T
hese hot “spiked” beverages
and home-blended Polish-style
cordials will impart a warm,
congenial glow to any New Year’s
gathering. The hot drinks are also great
warmer-uppers at outdoor cold-weather
activities such as sleigh rides.
RUM-FLAVORED TEA HERBATA
(herbata z rumem)
To each glass or cup of hot tea,
sweetened to taste, add a little freshlysqueezed lemon juice and 1/2 - 1 jigger
rum. This may be prepared by the
pitcher using about 3 jg. rum per qt. hot
tea. Note: Vodka plus several drops of
rum extract may be used if real rum is
not available.
MULLED BEER
(piwo grzane z korzeniani)
Get the Party Started!
New Year`s
Eve DRINKS
In pot combine 1 qt. beer, 3 T. sugar, 1
bay leaf, 2 pinches of cinnamon, ground
cloves, ginger and (optional) a pinch
of pepper. Heat to just below boiling,
stirring to dissolve sugar and serve.
Increase or decrease sugar and spices
according to taste. Note: Instead of
sugar, hot beer may be sweetened with
fruit syrup or honey. It may contain only
sugar or fruit syrup without the spices.
OLD POLISH HONEY-SPICE
CORDIAL
(krupnik staropolski)
In saucepan combine 1 c. honey, 1
t. vanilla extract, 1/8 t. each: ground
cloves, cinnamon and ginger root, a
pinch of ground allspice, 2 pinches citric
acid and (optional) 2 pinches ground
pepper. Bring to gentle boil, stirring
frequently and simmer until honey just
begins to brown. Stir in 1/2 c. boiling
water, bring to boil, remove from heat
and let stand covered 10 min. Stir in
3 – 4 c. 100 proof vodka and let stand
covered 10 min. Heat briefly, but do not
boil. Strain through cheesecloth-lined
funnel into decanter and serve hot in
crystal liqueur glasses.
King Cake:Bigstock/nito. Mulled Wine:Bigstock/Valentina R.
HOMEMADE CHERRY CORDIAL
(domowa wiśniówka)
This is the easiest of all home-blended
cordials. Simply combine 3 c. 100
proof vodka with 1 c. pure cherry syrup
(preferably the imported variety). The
longer it stands (like several months),
the mellower ѡ