Beverages

Mulled Cider

Are you someone like me who reaches for something warm as soon as you get home from work because you are so cold? I admit I usually reach for some red wine (warm in it’s own way) but sometimes I’ll have some hot tea which just gets boring after a while. Warm apple cider is just a perfect drink around the holidays. This non-alcoholic Mulled Cider is a perfect way to warm up on a cold day.

Fresh apple cider is simmered with orange slices, brown sugar, cloves, star anise pods and cinnamon sticks and allowed to steep to get a festive, deep flavored, and slightly spicy mulled cider. Good for both adults and children alike, this cider will warm you to your core and prepare you for a cold night (or morning) by warming up your insides. Make this ahead of time to sip on Christmas morning and simply warm up (and add a splash of bourbon if you feel so inclined).

The ingredients:

In a large saucepan, combine apple cider, orange slices, brown sugar, cloves, star anise pods and cinnamon sticks. Bring to a simmer. Remove from heat and allow to steep at least 2 hours.

Strain out spices before serving.

Additions: None

Omissions: None

Substitutions: None

Overall Rating: Like It

Source: Family Circle magazine

Witches’ Brew

When I first started this blog, I made a cocktail each week and posted it every Friday. After all, when you’ve had a long week at work, what a better way to unwind than to sit down with a new tasty beverage? I love trying new drinks but as a result of making a cocktail each week, I ended up with an overstocked liquor cabinet and needed to slow things down. Well, as the weather gets a little cooler, it’s got me in the mood for trying more new drinks. With Halloween being this week, there is no better time than now to try this Witches’ Brew.

White beer (like Blue Moon) is jazzed up with pomegranate liquor and pomegranate juice. That’s it. Being a lover of white beer, I was curious to try this concoction but at the same time freaked out. Why ruin a perfectly good beer? But it doesn’t ruin it. Instead, the pomegranate adds a little something-something and mellows out the beer’s flavor which makes this taste more like a cocktail than a beer. Pomegranate has a hearty flavor which you may or may not like. I personally love the flavor of pomegranate so I think this works well with a white beer that already has citrus tones to it. Now, I have no idea why this is called Witches’ Brew as there really isn’t anything particularly Fall or Halloween-y about it. But who cares? While I’m cuddled up on the couch shivering from watching Halloween for the millionth time, I’ll be glad I have this to calm my nerves a bit.

The ingredients:

Stir together beer, liqueur and juice in a pitcher.

Serve in a glass over ice.

Garnish with pomegranate seeds, if desired.

Additions: None

Omissions: None

Substitutions: None

Overall Rating: Like It

Source: Family Circle magazine

Tropical White Sangria

If I could look up sweltering summer day in the dictionary, it might have shown a picture of this past weekend. I think my air conditioner ran non-stop for three days because it just couldn’t hit a cool temperature. Anyway, when faced with a sweltering summer day, why not have a fruity sangria to cool off, right? I love a good sangria and I also love how they can be adapted to whatever season you are in. With so many bright and fresh fruit in abundance right now, what a great way to get your fruit intake while also taking the edge off. Personally, I prefer a good white sangria over a red sangria but maybe I only say that because white sangria is just so perfect on a bright sunny day in July. (I may change my mind come next January.) This Tropical White Sangria lived up to every expectation I had and was perfect over the past few ridiculously hot days.

A crisp Sauvignon Blanc is mixed with a little bit of orange liqueur and tons of fresh summer fruit like oranges, kiwis, grapes, mango and strawberries. I substituted nectarines for the oranges just because the nectarines looked so good when I was buying my fruit (and after all, it’s the same color family so why not, right?). In my opinion, use any fresh fruit that appeals to you because really, you can’t go wrong. The orange liqueur slightly mellows out this sangria which is even better on the second day making this so easy to go down.