Archive forBeverages Recipes

Christmas Special: Christmas Carol Punch

INGREDIENTS:

2 red apples

8 cups clear apple cider

8 cinnamon sticks

2 teaspoons whole cloves

1/2 cup raisins

1 large orange

1 lemon

1/4 cup lemon juice

DIRECTIONS:

Core apples, and slice into 1/2 inch rings. Cut orange and lemon into thin slices.

In a dutch oven, combine cider, cinnamon, cloves, apple rings, and raisins. Bring to boil over high heat. Reduce heat to low. Simmer 5 to 8 minutes or until apples are just tender. Remove cloves, and add orange and lemon slices, and lemon juice. Pour into punch bowl. Ladle into large mugs, including an apple ring, some raisins, and citrus slices in each serving. Serve with spoons.

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Christmas Special: Christmas Eggy Nod

INGREDIENTS:

4 egg yolks

1 (5 ounce) can sweetened condensed milk

1 tablespoon white sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

4 1/2 cups milk

4 egg whites

1 fluid ounce rum

1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg

DIRECTIONS:

In a large mixing bowl, beat egg yolks until they are thickened and light. Gradually stir in condensed milk, sugar, vanilla and milk. Beat the egg whites until stiff, then add them to the milk mixture. Stir rum into the mixture (to taste). Garnish with nutmeg.

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Christmas Special: Cappuccino Mix

INGREDIENTS:

1 cup powdered non-dairy creamer

1 cup instant chocolate drink mix

3/4 cup instant coffee granules

1/2 cup white sugar

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg

DIRECTIONS:

In a medium sized glass jar, combine the non-dairy creamer, chocolate drink mix, instant coffee, sugar, cinnamon and nutmeg; mix well.

To prepare, place 2 tablespoons mix in a mug, pour in 3/4 cup boiling water, and stir until dissolved. Serve hot.

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Coffee & Tea: African Hot Punch Recipe

Ingredients

  • 4 bottles brandy
    2 bottles white rum
    1 gal coffee
    4 lb sugar

Instructions:

Pour brandy and rum into a bowl filled with the sugar. Set on fire (use extreme caution) and let the sugar dissolve. Add black coffee and stir well.

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Drink Well: The Health Benefit of Black and Green Tea

Scientific studies continue to show that green tea is good for you. Tea began as a Chinese medicinal drink, and modern science proves just how green tea is good for you. In traditional Chinese medicine, tea helps to clear the eyes and head, resolve excess phlegm, promote urination, relieve toxins, aid the digestion, and quench thirst. As with so many foods and medicines, the traditional Chinese medicinal thoughts are being proven scientifically in modern times. Today, there is ample evidence that tea is good for you as a daily tonic in the interest of preventing or treating a wide range of maladies, including: cancer, hypertension (high blood pressure), high cholesterol, premature aging, food poisoning, dental decay and bad breath, and even arthritis.

How Is Green Tea Good For You?

• Tea is rich in catechin polyphenols, particularly epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG). EGCG is a powerful anti-oxidant: besides inhibiting the growth of cancer cells, it kills cancer cells without harming healthy tissue. It has also been effective in lowering LDL cholesterol levels, and inhibiting the abnormal formation of blood clots. The latter takes on added importance when you consider that thrombosis (the formation of abnormal blood clots) is the leading cause of heart attacks and stroke.

• Green tea may be good for your waistline. In November 1999, the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition published the results of a study at the University of Geneva in Switzerland. Researchers found that men who were given a combination of caffeine and green tea extract burned more calories than those given only caffeine or a placebo.

Green Tea Is Good For Your Immune System

• A Japanese report found that men who drank ten cups of green tea per day stayed cancer-free for three years longer than men who drank less than three cups a day (there are approximately 240 - 320 mg of polyphenols in three cups of green tea). Meanwhile, a study by Cleveland’s Western Reserve University concluded that drinking four or more cups of green tea per day could help prevent rheumatoid arthritis, or reduce symptoms in individuals already suffering from the disease.

• Scientists at the Saitama Cancer Research Institute discovered that there were fewer recurrences of breast cancer, and the disease spread less quickly, in women with a history of drinking five cups or more of green tea daily.

Green Tea Is Good For Your Prevention & Treatment Of Cancer

• Scientists also discovered that EGCG from green tea can help to prevent metastasis, or the movement and spreading of cancer cells from one organ or tissue to the other by bloodstream or lymph. Cancer cells secrete special enzymes in order to enter and colonize tissues. Research shows that EGCG stops the secretion of these special enzymes.

• A case study that was done in China, reports that those women who drank green tea regularly had a 50% lower risk of developing esophageal cancer. Men showed less risk as well, but not as significant as women.

• Researchers from Sweden reported that green tea blocked the development of new blood vessels in the lungs. By blocking the development of new blood vessels in the lungs, tumors are less likely to grow and metastasize. Scientists believe that EGCG plays a significant rule in blocking the development of tumors. Similar results were achieved in breast cancer, colon cancer and melanoma studies. It is believed that drinking green tea for an extended period of time will help to prevent and might cure cancer naturally.

• The antioxidants found in green tea–called catechins–may selectively inhibit the growth of cancer. In laboratory studies using animals, catechins scavenged oxidants before cell damage occurred, reduced the number and size of tumors, and inhibited the growth of cancer cells. National Cancer Institute researchers are investigating the therapeutic and preventive use of tea catechins against a variety of cancers.

• One Chinese study involving over 18,000 men found green tea drinkers were about half as likely to develop stomach or esophageal cancer as men who drank little tea, even after adjusting for smoking and other health and diet factors.

• In the laboratory, studies have shown green tea catechins act as powerful inhibitors of cancer growth in several ways: They scavenge oxidants before cell injuries occur, reduce the incidence and size of chemically induced tumors, and inhibit the growth of tumor cells. In studies of liver, skin and stomach cancer, chemically induced tumors were shown to decrease in size in mice that were fed green and black tea.

Green Tea Is Good For Your Teeth

• Green tea is good for your teeth, the catechins prevent decay by killing the bacteria (Streptococcus mutans) that cause dental plaque. Green tea also contains fluoride. One cup of brewed green tea contains around 0.3-0.5 mg of fluoride. This is an optimal level of fluoride according to dentists. As we all know, fluoride builds in our teeth’s enamel, making it more resistant against acidic environment, of our mouth. Green tea also eliminates other bacteria that responsible for bad breath. According to researchers, green tea polyphenols can inhibit, by 30%, the growth of bacteria that causes unpleasant breath.

• A study at the Beijing Dental Hospital found consuming 3 grams of green tea a day, or about 2 cups, along with the application of a tea extract reduced the size and proliferation of leukoplakia, a precancerous oral plaque.

• Recent research suggests that green tea is good for your HDL cholesterol ( the “good one”) and lowers triglyceride levels. Several tests have been done. And green tea extract has been shown to be good for your cholesterol.

Green Tea Is Good For Your Blood Pressure

• At the the end of a 5 week experiment, one group with the regular diet showed blood pressure increases. For the catechin fed group, the blood pressure stayed normal. After this initial testing the scientists switched the diets for the two groups. This switch led to a reversal of the blood pressure trends. The study concluded that drinking moderate amounts of green tea each day can help to prevent high blood pressure.

The catechins in green tea have additionally been shown to help prevent excess cholesterol in the blood, killing the bacteria that causes food poisoning, lower blood sugar, additionally green tea is good for your high blood pressure by suppressing the production of angiotensn II. Catechin is also a strong anti-oxidant, which aids in aging related concerns.

Green and white tea leaves are less processed than oolong or black teas, which prevents oxidation and retains the highest levels of beneficial compounds. But all tea is good for you, so find the ones you like and drink them daily!

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Sbiten - Russia’s Traditional Winter-time Beverage

Sbiten, the traditional beverage for wintertime in Russia, is a drink with a long, colorful history. Research shows that sbiten has been around since the fourteenth century. Traditionally, Sbiten was served from oft-heated copper samovars by the sbitenshchik, who served it up until the beginning of the twentieth century on Russian street corners.

I have always loved all things Russian. For the past twenty years, I have collected stamps from Russia and outlying territories, and have an extensive collection in 2 large Scott’s Standard books. One of my favorite composers and pianist is Kostia, whose haunting music of his Russian homeland is a beautiful listening experience. If I am particularly stressed out, it is Kostia I turn to. His albums include Suite St. Petersburg and 10 Pebbles, among others.

Sbiten is made in different ways, both non-alcoholic and alcoholic. It is the perfect antidote for long cold winters, something Russia is famous for. Here in Michigan, it is a real treat for us old folks that hate winter.

The word Sbiten comes the from the verb sbit–to beat or to pound. The herbs and spices are ground in a mortar, and then mixed with honey or molasses. It is allowed to ferment for a short period, and then mixed with water to make a slightly alcoholic drink. Replacing the water with a good Cabernet Sauvignon makes for a more lively drink, one to be appreciated by all. It is also fortified with brandy or vodka for a more potent libation.

The basic recipe for Sbiten:

3 1/2 cups water
2 cups honey
3 cinnamon sticks
2-3 cardamom pods, seeds removed, toasted and crushed
1/3 Tsp ground ginger 1 TBS whole cloves
2 dried chili peppers (optional)
2 TBS raspberry or apricot jam

Combine all ingredients in a medium saucepan and bring to a slow boil over medium heat. Whisk continuously to insure honey is well mixed. Remove from heat and allow to come to room temperature. Strain liquid through cheesecloth into an airtight container for storage and refrigerate until ready to bottle.

I buy 750 ml Cobalt Blue EZ Cap bottle from the local brewmeister to bottle anything like Sbiten to present as a gift during the holiday season. Add some fancy ribbon, a foil cap to the bottle, and a gift card. For about $8 USD you have a wonderful gift to present to friends or co-workers. A case of the Cobalt Blue bottles runs about $15.00.

Find the recipe for Sbiten and many other fine foods at http://www.allthebestrecipes.com. Many informative articles and recipes are posted there daily.

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Rose Water Drink

rose_water.jpgIngredients:

  • 1 litre Water
  • 100 gms Sugar
  • 200 gms Rose petals
  • Juice of half Lemon
Method:
  1. Wash the petals well and simmer them in water with sugar and the juice from half a lemon. Allow to cool.
  2. Pour onto ice in flutes decorated with a rose.
  3. Drink either straight or topped up with soda water.
  4. The sugar quantities should be adjusted according to taste.

Tip: To keep coconut kernels fresh rub a little salt over them, or sprinkle a little salt water on them

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Peached Lassi

peach_lassi.jpgIngredients:

  • 1 part Banana
  • 1 part Peach juice
  • 1 part liquid Yoghurt
Method:
  1. Blend equal quantities of yoghurt, peach juice and banana.
  2. Pour in wine glasses with cocktail sticks of orange and banana.
  3. Serve chilled.
  4. Serve: 1

Tip: Always use natural fruit juices.

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Limeade Coolers

limeade.jpgIngredients:

  • 6 Limes
  • 750 ml Boiling Water
  • 125 gms Castor Sugar
  • Pinch of Salt
  • Ice-Cubes
  • Lime wedges and Mint leaves to decorate
Method:
  1. Halve the limes then squeeze the juice into a large jug.
  2. Put the squeezed lime halves into another heatproof jug with the sugar and boiling water and leave to infuse for 15 minutes.
  3. Add the salt, give the infusion a good stir, then strain it into the jug holding the lime juice.
  4. Add half a dozen ice cubes in each glass and pour the limeade over.
  5. Add a lime wedge and a mint leaf to decorate.

Tip: Adding half a tsp of sodium bicarbonate in the milk while boiling will not spoil the milk even if you don’t put it in the fridge.

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Grape Fruit With Mint Coolers

grapefruit_mint_cooler.jpg Ingredients:

  • 125 ml Water
  • 125 gms Sugar
  • 250 ml Soda water
  • Handful of Mint Sprigs
  • 450 ml Grapefruit juice
  • Mint sprigs, to decorate
  • Juice of a 4 large Lemons
  • Crushed Ice
Method:
  1. Put the sugar and water in a heavy-based saucepan and stir over a low heat until dissolved. Leave to cool.
  2. Crush the mint leaves and stir then into the syrup. Cover and leave to stand for about 12 hours, then strain into a jug.
  3. Add the lemon and grapefruit juices to the strained syrup and stir well.
  4. Fill 6 old-fashioned glasses or tumblers with crushed ice and pour the grapefruit into the glasses.

  5. Top up with the soda water and decorate with mint sprigs.

Tip: Always use natural fruit juices. Canned or artificial juices ain’t any good

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