Hot Cinnamon Cider (non-alcohol)

This easy to prepare drink is guaranteed to warm you and your guests from head-to-toe on a cold winter's night.

Ingredients:

• 3 quarts apple cider


• 1/3 cup hot cinammon candies (e.g., "red hots" or "cinnamon imperials")


• 1 tablesoon whole allspice


• 3 tablespoons honey

Preparation:

Heat cider, cinammon candies and allspice to boiling; reduce heat. Cover and simmer 5 minutes. Remove allspice; stir in honey.  Serve in mugs & garnish with cinnamon stick if desired. Makes 24 1/2 cup servings.

A Cup of Christmas Cheer #1

I'm not much of a drinker, myself, social or otherwise. But, for some reason, mixology fascinates me (as you've probably gathered, if you follow this blog). I'm not sure what it is - there is just something unspeakably arcane and alchemical about combining various spirits and powders and spices, and coming up with the proverbial "cup of cheer."

Of course, there's a flip side to this. Like the guy who came up with Long Island Iced Tea (or Homer Simpson and the "Flaming Moe"). Rather than being a kind of artistry, this seems to be a recipe for getting sloppy/pasty. A kind of nefarious bartender hack, its popularity nothwithstanding. In fact, that is the basis of its popularity, because getting sloppy/pasty/making street pizza has always been popular in certain circles.

So, if you're looking to get sloppy drunk this Christmas, rather than enjoying a "cup of Christmas cheer," or three, this site might be more to your liking.

For the rest of you merry gents and gentlewomen, here are some positively magical drink recipes for a cup of Christmas cheer--

Peppermint Stick

• Creme de Cacao, white 1 1/2 oz.

• Schnapps, peppermint 1 oz.

• Cream 1 oz. (light)

Shake with ice; strain into a champagne glass. Garnish with a candy cane.

Hot Russian Christmas

• Vodka 1 shot

• Kahlua 1 shot
  

• Eggnog 1 shot

• Hot Chocolate

Prepare hot chocolate separately. To a mug add the shots of eggnog, vodka, and Kahlua. Fill to the top of the mug with hot chocolate, and stir well. Heat in the microwave for thirty seconds if hot chocolate has gone tepid. To make it festive looking, you may top it with whip cream and some colored sugar or a dash of nutmeg, or with a marshmallow, to make it foamy.

Ambassador's Punch

• Brandy 5 oz.

• Creme de Cacao, dark 3 oz.

• Rum, dark 4 oz.

• Eggnog 1 qt. (cold)

• 4 dashes of nutmeg

In a punch bowl, pour in everything except the nutmeg. Use a whisk or a wooden spoon to mix, then add ice to keep the punch cold. Serve immediately.

Brandy Alexander (an old classic)

• Brandy 1 oz.

• White Creme de Cacao 1 oz.

• Cream 1 oz.

• Pinch nutmeg

Stir ingredients in a cocktail shaker with crushed ice. Strain into a cocktail glass and sprinkle with a pinch of nutmeg.

Decent, affordable, real brandy: E&J or Christian Brothers. Not the flavored crap, and NOT Potter's.

Virgin Hot-Buttered Rum/Brandy (no alcohol)

Simple as can be. That old north wind is blowing in Bellingham right now, and hot-buttered rum hits the spot, especially if you've been out in the cold.

1.) Go to the grocery store and purchase some hot-buttered rum batter. Harvey's is a popular brand, but Haggen makes their own this time of year, as well. I think Reser's also makes it (I'm a Harvey's man, myself).

2.) Go to the spices section and pick up a bottle of rum or brandy flavoring, or both (Locals: Fred Meyer has both varieties).

3.) Prepare according to instructions, substituting a few drops of the flavoring for the booze.

4.) Sprinkle a bit of cinammon and/or nutmeg on top, as you like it. Garnish with cinammon stick and/or lemon.

5.) Be warm, and make merry!

If you prefer alcohol in it...well, you know what to do. :)

Gluhwein: German Spiced Wine

I've just been made aware of yet another holiday drink, which seems similar to Potus Ypocras; both most likely herald back to the Roman Empire, where mulled wines were also enjoyed. You may buy prepared gluhwein syrup online, here:

http://www.gluhwein.net/

And here is a recipe for making it at home. Personal websearches should almost certainly yield even more variants on the theme.