St Lucy’s Day,
The Twelve Days of Christmas and
A Pomegranate in a Pink Apple Tree Mocktail Recipe!
Day Thirteen on the Advent Calender
13th December ~ Hannah’s Birthday!
Happy Birthday to Hannah, my daughter, who sometimes guest writes for me on my blog, today is her birthday, and, it is also Saint Lucy’s Day or Santa Lucia. Although the day is celebrated in Catholic countries throughout Europe, I am instinctively drawn to how the festival is celebrated in Sweden and Scandinavia; the oldest daughter of the family rises just before dawn and dresses in a white gown with a red sash, which symbolises Lucia’s purity and her martyrdom. On her head she places a crown of lingonberry twigs and leaves in which candles are set, in memory of the candles Lucia wore when she visited the prisoners. She is now the “Lucia bride” or the “Queen of lights”. You can see the birthday girl’s guest blog posts here: Keith Brymer Jones Pop Up Store in Portobello Road with the New Home Fragrance Collection and Lavender & Lovage Visits The Quality Food Awards ~ Grosvenor House Hotel, Park Lane, London.
Today is also the FIRST day of The Twelve Days of Christmas, a fun and imaginative festive event run by Innocent (Drinks), where twelve food bloggers were selected to be part of their Mocktail recipe challenge! I was lucky enough to be picked, and I was given a special project to create a drink, non-alcoholic, with some of the juices from their range. Not only that, but, I was given a day from the song The Twelve Days of Christmas to work with, and my day was, and you can probably guess already from my post title, the FIRST day, which we all know is A Partridge in a Pear Tree. I have to say that of all of the challenges I have participated in, this has to be the most fun, so well done Innocent and their PR team for coming up with such an innovative idea.
The Twelve Days of Christmas
Having been given my day from the Christmas song, and I was thrilled when I was given the first day as it is my favourite day as it happens – the partridge on the pear tree always fascinated and amused me when I was little; I then had to create my recipe around the verse. So, I decided to use Innocent’s apple juice as a base for my mocktail, and what better than a layered drink, so grenadine (pomegranate syrup) was my chosen addition along with some cloudy lemonade. Their Apple Juice won a gold medal in the Great Taste Awards in 2011, and I can see why, as it was bursting with apple flavours and was pure and unadulterated, no additives or colouring is added. Having created my A Pomegranate in a Pink Apple Tree Mocktail recipe, I sent my images and recipe over to Innocent and they took professional photos of my mocktail and made a fabulous recipe card up for me, that I am sharing below. Like I said, what a FABULOUS challenge!
I LOVE the card they made for me, and am also VERY pleased with my mocktail creation too! My original idea was to have slices of pink apple adorning the rim of the glass, as well as dipping the rim in some lemon juice and then some pink sugar………but, the photographer could not get hold of those bits and bobs in time for the photo shoot – but you can add those to this drink if you make it for a sparkling pink fizzy drink! I have been told that at the end of the Twelve Days of Christmas challenge, we will all be sent a link to a special eBook of all of the mocktails, that Lavender and Lovage readers can download; I will of course let you know about that when I have news! In the meantime, enjoy my pretty non-alcoholic cocktail, which looks the part for a party and is perfect for designated drivers or those who don’t drink. With thanks to Clemmie, Annika and Inncoent for inviting me to participate in this fabulous, festive, frivolous and fun blog Christmas party! See you later with some nibbles to accompany my Pomegranate in a Pink Apple Tree Mocktail! Karen
Disclaimer:
With many thanks to Innocent – I was sent an Inspiration hamper of ingredients and some supermarket vouchers to create my mocktail recipe with.
What is your favourite cocktail or mocktail?
Would you eat the cherry of the stick first or use it as a swizzle stick first?
Download a pdf of my mocktail recipe here:
A Pomegranate in a Pink Apple Tree
You can ALL download an eBook of ALL the Mocktails here:
Here are the first seven days of the Twelve Days of Christmas Mocktail Bloggers:
1st Day is Karen from Lavender and Lovage
2nd Day is Marie from The English Kitchen
3rd Day is Nanya from Simply Sensational Food
4th Day is Helen from Fuss Free Flavours
5th Day is Dom from Belleau Kitchen
6th Day is Kate from The Little Loaf
7th Day is Jac from Tinned Tomatoes
Jacqueline says
It looks wonderful Karen and what a great idea!
Karen Booth says
Thanks Jac! Can’t wait to see what you come up with! 🙂 Karen
Kathryn says
This drink sounds so delicious; I’m a big fan of non-alcoholic drinks like this. What a fun challenge too!
Karen Booth says
Thanks Kathryn, this was a fun challenge and I am now looking forward to seeing all the other days of Christmas cocktails! Karen
Dominic says
looks incredible karen, really superb… I love your recipe too, it sounds divine… Happy Birthday to Hannah too xx
Karen Booth says
Thanks Dom! Cannot wait to see what you come up with……Karen
All That I'm Eating says
Happy birthday to Hannah! This mocktail sounds great although I have to say one of my favourites is a long island iced tea.
Karen Booth says
I like iced tea too, but we had to work with the lovely Innocent juices as well as the twelve days of Christmas as a theme! Karen
Ren Behan says
A lovelye recipe, great for your theme and a lovely photo, too. Happy Birthday to Hannah!
Karen Booth says
Thanks Ren! Hannah is at the Luton Hoo tonight, having a birthday dinner…….me, I am at home with a mocktail!
🙂 Karen
kellie@foodtoglow says
Your recipe matches your blog livery! Seriously, I’m all for a good looking and tasty non-alcoholic alternative. And I love the Innocent juices (more than the sugary smoothies,if I’m honest). I’m blogging a seasonal non-alcoholic freshly pressed juice blend soon. But with the suggestion to add NV Champagne 😉
Karen Booth says
Thanks Kellie, I have to admit to being MORE than partial to a little drop of champagne in this……maybe on Christmas Eve after I have wrapped all the pressies! Karen
simply.food says
The mocktail looks wonderful and delicious.
Karen Booth says
Thanks so much! It feels festive when you drink it, even if it is non-alcoholic! Karen
thelittleloaf says
This is such a lovely way to kick off the Innocent promotion – I love the pretty pink colour. Happy Christmas!
Hazel Rea says
Sounds gorgeous – especially with a drop of champagne!
anthony harrington says
this looks very refreshing!
Louise Hart says
This sounds delicious, I am totally going to try this myself!
Carol Peace says
The mocktail looks great can’t wait to try it.
Maya Russell says
Looks good for non-alcoholics. I need to get Grenadine – whatever that is.
Maya Russell says
Ha, ha, ha! It really is too early in the morning! I meant for a non-alcoholic drink. 🙂
Mark Whittaker says
Great mocktail idea, pomegranate has such a great and distinctive taste, I am sure that difference makes it more interesting as a non-alcoholic alternative
Ursula Hunt says
Sounds Delicious
Janice Papworth says
looks a great alternative for those not drinking – might even tempt the drinkers!
faye huntington says
oh wow anything ”christmassy” is good in my books, but this looks brilliant!! with love, faye xx
Maya Russell says
Great at Christmas. Shared on Twitter.
Nora says
Would love to try the mocktail, thanks for the recipe
Maya Russell says
Gave this a G+1! Thanks.
anthony harrington says
looking forward to trying this
ursula hunt says
Love a good mocktail 🙂
kevin smith says
I will have to make one of these for my daughter, she loves anything pink!
ursula hunt says
Christmas will be here very soon, bring out the mocktails
julie baxter says
looks lovely
Paul Wilson says
Love a bit of pomegranate.
Susan Hall says
This I must try
MARK COLOMBUS says
i want the now please 🙂
ursula hunt says
Another great article
Irene Wright says
great recipes here. Will have to try some of them as an alternative to white wine.
kevin smith says
Tried this last night, everyone loved it!
Angie Hoggett says
mmm lookes great, got to try this out!
ursula hunt says
Love mocktails great for the kids to enjoy
Maya Russell says
Shared with G+ x
Jade Prior says
gorgeous looking drink!
ursula hunt says
Downloaded mocktails recipes ready for my granddaughters birthday thank you
Pam Gregory says
This looks lovely!
Paul Wilson says
This is something I would like.
Sarah Davies says
Wow. This looks beautiful and I suspect it tastes just as good. I’m going to have to try it!
Maya Russell says
I think the Lussekatters look nice. Interesting.
LINDSEY CLARK says
Ive got a bit of a craze on Pomegranate so I like the sound of this!
Val Hartley says
This looks lovely, will definitely be trying it.
Paul Wilson says
Almost time to wheel this one out again.
Maya Russell says
Wonderful Christmas drink. Shared with G+.
ursula hunt says
In a month the tree will go up and time to try the mocktails!
Catherine Bell says
This drink looks very refreshing x
Maya Russell says
St Lucy’s Day has a nice tradition that goes along with it. I wish I could see this in Sweden. Shared with G+.
ursula hunt says
Cheers, there will be lots of fun!
Janet T says
I’m going to try this at Christmas 🙂
Maya Russell says
Shared again with Twitter, @maisietoo. I like the way the pink gets really pink at the bottom of the drink.
Katie Robertson says
Gosh, this sounds gorgeous… am going to have to give it a try!
Paul Wilson says
Pomegranate supposedly has some good health benefits too.
Paul Wilson says
A mocktail is a non-alcoholic cocktail?
ursula hunt says
Just tried my first virgin mary, think your mocktails will be nicer
elisa wright says
I don’t drink a lot of alcohol so this mocktail looks great!
Paul Wilson says
I like the gradation in colour.
Paul Wilson says
I think it’s to do with the specific gravity of each of the liquids involved.