Cran-Apple Cider

Apple cider is a great drink for chilly days, and I like it better than hot chocolate! (It's healthier too!) But instead of just plain old apple cider, I made it with cranberry juice as well as apple juice.

Ingredients:
2 cups apple juice
6 cups cranberry juice
1/8 tsp cardamom
1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
1 cinnamon stick
10 whole cloves

Method:
Add all the ingredients to a large pot and bring to a boil. Allow the cider to simmer for a few minutes before serving. You could serve it with a cinnamon stick as a garnish, if you want.

Keep the cider on medium or medium low heat until you're done serving it to others. (This keeps it warm so people can have it nice and warm whenever they want as well as making your home smell lovely.) After you serve it and use it all, be sure to turn off the burner, and wash the pot.

Nully's Tips:
Before you serve the cider, it might be good to take out the cinnamon and cloves if you can, so someone doesn't find it in their drinks! You could strain it as you serve it, or you can put the cloves, nutmeg and cardamom in a tea ball which allows the flavors of the spices into the cider.

" Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall. " ~Proverbs 16:18~

Chocolate Chai With Whipped Cream

Mmmmm! Chocolate chai is SUPER easy to make, it's G-Free, and it's SUPER yummy! When you're making it, it looks a lot like hot chocolate, but it definitely smells like chai. It's a fun drink for cold winter days, or summer mornings when you feel like having something a little more interesting then coffee. ;)

Ingredients:

2 black tea bags (I used PG Tips)
1 3-inch stick of cinnamon
4 cups of milk
2 tsp vanilla
1/8 tsp ground ginger
1/4  tsp ground cardamom
1 cup water
4 tbs sugar
2 tbs unsweetened cocoa powder

Method:

Pour 1 cup of water into a medium sauce pan. Add the tea bags and cinnamon stick. Let the water boil and then remove it from from the heat and let it sit for about 5 min with the lid on.

If you decide to add whipped cream, be sure to note that it makes your drink high in calories!

While you're waiting, put some whipping cream, 2 tbs sugar, and a tsp vanilla into a Kitchen Aid (or any other mixer) and mix on medium high speed for the whole time you're making the chai. It's hands free, and by the time your chai is ready, your whipped cream will be as well!

Once the 5 min are up, remove the lid and discard the tea bags and cinnamon. Add the milk, vanilla, ginger, cardamom, cocoa powder, and sugar. Stir over medium heat just until it's hot. DO NOT BOIL. Serve it up with some whipped cream on top and enjoy!

Even my younger brother enjoyed this delicious drink!

Nully's Tips:
Cardamom is VERY expensive, so use it wisely. Just a pinch of it will go a long way, so don't over do it.

" Jesus answered and said unto him, 'Verily, verily, I say unto thee, except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.' " John 3:3

Cardamom Whats-Its (Meringues) :)

This is a super easy dessert and is a very fun snack for any occasion! I added 3/4 tsp cardamom instead of 1/2 tsp. The cardamom was a little strong, so the flavor was a bit overwhelming, but it still tasted amazing!


Ingredients:
3 egg whites
1 cup sugar
1/2 tsp cardamom

Cardamom is a very fragrant spice. It's also very expensive!

Method:

Preheat oven to 275 degrees F. Line a cookie sheet with tin foil. 

In a large glass or metal mixing bowl, beat egg whites until foamy. Gradually add sugar and cardamom, continuing to beat until stiff peaks form. I used the KitchenAid mixer, and it was a breeze. Drop rounded tablespoon amounts onto the prepared cookie sheets. Bake 90 minutes in the preheated oven, until cookies are completely dried out. Wait for them to cool off before removing them from the foil. They should easily peel off.

Nully's Tips:
If you don't recognize an ingredient, try looking it up BEFORE you decide it's not important, because it could be VERY important!

Store your meringues in an airtight container or zip type baggie for up to a week.

" For God so loved the world, He gave is only begotten Son, that who ever believes in Him will not perish, but have eternal life. " John 3:16