Healthy Hot Drinks for winter
Easy Chai Tea
Makes 4 cups
Ingredients:
· 8 cardamom seeds
· 8 cloves
· 4 black peppercorns
· 2 cinnamon sticks
· 1 1-inch piece fresh ginger, sliced
· 2 cups whole milk
· 4 bags black tea
· 8 teaspoons sugar or more, to taste
Direction:
1. Place the cardamom, cloves, and peppercorns in a resealable plastic bag and crush with a heavy skillet.
2. Place the crushed spices in a medium saucepan, along with the cinnamon sticks, ginger, milk, and 2 cups water; bring to a boil. Remove from heat, add the tea bags, cover, and let steep for 10 minutes.
3. Strain into cups. To each cup, add 2 teaspoons sugar or more, to taste.
Sunburst Spiced Tea Recipe
MAKES: 4 servings
Ingredients:
·2 medium oranges
·1 medium lemon
·4 cardamom pods
· 4 whole cloves
· 4 teaspoons black tea leaves
· 4 cups boiling water
Directions:
1. Using a citrus zester, remove peel from oranges and lemon in long narrow strips. (Save fruit for another use.) Place the peel strips, cardamom and cloves in a large bowl. With the end of a wooden spoon handle, crush mixture until aromas are released.
2. Add tea leaves and boiling water. Cover and steep for 6 minutes. Strain tea, discarding peel mixture. Serve immediately.
Timberline Hot Chocolate
Makes: 4 servings
Ingredients:
· 4cups milk
· 1/2cup water
· 1/2cup sugar
· 8ounces bittersweet or semisweet chocolate, coarsely chopped
· Unsweetened cocoa powder (optional)
Directions:
1. In a saucepan combine milk, water, and sugar. Stir over medium heat until mixture just comes to boiling. Remove from heat. Stir in chocolate. Beat with an immersion blender, rotary mixer, or whisk until chocolate is melted and mixture is frothy.
2. To serve, pour hot chocolate into cups. If desired, top cocoa powder.
Hot Spiced Green Tea Recipe
MAKES: 4 servings
Ingredients:
· 2 cinnamon sticks (3 inches)
· 4 individual green tea bags
· 1/2 teaspoon minced fresh gingerroot
· 1/2 teaspoon grated lemon peel
· 4 cardamom pods, crushed
· 4 cups boiling water
· 2 tablespoons honey
Directions:
1. In a large bowl, combine the first five ingredients. Add boiling water. Cover and steep for 5-6 minutes. Strain, discarding tea bags and spices. Stir honey into tea. Serve immediately.
Sources:
realsimple.com
tasteofhome.com
bhg.com
tasteofhome.com
Other links:
Chocoberry Milk Chiller
Mint drink
