Shots, shots, shots, shots! Who doesn’t love shots?! Especially in the morning!
No… I’m not talking about numbing yourself first thing in the a.m. with alcoholic shots so you don’t have to face your reality of unruly toddlers, messes and temper tantrums… OR the shots that you might throw back at the clubbbbbbb.
I’m talking about shots that are loaded with vitamins and minerals and can give you a real health-boost.
I’ve been taking morning apple cider vinegar shots for a few years now. Just two tablespoons, down the hatch, first thing in the morning.
Apple cider vinegar is excellent for digestion, a metabolic booster and a natural appetite suppressant. It also has potassium and enzymes that give you energy. It’s a great way to start your day because it gives you a chance to cleanse your liver and detoxify your body.
I THEN started incorporating this switchel energy drink into my morning routine.
It has apple cider vinegar, grade-b maple syrup, water and fresh ginger. You can get the recipe here: Switchel Energy Drink. You just use a *portion* of this concoction and add it to soda water or filtered water and make an 8-ounce drink out of it. It’s like nature’s gatorade and the perfect drink to start your day, or to sip on throughout the day.
A friend of mine had been making a morning shot similar to switchel, but without the syrup. I tried it and loved the way it tasted.
I thought it would be fun to test out different combos of flavors, so I could have a variety of “morning shots” to choose from, something beyond my basic apple cider vinegar.
I looked in my spice cabinet and was immediately drawn to my favorite anti-inflammatory spice: turmeric.
No matter how you say it, “TOO-mer-ic” or “TER-mer-ic,” we can all agree it’s a killer-spice to add into our diet.
Just one teaspoon a day boasts incredible health benefits:
- Immunity booster
- Aids in liver function
- Anti-inflammatory benefits
- Anti-oxidants
Turmeric has a peppery, bitter flavor and smells a little like orange or ginger. It’s used in curry dishes and mustard, and has been widely used in both Chinese and Indian medicine for centuries.
I call it my “healing” spice and I try and put it in everything from salad dressings, to sautéed dishes, to (now) this SHOT!
I started with a similar formula of the switchel energy drink, using apple cider vinegar as the base. I then added in some fresh grated ginger.
I omitted the grade-b maple syrup and added in a little turmeric.
I finished it off with a little filtered water, just like the switchel drink, and that was it!
I feel like this formula and amount of ingredients, is so perfect. It really allows each element of flavor to shine through.
You get a great mix of ginger, tangy apple cider vinegar, peppery turmeric and (this is optional) if you throw a dash of cayenne pepper over the top of your shot, you’ll get a nice added kick, both in flavor and in metabolism.
Two tablespoons is all you need for this potent tonic to kick-start your day and your digestive system AND if you serve it in an actual shot-glass… you’ll feel extra bad-a$$!
Shots for breakfast!? Why not!
Turmeric Shot Ingredients:
1 c. apple cider vinegar
2 tsp. fresh ginger (peeled & grated)
1 & 1/2 tsp. turmeric
1/2 c. filtered water
dash of cayenne (optional, for shot glass)
Directions:
- Pour apple cider vinegar, water and turmeric into a sealable container.
- Peel the skin off the fresh ginger root using a knife or vegetable peeler and grate 2 teaspoons, add grated ginger to the vinegar/water/turmeric mixture.
- Place container in fridge and let it set up for at least 30 minutes or overnight.
- After mixture has set up, you can either remove the ginger by using a slotted spoon to scoop it out, or with a fine mesh strainer or cheesecloth and strain it out, OR you can leave the ginger IN and serve as-is.
- Pour 2 tablespoons of the turmeric mixture into a glass and drink immediately. Add a dash of cayenne pepper over the top for an added, cleansing kick.
~Makes 1 & 1/2 cups
~ Serving size is 2-3 Tbsp
*NOTES*
*I found there are a lot of different turmeric shots out there. Some use coconut water and lemon juice, or even a sweetener like agave or grade-b syrup. You can easily switch this up and make different shots for yourself.
*If you want a simple entree using turmeric check out this recipe: Turmeric Quinoa Stuffed Mushrooms , or this easy 3 ingredient salad with turmeric dressing: Carrot & Hemp Seed Salad
