Recipes

This is not a blog with lots of cooking but simply an accompaniment to twitter – if there I talk about something to eat or drink I will explain here and give you the recipe if I think it’s worth publishing.

The first one for your delectation is my Mulled Cider. I tried some recipes I found or been given and then adjusted and experimented until I found the perfect one. I do not drink very much, even though I do like Ales, Cider, Wine and my favourite Talisker but I hate being drunk, so my recipes go for taste and pleasure rather than alcohol content.

You need the following

500 ml WHITE organic apple and ginger juice (or a very good apple juice and some chopped ginger)

500ml HENRY WESTON vintage special reserve cider (or similar)

sugar to taste

5 cracked pods of cardamon

5 cloves

1 cinnamon stick

2 star anise

1/2 teaspoon of ground pimento (allspice)

1/2 an orange, cut into small slices

Boil all the spices with 150ml of the apple juice for 1 min and let infuse for 10 minutes.

Add everything else and heat, do not let it come to the boil.

Serve.

This should be enough to keep two of you warm for an evening.

The other lovely winter warmer is Mulled Wine and mine is quite different from the usual offerings.

250ml strong black tea

250ml fresh orange juice

250ml good, rich, fruity red wine, don’t save on quality!

dark soft brown sugar to taste

5 cloves

2 inch cassia bark or 1 cinnamon stick

1/2 teaspoon of pimento (allspice)

pieces of orange

Start with brewing the tea, add the other ingredients and heat. Do not let come to the boil.

Serve with a small shot of Amaretto – this will bring you close to heaven.