Books for cooks

BARBARA BURKE

"The Ultimate Liquor-Free Drink Guide" By Sharon Tyler Herbst (Broadway Books, 2002, softcover, $15)

Drink cookbook packs a lot
of punch but no alcohol

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Published just in time for the holidays, "The Ultimate Liquor-Free Drink Guide," by Sharon Tyler Herbst, offers 325 recipes for those who want a lively libation without the buzz.

This book measures only 5 by 7 inches but packs a lot of pizazz. Its party punches, mocktails, hot toddies, iced coffees, spritzers, shakes and smoothies will delight family members, designated drivers and other guests who desire nonalcoholic beverages. There's a drink recipe for just about everyone, whether you're looking for a wild papaya-passion fling or a more conservative café mocha.

This liquor-free guide is very practical and easy to follow. A detailed introduction provides the reader with essential information about equipment for making drinks, ingredient equivalents, garnishing tips and an ingredient glossary.

The first chapter offers drinks from around the world, ranging from a refreshing Indian mango lassi (yogurt-based drink) to a velvety Puerto Rican coquito (coconut Christmas eggnog).

Many of Herbst's drink recipes have no more than five ingredients and can be mixed in less than five minutes. Scattered throughout are tips, such as personalizing your tea bags or loose tea by storing them in an airtight container with cinnamon sticks or other spices, citrus peels or vanilla beans.

Below are two festive holiday cranberry drinks -- on hot, one cold -- from her book.

Crazy for Cranberries Shake

3/4 cup milk
1 6-ounce can frozen cranberry-raspberry juice concentrate, unthawed
1 pint vanilla ice cream, slightly softened
Dash of nutmeg

Combine milk and juice concentrate in a blender. Cover and process at high speed until smooth. Add ice cream, 2 scoops at a time; blend at medium speed until smooth.

Pour into tall glasses. Garnish with a dusting of nutmeg. Serve with straws and iced-tea spoons. Serves 2.

Approximate nutritional information per serving (using whole milk and regular ice cream): 490 calories, 18 g total fat, 11 g saturated fat, 70 mg cholesterol, 150 mg sodium, 8 g protein, 79 g carbohydrate.

Hot Tea Party Punch

6 cups water
8 black currant or orange-spice tea bags
1/3 cup sugar
2 cinnamon sticks
10 whole cloves
1 6-ounce can frozen cranberry-apple juice concentrate
1-1/2 cups fresh orange juice
6 to 8 orange slices for garnish

In a large saucepan, combine water, tea bags, sugar, cinnamon and cloves. Bring to a boil, stirring to dissolve sugar. Remove from heat; cover and let steep 15 minutes.

Remove tea bags, squeezing to extract liquid. Stir in frozen juice concentrate and fresh orange juice.

If serving immediately, reheat to a simmer. Pour into a heatproof punch bowl; float orange slices on top. Ladle into heatproof punch cups. Serves 8.

Note: You can make the following festive punch recipe a day or two ahead of time and reheat just before serving.

Approximate nutritional information per serving: 100 calories, no fat or cholesterol, 10 mg sodium, no protein, 24 g carbohydrate.

Rating Scale: Best in its class / Highly recommended / Recommended / Not recommended

Barbara Burke is a Hawaii-Pacific University instructor who teaches and writes about food and nutrition. Contact her at the Honolulu Star-Bulletin, 7 Waterfront Plaza, Suite 210, Honolulu 96813; or e-mail her at: features@starbulletin.com