Hot Drinks for Cold Days

By Elizabeth Wells

The weather outside may be frightful, but that's nothing a warm mug of your favorite beverage can't cure. Whether you curl up in a comfy chair to watch the snow fall outside or watch it fall on the TV in sunny Florida, a hot beverage warms the heart and has a calming effect.

Keep your cupboard and refrigerator stocked with hot beverage mixers so you're always ready to offer a treat. Making the mixes from scratch allows you to adjust each recipe to your family's taste.

Caution: An adult should always heat the water and supervise the mixing into the hot water.

Hot Chocolate Mix: Combine 1 box (25.6 ounces) of powdered milk with 1 box (15 ounces) of chocolate milk mix, 1 jar (8 ounces) mocha coffee creamer, 1-2 cups powdered sugar (to taste). Stir together until completely blended. Store in an airtight container.

To make hot chocolate milk: Heat 8 ounces of water. Add 2 to 3 heaping teaspoons of mix and stir. Heat to desired temperature.

The Sypniewski family says they really like making a batch of hot chocolate mix. "I keep a jar of it on the kitchen counter, and at night the kids can choose between Sleepytime tea or hot cocoa. The only thing Mom has to do is boil the water!" says Tricia. She also says she likes the control the mix gives her. "You could use Ovaltine with vitamins and minerals instead of a sugar-based chocolate mix. We also add a soy-based protein powder for a daughter who needs to gain weight."

A family from Iowa says they substitute French vanilla coffee creamer for the mocha. "Now I'm thinking some other flavors would be fun to try in the mixes," says Beth S.

Warm Spice Tea: Combine 1 cup instant tea mix with 1-1/2 cups presweetened orange drink mix, 1/3 cup presweetened lemon drink mix and 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon. Stir together until completely mixed. Store in an airtight container. To make hot spiced tea: Heat 1 cup of water. Add 2 teaspoons for light tea, 3 teaspoons for a more robust tea flavor, and stir. Heat to desired temperature.

Hot Spiced Apple Cider Mix: Stir 1/4 cup cinnamon and 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves together. A little bit goes a long way with this mix. To make hot spiced apple cider: Heat 1 cup of apple juice. Add a small pinch of mix and stir. Heat to desired temperature.

The LaClair family says they offering hot-spiced apple cider to friends instead of other hot drinks. "It's a great change of pace," Peggy says.

Wrap 'em Up Make an extra batch or two to give to friends and neighbors who visit.

• Place a portion of a mix in a zipper-close plastic bag. Cut a circle of fabric using an 8-inch dinner plate as the measure. Using a needle and yarn, sew long stitches around the circle about 1 to 2 inches from the outer edge. Leave long ends of yarn so the package can be drawn after you place the bag in the middle.
• Another fun wrap is made from large tissue paper squares, which can be used as the outer wrapping for plastic bags. Use curly ribbon to tie at the top and then curl the ribbon.
• Mixes will have a longer shelf life in a pint- or quart-size canning jar. Cover the lid with pretty wrapping paper or fabric.
• Use gift tags or index cards as labels. Don't forget to write instructions so friends will know how much mix to use.

Beth S. suggests using the instant cappuccino cans with plastic lids (or other similar containers). "I cover them with fabric or cool wrapping paper," she says. "It's also fun to buy seasonal tins and give the mixes in those." Her 11-year-old daughter says that her favorite part is taste-testing the mixes, but she enjoys packaging food gifts, too.

Lynda Hannan says she likes the possibilities of combining the mixes with other treats or seasonal items. She likes making the mixes as "inexpensive, unusual yet useable gift ideas."

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