Drinking to the New Year (with honey!)



 

Mulled apple cider


CHEERS TO THE NEW YEAR!!

I love drinks with honey in it.  You would not believe the variety of drinks you can make with it.

To greet your guests during the holidays, welcome them with a hot mulled cider that you put in your crock pot.  Just keep it bubbling away on "low" and it will always be perfect for your company.


HOT MULLED CIDER
1 qt apple juice or apple cider
1/2 c honey
3 orange slices
12 whole cloves
dash of nutmeg, cinnamon

Put the honey in the crock pot that is warming up.  Let it warm and then add the juice and mix (the heated honey will easily mix with the cider).  Add the remaining ingredients, or buy a mulled spice mix that you put into a tea ball and toss in to the juice.  The longer it sits, the stronger it is.  Have a supply of stirrable peppermint sticks to go with it.

Here is another hot drink that you could make on the stove first, then transfer to a crock pot on "low" to keep it warm.

HONEY EGGNOG PUNCH
6 eggs, beaten until fluffy
3/4 c honey
1 whole nutmeg or 1/2 t ground nutmeg
1 qt whole milk

Beat honey gradually into eggs; set aside.  Add nutmeg to the milk.  Heat, without boiling, until beads form around the edge of pan (DO NOT BOIL). Add milk to the egg and honey mixture slowly, stirring constantly (or you will cook the eggs...not good). 

If you need a cold drink for your new year's crowd, try this:

HONEY ORANGE PUNCH
2 c boiling water
1 large family size tea bag (or use several smaller ones)
1 1/2 c honey
1 c lemon juice
5 c orange juice
2 qt iced tea

Pour the boiling water over the tea bag(s) and steep.  Dissolve honey into the warm tea.  Let cool, then combine remaining ingredients.  Easy and good.

And here's one if it's just you and a loved one spending a quiet evening:

MINTY HONEY MOCHA FOR TWO
1 c water
2 t cocoa (reserve some for top)
2 t honey
1 c of your favorite coffee
OPT: 4 T Kahlua coffee liqueur
4 T white creme de menthe
whipped topping

Mix ingredients together and put into two mugs.  Finish off with whipped topping, with a dash of coca on top.



"My son, eat thou honey, because it is good; and the honeycomb, which is sweet to the taste"
Proverbs 24:13