|
|
A Warm Holiday Toast
by Arleen M. Kaptur
Winter winds, crunchy snow, sledding skiing, or whatever your cold
weather activities are - nothing warms you and gives your body a lift
like an aromatic hot beverage - sipped by an open fire, sitting in a
cozy chair near the fireplace, or by a window watching the snow fall.
Holiday Coffee
2/3 cup cocoa
2 tsp. ground cinnamon
1 tsp. salt
2 14-oz. cans sweetened condensed milk
8 cups water
3 cups strong coffee
Cinnamon sticks
Ground nutmeg.
Combine cocoa, cinnamon and salt in a large pot. Add sweetened condensed
milk, stirring until smooth. Place pan over medium heat; gradually stir
in water and coffee. Heat thoroughly but do not boil or the milk will
curdle.
Garnish each serving with a cinnamon stick, and sprinkle with nutmeg.
Refrigerate leftovers. Add 1 cup brandy and 1/2 cup light rum along with
water and coffee if desired. A touch of warmth - a bit of spice!
Hot Buttered Rum
1 cup butter, softened
1 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
2 cups sifted powdered sugar
1-1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
1 pint vanilla ice cream, softened
1-3/4 to 2 cups light rum
7-1/2 cups boiling water
Whipped cream,
Ground nutmeg
Cinnamon sticks
Combine butter, sugar, and cinnamon; beat until light and fluffy. Add
ice cream, stirring until well blended. Spoon mixture into a freezer
container; and freeze until firm. To serve, thaw mixture slightly.
Combine butter mixture, rum, and boiling water; stir well. Top each
serving with whipped cream, and sprinkle with nutmeg. Serve with
cinnamon stick stirrers, if desired. An old-fashioned trip to flavor!
Wassail
Peel of 1 lemon
3 slices peeled fresh gingerroot
1 stick cinnamon
6 cups dry red wine or cranberry juice
6 cups apple cider
1/2 cup sugar
2 oranges, unpeeled, cut into
6 wedges each, 36 whole cloves
Place lemon peel, gingerroot, cinnamon and allspice on a small piece of
cheesecloth or in a paper coffee filter. Bundle up the corners and tie
top with kitchen string, leaving excess string to hang out of pot for
easy retrieval. Set sachet aside. In a large pot, combine wine, apple
cider, and sugar. Add sachet. Bring to boil over high heat stirring
until sugar is dissolved. Cover. Reduce heat to medium-low. Simmer for
15 minutes. Remove sachet. Keep wassail warm over low heat. While
wassail simmers, stick 3 whole cloves into peel side of each orange
wedge. Place one wedge in each serving cup and ladle hot wassail over
top. Serve hot. A Charles Dickens memory!
Hot Chocolate Supreme
1 cup sugar
1-/2 cup unsweetened Dutch-process cocoa
1/4 tsp. salt
5 cups water
2 cups milk
1 cup heavy cream
In a pan, combine sugar, cocoa, and salt. Whisk in water. Bring to a
boil over high heat stirring until sugar is completely dissolved. Reduce
heat to medium. Add milk and cream. Heat through. Keep warm over low
heat. Serve chocolate topped with marshmallows or whipped cream
sprinkled with crushed peppermint candies. To your delight - a toast!
Warm up to these wonderful Holiday beverages and toast your family,
friends, and guests
ENJOY!
About the author
Arleen M. Kaptur
Wishing you and all your loved ones a truly Memorable and totally
wonderful Holiday Season
|
|
