3 Drinks to Heat Up Any Chilly Day
December 15, 2011
•Le Cordon Bleu
•Miami
• 0 Comments
3 Drinks to Heat Up Any Chilly Day
When most people picture the holidays, hot chocolate and warm soup come to mind. While the idea is difficult for many not from the SunshineState to fathom, the holidays come and go each year in many parts of the country with no snow, no frost and no sub-zero temperatures, but that still doesn’t mean there isn’t that crisp winter feeling in the air. During the spring and summer months, the staples of Miami culinary typically revolve around keeping cool, however, when there is a bit of a chill in the air, no matter whether you are in sunny Florida or frosty New York, here are three drinks that will heat up your deepest winter chill.
Mulled Wine
Think of it as hot chocolate for adults! This traditional holiday beverage warms from the inside out. There are many different ways to make mulled wine and it is just one aspect of the culinary arts which has been around for centuries.
Ingredients:
2 (3-inch) cinnamon sticks
5 cardamom pods (from the ginger family)
3 black peppercorns
4 cloves
1 1/4 cups sugar
1 1/2 cups water
1 bottle dry red wine
1 vanilla bean (cut in half lengthwise)
1 small orange (sliced thin)
1 small lemon (sliced thin)
Directions:
1. First, wrap cinnamon sticks, cardamom pods, peppercorns, and cloves in a cheesecloth and tie it with string. 2. Bring sugar and water to a boil in a pot, while you continue stirring until sugar is dissolved, then add spice bag, wine, vanilla bean, and fruit.
3. Simmer the mixture, uncovered, stirring occasionally, 2 to 4 minutes.
Hot Toddy
This is one drink that has stood the test of time and can inspire anyone to get a little creative with this classic hot beverage. Like the previous recipe, this is another tasty culinary beverage sensation that is not for the kiddos!
Ingredients:
1 ounce brandy, whiskey or rum
1 tablespoon honey
1/4 lemon
1 cup hot water
1 tea bag (black or green tea produces a great flavor)
Directions:
1. Use the tablespoon of honey to coat the inside of the mug .
2. Choose which liquor you would like to use and combine it with the juice squeezed out of the lemon quarter.
3. Next, boil a kettle of hot water, add tea bag and pour steeped tea into the mixture.
Hot Buttered Rum
This drink is only slightly different than the Hot Toddy, but if you like one, chances are you’ll like the other and it’s just as easy to make!
Ingredients:
2 whole allspice berries
2 whole cloves
1 full cinnamon stick
1 teaspoon sugar
2 ounces of dark rum
1 teaspoon sweet butter
Fresh grated nutmeg to taste
Directions:
1. Combine allspice, cloves and sugar in a mug while water boils on the stovetop.
2. Once water boils, combine rum and sweet butter with hot water, sprinkled with nutmeg and place cinnamon stick in the mug.
This article is presented by Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts in Miami. Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts in Miami offers culinary arts and pâtisserie and baking training programs in the Miami, Florida area. To learn more about the class offerings, please visit Chefs.edu/Miami for more information.
Find disclosures on graduation rates, student financial obligations and more at www.chefs.edu/disclosures. Le Cordon Bleu® and the Le Cordon Bleu logo are registered trademarks of Career Education Corporation. Le Cordon Bleu cannot guarantee employment or salary. Credits earned are unlikely to transfer.