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Okay, so I know someone who is an alcoholic. I'm proud to say that he signed up for AA and has been blissfully sober for four months, now. He mentioned that he just can't seem to get into eggnog without the rum or brandy and needs to find a new favorite holiday beverage. Of course, hot toddies and mulled wine are out. I want to find out if any of you have a recipe for the ULTIMATE holiday beverage. No hot chocolate with schnapps here. Hot punch (of the non-gin variety), a perfect cider, wassail (without the ale)... it's all good. I'm looking for FREAKIN' AWESOME! Recipes please and I'd love to know stories behind the beverages, if there are any. Sentimentality is always appreciated.
Happy Holy-Days everyone, blessings and abundant joy to all.
Love and light, dear ones.
Rev
Happy Holy-Days everyone, blessings and abundant joy to all.
Love and light, dear ones.
Rev
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Portland
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Spiced cider's always good... Try cinnamon, cloves, maybe a little nutmeg and cardamom if you feel adventurous, all in some good, organic apple juice. Mmmm! -
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Rev,
My observation has been that the holidays are tough to get through sober, especially if it's a relatively new sobriety. While I don't have any non-booze drinks to offer your friend, I can offer some perhaps not-needed advice:
Know where and when the AA meetings are in the places you're going (if you're going out of town);
Make sure that you and your sponsor check in daily;
If you go to a party, keep a half-filled cup of soda or water or other beverage in hand;
If you go to a party with lots of people you don't know, make sure someone who supports your sobriety is also there; and
Stay away from family gatherings if they all drink and especially if they were the reason that drove you to drink in the first place. and if you can't avoid visting said family, especially know where the meetings are.
When I worked in drug tx, my clients liked the Sunrise, Miracles, Step Sisters, and Hi Noon meetings. That was some time ago.
Best of luck to your friend ~
Samantha
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Once I went to a party and they had ginger cider-
I think the recipe was
shredded ginger that was boiled and then strained- lime juice and honey- to taste served hot
it was delish and smelled really good
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ooh - I don't have a recipe to offer, but I've had some amazing hot ginger drinks, so let me second that motion! Sadly, I've never had luck making them myself., at least not to my level of satisfaction. I've also had some amazing hot chocolates, always overseas [Mexico, Bali, Samoa]. I've never foudn a mix that comes close, though I think they start with raw chocolate nibs and boil the hell out of them. Nibs are expensive at gourmet stores and kind of cheap at your neighborhood hippie coop.
Now. Chocolate. And onto your booze-drinking guests. I soaked a bunch of cocoa nibs in a mix of 2 parts light and 1 part black rum last night. I added a bit of cracked allspice, cinnamon sticks, cracked nutmeg, a few almonds, a few black pepper corns, and half a vanilla bean to round out the flavor. This evening I strained it and added a bit of sugar syrup. The result is really fucking good. It's more bitter than American and European chocolate, and tastes awesome in bourbon and rum drinks.
Back to non-drinkers: I have a couple frineds in AA, and it always helps to have lots of food to nibble on. Sublimation is a godsend.
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Having just had one today, I'd recommend Carmel Apple Cider (like you get at Starbucks).
YUUUUMMMMMMMM.......
I looked up the recipe, and this is what I found:
Cinnamon syrup- a couple of squirts (sold in the store)
Treetop premium apple juice
Whipped cream
Carmel syrup drizzled on top
Blend cinnamon syrup with apple juice. Top with whipped cream and carmel syrup.
And of course, it doesn't mention it, but this is a hot drink! Warm & delicious!
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I've never gotten an egg nog in the supermarket that had brandy or liquor of any kind or even the flavor of it. Tell your friend to try the dairy section and bring his own if he has to.
Secondary to that -- my chosen winter drink is a nice, heavy on the cardomom chai tea sweet with cream.
Some vinyards will produce grape juice from their wine grapes but the taste might trigger your friend.
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Heartsong chai...Dagoba hot chocolate(with whipped cream, of course)...homebrewed ginger ale...homemade cider(lacto-fermented)...Sally Fallon's Nourishing Traditions has several non-alcoholic brewed drink recipes...kombucha with yummy fruit flavorings(see the kombucha tribe for details), any special coffee drink...organic pre-made egg nog...cheers!
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Haven't tried it but Food Network lists this mulled cider:
www.foodnetwork.com/food/rec...8,00.html
It sounds delish, and like it could be doctored up his own way.
Seems to me that in a party setting, this could be made in quantities and placed at the other end of the same table as the mulled wine or whatever else, so everyone has a non-alky option, and he wouldn't have to feel singled out.
Best of luck to him in his new sobriety. -
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Nothing says "happy holidays" like hot Dr. Pepper!
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Ponche! It's the classic mexican holiday beverage, more often than not with a shot of rum, which you obviously would omit in this case... The original version needs several exotic fruits if you can find them and it's sooo good! Basically:
Pineapple
Tejocote (I think this is crab apple but I'm not sure. Little round orange-red colored things, kind of bitter)
Guava
Sugar Cane
Dried apple and apricot, prunes
Just boil everything together until the fruit gets nice and soft. Mmmm... I might go get some now......
Anyway, if you can't find all these fruits, you can make an adapted version by boiling whatever you can find plus the dried fruits in some diluted peach nectar and get an okay facsimile...
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I thought I had posted this on the group before, though couldn't locate it so thought to repost since it is an excellent alternative to alcohol. This is originally from sub-Sahara Africa but I've Americanized it a bit with the addition of the apple juice so you can leave that out if you'd like. Great for a holiday party, I float very thin slices of lemons, limes and oranges in the punch bowl.
Ginger soft drink
6 cups boiling water
1 cup grated peeled fresh ginger root
1 cup sugar
2 teaspoons whole cloves
4 cinnamon sticks
1/4 cup each fresh lime and lemon juice
1 cup fresh orange juice
1 cup apple juice (optional)
8 cups cold water
Pour boiling water over ginger,sugar, cloves, cinnamon in a non reactive pot. Cover and set somewhere warm for and hour or two. Strain, add juices and cold water. Let it settle and strain again, chill. Serve over ice and thinned down if you want with sparkling water.
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I would recommend getting Dagoba xocoltl (with chiles) hot cocoa, it's hot and spicy and soothing and chocolately. adding a medium candy cane to it as a stir stick adds a little extra christmas taste to it.
Alternately, cooking up some apple cider on the stove with a cinamon stick, some chunks of ginger, some orange peel (washed and white-free), and raisins is great. - and it makes your home smell great!
Or, some chai-spiced tea with lots of milk and honey.
And the best: if you heat up (and froth if possible) some egg nog - it is fantastic in coffee! (no need for sugar)
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