking for some fun alternatives to alcoholic cocktails. No matter what your reason, these Dry January essentials will make sure this month is anything but flavorless.
Lyre's Non-Alcoholic Spirits
3 boxes of sparkling non-alcoholic beverages: G&T (juniper and citrus), Classico (aromatics, green apple, pear, peach, and red apple), and Amalfi (bittersweet orange and peach)
Zero-proof, alcohol-free sparkling botanical beverage that uses adaptogens instead of alcohol. It has a lemony botanical taste and a little bit of bite that's ideal for folks who usually love Moscow Mules and Aperol Spritzes.
Bitter citrus, clove, and rhubarb flavors make up this non-alcoholic (less than 0.5%ABV) apertivo that includes Vitamin B and amino acids, so technically you might feel even better after drinking it.
Yep, you read correctly. These individual sachets steep in room temp water for 3 minutes and all you do is add ice! The Spicy Margarita blends all-natural orange peel, lime, jalapeno, and alderwood smoked salt.
Are you a sweet-and-spicy fan? This one is for you. Bombay Fire combines pomegranate juice, caffiene-free tea, and chili pepper for a smoky flavor that's mellowed out by agave.
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Make it a meatless Monday with this recipe that comes to us from Kids Cook Mondays and Alysa of Inspired RD. With winter’s root vegetables in season, grab a few sweet potatoes (roasting gives them a hint of smoky flavor) and pair with black beans. Your kids will have fun customizing their own tacos with their favorite combination of avocado, lettuce and green onions.
Ingredients:
1 15 ounce can black beans
2-3 small sweet potatoes, peeled and diced
2 tomatoes, diced
2 fresh or canned, roasted green chilies, diced
2 tablespoons lime juice
3 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1/2 teaspoon cumin
1/2 teaspoon oregano
10 corn tortillas
1/2 head lettuce or spinach*, chopped
1 avocado*, diced
1/4 cup cilantro*, chopped
2 green onions*, chopped
*Optional.
Method:
Adult: Preheat an oven to 400 degrees. Open the can of black beans.
Kid: Spread the diced sweet potatoes on a baking sheet in one layer. Pour the black beans into a colander and rinse with cold water. Set aside.
Adult: Place the baking sheet in the oven. Roast the sweet potatoes for about 20 minutes, or until they are tender when pierced with a fork. Transfer to a large mixing bowl.
Together: Add the tomatoes, black beans, green chilies and garlic to the bowl. Mix well and season with the lime juice, salt, pepper, cumin and oregano. Taste for seasoning and adjust if desired.
Adult: Place a large skillet or griddle over medium-high heat. Place a tortilla onto the skillet and cook for about 2-3 minutes, or until that tortilla becomes browned. Flip and cook an additional 1-2 minutes more, or until the other side browns. Fold the tortilla in half, set aside on a plate and repeat with the remaining tortillas.
Together: Place 2 or 3 browned tortillas on each person’s plate. Place a few spoonfuls of the sweet potato black bean filling inside each tortilla. Allow each person to top their tacos with their choice of lettuce, avocado, cilantro and green onions and enjoy!
We’ve teamed up with the Kids Cook Monday initiative to bring you a weekly recipe that encourages families to set aside the first night of every week for cooking and eating together as a family. Be sure to check out their website for more great ideas on how to empower your kids in the kitchen!