With all the holidays coming up, we here at Slashfood want to help you celebrate and share some recipes with you. Hot or cold they're all good, and just the thing to put you in a party mood. Some of my favorites are hot drinks like mulled cider with rum and mulled wine. They're easy to make and you can control how strong they are, so you don't get obliterated at the beginning of your party, or fall asleep on your guests late at night.Mulled Wine
Buy mulling spices or use a mix of cinnamon, clove, allspice, nutmeg, and some citrus zest or slices of any type. Take a bottle of inexpensive but decent red wine and pour into a pot, add the mulling spices and zest, bring to a low simmer for five minutes, then strain into a mug. To control the strength and make the wine a bit less potent you can add some fruit juice such as orange, apple, cranberry, pomegranate, etc. before warming it up.
Mulled Sweet Apple Cider with Rum
Buy mulling spices or use a mix of cinnamon, clove, allspice, nutmeg, and citrus zest or slices. Add to sweet apple cider in a pot and bring to a simmer for five minutes then strain, pour into a mug and add a shot of rum of your preference.
Hot Toddy
There are several variations on the Hot toddy. Basically it's hot water, lemon juice, honey or sugar, and whiskey or brandy. I like to make it starting with weak hot tea and sweeten with maple syrup as well, for a bit more zip on my lip.
Hot Buttered Rum
Once every now and then you want something a bit different. That's when I make a hot buttered rum. I take a mug and add one spoon of sugar, one oz of flavorful rum, 1/2 oz of butter, and 3-4 cloves. Then I fill with hot water and stir until the butter has melted and you can smell the cloves.
Here are some cold holiday cocktails to try:
Maple Leaf- Slightly sweet, slightly tart, with the warm flavors of Maple and Bourbon
3 parts of good quality bourbon
1 part maple syrup
1 part lemon juice
Shake with ice, and then strain and serve on the rocks. Serve with a lemon twist.
Fallen Leaves: A variation on a Manhattan but made with Calvados
3/4 oz calvados(apple brandy)
3/4 oz sweet vermouth
1/4 oz dry vermouth
lemon peel
Shake with ice, first twisting the lemon peel to release the oils, strain into a cocktail glass, garnish with another twist of lemon peel
Pumpkin Pie
2 parts Absolut Vanila vodka
1 part pumpkin schnapps
Splash of cream (or substitute a splash of orange juice)
Dash of Nutmeg
Shake over ice and strain into a cocktail glass
What Can I Get You Folks? - Server Revenge
Reality-Show Celebrities Serve Up Chef Curtis Stone's 'Hundred-Dollar Burger'
Foods Celebrity Chefs Hate
