Hot Mulled Apple Cider

Today I wanted to share a simple entertaining idea/recipe that is perfect for Fall.  Whether you are hosting a tailgate or simply looking for a warm and cozy after dinner drink to enjoy with your guests, hot mulled apple cider never fails to be a crowd pleaser.  Below I have included a list of what you will need to make this delicious beverage alongside some of my favorite serving accessories. As the days grow shorter and the weather turns much colder, hot mulled apple cider is the perfect way to keep warm while enjoying time with close friends.  

For the Cider:

• 1 Quart Apple Cider (Williams Sonoma or from your local grocery store)
• Mulling Spices (my favorites include: Whole Foods and Williams Sonoma)
• Tea Infuser (Large or Single) *Optional*
• Cinnamon Sticks
• Brandy or Gold Rum (for those age 21+)

*In a large pot, simmer 1 quart of apple cider over medium heat with 2Tbs of mulling spices for approximately 20minutes. Remove tea infuser (or pour cider through a sieve if spices were added loosely to cider while cooking).  Serve warm and garnished with a cinnamon stick, apple crisp and even an additional jigger of brandy or rum (for adults)! 

Cider Serving Essentials:

• Gold Serving Tray (similar here)
• CB2 Cantina Glass Mugs (Click here to see my photo featured on CB2.com's #myCB2!)
• CB2 Marta Tasting Glasses for Additional Garnishes
• Simple & Crisp, Apple Crisps

July Kitchen Tools

This month's selection of kitchen tools are a few of my latest favorite bar tools that have been great for making drinks, serving water and even saving wine!  As you may or may not remember I posted an article featuring my list of must-have bar tools back in May, well these tools should also be included on that list.  This month's tools are highly functional, easy to use, affordable (all cost under $20) and some tools are even multipurpose!

Zoku Ice Ball Mold (set of 2)

I have been seeing the sphere ice molds for some time now.  My hesitation into learning more about the sphere ice molds in the past has always been the price.  The first sphere ice mold I saw on the market cost a whopping $700!  While it was very fun to watch the video of the ice being made…it wasn't something that would ever be in my budget.  So I held off on thinking about sphere ice until recently while watching a Magnus Nilsson episode from the the series Mind of a Chef.  During one of his featured episodes he made a cocktail by placing an ice sphere in a double old fashioned glass, then added a jigger (or two) of a bourbon, topped with a drizzle of locally sourced honey and garnished with fresh dandelion petals! It looked beautiful and the sphere ice cube suddenly peaked my interest again.    

The Zoku Ice Ball Maker is my new go-to for serving both specialty cocktails and water at my various dinner and cocktail parties.  Each box comes with 2 silicone molds that only require adding water and then placing in your freezer.  The spherical ice cubes keep drinks cooler longer and create minimal drink dilution.  In addition, these ice molds are dishwasher safe, BPA free and cost under $20!  Spherical ice cubes have become a new way of life for me when it comes to serving beverages and I highly recommend trying this fabulous product. 

Funnel

Having a funnel in my arsenal of bar tools is something that I have found to be extremely helpful.  There have been plenty of nights where I have wanted a second glass of wine, my husband pours it for me, I have a sip, we start watching a movie and I fall asleep.  Since wine is particularly inexpensive, it is not something I like to waste (especially if it's a good bottle that only my husband and I plan on sharing).  A funnel affords us the ability to pour leftover wine (i.e. an entire glass) back into the bottle to enjoy another night.  Funnels are also transferring spices from store bought containers to display worthy containers or even just transferring food and beverages.  Inexpensive, practical and potentially cost saving are all great reasons why the funnel is worthy of my bar tools must-have list. 

Ice Pick

Our ice maker has been out of commission and as a result I have had to purchase bags of ice when hosting parties at my house.  I do love the way the clear party ice looks in a cocktail, so it hasn't been too terrible having to take this extra party prep step.  The one issue however that has been slightly frustrating is the melting and clumping of ice while in transit from the grocery store to my freezer.  Ice clumps result from the melting and refreezing process during transit and for a while I found myself having to bang ice chunks on a hard surface (like my countertops) to break up the clumps.  Finally I came to my senses and invested in an ice pick.  Now instead of smashing blocks of ice on my countertops (which creates a lot of noise and mess), I have an ice pick on hand to easily break apart the ice clumps and serve normal sized ice pieces in each beverage.  Ice picks are inexpensive, practical and boy have they saved my countertops! 

Muddler

Summer is all about the fruit infused water and cocktails (i.e. Fresh Lime and Mint Mojitos!).  One of the best ways to infuse fruits and herbs into a beverage is with a muddler.  This tool extracts the oils and essences quickly and easily. Depending on the material of the vessel you are muddling your fruit and/or herbs in you should consider using a nylon covered muddler to protect your fragile drinkware.   Regardless of whether you opt for the steel or nylon muddler, both are dishwasher safe, under $20 and will aid in creating fabulously flavored cocktails!

Blood Orange & Cranberry Cocktail

Lately I have been getting a little tired of my go-to Kettle Greyhound (Vodka & Grapefruit Juice on ice).  It is a great cocktail- very refreshing, most restaurants/bars can make it for you and most importantly (for me) its not too sweet.  I am not a fan of super sweet cocktails primarily because the combination of alcohol and sugar tends to bring on a nasty headache in the morning.

Clearly I have digressed a little, but my point being that I have come up with a new cocktail recipe that is delicious, perfect for winter when  citrus is in abundance and most importantly, not too sweet!  Who doesn't love a good cocktail recipe?  Here is the recipe for making this delicious libation:

Ingredients:                                                                            (Serves 4) 

• 12 oz. Blood Orange Juice **Blood Orange Juice is definitely less expensive in grocery stores, but if you can't find it locally, here is a link for buying it online.  
• 4oz Premium Cranberry Juice (I like R.W. Knudsen Just Cranberry)
• 12 oz. Club Soda or Seltzer Water (Perrier is a great option)
• 1 Lemon (I suggest Meyer Lemons- they tend to be juicier)
• 8-12 oz. Citron/Citroen Vodka (Absolut or Ketel One would be my preference for this recipe)
• 2 oz. Cointreau (Orange Liqueur)
• Ice (*Tip-Blood Orange Flavored Ice Cubes are a great addition to this cocktail)
• Blood Orange Slices (Frozen) or Fresh Cranberries (Skewered and Frozen) or Simple & Crisp - Dried Blood Orange Crisps

Instructions:

1. In a large pitcher combine- Blood Orange Juice, Cranberry Juice, Vodka, Cointreau, Club Soda and the Juice of 1 Meyer Lemon
2. Stir Contents and pour over ice
3. Garnish with either frozen blood orange slices, frozen cranberry skewers or Simple & Crisp Dried Blood Orange Crisps

(*Note- I also like to add extra frozen blood orange slices to my pitcher to keep the beverages extra cold without diluting the flavor)

Pitchers to Consider:  Williams-Sonoma Monogrammed Glass Pitcher, CB2 Double Edge Pitcher, Anthropologie Hobnail Pitcher, Crate & Barrel Cha-Cha Pitcher, Towle Serveware Hammersmith Pitcher

Double Old Fashioned Glasses to Consider: Williams-Sonoma Dorset Double Old Fashioned Glasses, Sur La Table Gold Rim DOF Glasses (Set of 4), CB2 Single Edge Double Old Fashioned, Scalamandre by Lenox Zebra Double Old Fashioned Glass (Set of 2), Villeroy & Boch Octavie Double Old Fashioned Glass