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The holidays are often about indulgence — relaxed time with loved ones, good food and delicious beverages. If you are looking for indulgence without alcohol this year, mocktails are a tasty and festive way to drink soberly. Here’s how to plan and prepare festive non-alcoholic or NA drinks for the holidays. Sipping a creative mocktail is a great way to enjoy some festive cheer, whether for a Christmas party or a quiet night during a busy holiday season. Mocktails will be the drink of choice this year at many holiday gatherings. With drinks that taste great, look festive and let you have a chug without the challenges of alcohol, mocktails are the perfect way to liven up the season. Alcohol has traditionally been a part of the holiday season. Drinking at parties, enjoying a glass of wine at a dinner, giving gifts of wine or spirits and seasonal drinks have made alcohol a quintessential part of the holidays for some. But it isn’t for everyone. More and more people are avoiding alcohol entirely or cutting back. Lifestyle changes or health concerns inspire some to go sober. Others are simply curious or looking to support sober family and friends. Particularly during the holidays, limiting alcohol can prevent overindulgence and help you stay fully present for holiday memories. Mocktails — mixed drinks made without alcohol — are the perfect answer for those embracing sobriety at this time of year. Non-alcoholic alternatives have been growing in popularity in recent years. The market for non-alcoholic beverages increased by 33% last year, topping out at over $300 million, according to Greenbook. As people embrace NA beers, wine and spirits, mocktails have become more creative and the options more varied. Mocktails have fun and festive ingredients without using any liquor, making them a delicious addition to any holiday drink menu. They are also a great way to experiment with seasonal flavors and mixology in a way everyone can partake of. Stock your bar with the essentials as you plan a holiday mocktail menu. Your favorite ingredients and flavors are a great place to start. From there, you can add traditional winter flavors and garnishes or use the holidays to experiment with new flavors. The base of your mocktails will likely be a non-alcoholic spirit or other cocktail basics. The number of NA spirits has exploded in recent years and you will find non-alcoholic gin, whiskey, vodka, tequila and more. Botanical spirits also bring unique flavors that can mix well with winter ingredients. You may also want to stock up on sparkling water, ginger beer, simple syrup, kombucha and other mixers. You can purchase them or make your own. Infused simple syrup is easy to make and adds seasonal flavors to mocktails. For winter flavors, you can’t go wrong with seasonal fruits or warm spices. Apple, citrus, pumpkin, cranberry and pomegranate are bright and sweet for holiday mocktails. Spices like cinnamon, nutmeg and clove are more savory and comforting. Having a variety on hand will let you make different kinds of mocktails. For restaurant-quality mocktails, finish your drinks off with a beautiful garnish. Cinnamon sugar rims, rosemary sprigs, citrus peels and candy canes are cute and festive. Shaped ice cubes or adding garnishes like cranberries before freezing are a nice touch. With any mixology, having the right tools will improve the experience of preparing and serving drinks. A cocktail shaker is a must, while a long-handled bar spoon, jigger, strainer, juicer and muddler will be helpful depending on the types of drinks you’ll be making. The right glassware will also elevate your mocktails. Fancy glassware makes mocktails more fun. If you will be drinking hot drinks, festive mugs are a great way to serve them. This year, explore non-alcoholic versions of classic drinks and try inventive new mocktails highlighting seasonal flavor. All of your favorite drinks can be made with NA spirits. Hot drinks like mulled wine or a hot toddy are warming on cold nights. For a party, try an orange cranberry sangria mocktail. For new mocktails, lean on seasonal flavors like cranberry or blood orange. A Christmas gin mocktail brings both together with NA gin for a beautiful ruby drink that will put you instantly in the Christmas spirit. If you are hosting any holiday parties this year, adding some non-alcoholic options to your cooler or bar cart will help make all of your guests feel included. Start by stocking up on NA spirits, wine and beers. Also get the ingredients for your favorite mocktails, such as sparkling water, simple syrup and festive flavors and garnishes. You can also prepare a menu of themed mocktails. This is an exciting way for guests to choose their drinks and can help sober-curious guests explore NA options. Pick flavors that will complement any food you serve to create the perfect menu. A mix of sweet, savory and refreshing drinks ensures you have something for every taste. For a more interactive experience, set up a mocktail bar and let guests mix their own drinks. Include essential ingredients and tools on your mocktail bar, as well as recipe cards. Exploring DIY mixology will likely be a highlight of your party. Pulling the focus of a party away from drinking will also create a more inclusive gathering. Plenty of appetizers let people keep their hands busy during cocktail hour. Try festive snacks like spiced nuts or Christmas bruschetta. Games or other activities provide laughter and entertainment without drinking. Delectable mocktails with seasonal flavors and festive garnishes are the best way to welcome the holidays. Whether you are staying sober this year or just want a tasty drink without imbibing, stock up your mocktail bar cart with your favorite ingredients and enjoy the holiday cheer with every sip. Ksenia Prints is a food writer, blogger, photographer and recipe developer from Montreal, Canada. She blogs at My Mocktail Forest, a blog focused on fun, flirty non-alcoholic drinks and recipes for entertaining.knows there are tons of questions about his future with the . He might get traded, he might leave as a free agent next summer, he might exercise a $52.4 million option to return to the Heat, or he might get a new contract. "Who knows?" Butler asked. The Heat forward, who has led the team to a pair of NBA Finals trips in his Miami tenure, said Wednesday that he doesn't mind his name being in the rumor mill. The Heat are open to listening to offers for Butler and making a deal if the proposal is right, earlier this week. That wouldn't be surprising, given Butler's contract status and the possibility that he might leave with the Heat getting nothing in return next summer. "I actually like it," said Butler, who is averaging 19 points per game this season. "It's good to be talked about. I don't think there's such a thing as bad publicity -- to a point." The Heat could have offered an extension last summer and chose not to, presumably for a variety of reasons including Butler's age -- he's 35 -- and the fact that he missed 26% of Miami's games over his first five seasons with the team. He still clearly impacts winning: Miami is 8-2 this season when he scores at least 18 points. And the Heat aren't new to trade speculation; has been the centerpiece of rumors in each of the past three summers. Butler said Wednesday that money doesn't really matter to him at this point, adding that he's not fixated on extensions or trades. "My kids matter, my happiness matters, my well-being matters and my family matters," Butler said. "Right now, it's all about competing, staying healthy, playing some great basketball. I think I've done that so far, so we'll see what we got." He stopped short of saying that he wants to absolutely remain in Miami. "I'm pretty sure y'all are going to get a report that's going to say otherwise anyways, so there's no sense in me answering that question," Butler said. It has been social media fodder for a few days, with some even suggesting that Butler's hair dye in recent weeks -- sometimes yellow, sometimes blue, sometimes red -- has matched the teams some of the trade speculation links him to like , and . That said, he has insisted since arriving in Miami that he wants to bring the team another championship. That stance has not changed. "We're going to continue to win and I'm proud of the guys," Butler said. "You see everybody out here working and we know what we're capable of."
After Trump's Project 2025 denials, he is tapping its authors and influencers for key roles
Automotive Balance Shaft Market: Projected to Grow from $11.5B to $18.1B by 2031Wayne Rooney's much-anticipated TV documentary is reportedly on the brink of being axed as the Manchester United icon battles to keep his managerial position at Plymouth Argyle . The former England captain, who took over the reins at Plymouth in the summer, has had a torrid first season in charge. His own supporters demanded his resignation after a crushing 4-0 defeat to Bristol City on Saturday. This came hot on the heels of a 6-1 drubbing at Norwich last week, with previous heavy losses at Cardiff City and Sheffield Wednesday. Rooney has yet to secure an away victory this season for Plymouth. They now precariously perch just two points above the Championship's relegation zone. Reports suggest that Rooney's job is increasingly on the line as the season progresses. Adding to his woes, The Sun reports that the high-profile documentary, intended to chronicle Rooney's transition from player to manager, is now under threat. If Rooney's tenure turns into a 'horror show', it's possible that either the creators or Rooney himself might decide to pull the plug. The documentary is being produced by Lorton Entertainment, with aspirations of it landing on a major streaming platform. However, these plans are now looking shaky at best, given Rooney's uncertain future. The beleaguered manager expressed his fury at his team's performance following Saturday's thrashing at Ashton Gate. Rooney has been backed by Plymouth's hierarchy , however, as they pledged to support him through difficult times rather than pull the trigger and begin searching for a new head coach. He was visibly dejected at Plymouth's latest setback, candidly expressing his feelings: "Embarrassed really. That's the right word to use. After what happened on Tuesday at Norwich, we came here with a gameplan to try and be in the game, for 50 minutes we were. We concede the first goal and we collapse. "It's exactly what happened at Norwich, it's exactly what happened at Leeds. As soon as we concede a goal, the players out there collapse and we look very fragile. It's very frustrating, disappointing. "When we're going through this run we're going through with away games, you need to dig deep and find something within you. If them players want to have the career you hope they want to have they need to do that very quick because they're not representing this club the right way. "I've tried going at the players. I've tried encouraging and supporting them. I've tried everything really so I need to keep trying to find the right balance to fix the away performances." And while Plymouth chairman Simon Hallett has confirmed that there have been no discussions regarding his position at the club, discontent among fans is growing. Fortunately for Rooney, Derby's next opportunity comes at home against Oxford United, another side struggling to find form.
The 10-3 Bills are back on the road this week at the NFC-leading Detroit Lions. Both teams are at the top of the league in scoring on offense and both have questions on defense going into the game. The top seed still is in reach in the AFC if the Bills play well down the stretch, but they will need help. Kevin Carroll and Andy Young discuss all this and more on the latest Buffalo End Zone podcast. ABOUT THE SHOW Want to stay up to date on everything Buffalo Bills? Spectrum News 1 sports anchor Kevin Carroll and Andy Young will keep you in the know with everything that is happening with Buffalo's beloved team. You'll get in-depth discussions on upcoming games, match-ups and exclusive information throughout the week on the Buffalo End Zone podcast! Listen and Follow: Apple | Spotify | Amazon | YouTubeNone
Total number of Texas fans caught and punished for throwing bottles in Georgia game: ZeroFormer Tulane quarterback Darian Mensah has already found a new program in Duke, while Mississippi State's Michael Van Buren Jr., Wisconsin's Braedyn Locke and Cal’s Fernando Mendoza are exploring changes of their own in the transfer portal . Mensah, a redshirt freshman with three years of eligibility remaining, told ESPN on Wednesday he has transferred to Duke. He attended the Blue Devils men's basketball game against Incarnate Word on Tuesday night. The Blue Devils (9-3) will face Mississippi in the Gator Bowl, but without 2024 starting quarterback Maalik Murphy and backup Grayson Loftis, who also entered the portal. Mensah, viewed as one of the top players in the portal, threw for 2,723 yards and 22 touchdowns and completed 65.9% of his passes. He led the Green Wave to a 9-4 record and the American Athletic Conference championship game, where they lost 35-14 to Army. Tulane will play Florida in the Gasparilla Bowl on Sunday. Van Buren, Mendoza and Locke announced on social media they had entered the portal. Van Buren started eight games as a true freshmen for the Bulldogs. He threw for 1,886 yards on 55% passing with 16 total touchdowns and seven interceptions for the Bulldogs (2-10, 0-8 Southeastern Conference). He took over as the starter when Blake Shapen suffered a season-ending shoulder injury in a 45-28 loss to Florida on Sept. 21. Shapen has said he plans to return next season. Van Buren, a 6-foot-1, 200-pound passer from St. Frances Academy in Maryland, had two 300-yard performances for the Bulldogs, including 306 yards and three touchdown passes in a 41-31 road loss against Georgia. Mendoza threw for 3,004 yards in 2024 with 16 TDs, six interceptions and a 68.7 completion percentage. “For the sake of my football future this is the decision I have reached,” he posted. Locke passed for 1,936 yards with 13 touchdowns and 10 interceptions for Wisconsin this season. He said he will have two years of eligibility remaining at his next school. Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here . AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-football
Ex-Rep. Anthony Weiner, jailed for sexting child, eyes political comeback in New York City CouncilDonald Trump is returning to the world stage. So is his trolling