Beverages

 
 

The Best Hot Chocolate Mix

    Add 3/4 pound good semisweet chocolate and 1/4 pound good milk chocolate (broken into pieces) to a food processor; process until finely ground.  Add 2 cups sugar and 1 cup cocoa powder; pulse to blend.  For each serving heat 1 cup milk and whisk in 1/4 cup mix.

    Makes 5 cups of mix, about 18-20 servings. 

Hot Mulled Wine


2 bottles light red wine                   

½ cup cassis liqueur

Zest of 1 orange, peeled in strips

Zest of 1 lemon, peeled in strips

2 cinnamon sticks                                

6 whole cardamom pods

6 whole cloves

6 allspice berries

1 teaspoon freshly grated  nutmeg

    

        Place the wine, cassis, citrus zests, and cinnamon sticks in a medium-size pan.  Make a cheesecloth spice bag with the cardamom, cloves, allspice, and nutmeg and add to the wine.  Bring the wine just to a boil, then simmer uncovered 20 to 25 minutes. Ladle hot wine into mugs or punch cups and serve warm. 

        Makes 6-8 servings.