Which got me thinking about the importance of comforting drinks by the fire as the wintry weather encroaches on our doorsteps and frosts our windows. Hot chocolate will always be a warming staple, especially when spiced with a few drops of peppermint schnapps, but where's the American version of butterbeer and firewhisky?
I scoured Gourmet (RIP) and Bon Appetit for the answer to this question and discovered two very snazzy wintry cocktails that I think just about anybody who is chilly or lives in a cold place (with or without a fireplace) would enjoy. And even though our fireplace is strictly for decorative purposes, we'll cheers each other with a Tom & Jerry or a Ski Lift anyway. That way I can stay warmed and comfortable curled up on the sofa reading HP for the tenth time.
SKI LIFT
NOVEMBER 1955
Recently, bartenders seem to have rediscovered tea as a cocktail ingredient. It’s being used to infuse spirits and as the base for cold punches, but it’s still rarely found in hot drinks like this one. Bourbon makes it slightly sweeter than rye does. This quantity will yield 8 to 10 mugs.
In a saucepan combine 2 cups hot, strong green tea, the juice of 3 lemons and 6 oranges, and 1/2 pound granulated sugar. Stir the mixture until the sugar is dissolved, add to it 1 fifth bourbon or rye and 2 ounces [orange] curaçao and heat it to the boiling point but do not boil. Serve immediately.
In a saucepan combine 2 cups hot, strong green tea, the juice of 3 lemons and 6 oranges, and 1/2 pound granulated sugar. Stir the mixture until the sugar is dissolved, add to it 1 fifth bourbon or rye and 2 ounces [orange] curaçao and heat it to the boiling point but do not boil. Serve immediately.
INGREDIENTS
2-3 tablespoons Tom & Jerry batter (see recipe below)
1/2 ounce of dark rum, such as Myers's
1/2 brandy
4 to 6 ounces hot water
Ground cinnamon
PREPARATION
In a small, heavy mug, combine T&J batter, rum and brandy (warmed slightly), and hot water, whisking lightly to produce a light froth. Top with a sprinkle of cinnamon and serve immediately.
INGREDIENTS
2 organic, cage-free eggs, separated
1/2 pound powdered sugar
pinch cream of tartar
1/8 teaspoon cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
2 large pinches ground cloves
1 pinch ground cardamom
PREPARATION
In a medium bowl, whisk the egg yolks until lemon-colored and frothy, then gradually add the powdered sugar, using a little water to moisten if necessary until a smooth paste forms. Whisk the egg whites in a small bowl until frothy, then add the cream of tartar and whisk until firm peaks form. Using a rubber spatula, gently fold the egg whites into the yolk mixture until combined, then add the spices and adjust for taste. Store, refrigerated, no more than eight hours. Allow to warm slightly before using.
2-3 tablespoons Tom & Jerry batter (see recipe below)
1/2 ounce of dark rum, such as Myers's
1/2 brandy
4 to 6 ounces hot water
Ground cinnamon
PREPARATION
In a small, heavy mug, combine T&J batter, rum and brandy (warmed slightly), and hot water, whisking lightly to produce a light froth. Top with a sprinkle of cinnamon and serve immediately.
Tom & Jerry Batter
(For about 12 drinks; this recipe can be expanded as necessary)INGREDIENTS
2 organic, cage-free eggs, separated
1/2 pound powdered sugar
pinch cream of tartar
1/8 teaspoon cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
2 large pinches ground cloves
1 pinch ground cardamom
PREPARATION
In a medium bowl, whisk the egg yolks until lemon-colored and frothy, then gradually add the powdered sugar, using a little water to moisten if necessary until a smooth paste forms. Whisk the egg whites in a small bowl until frothy, then add the cream of tartar and whisk until firm peaks form. Using a rubber spatula, gently fold the egg whites into the yolk mixture until combined, then add the spices and adjust for taste. Store, refrigerated, no more than eight hours. Allow to warm slightly before using.
***Also, be sure to check out my friend Tacy's blog, Homemaking Habits, to read an interview on writing that I gave her this week!
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6 comments:
Ooh I love this! I was just thinking today about Halloween cocktails. Though this is Harry Potter booze it is still close enough to Halloween. Can't wait to show this to my husband!
I love that your recipe calls for cage free eggs! I've successfully convinced my boyfriend and my parents that they are the way to go. Well, the boyfriend needed a trip by the chicken factory on broad st. (chatt) to be convinced, but i'm pretty sure the smell was all it took. I can't wait to make these drinks! Thanks for the recipes!
Oh wow--I've never been much of a cocktail drinker, but that T & J recipe makes me want to start . . . thanks, Annie!
It's been a while, I know, but I just read your interview . . . and LOVED it. Especially, I identify with what you write about inspiration, "the way I live life influences my blogging and writing. Because I'm the kind of person that likes to write about my own life experiences, I pull from day to day living (and cooking) and write from there. It's not very often that something I've already written influences the way I live, but I do believe that my life influences my writing very much."
I agree, wholeheartedly :-)
Thanks for sharing your lovely words, recipes, and self!
~anna
Annie,
Come on back to the blogosphere. PLEEEEAZZZE.
We miss your writing.
Yes, please do . . . return to your blogging fans :-)
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