There’s nothing like festive holiday drinks to make holiday parties come alive. It's no wonder that cold weather makes us want to snuggle and keep warm, and hot beverages certainly help. So, I've taken some favorite recipes and changed them up a bit to delight your guests. (It's also perfectly acceptable for you to enjoy these festive holiday drinks during an intimate evening with your special loved one.) I have also included my favorite eggnog recipe for when you want a cold and refreshing holiday beverage. Enjoy! Grand Marnier Hot Chocolate (Serves 8-10) Delicious hot chocolate might be the queen of all festive holiday drinks. This hot chocolate gets its kick from Grand Marnier. But if you want a non-alcoholic drink, leave out the liqueur and instead add 4 strips of orange peel (½ inch wide) to the liquid as it is heating. Ingredients 2/3 cup natural, unsweetened cocoa powder, Dutch-process cocoa powder or dark cocoa powder such as Droste, Ghiradelli or … [Read more...] about Festive Holiday Drinks for Fabulous Celebrations
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How to Make Lavender Lemonade
Got lavender? Then it's time to make lavender lemonade! Whether you have just one lavender plant or a hedge of lavender plants, lavender is a wonderful addition to every garden. The scented leaves and flowers of lavender have been used for centuries to keep bugs at bay, add a pleasant scent to bathing water or laundry water, and simply for the gentle scent it gives to the air. Lavender is also used in the kitchen to flavor cakes and other traditional recipes. Lavender is a Mediterranean herb that enjoys warm, dry weather and dislikes poorly drained soil. Most English Lavender (angustifolia) varieties are hardy to at least USDA Zone 5, and they are happy in containers as well as in the ground. There are two common varieties of English Lavender – Munstead and Hidcote, and both do well in the garden. Hidcote varieties have short flower stems and a stubby lavender flower while the Munstead has longer stems and a more elongated flower. The flower color is usually purple with … [Read more...] about How to Make Lavender Lemonade
