Category: Beverages

Peppermint Milkshakes

Christmas flavors are my favorite! I love a cozy, warm, frothy chestnut praline latte, a tart, sweet cranberry dessert, and a refreshing and festive peppermint milkshake at least once during my Christmas shopping.

I have kept my grandson for his parents to work since his mom went back to work after his birth. I am having a blast watching him grow, and even though I hear, “Emmy, get on the floor and play a minute” a hundred times a day, I love it more than I can even explain!

My trips to town have certainly changed since I started keeping him. When I go, every stop has a plan and purpose, and they usually do not include Christmas treats.

We have started our own Christmas treat traditions, though. Before Thanksgiving, I made him little turkey treats using small cinnamon powdered doughnuts. Now he’s getting a snowman using powdered doughnuts, an orange M&M, and mini chocolate chips.

I recently spied a half-eaten carton of vanilla ice cream in the freezer, so I made homemade peppermint milkshakes. They were so creamy, delicious, and perfectly pepperminty! I had peppermint bark on hand and chopped some of it for the chocolate bits I added.

If you crave that fantastic peppermint treat on a Sunday or just want to stay home, try this recipe. It’s super easy, and this recipe makes enough to freeze some for later.

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Peppermint Milkshakes

Course Drinks
Servings 2
Author Amye Melton

Ingredients

  • 1/4 cup crushed candy canes
  • 1 pint vanilla ice cream
  • 1/3 cup whole milk
  • 2 tablespoons chopped semi-sweet chocolate
  • 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon peppermint extract
  • whipped cream

Instructions

  • Place the candy canes in a ziplock bag and coarsely crush. Reserve 1 tablespoon for topping.
  • Add ice cream, milk, chocolate, remaining crush candy canes and extract to a blender. Process about 15 to 30 seconds, until chocolate and mints are finely crushed and mixture is thick and creamy.
  • Pour into glasses. Top with whipped cream and sprinkle with reserved crushed candy canes. Enjoy!

Christmas Punch

I love games; board games, card games, trivia, you name it. So, I always try to have a game for my family to play on Christmas Eve, and this year is no exception. But I am still determining what that game will be! We’ve played them all, and I am drawing a blank! Suggestions appreciated!

We have checked one thing off our list. We have decided what our meal will be. That’s a huge one around here. We all consider ourselves authorities on the matter and have very strong opinions. We have agreed upon appetizers. I’m so excited because I pushed for this one! One of my favorite things to do is make a meal of appetizers. No matter if I am dining out, camping, or at home.

This year I plan to make this fabulous Christmas Punch. I’m not a huge punch fan, but I have combined a few different recipes to come up with one that my entire family loves, including me! We had it with our charcuterie board on Thanksgiving and loved it.

It’s not a set-in-stone recipe but a guide. Tasting it occasionally while making it is my number one tip. For a beautifully festive look, garnish each serving glass with an orange slice, fresh cranberries, and a sprig of fresh rosemary.

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Christmas Punch

Course Beverages
Author Amye Melton

Ingredients

  • 1 (64-ounce) Ocean Spray Cran-Pomegranate juice
  • 1 (12-ounce) Lemonade frozen concentrated
  • 1 cup Ocean Spray Ruby Red Grapefruit Juice
  • 1 cup good quality orange juice
  • Juice of 4-6 limes to taste
  • 1 teaspoon almond extract or more to taste
  • Sprite
  • Fresh cranberries washed and dried for serving
  • Orange slices for serving
  • Ice

Instructions

  • In a gallon jug, mix the Cran-Pomegranate juice, lemonade concentrate, Ruby Red Grapefruit Juice, orange juice, lime juice and almond extract. Taste and adjust flavors as you like.
  • My serving method is, to add an orange slice to the side of a glass. Add ice to the glass and top with a few cranberries. Add fruit juice mixture to fill the glass about 3/4 full. Finish filling the glass with Sprite. Top with a rosemary sprig and serve.

Notes

*Almond extract can overpower a recipe quickly, add it a little at a time until you get the flavor you prefer.  
*If you would rather serve from a punch bowl,  pour the fruit juice mixture into a punch bowl, add Sprite, to taste, and fresh fruit.  Serve over ice.  If left for too long the Sprite could go flat.  
*Ginger Ale can be used in place of Sprite.
*If you prefer, you can always sweeten it slightly by adding sugar to the fruit juice mixture.   

Homemade Hot Cocoa Mix


2022 has been an eye-opening year for me. I have figured out something that I wish I had learned years ago. I have entirely too much stuff!!!

My mother was very sentimental. She saved a lot of things over the years. So when we cleaned out her house and took the things that were precious to us, there was still a ton of stuff.

That experience has me looking at everything in my house differently. It has even shifted my thoughts on gift-giving. So, this Christmas, I will take my friends to lunch instead of running to Bath and Body Works for the trusty candle I have always been so good at giving. I will bake a dozen cookies, make a pan of homemade fudge, or maybe give a jar of this delicious hot cocoa mix.

This hot cocoa mix can be customized to your liking. If you like it sweeter, add more powdered sugar.  I use these exact measurements, and then I can add a pump of vanilla, caramel, or white chocolate syrup. It’s delicious with marshmallows or whipped cream. For gift-giving, pour the mix into Ball jars and tie a pretty ribbon around the lid.

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Homemade Hot Cocoa Mix

Course Beverages
Servings 24 servings
Author Amye Melton

Ingredients

  • 3 cups dry milk powder whole or nonfat
  • 2 1/2 cups powdered sugar sift after measuring for no lumps in the mix
  • 1 1/2 cup Dutch cocoa powder or Special Dark cocoa powder
  • 1 1/2 cup white chocolate chips
  • 1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt
  • 2 teaspoons pure vanilla powder

Instructions

  • In a large mixing bowl, whisk the milk powder, powdered sugar, cocoa, chips, salt and vanilla powder. Working in batches, pulse the ingredients in a food processor until the chocolate is finely ground.
  • Store in an airtight container for up to 6 months.
  • To prepare a cup of hot cocoa, add 1/4 cup of the mix to a large mug and stir in 1 cup hot milk or water. (Be sure to include a tag with instructions with gifts.)

Instant Spiced Cider Mix

Instant Spiced Cider Mix

If you stop by our house, you are likely to find a fresh pot of coffee day and night. I grew up drinking coffee. It was slightly different from the black coffee I have now, but the warm cup joe was always a treat for me.

I love to curl up with a warm drink when it’s cold outside. Warmed spiced cider is something I start enjoying in the fall. Years ago, I would squeeze fresh oranges and lemons, add the perfect amount of spice, and brew up homemade spiced cider. That was back when I wanted to be the ideal “Southern Living” type person. Is that even a definition? You know the type, though. I never missed an issue of Southern Living, my goals were for my home to look like those in the magazine, and one of the happiest days of the year was the day I received my annual Southern Living cookbook!

Some of my friends would agree that I am still a little over the top. However, the older I get, the simpler I like things. I discovered a wonderful instant spiced cider recipe that is super easy! It is not only great to have around for yourself, but it also makes a lovely holiday gift.

I have mixed this spice mix into apple cider, apple juice, and cranberry juice with excellent results. Add an orange slice and cinnamon stick if desired. You can also fancy it up a bit for guests, top with whipped cream and a drizzle of caramel sauce.

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Instant Spiced Cider Mix

Course Beverages
Author Amye Melton

Ingredients

  • 4 cups granulated sugar
  • 4 tablespoons ground cinnamon
  • 1 tablespoon ground nutmeg
  • 1 tablespoon ground cloves

Instructions

  • Mis the sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves in a small bowl.
  • Add 2-3 teaspoons of spice mix per cup of cider. Add more to taste.

Frothy Vanilla Milk

 

frothy-vanilla-milk-2

One of my favorite parts of Christmas was always helping the kids get ready for Santa’s visit.  We baked cookies and sat up a special table near the tree.  They would write him notes and leave a snack for Rudolph too.  I’m not sure who had more fun, the kids or me.

How about a special treat for Santa this year?  Instead of just leaving him a boring glass of milk, leave him this belly warming Frothy Vanilla Milk.  So delicious that you will be making it for yourself too!  A delicious change from regular old chocolate milk.

Frothy Vanilla Milk
 
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Ingredients
  • 4 c. whole milk
  • 2 tbsp. granulated sugar
  • 2 tbsp. light brown sugar
  • 1½ whole vanilla beans, split in half lengthwise
  • Whipped Cream, for garnish, optional
  • Ground nutmeg, for dusting, optional
Instructions
  1. In a large saucepan, combine the milk and both sugars. Scrape the vanilla seeds from the middle of the beans into the saucepan and also add the split beans. Bring the milk to a simmer; cover, remove from heat, and let stand for 30 minutes to allow the vanilla to flavor the milk.
  2. Discard the vanilla beans and rewarm the milk over moderate heat, whisking vigorously, until frothy and warm. Serve in mugs with a dollop of whipped cream and a sprinkle of nutmeg.