Ingredient Title Chef Category

A cheer for the new year

For those among us, of any age, who enjoy hoisting a glass or a cup, but prefer that alcohol stay lodged in a bottle, never fear, drink recipes are here.

Clinking tea cups is always cheering. Have you cosidered that a lot of the "teas" on the market today, selling for very fancy prices, have absolutely no tea leaves in their packets. You can make your own herbal teas (which often have ingredients other than herbs in their makeup) from such ingredients as orange peels, lemon peels gigner, etc.

MAKE-YOUR-OWN TEAS

Amanda Hesser always keeps a pot of ginger and hot red pepper flakes steeping in her kitchen. She recommends using only one or two spices or herbs. "You don't want to have too many things in the pot or it will taste of nothing."

Drop a handful of dried ingredients in a pot, pour in the boiling water and let it steep. The flavor builds and intensifies as it sits. Your tongue will tell you when to pour.

1. When using orange juice in a baking recipe, she dries the peels and uses them later for an infusion maybe with a bit of herb such as lemon balm or mint.

2. She likes using mint with honey, lemon with ginger (smells like a cough drop but lights up the taste buds).

3. Orange peel and star anise are another favorite of hers - "mildly acid with a sprakle on the tongue."

4. Ginger and hot red pepper flakes.

5. Two cloves with any fruit peel or with dried herbs.

MAKE-YOUR-OWN HOT CHOCOLATE MIX

Charlotte Christner of Wauneta, NE says, "My family loves to make this after school and evenings."

1 box (8 quart) dry milk powder
1 pound Nestles "Quick"
1 jar (6 oz.) Coffeemate
1/2 cup confectioners sugar

Mix in a large contianer and store tightly covered. For a cup of hot chocolate place 1/2 cup of the mixture in a cup and stir in hot water. Marshmallows floating and melting on top still improve any chocolate drink as far as I'm concerned. Makes 60 to 08 cups, depending upon cup size.

SPICED BANANA PUNCH

A blender drink so good you'll make it often...would be great for breakfast. All of the spices need to be ground, not whole.

2 cups chilled milk
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1/16 teaspoon cardamom
1/16 teaspoon cloves
1/16 teaspoon nutmeg
1/2 cup banana slices
1/4 cup ice
1 tablespoon packed brown sugar

Place in blender and whirl until smooth. Makes 3 cups -- 3 to 4 servings. To use this recipe for an alcholic milk punch, omit the banana and substitue 1/4 cup brandy. Makes 4 cups --4 to 5 servings.

CREAMY PUNCH

With both ice cream and sherbet in it, how can it be anything but a smoothie?

2 containers (6 oz. each) frozen lemonade
1 container (6 oz.) frozen orange juice
9 cups water
5 pints lemon or pineapple sherbet
1 quart vanilla ice cream

Combine all of the ingredients and serve cold. Makes 9 quarts, about 36 or more servings.

OLD-FASHIONED SWEET CIDER

Never goes out of style. Use either light or dark brown sugar, your choice.

1 quart sweet apple cider
8 whole all-spice
8 whole cloves
1 stick cinnamon
few grains salt
1/4 cup pakced brown sugar

Pour cider into a saucepan and add the remaining ingredients. Cover and heat very slowly to the boiling point. The heat should be so low that it will take the cider about 30 minutes to come to a boil. Remove from heat, strian out the spices and serve steaming hot. Makes 5 servings.

A TOAST TO HAPPINES AND PEACE IN 2003!

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