Autumn Fruit Punch

This fruity punch can be enjoyed warmed or chilled - depending on the weather and the mood. It's refreshing as a chilled sangria but also comforting as a warm mulled wine.

In the past I've made traditional Mulled Wine and several Infused Spirits.

The nutritional information below is just for the liquid - i.e. alcohol and juice. If the boozy fruit is also eaten, add a few more calories and grams of sugar!

Autumn Fruit Punch
Makes 8 (150ml / 5floz servings)

Ingredients:
- 1 apple, sliced
- 1 pear, sliced
- 1 orange, sliced
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 8 cloves, whole
- 750ml / 1 bottle red wine
- 480ml / 16floz pomegranate juice
- 240ml / 8floz vodka OR bourbon
- 240ml / 8floz water

Method:

• Warm all ingredients gently over low heat for 15 minutes to combine and infuse the liquids and flavours. 
• Strain before serving in glasses, removing the cloves and cinnamon stick.
• If drinking chilled, allow to cool before straining and refrigerating. ENJOY!

Nutritional Information:

Chai Tea

I can't start the day without at least two or three cups of tea. I buy boxes of PG Tips in bulk load from the internet and always carry a supply of teabags with me when ever I travel. The key to a good cup of English tea is to using fresh boiling water and good quality (strong) teabags.

Various recipes on the internet suggested adding 10 cardamon pods, gently crushed, or a whole vanilla bean, sliced length ways. I didn't have these ingredients to hand but I did add a little vanilla extract and I also reduced the sugar content. I figured honey or brown sugar can always be added to individual cups when serving if desired.

An additional option to turn this chai tea into the 'adult' variety is to add 30ml/1tbsp bourbon to each warm serving!

Chai Tea
Makes 6 (120ml / 4floz) servings
Click HERE for a printable recipe card.

Ingredients:
- 8 black peppercorns, whole
- 8 cloves, whole
- 56g / 2oz (4-inch piece) fresh ginger, sliced
- 3 cinnamon sticks
- 12g / 1tbsp brown sugar
- 2 star anise
- 1/4 tsp nutmeg, ground
- 15ml / 1tbsp vanilla extract
- 960ml / 32floz water
- 4 black tea bags (I use PG Tips)

Method:
In a saucepan, boil all ingredients except tea bags over medium-high heat for 5 minutes.

Reduce heat to medium-low, cover and simmer for 15 minutes.
Add tea bags and let steep for 5 minutes.

Pour mixture through a strainer and let cool to room temperature.
Refrigerate in an airtight container for up to one week.

Mix equal parts concentrate with boiling water or warm milk to make hot chai tea, or serve over ice with cold water or milk. ENJOY!

Click HERE for a printable recipe card.

Mulled Wine

We're well into the festive period and as the weather turns colder, it's the perfect time to continue my Infused Spirits collection with some Mulled Wine. In Germany, this spice wine is called glühwein. There are endless recipes online, with varying ingredients and quantities. All of them contain a bottle (or two) of red wine, spices (cinnamon, cloves, star anise), citrus fruits (orange, lemon), sweetener (honey or sugar) and brandy. Cardamon pods, nutmeg and vanilla are also popular ingredients.

The recipe below doesn't contain brandy (I didn't have any) but if it did, the general consensus is 1/4cup / 60ml for every bottle of red wine.

The recipes I looked at on the internet also had differing methods when it came to citrus fruits. Some said zest or peel oranges and lemons, and then squeeze the juice, whilst others instructed to slice the fruit.

In this first batch, I used Cabernet Sauvignon. Next time I will try using a Pinot noir.

Mulled Wine
Makes 6, (150ml / 5floz) servings
Click HERE for a printable recipe card.

Ingredients:
- 1 orange
- 1 lemon
- 750ml / 1 bottle red wine
- 60ml / 2floz brandy(optional)
- 60ml / 2floz water
- 40g / 2tbsp honey
- 6 cloves, whole
- 1 cinnamon sticks
- 1 star anise

Method:
Zest and juice the orange and lemon.

In a non-aluminum saucepan, combine all the ingredients. Cook over a medium heat for 3-5 minutes.

Reduce to a low heat and gently simmer for at least 20 minutes.

Strain, and pour into a bottle.

Serve warm. ENJOY!

Click HERE for a printable recipe card.

Nutritional Information:

A typical glass (150ml / 5floz serving) of wine has approx. 125 calories, whilst a serving (50ml / 1.5floz) of spirits - vodka, gin, brandy, whisky - has approx. 95 calories.

Infused Spirits - Chamomile Vodka

I'm slowly building up my recipe list of Infused Spirits, with this fourth vodka recipe infused with chamomile tea. It's a whole new take on Iced Tea!

This herbal, fragrant tea is known for its many health benefits including soothing and relaxing both the mind and body. It aids sleep and eases muscle ache. Thanks to its antibacterial properties, it can also calm inflamed and sensitive skin.

Infused Spirits - Chamomile Vodka
Makes 9, 50ml / 1.5oz servings
Click HERE for a printable recipe card.

Ingredients:
- 3tbsp / 6 chamomile tea bags
- 480ml / 16floz vodka
- 20g / 1tbsp honey

Method:
Cut open the tea bags and place chamomile in an air-tight jar/container.

Pour in the vodka.
Store in a cool, dry place for 3-5-7 days, shaking the jar (not vigorously) one or two times each day.

Depending on the preferred 'strength' or flavour of the infused spirit, after 3, 5 or 7 days, strain the vodka.

Pour the chamomile vodka into a storage jar or bottle.

Serve in a chilled glass or over ice. ENJOY!

Click HERE for a printable recipe card.

Nutritional Information:
A 50ml/1.5floz serving vodka contains 96 calories.
A tablespoon of honey has 64 calories and 17g carbs, all of which is sugar!

Infused Spirits - Limoncello

Further to my fruit infused vodkas, I used lemons to make Limoncello, an Italian lemon liqueur mainly produced in Southern Italy.

This recipe has been adapted from the kitchn blog. It's basically the same recipe - lemons and vodka - but I used a bit more water and less sugar per serving. I also zested the lemon instead of peeling them with a vegetable peeler.

Infused Spirits - Limoncello
Makes 2, 50ml / 1.5oz servings
Click HERE for a printable recipe card.

Ingredients:
- 1 lemon zest
- 75ml/2.5floz vodka (I used 80% proof)
- 30ml /2tbsp water
- 8g / 2tsp white sugar

For larger batches/quantities, use one lemon for every 75ml vodka - i.e. a 750ml bottle of vodka will need 10 lemons, 300ml /10floz water and 80g/3oz sugar. This will give one litre of limocello, approx. 20, 50ml/1.5oz servings. Perfect for a party!!

Method:
Zest/grate the lemon and place in an air-tight jar/container.

Pour in the vodka.
Store in a cool, dry place for 3-5-7 days. Shaking the jar of fruit and vodka (not vigorously) one or two times each day.

Depending on the preferred 'strength' or flavour of the infused spirit, after 3, 5 or 7 days, strain the vodka.

To make the sugar syrup, bring the water to a simmer and stir in the sugar to dissolve; allow to cool.
Stir the vodka into the sugar syrup and add more water/sugar to taste.
Pour the limoncello into a storage jar or bottle.

Serve in a chilled glass or over ice. ENJOY!
Click HERE for a printable recipe card.

Nutritional Information:
A 50ml/1.5floz serving vodka contains 96 calories.
A teaspoon of sugar has 15 calories and 4g carbs, all of which is sugar (obviously!).

Infused Spirits - Vodka

When infusing spirits, in addition to the required alcohol of choice, patience is also a significant requisite! I started my spirit infusion experiment with vodka - mainly because that's all I had in the pantry. I also had a mango and a bag of cherries in the fridge. Both fruits were seasonal and ripe so the opportunity to try something new was perfect.

There are plenty of websites dedicated to infusing spirits. Vodka, gin whisky, rum and tequila are all popular choices of spirits. Most of the sites suggest adding a combination of fruits, herbs, spices and vegetables. There's a chance to get creative but also a risk of ruining perfectly good alcohol!

I found this fruit flavored vodka website to be a good starting point. With regards to quantities, I found one cup of chopped fruit (approx. 110g/4oz) was sufficient for 1-1.5cups of vodka (approx. 300ml/10floz). 80% or 100% proof vodka is also recommended.

I may get a little more creative as I'm keen to try a few recipes from this site that has '50 Unique and Not-So-Unique Flavors to Infuse Vodka', including cucumber and dill, and oats and honey!

Infused Spirits - Mango Vodka
Makes 6, 50ml / 1.5floz serving
Click HERE for a printable recipe card.

Ingredients:
- 110g / 4oz mango, chopped
- 300ml / 10floz vodka, (I use 80% proof)

Infused Spirits - Cherry Vodka
Makes 6, 50ml / 1.5floz serving
Click HERE for a printable recipe card.

Ingredients:
- 110g /4oz cherries, pitted and chopped
- 300ml / 10floz vodka, (I use 80% proof)

Method:
Place the chopped fruit in an air-tight jar/container and pour in the vodka.

Store in a cool, dry place for 3-5-7 days. Shaking the jar of fruit and vodka (not vigorously) one or two times each day.
Depending on the preferred 'strength' or flavour of the infused spirit, after 3, 5 or 7 days, strain the vodka.

Pour the vodka into a storage jar or bottle.

Serve over ice. ENJOY!

Click HERE for a printable recipe card.

Nutritional Information:
A 50ml/1.5floz serving vodka contains 96 calories.
I found this article about efficient drinking to be very informative and a great way to compare alcoholic beverages.

Iced Coffee

 

When the weather heats up, a cool iced coffee is very refreshing and easy to make. All that's needed is a little time as the coffee needs a few hours in the fridge. I first made home-made iced coffee after visiting New Orleans and buying some Cafe Du Monde coffee. Their beignets were delicious!

It can get a bit messy when filtering the coffee but at least I'm left with plenty of granules for the composting bin!

Iced Coffee
Makes approx. 900ml / 28floz

Ingredients:
- 1000ml / 32floz (1 quart) cold water
- 56g / 2oz coffee

Method:
In a tub or bowl, mix the coffee into the water.
Refrigerate for at least 6 hours.

Using a coffee pot (turned off), pour the cold coffee through a paper filter. Several paper filters may need to be used as a large amount of coffee granules will be collected.

Alternatively, the cold coffee can be poured into a French press.

Store the cold filtered coffee in a bottle in the fridge. Pour over ice and milk (if desired) to make a refreshing drink.
ENJOY!

Banana Smoothies

It's amazing the variety of smoothies which can be made with a banana and a cup of almond milk. I usually freeze bananas and strawberries as they tend to make thicker smoothies and require less ice. However ripe bananas are just as good.

Obviously additional ingredients can be added, depending on what's available and how creative I'm feeling.
Chia seeds, hemp seeds, flaxseed, honey, protein powder, cinnamon are all tasty options.

All of the sugars in the smoothies below are natural, with the majority coming from the banana (16g from a large banana, about 125g). Therefore, additional sugar, such as honey, shouldn't need to be added.

The cottage cheese adds additional protein and if regular cow's milk is used, a further 8g protein would be obtained. However, cow's milk has approx 12g sugars compared with 1g from unsweetened almond milk. For more information regarding milk, read a previous post about almond milk.

A good alternative to a banana smoothie uses apple instead: Green Fruit and Vegetable Smoothie

Banana and Cocoa Smoothie
- 1 banana
- 240ml / 8floz almond milk, unsweetened
- 5g / 1tbsp cocoa powder, natural unsweetened
- ice cubes, as needed

Banana and Spinach Smoothie
- 1 banana
- 240ml / 8floz almond milk, unsweetened
- 40g / 1.4oz spinach
- ice cubes, as needed

Banana and Kale Smoothie
- 1 banana
- 240ml / 8floz almond milk, unsweetened
- 40g / 1.4oz spinach
- ice cubes, as needed

Banana and Strawberry Smoothie
- 1 banana
- 240ml / 8floz almond milk, unsweetened
- 75g / 2.7oz strawberries
- ice cubes, as needed

Banana and Cottage Cheese Smoothie
- 1 banana
- 240ml / 8floz almond milk, unsweetened
- 112g / 4oz cottage cheese, low fat
- ice cubes, as needed

Nutritional Information: