Acai Health Watch

Here’s to your health! If you can’t make it to Nobu Miami, try making this Acai Berry Martini cocktail at home.   A lovely holiday after dinner drink, don’t you think? Here’s the recipe courtesy of the Miami Herald.

Acai Martini: Combine 2 ounces acai liqueur (VeeV preferred), 2 ounces acai juice, 1 ounce passion fruit juice and a splash of lavender syrup in an ice-filled cocktail shaker. Shake vigorously. Strain into a chilled martini glass and garnish with a chocolate stick.

Chill out with acai sip – Clink! | Mixed drinks & spirits – MiamiHerald.com.

If all the bad press about acai hucksters has kept you away from trying acai supplements, consider a delicious (and less expensive!) alternative.

The highly versatile powder form of acai can be added to almost anything.  It is perfect for putting in brownie , cookie and pancake batters.  It’s also amazing in fruit smoothies.  For example, a blueberry-acai smoothie with low-fat yogurt, ice, and  fruit juice.  You can even sprinkle it over hot cereal!

How about a delicious acai cocktail?  Several vodka producers have been marketing acai-infused alcoholic drinks as well as some fabulous cocktail ideas.  Start off with an acai-infused vodka, mango juice, lemon and agave syrup. Relatively simple, but quite tasty.

Here’s a fabulous acai recipe courtesy of the Kansas City Star

Blueberry Crisp a la Mode With Acai Sauce

1-1/2    cups frozen unsweetened blueberries
2     tablespoons sugar
1     tablespoon cornstarch
2     tablespoons orange juice
1/4     teaspoon cinnamon
3     almond-flavored biscotti cookies
2     tablespoons frozen, no-sugar-added pure acai juice, thawed
1     tablespoon honey
1/2     cup frozen vanilla fat-free yogurt

Preheat oven to 350 F. Lightly spray 4 individual custard cups or ramekins (each 3 to 31/2 inches in diameter) with nonstick cooking spray.

Combine frozen blueberries, sugar, cornstarch, orange juice and cinnamon; toss to coat well. Spoon 1/4 of blueberry mixture into each ramekin. Place filled ramekins in shallow baking dish. Bake 10 minutes.

Meanwhile, place biscotti cookies in work bowl of food processor; pulse to finely chop. Sprinkle 2 tablespoons cookie crumbs over blueberries in each ramekin. Return to oven and bake an additional 10 to 12 minutes or until juices just begin to bubble. Let cool about 5 minutes.

Stir together acai juice and honey.

To serve, spoon about 2 tablespoons frozen yogurt on top of each blueberry cup. Drizzle about 2 teaspoons acai mixture on top of yogurt. Serve immediately. Makes 4 servings.

PER SERVING: Calories 194 (9% fat)

Fat 2 g Cholesterol 11 mg Sodium 59 mg Fiber 2 g

Carbohydrates 40 g Protein 4 g