Warm the bones and the heart

photo by yugoq

I’m lost without my daily coffee, or at least tea or hot cocoa. Sometimes they perk me up and other times they completely relax me. We’ve become old friends through the years. They were my hand warmers during my long nights of studying in college. They are my go-to drinks when I’m curled up with a good book, and they are my drinks of choice in social gatherings. There’s contentment in the ritual of my husband simply saying that he’ll make the coffee. I sometimes jokingly refer to hot drinks as “the glue” in our marriage.

With winter upon us, it seems only fitting to share a few simple hot-beverage recipes. They’re great to share with others, or as a treat just for you. Warm them on the stovetop, in the microwave or even in a slow cooker. They do more than chase away the winter chills and doldrums. Hot beverages offer comfort, warm our hearts, calm our nerves and are a simple indulgence.

I’d love to hear about your favorite homemade hot beverages and any heartwarming stories that include them.

Friendship Tea

1 cup granulated sugar
2 cups instant powdered orange-drink mix
1/2 cup sweetened powdered iced-tea mix
1 envelope sweetened powdered lemonade mix
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves

Combine all ingredients well and store in an airtight glass jar. To serve, add 3 teaspoons of mix to a mug, add boiling water and stir.

Cheapskate Chai Tea

1 cup nonfat dry milk powder
1 cup powdered nondairy creamer
1 cup French-vanilla-flavored powdered nondairy creamer
2 cups sugar
1-1/2 cups unsweetened instant tea mix
2 teaspoons ground ginger
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground cloves
1 teaspoon nutmeg
1 teaspoon allspice

In a large bowl, combine dry milk powder, nondairy creamer, vanilla-flavored creamer, sugar and instant tea mix. Add ginger, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg and allspice. Using a food processor, gradually blend mixture until ingredients are a fine powder. To serve, pour boiling water into a mug filled with 2 heaping tablespoons of the mixture, and stir.

Mint Chocolate Tightwad Tea

1 peppermint tea bag
3 tablespoons chocolate syrup
sugar to taste
2 tablespoons nondairy coffee creamer
toppings: whipped cream, chocolate syrup

Place tea bag in a mug of boiling water and let steep. Stir in chocolate syrup, sugar and creamer. Add dollop of whipped cream and drizzle on chocolate syrup.

Parsimonious Cran-Apple Punch

1 quart cranberry juice
1 gallon apple juice
1 teaspoon whole cloves
1/2 teaspoon whole allspice
2 sticks cinnamon or 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/2 cup brown sugar

Combine ingredients in slow cooker. Heat on high for 2 hours. Decrease to low setting while serving and strain spices before serving.

Money-saving Mocha

1 cup hot coffee (can use leftover coffee)
1 envelope instant hot chocolate with mini marshmallows
toppings: whipped cream, ground cinnamon

Combine the coffee and hot-chocolate packet in a coffee mug and top with whipped cream and a dash of cinnamon.

Posted by Sara Noel on January 7 2008. Filed under Frugal Cooking, Home & family.
Sara Noel owns Frugal Village, LLC and is a nationally syndicated columnist with Universal Uclick. Bio, Follow me on Twitter, Join us on Facebook