3 Terrificly Toasty Warm Drinks
According to the groundhog, and to the calendar, we have about another month of winter and cold weather....I know!! It's no fun to think about spending that much longer in the deep freeze, but don't shoot the messenger.
I've got 3 fantastic hot drink recipes for you today that will warm your tummy and your soul during this last cold blast from Jack Frost!
Let's begin with just the basics...Hot Cocoa! I know that you can grab a packet to mix with water, or buzz down the road to Starbucks (unless you live in the middle of nowhere like I do and the closest one is 20 miles!), but nothing tastes as wonderful as a cup of homemade cocoa! It's so rich and creamy and satisfying that it will(almost) make you wish that every day was a cold, snowy wintry day...
Hot Cocoa Recipe:
1/3 cup cocoa
1/3 cup sugar
1/2 cup water
3 1/2 cups milk (use at least 2%, whole is the best!)
1/2 tsp. vanilla (optional)
Combine sugar and cocoa in a medium saucepan. Stir in the water and bring to a boil, stirring constantly. Add milk, stir, and bring just to boiling, but do not boil. Remove from heat and add vanilla, if desired. Beat with a hand whip until a little frothy. Serve hot with whipped cream or marshmallows. Serves 2 (in really big mugs!)
There's something simply terrific about popcorn with hot cocoa!! Of course, you know that I love popcorn of any kind and will take any possible opportunity to eat it, so this shouldn't come as any surprise. The other night, for a special date night with my hubby, I picked out a special flick and then, made the popcorn and cocoa. We had a blissful evening curled up in bed, watching the flick and being warmed through by the lovely cocoa. Try it, you'll like it!!
Now, I know that cocoa, especially made with whole milk, has more calories than we should probably be ingesting every single wintry night, so we need alternatives to that, right? How do you feel about herbal teas? I just ADORE them!! Not only do they taste wonderfully flavorful, but they have medicinal properties as well. I generally like to start my morning with a cup of herbs...I like to call it "drinking my weeds." But, occasionally, I like to vary that routine and have a nice cuppa after dinner.
At many authentic Korean restaurants, you will be served a cup of Cinnamon Tea at the conclusion of your meal. I LOVE this stuff!! I've done a ton of research and lots of experimentation and come up with the following recipe...
Korean Cinnamon Tea Recipe
You will need 2 pots.
In 1 pot, place 6 cups of water and 4 6" long cinnamon sticks. (If you can't find them that long, then substitute 8 of the ones you'll find in your supermarket).
In the 2nd pot, place 4 cups of water and 1 1/2 inches of fresh ginger that you have peeled and cut into matchstick pieces.
Bring them both to a boil, cover, and simmer for about 30 minutes, making sure that they are not simmering so hard that they reduce at all. Strain each separately through a fine mesh strainer and then, combine into one pot. Add 1/2 cup each of brown sugar and white sugar, stir, and boil for 5 more minutes. Serve hot with 3 or 4 pine nuts floating in the top or you can serve it chilled, over ice. Adding a bit of coconut milk to either form takes this drink completely over the top!!
Look how yummy!! You can even see the steam escaping from the tops of the cups...doesn't that just make you warm looking at it? I served this Cinnamon Tea with a plate of my Cherry Chocolate Scones. You can find the recipe for the scones earlier in my blog, February 2013.
And now, for the ultimate in hot drinks....a non-alcoholic Hot Toddy!! My friend, Marcia Vanderwood, made these for us while we were visiting them this winter and she graciously shared the recipe with me. The first picture on today's posting is from her lovely home and her table decorations, as is the one directly above. She has the most amazing way with a table!! Eating in her home makes you feel like you've suddenly become a member of royalty.
Non-alcoholic Hot Toddy Recipe
1 pound butter, softened
1/2 gallon good quality vanilla ice cream, softened
1 pound each: brown sugar and powdered sugar
2 T. cinnamon
Mix all the above ingredients together with a mixer in a large bowl. It will look like this...
Cover and place the bowl in the freezer until it is completely frozen.
To serve toddy: Place 2 large spoonfuls of the frozen mixture into a large mug and fill with boiling water. Stir to mix. Top with some whipped cream and a sprinkle of nutmeg.
This drink is SO rich!! It was actually too much for my husband to drink a full mug of it, although if we hadn't just eaten an enormous, rich meal, I think he would have been fine :)
The great thing about this recipe is how much it makes!! It's a super recipe to use if you're having some kind of party or activity, or if you just want to have it pre-made and ready in your freezer just in case friends drop by on a cold, frosty evening and you want to warm them up! My only caution would be that once you serve it, your friends will find lots of reasons to drop by unannounced, just hoping that you'll do it again!
In closing, the 19th century Swiss Philosopher, Henri Frederick Amiel, once said, "Love is like swallowing hot chocolate before it has cooled off. It takes you by surprise at first, but then it keeps you warm for a long time."
I send you love and chocolate...and hopefully, lots of warmth for this next month of winter! Find someone to cuddle with and share a cuppa...
I've got 3 fantastic hot drink recipes for you today that will warm your tummy and your soul during this last cold blast from Jack Frost!
Let's begin with just the basics...Hot Cocoa! I know that you can grab a packet to mix with water, or buzz down the road to Starbucks (unless you live in the middle of nowhere like I do and the closest one is 20 miles!), but nothing tastes as wonderful as a cup of homemade cocoa! It's so rich and creamy and satisfying that it will(almost) make you wish that every day was a cold, snowy wintry day...
1/3 cup cocoa
1/3 cup sugar
1/2 cup water
3 1/2 cups milk (use at least 2%, whole is the best!)
1/2 tsp. vanilla (optional)
Combine sugar and cocoa in a medium saucepan. Stir in the water and bring to a boil, stirring constantly. Add milk, stir, and bring just to boiling, but do not boil. Remove from heat and add vanilla, if desired. Beat with a hand whip until a little frothy. Serve hot with whipped cream or marshmallows. Serves 2 (in really big mugs!)
There's something simply terrific about popcorn with hot cocoa!! Of course, you know that I love popcorn of any kind and will take any possible opportunity to eat it, so this shouldn't come as any surprise. The other night, for a special date night with my hubby, I picked out a special flick and then, made the popcorn and cocoa. We had a blissful evening curled up in bed, watching the flick and being warmed through by the lovely cocoa. Try it, you'll like it!!
Now, I know that cocoa, especially made with whole milk, has more calories than we should probably be ingesting every single wintry night, so we need alternatives to that, right? How do you feel about herbal teas? I just ADORE them!! Not only do they taste wonderfully flavorful, but they have medicinal properties as well. I generally like to start my morning with a cup of herbs...I like to call it "drinking my weeds." But, occasionally, I like to vary that routine and have a nice cuppa after dinner.
At many authentic Korean restaurants, you will be served a cup of Cinnamon Tea at the conclusion of your meal. I LOVE this stuff!! I've done a ton of research and lots of experimentation and come up with the following recipe...
Korean Cinnamon Tea Recipe
You will need 2 pots.
In 1 pot, place 6 cups of water and 4 6" long cinnamon sticks. (If you can't find them that long, then substitute 8 of the ones you'll find in your supermarket).
In the 2nd pot, place 4 cups of water and 1 1/2 inches of fresh ginger that you have peeled and cut into matchstick pieces.
Bring them both to a boil, cover, and simmer for about 30 minutes, making sure that they are not simmering so hard that they reduce at all. Strain each separately through a fine mesh strainer and then, combine into one pot. Add 1/2 cup each of brown sugar and white sugar, stir, and boil for 5 more minutes. Serve hot with 3 or 4 pine nuts floating in the top or you can serve it chilled, over ice. Adding a bit of coconut milk to either form takes this drink completely over the top!!
Look how yummy!! You can even see the steam escaping from the tops of the cups...doesn't that just make you warm looking at it? I served this Cinnamon Tea with a plate of my Cherry Chocolate Scones. You can find the recipe for the scones earlier in my blog, February 2013.
And now, for the ultimate in hot drinks....a non-alcoholic Hot Toddy!! My friend, Marcia Vanderwood, made these for us while we were visiting them this winter and she graciously shared the recipe with me. The first picture on today's posting is from her lovely home and her table decorations, as is the one directly above. She has the most amazing way with a table!! Eating in her home makes you feel like you've suddenly become a member of royalty.
Non-alcoholic Hot Toddy Recipe
1 pound butter, softened
1/2 gallon good quality vanilla ice cream, softened
1 pound each: brown sugar and powdered sugar
2 T. cinnamon
Mix all the above ingredients together with a mixer in a large bowl. It will look like this...
Cover and place the bowl in the freezer until it is completely frozen.
To serve toddy: Place 2 large spoonfuls of the frozen mixture into a large mug and fill with boiling water. Stir to mix. Top with some whipped cream and a sprinkle of nutmeg.
This drink is SO rich!! It was actually too much for my husband to drink a full mug of it, although if we hadn't just eaten an enormous, rich meal, I think he would have been fine :)
The great thing about this recipe is how much it makes!! It's a super recipe to use if you're having some kind of party or activity, or if you just want to have it pre-made and ready in your freezer just in case friends drop by on a cold, frosty evening and you want to warm them up! My only caution would be that once you serve it, your friends will find lots of reasons to drop by unannounced, just hoping that you'll do it again!
In closing, the 19th century Swiss Philosopher, Henri Frederick Amiel, once said, "Love is like swallowing hot chocolate before it has cooled off. It takes you by surprise at first, but then it keeps you warm for a long time."
I send you love and chocolate...and hopefully, lots of warmth for this next month of winter! Find someone to cuddle with and share a cuppa...
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