It was hard to resist coming up with a signature cocktail for our evening in the garden. It was even harder to resist concocting a cocktail considering the Edible Schoolyard has one of those fancy (extremely hard to clean) juicers (another one of my Ronco dreams comes true!). I was inspired by the color of a a carrot lemonade recipe I saw online and thought – everything is better with vodka. I experimented with flavors — adding the heat of ginger to the sweetness of apple and the bright orange color of carrot. This combination is amazing!!  Vibrant in color and such a great kick of a cocktail. I’m thinking with all the vitamins, there is no way you can get a hang over.

If you don’t have a fancy juicer – or don’t want to clean your own – think about getting fresh juice made at your local Earth Fare. This is a real unexpected treat and great for cold season!

Carrot Cocktails 

• 1 cup carrot juice = 16 oz or 1 pound carrots
• 2.5 cups apple juice = 4 apples
• 1/8 fresh ginger juice = 2 inch piece fresh ginger
• good hot ginger ale (don’t cheat on this!)
• mandarin vodka, to your liking
• ginger leaf, garnish