Horchata

While in California on my mission, I fell in love with a little drink called Horchata (pronounced Or-cha-ta).  It is a Mexican rice milk drink that is absolutely delicious!

When I am feeling ambitious, I sometimes make it.  It is so soothing and delicious on a hot summer day.

What you need:

• 1 cup uncooked white long-grain rice
• 5 cups water
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1/2 tablespoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 tablespoon ground cinnamon
• 2/3 cup white sugar

What you do:

• Pour the rice and water into the bowl of a blender; blend until the rice just begins to break up, about 1 minute. Let rice and water stand at room temperature for a minimum of 3 hours (or overnight)

• Strain the rice water into a pitcher and discard the rice. Stir the milk, vanilla, cinnamon, and sugar into the rice water.  Let sit for three hours and then strain through a coffee filter.  Chill and stir before serving over ice.

Here We Come a Wassailing

source

Interesting that Wassailing is a verb. I guess it is true, you can change anything into a verb or even an adjective. They did it in old English, so it must be doable now days!

Today I got an email from a friend of mine who asked me for my wassail recipe. It was then I realized I don't have it written down anywhere. It is just in my head. So, I decided I need to share it with all, since I am doing a fall menu right now. Nothing says fall like Wassail!

What you need:

1 jug Apple cider
Cinnamon sticks
Whole cloves
Orange slices
Frozen orange juice concentrate

What you do:

Pour cider into a large pan and put on the stove to simmer. Add 3-4 cinnamon sticks and about 1 tsp whole cloves (more or less depending on the strength you want them to have). Add a couple of spoons full of the oj concentrate. Slice up oranges (into circles) and let float in cider. Simmer until warm, or smell permeates through house. I generally let it sit an hour or two simply to let the flavors blend and to get the perfume throughout my house.

None of the measurements are exact, and they don't have to be. Play with it and make it how you like it. Enjoy!

Buen Provecho!

Unfuzzy Navel

So I decided to have a mocktail party. It was a lot of fun. We had little finger foods, a veggie tray, and I got to be the bar tender and mix all the drinks. Can I just say the Unfuzzy Navel is by far my favorite! I halved the pineapple juice a bit on mine, but aside from that, it was fantabulous! I recommend it for all to try.

Unfuzzy Navel

3 oz Peach Nectar
3 oz Orange Juice
3 oz Pineapple Juice
1 tsp. Lemon Juice
Dash of Grenadine

Combine in shaker half filled with ice.

Drink outside on a porch swing for best effect.