Spiced Beverages for Autumn
By Brenda Hyde
It seems the coming of autumn brings on the open houses, parties and a surge of entertaining. Whether you are entertaining guests or visiting someone's home, you can make these wonderful beverages using herbs and spices from your kitchen. The smell is heavenly and the taste is even better!
Spicy Orange Cider
This is great to have on hand for the
kids after school or a surprise guest when you
don't have time to make a more elaborate drink.
This is great to have on hand for the kids after school or a surprise guest when you don't have time to make a more elaborate drink.
|
Ingredients:
1 tablespoon orange flavored breakfast drink
Dash ground cinnamon
Dash ground nutmeg
2/3 cup hot apple cider or juice
1 lemon slice
Directions:
In a heat proof mug stir together drink powder and
spices. Add the hot cider and stir well. Float the
lemon slice on top. This makes one serving, so
fix per cup!
Autumn Punch
Ingredients:
3 quarts cider
3 cups pineapple juice
1 can frozen orange juice (6 ounces)
A 6 inch cinnamon stick, broken into pieces
1 tsp. whole cloves
1 2-liter of ginger ale
Directions:
Combine all ingredients except the ginger
ale. Heat to boiling. Simmer 15 to 20 minutes
and remove from heat. Cool. Add ginger ale.
Float the orange slices on top of the punch.
Hot Cranberry Citrus Punch
Ingredients:
1 cup sugar
1 cup water
12 whole cloves
2 sticks of cinnamon (2 inches long)
3 quarts orange juice (can use 2 cans frozen)
1 quart cranberry cocktail
3 oranges
Extra cloves
Directions:
Stud the oranges with several cloves and place
in a baking dish. Bake at 325 degrees for 3 hours.
Meanwhile, mix the sugar, water, 12 cloves and
cinnamon in a pan and heat. Remove the spices.
When the oranges are almost done, add the juices
and heat through. Pour into a punch bowl and add
the oranges with any juices from the pan. You
can heat in a Crock Pot as well.
Apple Cider Tea
Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups brewed black tea
1 1/2 cups apple cider
2 tablespoons honey
2 orange slices
1 small cinnamon stick
1/8 tsp. ground nutmeg
Directions:
Simmer all but the tea for 10 minutes.
Add the tea and serve with the orange
slices. Makes 3 cups. Easily doubles.
Hot Spiced Wine
Ingredients:
2 tsp. allspice, whole
3/4 cup grated lemon peel
3" long cinnamon stick
1 bottle burgundy wine (3 cups)
3/4 cup raisins
1/2 cup sugar
|
Directions:
Tie the spices in a square of cheesecloth with kitchen string or tear a little piece of
the cheesecloth to use as a tie. Mix all ingredients together and simmer until heated
through. Remove raisins and spices before serving.
Links, information and more for you
About the author: Brenda is a wife, mom to three and a freelance writer living in Michigan. She is editor of http://oldfashionedliving.com where you can find crafts, recipes and other old fashioned projects.
