jukkanmukkir: 3 hot drinks for cool days

শনিবার, ৩ নভেম্বর, ২০১২

3 hot drinks for cool days | The Food Blog

Autumn days are usually unpredictable. Mild sunny mornings turn into cold rainy afternoons, making your morning choice of wardrobe a midday mistake.

Chilly times are among us and what better way to welcome or ward them away than with warm beverages? Whether you pack a Thermos of hot chocolate to go apple picking, cosy up on the couch with cider or visit a sick friend with a jar of hot lemon and ginger tea, here are few easy drink recipes to help get you though the cold times ahead.

Lemon-Aid, Hazelnut Hot Chocolate and Cranberry Cider

Lemon-Aid

This hot drink is a sweet-tart, all-natural cold remedy in disguise. Honey helps suppress a cough, lemon is full of vitamin C and ginger helps soothe aching muscles.

1 cup water
1/3 cup fresh lemon juice
1 slice fresh ginger
4 tsp flavoured honey, such as wildflower or clover

In small pot over medium heat, simmer water, lemon juice, ginger and honey until fragrant, about 10 minutes. Remove ginger.

Lemon-Aid

Hazelnut Hot Chocolate

This is a more decadent treat for chocolate lovers. For an adult version, add a hazelnut liqueur, such as Frangelico

1 cup milk
2 tbsp chocolate hazelnut spread, such as Nutella
whipped cream
chocolate shavings

In small pot over medium heat, whisk together milk and chocolate hazelnut spread until smooth. Simmer until hot, about 7 minutes. Pour into mug, top with whipped cream and chocolate shavings.

Hazelnut Hot Chocolate

Cranberry Apple Cider

A delicious drink inspired by one that I recently enjoyed at the annual Bala Cranberry Festival. It helped get me through a cold and rainy afternoon.

2 cups apple cider
3/4 cup fresh cranberries or frozen cranberries
1 cinnamon stick

In small pot, simmer cider, cranberries and cinnamon stick over medium heat. Cook, crushing cranberries with the back of a wooden spoon, until fragrant, about 10 minutes. Let stand 5 minutes. Strain through fine mesh sieve.