by Graham | Jun 30, 2012 | Drinks
Gluhwein
The most perfect (and addictive) winter drink that will leave your tummy feeling warm and fuzzy… It must be love! Tried and tested Recipe by Rozanne.
G’s comment: I love Dullstroom in the winter with the mist covering the dams and the swoosh of fly rods in the early mornings and take it from me, this is just what you need when you get back from a cold morning fishing 🙂
What you need
1 orange, sliced
2 bottles of red wine
250ml water
125ml brandy
125ml castor sugar
2 cinnamon sticks
1/2 teaspoon allspice
3 cloves
The process
Place the oranges, wine, water, brandy and sugar in a large pot on a medium heat.
Slowly bring to a simmer, and then add the spices. Continue to simmer very gently for 15 or 20 mins, until perfectly infused.
Strain before serving, and top off with a few thin slices of orange.
Voila! Delicious Gluhwein!
Tips for the best Gluhwein
Whenever you heat alcohol, always make sure the mixture does not boil. This makes sure that the drink retains its alcoholic strength.
Always warm the glasses before you serve the drinks.
Spices that are added to translucent drinks should always be whole to retain the clear look. Ground spices will make the drink appear cloudy.
Always allow enough time for the spices to infuse to create wonderful aromas, and even better tastes!
by Graham | Jun 26, 2009 | Desserts, Drinks
What would winter nights be without hot chocolate? Not great…. This recipe uses real chocolate and perfect for winter weekend nights watching DVD’s. If you have a coffee machine, whip up some milk foam to top it off or just toss a few marshmallows for some real decadence.
Hot chocolate
2 cups cold milk
1/2 cup grated milk chocolate
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
Sugar to taste
The process
Warm the milk on the stove on a medium heat until steam comes off the top.
Add the grated chocolate and cinnamon and stir until the chocolate has melted. Simmer until the top begins to foam slightly.
Pour into mugs and top with marshmallows or milk foam. Sprinkle a little extra chocolate over the top or a pinch of cocoa powder.
Have this great hot chocolate with the blueberry cheesecake.
by Graham | Mar 12, 2009 | Drinks
Chocolate Vodka
I saw this chocolate Vodka recipe on one of Justin Bonello’s programs and just had to try it. It’s very straight forward and promises both a sugar rush and an kick. It’s a great party shooter but beware, it really does have a serious kick in it.
What you need
1/3 bottle Vodka (still in the bottle)
2 slabs chocolate broken into small pieces (your favorite chocolate, dark, milk or white)
Hot water
Cream
The process
Push the pieces of chocolate into the bottle. Put the lid on and place the bottle into some hot water. Keep adding hot water until the choclate melts. This takes about 10-15 minutes.
Allow to cool or place in the fridge ready for use 🙂
Pour into shot glasses, top off with a little cream and beware, you will want to keep going, they are seriously delicious and you will only know you’ve had too many when it’s too late.
Enjoy responsibly folks.
by Graham | Dec 28, 2008 | Drinks, Festive
Festive ice
Add a little something to your entertaining this year with these fruit ice cubes. They look amazing floating in a drink and you can freeze just about anything.
The process
You need nice deep ice cube trays.
Cut pieces of fruit like lemon, lime, strawberry or orange and place a piece into each division, then top up with water and freeze.
These look really amazing in cocktails.
by Graham | Dec 27, 2008 | Drinks, Featured Recipe, Festive
Champagne cocktail
It’s celebration time! New years celebrations mean one thing, and that is lots and lots of champagne. Try these champagne cocktails for some variety. There is a sweet one, a dark one, a traditional champagne cocktail and then the good old Mimosa.
Traditional Champagne cocktail
1 sugar cube
1 teaspoon brandy
Chilled champagne
cherry to garnish
Place the sugar cube in the glass and pour over the teaspoon of brandy, Fill with bubbles.
Kir Royale Champagne cocktail
1/2 shot kir royale
Champagne
Cherry to garnish
Fill a glass with champagne and the pour in the Kir Royale, drop in a glace cherry.
Black velvet
Stout or guiness
Champagne
Fill the glass to 1/2 with champagne and then top with stout or guiness
Mimosa
The old favorite, 1/2 champagne and half orange juice.
Have a fnatstic time over New year!
by Graham | Sep 21, 2008 | Drinks
Home made lemonade
We’ve all seen those lemonade stalls and cartoons and fresh lemonade really appeals to me so I thought I would give it a go and I really enjoyed it. It’s fresh minty and sweet and a refreshing change from canned drinks.
What you need
2 limes
1 lemon
180 sugar
1 ½ cups water
1 l soda water
Mint leaves
The process
Cut the lemon and limes in half, toss them into a sturdy bowl with the sugar and water. Use a mortar or base of a bottle to mash as much as possible.
Keep mashing and moving around until you have got as much of the pult from the fruit as possible and the sugar is melted.
Strain the mixture into a glass jug with some ice and a few sprigs of mint, add the soda water, give it a stir and you are done.
Great for hot days around the braai and add a little Vodka for a take on a Mojito.
by Graham | Sep 11, 2008 | Drinks
Chocolate Martini
Chocolate Martini’s are really great as a different after dinner drink (or anytime really) that will round off your dinner and have them sighing and slipping low down into their chairs. This makes 4 and I suggest you make batches of 4 if you need more.
What you need
100ml Gin
40g milk chocolate broken into pieces
200ml Vermouth
Cocoa powder for the rim (or not)
The process
Take the cocoa powder and sprinkle onto a plate. Moisten the rims of the glasses with a little of the gin and dip them into the cocoa creating a nice chocolate edge and set them aside.
Place the gin and the chocolate in a pan on a low/medium heat and stir until the chocolate has melted and the mixture is smooth and then add the Vermouth, stir and remove from the heat.
Place a handful of ice in a cocktail shaker, add the mixture and shake the hell out of it. If you don’t have a cocktail shaker, pour the mixture into a jug and chill in the fridge for about 2 hours. (handy if you are making many)
Pour into the glasses and listen to the satisfied sighs..
Try some of the other drinks and cocktail recipes then serve you guests Greek Lamb shanks followed by an Eton mess for perfect least hassle party recipes.
by Graham | Aug 5, 2008 | Drinks
The weather has been great the last few days and it’s time to prepare your arsenal for the summer parties ahead. Mojito’s are a classic and justthe thing to kick off summer.
What you need
1 teaspoon caster sugar
Juice from 2 limes, about 2 tots
2 tots white Rum, like Bacardi
2 tots soda water
4 mint leaves
1 sprig of mint and lemon slice to garnish
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