Maple Mud

Snuggle up to a steaming mug of maple sweetened joe with a few drops of walnut and coffee liqueur.

Ingredients:

Coffee
Maple syrup
Kahlua
Nocello

Add 2 tablespoons each of 100% pure maple syrup, Nocello and Kahlua to a generous sized mug. Brew your favorite fresh ground coffee. Pour 1 1/3 cups freshly brewed hot coffee over.

NEXT WEEK: The month of February features “Shades of Pink” in honor of that pesky love holiday. Meet me back here next Monday to kick off the first recipe: Pomgria

Kick Ass Hot Chocolate

Indulge in the endorphin rush of milk chocolate with a kick of ginger. Add a splash of orange liqueur and you’re ready to warm-up in a chilly winter haze.

Ingredients:

Milk chocolate chips
Almond Milk
Ginger juice
Grand Marnier

Grate fresh ginger root (one piece, as pictured, is sufficient for one serving). Place grated ginger in fine sieve and press juice through with a large spoon. Add 4 teaspoons ginger juice and ¼ cup Grand Marnier to mug. In a small sauce pot continuously stir ¼ cup milk chocolate chips on low heat until completely melted. Shake container of plain almond milk. Slowly pour ½ cup of almond milk into pot, increase temp to medium and continuously stir until fully incorporated. Continue to stir until hot. Pour hot chocolate into mug. WARNING: Do not use cow’s milk, the ginger will cause it to curd.

NEXT WEEK:  Maple Mud

Cozy Dream

Patiently sip this throat coating, tummy warming elixir while you tease your senses with a tickle of vanilla and cloves mixed with a syrupy licorice liqueur. Getting warm just thinking about it.

Ingredients:

Sambuca
Vanilla
Cloves

Place 10 whole cloves into a small tumbler or liqueur glass. Add ½ teaspoon vanilla extract. Pour 1/4 cup Sambuca over. Cover with plastic wrap and leave to infuse for at least 12 hours. (I know it's hard to wait, just plan ahead on this one, it will be worth it!)

NEXT WEEK: Kick Ass Hot Chocolate

Smooth Cider

Dive into this treat of creamy caramel swirling around an almond liqueur with sweet apples. You’ll melt.

 

Ingredients:

Unfiltered Apple juice
Amaretto
Caramel sauce (see recipe below)
Apple slices

In small sauce pan on stove top add 1 cup unfiltered apple juice with 2 tablespoons caramel sauce. Continually stir on medium-low until hot. Add ¼ cup of Amaretto into a mug and pour heated apple juice mixture over. Floating thin slices of apple add garnish.

Caramel sauce:
Of course, you can purchase a quality sauce or make a simple traditional sauce of sugar, butter and cream. However, I prefer one made with turbinado sugar, earth balance and coconut milk. Combine 3/4 cup turbinado (raw) sugar with 1/4 cup water in medium saucepan so there is an even layer of wet crystals. Let cook without stirring on medium-high heat until it bubbles, darkens in color and all crystals have dissolved (around 3 minutes). Add 5 tbs earth balance and stir.  Remove from heat and pour in 1/3 cup coconut milk. Makes about a cup.

NEXT WEEK:  Cozy Dream