The weather in Beijing is frightful. And since we’ve no place to go, let’s make some hot winterly drinks that the whole family will love.
Let’s start with something for the parents – mulled wine!
Ingredients:
- 1 bottle of dry red wine (substitute grape juice for a child-friendly version or mommy mocktail)
- 2-3 sticks of cinnamon
- 10-15 whole cloves
- 3-4 whole star anise
- 1 orange
- Spiced rum or brandy (optional)
To Make:
- Pour the red wine into a saucepan or small soup pot
- Add the cinnamon sticks
- Push the cloves into the orange and cut the orange into rounds, approximately ½ an inch thick. Add to the wine
- Add the star anise
- Let it simmer on low for 15 minutes (add rum/brandy if desired for the last 5 minutes)
- Allow it to sit for at least 15 minutes, or as many as several hours (the longer it sits the more the cinnamon and cloves will infuse the wine)
- Pour into your favorite mug and sip with people who make you happy!
For everybody – hot chocolate!
Ingredients:
- milk (you can either use whole milk, skimmed milk, or even almond milk)
- cocoa powder
- chocolate chips
- vanilla extract
To make:
- Place the milk of your choice in a saucepan over medium-low heat.
- Whisk in cocoa powder and sugar, and heat until warm.
- Once the milk is warm, add chocolate chips, whisking until they melt into the milk.
- Add a splash of vanilla extract.
- Serve immediately, topped with your favorite garnishes.
Images: Pexels
