AAA OFFERS TIPSY TOW AND MOCKTAIL RECIPES FOR SAFER HOLIDAY

NEWS from AAA Oklahoma, Dec. 14 – Help keep your holidays merry and bright by serving mocktails at get-togethers, by calling AAA’s Tipsy Tow when you feel unsafe behind the wheel after partying, and by designating a driver when you go out.

“One of my favorite mocktails is a drink called a Reindeer Dunk,” said Chuck Mai, spokesman for AAA Oklahoma. “You just put two tablespoons of instant cocoa mix in a mug, pour in hot strong coffee, stir with a cinnamon stick and top with whipped cream. It sounds so simple but it is really tasty.”

Over the holidays, up to 40 percent of all traffic crashes involve alcohol. Zero-proof mocktails add life to your parties by slowing the rate of alcohol consumption. Plus, they give non-drinkers a festive beverage option. See below for more mocktail recipes.

AAA’s Tipsy Tow service starts this Friday, Dec. 18, at 6 p.m. in metropolitan Oklahoma City and Tulsa, Muskogee, Lawton, Shawnee, Ardmore and Enid. Free rides home for you and your car will be offered to AAA members and nonmembers alike through Jan. 1, 2010, no questions asked. Call (800) AAA-HELP and ask for Tipsy Tow.

“We have just two restrictions for the use of Tipsy Tow,” said Mai. “There’s a 15- mile tow limit from point of pick up, and there’s only one place to which AAA will give you and your vehicle a free ride – and that’s home. We hope Tipsy Tow gets lots of calls over the holidays. Climbing behind the wheel after drinking is just too risky.”

Here are more mocktail recipes:

Mockingbird

14 mint leaves

2 fresh strawberries

4 oz. simple syrup

2 limes

soda water

sugar cane

Muddle mint and strawberries with six crushed ice cubes. Fill a cup with ice mixture and add simple syrup. Squeeze in juice of limes, top off with soda water and stir. Garnish with mint sprig, sugar cane, and slices of lime and strawberry.

Chocolate-covered Candy Cane

1 individual-serving package of hot cocoa

hot water

whipped cream

¾ oz. peppermint syrup

Blend hot cocoa mix and peppermint syrup with equal parts of hot water and whipped cream. Top with whipped cream and crushed candy cane.

Pumpkin Pie Martini

3½ oz. half-n-half

2 oz. vanilla flavoring

1¼ oz. Hershey’s chocolate syrup

1 tablespoon brown sugar

dashes of ginger, nutmeg and cinnamon, to taste

Mix all ingredients in a shaker and shake over ice, then strain. Garnish with whipped cream, cinnamon stick and extra chocolate.

Berry Bomb

½ cup strawberry juice

½ cup blackberry juice

½ cup raspberry juice

juice of 1½ oranges

¾ cup sugar

1 cup low-fat yogurt

Blend all ingredients with ice. Depending on size of glasses, makes 3 to 6 servings.

Kris Kringle Kooler

2 shaved Kiwi fruit

1 banana

1 12 oz. bottle pomegranate juice

1 oz. simple syrup

½ cup orange juice

½ cup cranberry juice

Fill blender with all ingredients, along with ice, and blend thoroughly.

Sleigh Ride Delight

2 scoops (7 oz.) of vanilla ice cream

2 oz. orange juice

4 oz. strawberry halves and strawberry puree

whipped cream

Blend first three ingredients. Rim a martini glass with sugar and line with 4 strawberry halves. Pour in mixture and top with whipped cream and one whole strawberry.