Hot drinks to warm your soul

The first snow in Salt Lake is falling...at this very moment! The glistening white flakes are beautiful and the new chill in the air has me craving a drink that will warm me from the inside. Here are two hot drinks that are a hit with my family. At least one of these drinks are guaranteed to be served at Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years. Nothing tastes better after a long day on the slopes than a hot drink to help you defrost. Both recipes use traditional flavors, but each are just different enough to stand out and make an impression. I hope you'll all try at least one this season!

Hot Almond Drink

10 cups water
1 cup sugar
6 oz. frozen orange juice concentrate
6 oz. frozen lemonade concentrate
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1/2 tsp. almond extract

Combine all ingredients in large pot, heat over stove top and serve warm.

Hot Cranberry Punch

2 cups sugar
1 1/2 cups water
4 cinnamon sticks

Boil sugar, water and cinnamon sticks for 5 minutes. Then add:

2 cups orange juice
1 quart cranberry juice
1 quart water
2 tablespoons lemon juice

Heat through and serve.

*To Garnish: Serve both these drinks with floating round slices of fresh oranges for an added embellishment.
**Gift idea: make a big batch of your favorite winter drink, divide into tall mason jars, decorate with ribbon and attach the recipe with instructions to re-heat. I would LOVE to receive a jar full of warm goodness to drink.

...and may all your Christmas' be white. Enjoy the snow, and Cheers!

Wassail, Wassail!

Wassail, wassail, all over the town

Our toast it is white and our ale it is brown,

Our bowl it is made of the white maple tree,

With the wassailing bowl, we'll drink to thee.

Drink to thee, drink to thee,

With a wassailing bowl we'll drink to thee.

And here is to Dobbin and to his right eye,

Pray God send our master a good Christmas pie,

A good Christmas pie that may we all see,

With a wassailing bowl, we'll drink to thee.

Drink to thee, drink to thee,

With a wassailing bowl we'll drink to thee.

And here is to Broad May and to her broad horn,

May God send our master a good crop of corn,

A good crop of corn that may we all see,

With a wassailing bowl, we'll drink to thee.

Drink to thee, drink to thee,

With a wassailing bowl we'll drink to thee.

And here is to Fillpail and to her left ear,

Pray God send our master a happy New Year,

A happy New Year as e'er he did see,

With a wassailing bowl, we'll drink to thee.

Drink to thee, drink to thee,

With a wassailing bowl we'll drink to thee.

And here is to Colly and to her long tail,

Pray God send our master a good cask of ale,

A good cask of ale that may we all see,

With a wassailing bowl, we'll drink to thee.

Drink to thee, drink to thee,

With a wassailing bowl we'll drink to thee.

Come butler, come fill us a bowl of the best,

They I pray that your soul in heaven may rest,

But if you do bring us a bowl of the small,

May the devil take butler, bowl and all.

Bowl and all, bowl and all,

May the devil take butler, bowl and all.

Then here's to the maid in the lily-white smock,

Who tripped to the door and slipped back the lock,

Who tripped to the door and pulled back the pin,

For to let these jolly wassailers in.

Wassailers in, wassailers in,

For to let these jolly wassailers in.

How to make it:

1 gallon apple cider
3 small cans orange juice concentrate
1/2 quart grapefruit juice

1 quart syrup made with 2 parts water to 1 part sugar, 6 sticks cinnamon, and 20 cloves. Simmer for at least 1.5 hours. (this makes your house smell SO yummy!)

Combine juices with simmered syrup and float orange slices to serve!