Simply Spicy

From Katie Brown’s Weekends and Katie Brown’s Outdoor Entertaining:
Mulled Cranberry Apple Cider

Ingredients
7 cups apple cider
5 cups cranberry juice
2 oranges, zested and juiced
1 bay leaf
3 cinnamon sticks
4 whole cloves1 lemon, sliced
1 tablespoon packed brown sugar
1 inch peeled ginger root, sliced
Pinch of salt
1 ½ cups brandy
½ cup Triple Sec, or other orange-flavored liqueur

Get Cookin’

1. Combine all of the ingredients except the brandy and the Triple Sec in a large saucepan. Bring to a boil and then lower the heat to a simmer for 20 minutes.
2. Lower the heat to low to just keep the cider warm. Add the brandy and the Triple Sec and strain into mugs.

Serves 12

Toffee and Peppermint Hot Chocolate

Ingredients
4 cups milk
½ cup water
½ cup sugar
8 oz bittersweet or semisweet chocolate, coarsely chopped
1 bar toffee candy and peppermint candies, crushed

Get Cookin’
1.  In a saucepan, combine milk, water, and sugar.  Stir over medium heat until mixture comes to a boil.  Remove from heat.
2.  Stir in chocolate. Whisk until chocolate is melted and mixture is frothy.  Pour into thermos.
3.  To serve, pour hot chocolate into cup and top with crushed candy.

Serves 4

Butterscotch Hot Chocolate

Ingredients
½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 ½ cup butterscotch morsels

Get Cookin’
1. In a medium saucepan, heat the milk.
2. When milk is hot, whisk in the cocoa powder and the butterscotch morsels.
3. Serve to warm and happy faces.