USVI-On-Line

Rick G, I want to come to your office party!

How much is half of a bar spoon of vanilla? I have been wanting to make this drink for Christmas (milk punch). I thought I was going to have to PM Elisabeth for the recipe, but luckily it showed up again. Also, I should be able to get the simple sugar at a liquor store? Otherwise I think it was just mixing sugar and water. Thanks!

Simple sugar is just equal parts superfine sugar and boiling water--boil till the sugar melts. Much easier, cheaper, and somehow tastier than buying the bottled stuff, but of course you can do that.

RickG wrote:Mulled wine is a big hit. NoTanLines makes a great version.

For our company Holiday Party we are having a keg of Sierra Nevada Celebration, home made draught hard cider and a couple of homebrews - plus mulled wine.

Cheers, RickG

Gluhwein (German Mulled Wine)

Ingredients:

4 quarts dry red wine (Zinfandel, Merlot, Burgundy, etc.)
1 pint brandy
1 cup sugar (or to taste - I used about 1/2 cup)
6 cinnamon sticks
12 cloves, whole
1/8 tsp. allspice
1/8 tsp. mace
2 oranges, sliced
1 lemon, sliced

Directions:

1. Pour the wine into a large pot and begin heating over low heat.
2. As it begins to warm, add sugar and spices. Stir until sugar is dissolved.
3. Add the brandy.
4. Heat thoroughly, but do not allow to boil!
5. Add the lemon and orange.
6. Steep for about 1 hour over low heat.
7. You may add more sugar during this time if desired, stirring well so it disolves.
8. Serve hot and garnish with orange slices. A stick cinnamon could also be used.

Gluhwein kept me going during our trip to the Czech Republic in January. Restaurants would have little tables set up outside their front doors. For about $2 a glass, it warmed you from your head to your toes. This is the closest recipe I could find to the real thing.

Cheers,
Christine

Spiked Almond Joy Hot Cocoa

Ingredients:
1 1/2 oz. (3 tbsp.) coconut rum
1 packet Swiss Miss Hot Cocoa Mix
1 drop almond extract
Optional: Reddi-whip

Directions:
In your favorite mug, prepare cocoa with 3/4 cup hot water according to package instructions. Add the rum and almond extract. (Remember, just one DROP of extract!) Stir and, if you like, top with a generous squirt of Reddi-whip.

Winter Wonderland Peppermintini

Ingredients:
1 1/2 oz. (3 tbsp.) 80-proof vodka
2 tsp. Coffee-mate French Vanilla powdered creamer
1 sweetener packet (like Splenda)
1/4 tsp. peppermint extract
Optional Garnish: 1 small candy cane

Directions:
Place powdered creamer and sweetener in a glass. Add 1/4 cup warm water and stir to dissolve.

Fill a cocktail shaker halfway with ice cubes. Add creamer mixture, vodka, and peppermint extract. Cover and shake well, until mixture is cold.

Strain into a martini glass. If you like, garnish with a candy cane leaning jauntily on the rim.

I'm making these for my peeps but I've been particularly partial lately to a dark Sangria with fresh fruit garnish. Gotta watch those things. I knock em back like Hawaiian Punch! YUM!!!

NoTanLines wrote:Gluhwein kept me going during our trip to the Czech Republic in January. Restaurants would have little tables set up outside their front doors. For about $2 a glass, it warmed you from your head to your toes. This is the closest recipe I could find to the real thing.

Cheers,
Christine

I'm a beer drinker, but let me tell you this stuff is freakin' good! Especially after a cold hike in the snow. It's a real crowd pleaser.

Cheers, RickG

This drink is a hit every time I make it. It makes about 25 servings.

Hot Buttered Rum Batter

1/4 pound of butter
1/4 pound of brown sugar
1/4 pound of XXXX sugar
one cup soft vanilla ice cream
3/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg

Melt butter in a large pot over medium heat. Blend in both sugars. Remove from heat and whisk in ice cream, cinnamon and nutmeg. Pour mixture into a plastic container, seal and freeze.

In individual mugs, put two tablespoons batter and one ounce of rum. Fill with boiling water. Stir and sprinkle nutmeg on top.

Thanks for all the suggestions! I think, based on our group, I'm gonna go with the Christmas Coctail (champagne, chambord, cran juice, club soda, etc).

Thanks again!

Sox - Not sure when your party is but wanted to let you know that we had the Christmas Cocktails this weekend and served them in a champagne glass with a red sugar rim. They were very tasty and a BIG hit!

jdw wrote:Sox - Not sure when your party is but wanted to let you know that we had the Christmas Cocktails this weekend and served them in a champagne glass with a red sugar rim. They were very tasty and a BIG hit!

My party was this past Saturday...The Christmas Cocktail was THE hit! I multiplied the recipe by 12 and made a Christmas Punch...I froze a bunch of cranberries and lime wheels in advance, then put them in when I made the punch to help keep it cold. The only change I made to the recipe was I split the juice...one half cranberry and one half pomegranate...I had to make three bowls of this stuff...In fact, about an hour into the party, I had to run out to grab more Chambourde. I will be saving this recipe - everybody loved it!