Though spring may be around the corner, there are still places in the country where the nights, and indeed sometimes the days, are still chilly. What better to take off that chill than a delicious hot drink? Marc Zboch knows all about those hot drinks that keep the drinker warm even on the coldest nights, and here are seven more for consideration.
Hot Spiced Grape Juice
This drink proves that grape juice cocktails can be enjoyed hot as well as cold. This one can be made ahead. Add a quart of purple grape juice, a quart of cranberry juice cocktail, four whole cloves, one large stick of cinnamon, three whole allspice, 1/2 cup of brown sugar and 1/3 cup white sugar in a saucepan. Stir until the ingredients are well mixed. Turn heat to low and cook until all the sugars are dissolved. Strain, then pour into mugs.
French Chocolate
To make this indulgent drink, heat a quart of milk until it’s hot but not boiling, and whip about 3/4 cup of heavy whipping cream until it forms peaks. Break off three squares of unsweetened chocolate into 3/4 cup of water in a small saucepan. Turn the heat on low, and stir constantly until the chocolate is melted. Add 3/4 cup of sugar and a pinch of salt, and boil gently for three minutes, all the while stirring. Take the pan from the heat, and fold in 1/2 cup of whipped cream.
Put out six coffee cups and put a tablespoon of the chocolate/whipped cream mixture into each cup. Then, add enough hot milk to fill the cup. Top with another spoonful of whipped cream and chocolate shavings.
Mulled Tomato Juice
This is sort of a Virgin Mary but is served hot. It’s best if the user has an old-fashioned electric percolator that can make 16 cups. This drink is just the thing for brunch.
Have some watercress or parsley ready to serve as garnish. To make, take out the basket and the holder from the percolator then add two 46 ounce cans of tomato juice, a tablespoon of Worcestershire sauce, a teaspoon of celery salt and a half a teaspoon of oregano. To this add a dash of Tabasco sauce and a half a cup of softened butter. Turn on the pot, and let it percolate for a cycle.
When everything’s hot, pour it into punch cups, and serve with a sprig of watercress or parsley.
Chocolate Sin
The name of this hot drink says everything about it. Melt an ounce of unsweetened chocolate very carefully in the top of a double boiler over water that’s been brought to a simmer. Add 1/4 cup of sugar, a dash of vanilla, a dash of cinnamon and a pinch of salt along with 3 cups of milk. Stir to mix well, and heat until the mix is very hot but not boiling. Then, serve with some whipped cream or mini marshmallows floated on top.
Dot’s Hot Spot
This drink requires a wine glass and a rocks glass. Heat half a wine glass of grape juice, half a wineglass of apple juice, a stick of cinnamon and a teaspoon of honey in a saucepan for about 5 minutes. Then, allow to cool slightly and pour the mix into a rocks glass. Float a slice of lemon on top and enjoy.
Blue Blazer
This drink has booze, so beware! Put 2 measures of Irish whiskey, 1 measure of honey, a half a measure of lemon juice and 2 to 3 measures of water in a saucepan. Slowly bring to a boil or heat it until the honey is dissolved. Place a cold teaspoon into a rocks glass, and pour the concoction over it. Why a cold teaspoon? It’ll keep the glass from cracking if the drink is too hot. Then, enjoy. For some folks, the Blue Blazer is just the thing if they’re down with a cold or the flu.
Orange Grog
Put 2 quarts of orange juice, 1/2 cup of sugar, 3 cinnamon sticks, 3 tablespoons of orange peel and 20 whole cloves into a saucepan, and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat, and let it simmer for about 5 minutes. Strain the grog into a large pitcher or if the drinker needs to be out and about, into one of those bottles that keep something warm forever.
For more hot drink recipes, be sure to visit Marc Zboch at his website.
