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JuliKellner
Juli Kellner
On a cold winter’s night, there’s nothing more welcome than a warm sip of something delicious. Whether you prefer your hot drinks “fortified” with alcohol – or not – there are many tasty options.
I once thought “hot toddy” meant any warm alcohol drink. Not so. The Hot Toddy is a classic hot tea mixture spiked with whiskey or rum and sweetened with honey. To create your own version of the drink, experiment with different tea blends that mix well with the sweetness of the honey and tart lemon.
Then there is “Hot Buttered Rum.” Any recipe that has survived since colonial times can’t be all bad. It’s also one of the easiest creations on earth. Simply mix a teaspoon of cinnamon-laced butter with 11/2 ounces of dark rum and a bit of brown sugar in the bottom of a mug, add boiling water, stir and enjoy.
Winter and hot chocolate simply go hand in hand, and there’s something very impressive about making it from scratch. I have included a simple recipe with that very Mexican hint of cinnamon. Otherwise you can serve adult guests a taste of Spike’s hot chocolate.
What if you could package that warmth and give it as a gift from the kitchen?
I enjoy Christine Kilgore of Duluth’s fabulous recipe for Creamy Chai Tea. The dry mixture is wonderful to keep on hand in the kitchen or dress it up in a pretty package, attaching serving directions and give it as a gift.
So from my own kitchen to yours, here’s the gift of a warm sip on a cold winter’s night!
Real Hot Chocolate
- 3 c. milk (preferably whole milk)
- 1/3 c. semisweet chocolate, grated (Hersey’s Special Dark or Ghirardelli)
- 1 Tbsp. white sugar
- 1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
Put milk in a microwave-safe container and cook in microwave on high for 2 minutes. Mix in chocolate, sugar and cinnamon. Return to microwave and cook on high for 3-4 minutes or until foamy (careful not to let it boil.) Whisk until smooth and pour into 3 mugs. Garnish with a sprinkle of cinnamon if desired. You can do the mixture on the stove, but don’t let it boil!
Spike’s Hot Chocolate
- 1 oz. vanilla-flavored vodka
- 3/4 oz. amaretto liqueur
- 1 Tbsp. instant hot chocolate mix
- 4 oz. hot milk (not boiled!)
Mix vanilla vodka, amaretto and hot chocolate in a mug, then add hot milk. Stir and enjoy! I ask at the liquor store for brand recommendations.
Hot Toddy
- 1 oz. brandy, whiskey or rum (any brand works for me)
- 1 Tbsp. honey
- 1/4 lemon (squeeze for juice)
- 1 c. hot water
- 1 tea bag (Earl Grey or some other black tea works. Herbal teas generally do not.)
Coat the bottom of a mug with honey. Add liquor and lemon juice. Steep tea bag in hot water. Add steaming tea to mug and stir.
Creamy Homemade Chai Tea
- 16 oz. French vanilla non-dairy creamer
- 1/2 c. powdered sugar
- 1/2 c. unsweetened instant tea mix (not lemon)
- 1 tsp. ground cinnamon
- 1 tsp. ground ginger
- 1 tsp. ground cardamom
- 1 tsp. ground cloves
Combine all ingredients, mixing well. Store in a tightly covered air-tight container for up to 6 months.
To serve: Blend 1/4 cup of mixture with 6 oz. of boiling water. Top with whipped cream to taste!
Christine Kilgore, Duluth, submitted this recipe for “Gifts from the Kitchen” on WDSE/ WRPT public television.
Juli Kellner, host of “WDSE Cooks,” enjoys her children, her work as director of programming and production at WDSE/WRPT TV in Duluth … and the occasional hot toddy in winter.