reading time: ca. 2 min
First day of holidays! Yes, it's finally here, and oh my god, I am so exited for Christmas, I'm such a child :)
I don't know about you, but for me there is nothing better to do on a cold winter's day than slouching on the sofa, snuggled into a big soft blanket, wearing fluffy socks and a chunky sweater, reading a good book (me at the moment: City of Glass, Paul Auster, not quite sure what to think of it though), and slurping hot chocolate.
Right?
So here are three of my favourite drinks for the Christmas holidays:
I don't know about you, but for me there is nothing better to do on a cold winter's day than slouching on the sofa, snuggled into a big soft blanket, wearing fluffy socks and a chunky sweater, reading a good book (me at the moment: City of Glass, Paul Auster, not quite sure what to think of it though), and slurping hot chocolate.
Right?
So here are three of my favourite drinks for the Christmas holidays:
SPICY HOT CHOCOLATE *
serves: 2
serves: 2
2 cups hot black tea (alternatively rooibos), maybe less
2 tbsp raw cacao powder
1 tbsp Maca powder (optional)
2 tbsp coconut oil
1 tsp of cinnamon
1-2 tbsp of agave or honey
pinch of sea salt
tiny pinch of chili powder
Blend all ingredients until smooth. i also threw in a small banana for a thicker, creamier consistency. For a cold drink, simply use frozen banana and cold tea instead.
Blend all ingredients until smooth. i also threw in a small banana for a thicker, creamier consistency. For a cold drink, simply use frozen banana and cold tea instead.
*
SWEET MOCHA
serves: 2
1 cup almond milk
1 medium banana
1-2 tbsp agave or honey
1 tbsp raw cacao powder
2 tsp ground coffee beans (alternatively 1 bag of black tea)
½ tsp vanilla
1 cup water (or small ice cubes or crushed ice) **
Combine everything but the ice in a blender and blend, then add your ice cubes. Blend again until smooth, and serve.
½ tsp vanilla
1 cup water (or small ice cubes or crushed ice) **
Combine everything but the ice in a blender and blend, then add your ice cubes. Blend again until smooth, and serve.
*
MASALA CHAI
serves: 4
6 cups water
4 cups (almond or soy) milk
6 green (or black) cardamom pods
4 cloves + 1 tbsp fennel seeds
1 tsp anise or 1-2 star anise
1 stick of cinnamon or around 3 tsp cinnamon powder
½ tsp fresh ginger, finely chopped
4 tbsp tea leaves, black Assam or rooibos
6 tbsp honey
Bring everything except for milk and tea to the boil in a big pot and let simmer on low heat for 10 minutes. Now add the milk and let simmer for another 10 mins. Add the black tea, shortly boil everything up, then let steep for around 3-5 mins. Strain herbs off of tea and sweeten with agave/honey/maple/stevia to taste. If you do use sugar as sweetener, make sure to go for brown sugar, it tastes much better.
Add a pinch of salt for stronger taste, and maybe even a pinch of freshly ground black pepper!
Serve hot. ***
Tip: if you don’t have any loose tea or fennel seeds, simply cut open a tea bag of black tea or fennel tea and take out the leaves/seeds!
1 tsp anise or 1-2 star anise
1 stick of cinnamon or around 3 tsp cinnamon powder
½ tsp fresh ginger, finely chopped
4 tbsp tea leaves, black Assam or rooibos
6 tbsp honey
Bring everything except for milk and tea to the boil in a big pot and let simmer on low heat for 10 minutes. Now add the milk and let simmer for another 10 mins. Add the black tea, shortly boil everything up, then let steep for around 3-5 mins. Strain herbs off of tea and sweeten with agave/honey/maple/stevia to taste. If you do use sugar as sweetener, make sure to go for brown sugar, it tastes much better.
Add a pinch of salt for stronger taste, and maybe even a pinch of freshly ground black pepper!
Serve hot. ***
Tip: if you don’t have any loose tea or fennel seeds, simply cut open a tea bag of black tea or fennel tea and take out the leaves/seeds!
 |
| ...brewing, brewing, brewing the Masala Chai... |
* credit to Emily whose blog post on Ancient Wisdom Powder inspired me to do my own version of Imperial Tonics' Cacao Cappuccino.
** even better: fill an ice tray with (almond) milk, freeze overnight and use the frozen milk cubes instead!
*** optional: before boiling, roast the spices in the pot without oil, then de-glaze with water.
Thank you so much to Missy Homemaker for featuring me on her blog again!
♥
Maisy
6 Comments
In my opinion there is nothing better than curling up under a blanket with a hot drink on a cold day. You have shared some drinks here that I have never heard of though sound very interesting and tasty.
ReplyDeleteLinking up from "Family Fridays".
Have a great day :)
Thank you so much for stopping by and commenting, Bismah! I'm glad you like my ideas :) If you happen to try one of the drinks, feel free to tell me how you liked it.
ReplyDeleteHave a wonderful Christmas ~ Maisy
These all look amazing! Thank you for linking up to Family Fridays. I'm featuring you this week. Stop by again :)
ReplyDeleteabsolutely, i will! Thanks so much :)
DeleteG'day! One word? YUM!
ReplyDeleteCheers! Joanne
Thanks for sharing at the Foodie Friends Friday Meals in 30 Minutes Party!
thanks a lot for stopping by, Joanne! Also, your blog looks amazing - i love food! As you can probably tell by my own posts, ha ha!
DeleteAll the best ~ Maisy