Hi All!
In my last post I told you all about my Saturday trip to the Christmas Market– and how I had some delicious mulled wine and Drambuie hot apple toddies. Well I have not been able to get them out of my mind since, and have been enjoying some lovely Christmas beverages of my own making!
So today I thought I would share my three favourite holiday drinks this year- they are all SO easy to make, and would be great Christmas party drinks, since they are all different and would appeal to everyone!
The drinks I have been enjoying are: Mulled Wine, Drambuie Hot Apply Toddy, and Egg Nog with Spiced Rum. – as I said these are all ridiculously simple to make and require the minimum of effort- which if you are anything like me, is exactly what you need at this time of year!
They don’t require too many ingredients either!
Mulled Wine
1 bottle red wine (something that is full bodied I used a Cabernet-Merlot)
zest of 1/2 a grape fruit
1/4 cup fresh grapefruit juice
1/4 cup mulling spices (star anise, cloves, nutmeg, cinnamon – I got mine at the store pre-mixed)
1/4 cup of honey (or just sugar or sweetener of your choice)
Serves about 4 (or 3 generously)
This is the perfect warming drink for those wine lovers at your party! or for you- when you come in after a long day 🙂
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Drambuie Hot Apple Toddy
1 1/2 shots Drambuie (whiskey based, spiced deliciousness)
1 1/2 cups Apple cider
both ingredient amounts are per drink 🙂
Heat your apple cider on the stove (or in the microwave if you’re feeling lazy) until it’s steaming.
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Egg Nog
1 shot dark spiced rum (I used Kraken because it comes in a cool bottle)
1 cup egg nog (I got the 2% in the carton, it is delicious- you can use whatever you like)
each ingredient amounts are per drink 🙂
And I left the most simple drink to the last. This drink is not very original but it is a classic 🙂 and I feel it rounds out the other drinks since it is both cold and deliciously creamy. And all you have to do is buy a carton of egg nog, and a bottle of rum and you instantly have holidays in your glass. 🙂
So that is my line-up for this Christmas…. and the weeks leading up to Christmas…
What drinks do you love around the holiday season? Any family favourites- or ones that get you into the Christmas mood?
Hope you’re having just as Tipsy of a Tuesday as I am!
xo erin
Hi All!
Today I have another guest Tipsy Tuesday from my friend Cael, who did the lavender infused gin in September! He is always making the coolest drinks!
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I’m not sure about all of you, but I’m not ready to let go of summer.
I know, I know.. December is here, holiday music can be heard on a loop in every department store (and not even the funny ones! (“Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer” anyone?), lights and decorations are starting to come out of storage and Grandmothers everywhere are baking up a veritable storm in their kitchens. It really is a wonderful time of year… But I never seem to be able to settle into it all until the holidays are ten feet in front of me. I miss the sun, and the warm summer days. I miss the impromptu day trips to the beach. And I really miss just hanging out on the deck with music blasting in the background, doing nothing but just relaxing spending time with the people I care about most, sipping a beer or a nice cocktail
That’s exactly why I love this drink. It’s almost comically simple to make, it’s refreshing, and it’s absolutely perfect for whenever you’re entertaining – or if you just want to sit back, close your eyes, and pretend for a moment that there isn’t a blizzard raging outside.
PLUM SAKE-TINI
- Half a plum, muddled
- 1 oz Vodka
- 1 oz Sake
- 1/2 oz fresh lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon of sugar
I have to admit, I didn’t know too much about the drink until I had the opportunity to visit the Ontario Spring Water Sake Company in Toronto, a few weeks ago. The lovely bartender (who’s name I simply cannot remember.. probably due to the three or four samples I decided to try!) was very informative and was quite enthusiastic when it came to explaining the basics of the drink.
Sake is an alcoholic beverage of Japanese origin, that is made from fermented rice and spring water. It is sometimes referred to as “rice wine” in English speaking countries, but really doesn’t share any properties of this namesake. Instead, it is created via a brewing process similar to the way beer is brewed. The final product can be dry, light and fruity, and fairly bold, boasting an impressive alcohol content that can range between 12 – 20%, depending on the bottle.
All I can tell you is that it is absolutely heavenly! It is usually served in small little ceramic cups (ochoko) that measure about an ounce each. It really drives home the fact that this is the type of drink that you sip slowly and savour, holding it in your mouth to allow each and every little flavour profile to present itself before swallowing. If you want a real treat though – try some sake that had been warmed. It is my new favourite drink for those colder evenings.
OSW Sake Company is the only sake brewery on this side of North America to offer the luxury of unpasteurized sake, which is rarely seen outside of Japan. Tucked to the side of the Distillery Districts’ red brick walkways, it is one of Toronto’s many hidden gems, and happens to be where I bought the sake used in this weeks recipe.
And that’s that! Less than five minutes and you have a delightfully tangy cocktail with a mellow, sweet, and fruity finish. Now all you have to do is garnish with a slice of plum and a twist of lemon, find your favourite person (because something like this is just too good to keep to yourself), and spend the rest of your day watching the snow fall, and daydreaming about nicer weather.
Cheers!
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Well, now I’m thirsty. How about you? Are you pretending it’s still summer and warm? or are you embracing the winter and getting excited for Christmas?
xo erin
1C sugar
1C pumpkin puree
3 tsp pumpkin spice (nutmeg, cloves, cinnamon)
3 tbsp Simple Pumpkin Syrup
1oz cold coffee/espresso
1/2oz half & half (10% cream)
Hi All!
I hope you’re all getting into the fall spirit! I have been soaking in the cool evenings and colourful changing leaves- I forgot how much I love fall.
One of those fall experiences that I have been definitely been taking advantage of is apple picking. And the last time I was out apple picking I picked up some apple cider- for some hot spiced rum cider! mmm
This is absolutely one of the most seasonal, most delicious and most downright simple drinks you can possibly make 🙂 and I love it.
To make this spiced cider all you need is some delicious apple cider, some chai or otherwise spiced tea (can be herbal), cinnamon sticks (which you can use to steep or just to garnish), and of course some rum!
For about 3 drinks I took 4 cups of cider and put it in a saucepan over the stove on medium-high heat. Then I took 2 tea bags and let them steep in the cider (you could also put in a cinnamon stick for extra cinnamon flavour). Heat the cider up until it’s steaming and hot, but not boiling. Stir it around a bit infusing the spices! I did this for about 10 minutes.
Measure you’re chosen amount of rum into your favourite mug- this amount will vary depending on how cold it is, how many exams you have coming up, or how many relatives are visiting your house. For hanging out with friends I opted for about 1 1/2 ounces.
Then ladle your hot spiced cider over your rum, and into your favourite glass, possibly with a cinnamon stick to make it look festive!
So simple, so tasty, so fall appropriate!
Definitely one of my favourite things right now!
How are you enjoying the fall season? Do you have any favourite drinks to warm up with?
Hope you’re having a very Tipsy Tuesday!
xo erin
Hi All,
I won’t waste time talking about my hiatus through July, other than to say that I’ve been working on a very exciting project – hint hint!!
But today I have a special supper Sunday – a supper from the garden- my mom’s garden that has been amazing this summer!
So much fresh garden goodness
Here is a good look at the garden!
It’s HUGE! –
Mom happily picking her kale 🙂
These lovely edible flowers, that taste like radishes, and cabbages half the size of me
More garden goodness!
George the rabbit!
Finn wanted in to see the bunnies!
A hen with her chicks!
Finn looking at the teenager bunnies.
Holding baby bunnies- definitely a highlight of my day! – with Annette 🙂
All resulting in such a lovely summer dinner!
