Stay Cozy and Warm with These Delicious Winter Beverages
The cold winter season makes me crave warm, soothing foods and drinks. I like to stay inside, and cozy up to the fire with a good book. Stay warm this winter with some homemade drinks. There’s no need to rely on coffee shops for delicious seasonal beverages, with their growing prices and frequent lack of concern for fair trade and eco-friendly coffee. You can make more creative and delicious drinks yourself, infused with love and good cheer.
For the adult menu, try some Mulled Wine or kick your Spiced Cider up a notch with some brandy or bourbon. Add a splash of rum to some White Spiced Coffee and you’re good to go for the afternoon.
For a more calming experience, consider spicy teas like a Spiced Chai or Chai Latte, Honey Lemon Ginger Tea, or Spiced Black Tea.
For a creamy sweet indulgence, try a Spiced Hot Chocolate, Mexican Style or with Peppermint. Get creative and mix in different types of chocolate, like semi-sweet and milk or dark chocolate. Remember to try and use organic and fair trade.
If you want something ultra simple, spice up some steamed milk.
Delight in your warm winter beverages with some delicious tea cookies or fancy spiced nuts on the side.
Mulled Wine
750ml bottle of red wine (any cheap wine will do)
1-2 cinnamon sticks OR 10cm cassia bark
Whole cloves (enough for about 4 in each orange slice)
1 dried bay leaf
1/2 cup orange juice
1/2 cup dark rum
3/4 cup of dark cane sugar (the amount of sugar will vary depending on the wine and your individual taste)
Method
1. Slice one of the oranges. Push about 4 cloves into each orange slice.
2. Pour the wine into a pan.
3. Add the cinnamon (or cassia bark) broken into smaller pieces, bay leaf, orange slices, orange juice and dark rum into the pan.
4. Put the stove on the lowest heat it can possibly go and stir all of the ingredients together.
5. Stir on and off for 30 minutes. Don’t let it boil because you will lose the alcohol from the wine.
6. After 30 minutes taste the wine and gradually stir in as much sugar as you need. When enough sugar has been added, let it cook for another 5-10 minutes.
7. Now you can serve. You can use a sieve so no bay leaf or cinnamon ends up in the drink. Slice the second orange and add a slice to each drink. Enjoy!
Recipe adapted from This Lean Journey
What is your favorite winter beverage?
[CC Image from kennymatic via Flickr]