Ginger, Vanilla, and Lime Sparkler

A Bite Inspired by… New Year’s Eve:

This non-alcoholic, sugar-free drink, inspired by New Year’s Eve, combines the amazing flavors of ginger, vanilla, and lime.  The result is a sparkling beverage that tastes complex, but is simple to make. The ginger adds a little spice, the vanilla warms things up, and the lime adds a pop of acid. While each flavor is delicious on its own, all together, the combination is magical. Perfect for your New Year’s Eve Celebration!

Here it is, folks! The end of another year. As I look toward 2017, I definitely have to look back at some of the highlights of the past year. 2016 has been a really significant year for me in more ways than one. In August 2016, I got engaged to the most amazing man, who planned a magical proposal for me at the Grand Canyon. He planned the whole thing months in advance and, of course, on the night he had everything set up to propose, it started raining. Pouring, in fact. But, that didn’t stop him from asking me to marry him right there on the Grand Canyon rim. We  both always say that the rain made it all the more special. The proposal was a complete surprise to me. I couldn’t have been happier and it definitely made 2016 a year to remember for my fiancé, Mateo, and I.

Another significant event in 2016 was (can you guess?) starting this blog! It had actually never even occurred to me to start a blog until one day, out of nowhere, Mateo was like “Hey, you really like to eat and you’re a good cook. Have you ever thought about starting a food blog?” The answer to that was, no. I never had. But, the moment he said that, a light bulb went off in my head. Why hadn’t I thought about starting a blog before? I love to cook, share food with others, and take photos! It seemed like the perfect fit for me.

As I started the blog, there was a huge learning curve. I knew very little about tech when I first started. Words that I now use on a regular basis like SEO, widget, and HTML meant nothing to me just 4 months ago. I started working on the blog in October and by November 2016, we were live. Since then, the blog has become my baby, my passion, and my sense of purpose. I had a tough year dealing with chronic pain (more on that in future posts) and the blog helped me get through so much. As this amazing year comes to a close, I couldn’t be more thankful for all the things that 2016 brought me. I can’t believe that there are actual PEOPLE out there reading my blog and writing to me about my recipes and stories. This means everything to me. My readers are the core of my blog and I appreciate every single person who stops by my page, even for a second. Thank you so so much!

So, of course, given that 2016 was the year that started it all, I had to include a recipe inspired by New Year’s Eve. I wanted to create a NYE drink that is light, tasty, and non-alcoholic. I love to make my own infused waters using herbs and fruit. It’s an easy and delicious way to create an interesting beverage without any added sugar. For my special NYE drink, I decided to try a new infused water combination using sparkling water instead of regular water to give it a touch of that New Year’s Eve sparkle! This drink combines the amazing flavors of ginger, vanilla, and lime to make a gorgeous and fun sparkler!

The result is a sparkling beverage that tastes complex, but is simple to make. The ginger adds a little spice, the vanilla warms things up, and the lime adds a pop of acid. While each flavor is delicious on its own, all together, the combination is magical.  This drink is extremely flavorful, yet contains no sugar.  Perfect for your New Year’s Eve Celebration!

On that celebratory note, a new year means new adventures, new recipes, and new inspiration. I can’t wait to see what what 2017 has in store for A Bite of Inspiration! Happy New Year everyone! Best wishes for 2017 and beyond.