Student's killer on parole
Charges after investigation
Hostage was on captor 
Regulating power prices
Gen X is raking it in
LeBlanc laying groundwork
US vetoes UN resolution
$100M Nassar settlement
12 Trump jurors picked
Rates slow green economy
Vicinity hires president,
Record housing starts
Warriors ready for Round 2
Kalamalka Bowl cancelled
Rockets live to fight on
Rihanna's parenting ‘hack’
Tarantino scraps film
Munn talks cancer battle
This may not be the year to buckle down for dry January – no judgment either way – and maybe not even the year for resolutions.
No one in my circle is really talking about either of these traditions this year, though Veganuary is on the upswing.
Dry January is thought to have begun in the U.K. around 2012 or 2013, encouraging people to give up booze and reap the health benefits after a holiday season of indulgence.
If January doesn’t work for you, Dry February supports the Canadian Cancer Society, learn more here, and there is always Sober October.
Maybe thoughtful moderation is the key, instead of going cold turkey this year? Here are a few options to consider.
Our cider colleagues to the south are celebrating their second annual Dry Cider January, thanks to a campaign by the American Cider Association. After a cornucopia of cookies in December, the goal is to find zero-sugar ciders to enjoy while working on shedding holiday pounds.
And since it’s Veganuary, resolve to tempt your taste buds with a vegan creation – you can find recipes anywhere online, but you can start with the Veganuary website for inspiration -- paired with a dry cider.
Baked apples drizzled in maple syrup with a dry apple cider (note, ciders are vegan), might be a nice, healthy treat for a Friday night binge-watching marathon.
Dry hopped beers are both dry and can often be vegan as well, a quick Google search says stouts are the brews of choice, paired with braised, roasted, or smoked dishes.
Why not your favourite local stout paired with a roasted veggie dip or hummus? Or instead of a beef stew, how about lentils or beans as they key ingredient?
Of course, the easiest option is probably embracing dry wines for an alternate “dry” January.
Thankfully many dry wines are great with vegetables, and if you’ve resolved to try some new wines or dishes, here are some pairing ideas:
- Sauvignon Blanc with zucchini fritters
- Dry Riesling with a broccoli and black bean stir fry
- Oaked Chardonnay with butternut squash soup
- Cabernet Sauvignon with grilled portobello mushrooms
- Merlot with eggplant ragout
- Malbec with vegetarian chilli
As we tighten our belts in January and welcome 2021, whether you go dry by cutting out alcohol, cut out residual sugar, or give veggies the spotlight this month – or some combo thereof – take a moment or two and acknowledge a new year of health, whatever making healthier choices means to you.
This article is written by or on behalf of an outsourced columnist and does not necessarily reflect the views of Castanet.
