Warming Up: Beverages to Burn the Tongue and Soothe the Soul
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Like many of us, I do love me a hot beverage during chilly weather seasons. Tea, hot chocolate, hot cider, coffee with something special like chili — I’m all over all of them, even if my burnt mouth has something to say about my impatience with temperatures.
I also have a big dumb dog who likes to put his tongue in any cups sitting around unattended, so hot chocolate is usually not on the menu. Tea is more my speed most days though that doesn’t slow my canine down if left to his own devices. Rude, amiright? Then I have to get a fresh cup. Give me a moment’s peace, dude.
For my small stainless steel teapot I use the powder cleanser Bon Ami to get it sparkling when it’s coated in grease from sitting by the stove. It cuts right through the grime easily with just a soft sponge and won’t hurt the stainless steel. Not an ad, just a helpful (and green!) tip about a classic old-timey product.
Loose leaf filter for the win
For mulled cider I bought this fabulous kit from The Spice House in Chicago. This was a purchase from last year and it’s still going strong. You can use wine too but I’m not a big wine drinker these days so apples it is. I add cinnamon sticks honestly because I like the way it looks in the pot. Makes me feel like I’ve really packed in the flavor, though it’s not strictly necessary.
If you haven’t already read it, check out my post from last year on Wassail, another festive hot beverage in the same family as mulled cider. It’s a classic from ye olden days that’s just as tempting today, as long as fruit and flavor are your jam.
So clearly this week was a quick post. Instead of cooking I spent my free time this week practicing writing for fun and buying pumpkins (somehow couldn’t talk the husband into braving the local pumpkin patch with every would-be Instagram influencer in area. So, grocery store pumpkins it was.)
