Holiday Party drinks.....

Warm drinks in the MN winter is not only comforting but a great way to heat up a party.....

(My morning coffee... yum!)

Hot Spiced Cider

8 cups of apple cider or apple juice

1/4 cup packed brown sugar

6 inches stick cinnamon

1 tea whole all spice

1 tea whole clove

1 tea shredded orange peal

8 thin orange wedges

*In large saucepan combine cider and sugar. For spice bag, place cinnamon, allspice, the 1 teaspoon cloves and the orange peel in center of 6 in square of 100% cheese cloth. Tie closed with clean string. Add spice bag to saucepan with cider mixture. Bring to boil, reduce heat and simmer covered for 10 mins.

Raspberry Tea

2 cups fresh or frozen red raspberries

4-5 tea bags

5 cups of boiling water

ice cubes

*Please raspberries and tea bags, in a glass bowl. Pour boiling water over raspberries and tea bags. Cover and let stand for 5 mins. Remove tea bags, discard. Strain berries from tea. Cool for several hours and chill.

Cranberry Tea

3 cups water

4 green tea bags

1 mint tea bag

2 cups cranberry juice, chilled

Fresh mint leaves or fresh cranberries

*In a med saucepan bring water to boiling. Remove from heat. Add green and mint tea bags. Cover and let stand for 10 mins. Remove tea bags and discard. Cover and chill for 2 hours. Transfer the tea into pitcher; stir in the cranberry juice.

Serve over ice cubes. If desired, garnish with fresh mint or cranberries.

Easy Party Punch:

1 12 oz can frozen citrus blend juice, thawed

1 12oz can frozen berry blend juice, thawed

2 2 liter ginger ale, chilled

*In large punch bowl combine juices. Add ginger ale and ice or ice ring. Garnish with orange slices or fresh berries.

(recipes from BH&G cookbook)

Keep on Cooking!!

Homemade Iced Coffee

Good Morning...... (well its not anymore, but it was a good one!)
Well, I have gotten my taste back for coffee... but since its so hot, only the iced kind! So today thought I would try to make my own. (coffee house coffee get expensive/fattening everyday)

2-3 cups of french pressed coffee

6-8 cubes of ice

1/4 cup of vanilla creamer

splash of skim milk

*Combine all in a small blender or magic bullet..... and yum it was great!!

Tonight my dear friend Alicia is coming over for dinner... Im making salad and chicken pot pies! This recipe was one of my first on this blog!

Keep on Cooking!!

Fruit smoothie

Hello friends,
These days the cravings are turning up.... nothing is too weird or strange, but oddly enough I can not eat enough fruit! This baby likes fruit and COLD beverages..... so this morning I mixed both and made a delicious personal smoothie:
1/4 cup blueberries
1/4 cup raspberries
1/4 cup strawberries
1/2 milk
4-5 cubes of ice
1 tbs raspberry sorbet

Mix in blender (I used my magic bullet). All fruit can be changed or more could be added. Also you can put in yogurt and not the sorbet for a creamier drink....Enjoy!
Keep on Cooking!

A Summer Sipper......

Watermelon Margaritas...
2 teaspoons sugar
1 lime wedge
3 1/2 cups cubed seeded or seedless watermelon
1/2 cup tequila
2 tablespoons sugar
3 tablespoons fresh lime juice
1 tablespoon Triple sec
Lime wedges or watermelon balls (optional)

Place 2 teaspoon sugar in saucer. Rim 6 glasses with lime wedge and then coat with sugar.
Combine watermelon and tequila, 2 tbls sugar, fresh lime and Triple sec in blender. Process till smooth. Fill each glass with 1/2 cup of crushed ice. Add 1/2 cup margarita mix into each glass and garnish with lime wedges or watermelon balls.
(recipe from cooking light mag)

Let summer start & Keep on Cooking!!