Peppermint spices up holiday cocktails
While I was writing and testing recipes for the Page 1 story, my home smelled wonderfully of peppermint. I love the chocolate peppermint bark and the minty cake balls, but perhaps my family's favorite winter way to enjoy peppermint is simply stirring rich hot cocoa with a candy cane or nice thick peppermint stick. For a decadent cup of cocoa, pick up one of the new mixes from Caribou Coffee.
Available in milk, dark and white chocolate, these mixes put powdered packets to shames with their mini chips made to melt effortlessly in a pot of warm milk.
And while they're fantastic on their own, they're even better with a candy cane.
For adults only: Peppermint needn't be confined to hot cocoa. A number of mint-infused cocktails offer winter sipping. Here are a few to try:
Candy Cane Swirl (pictured): Rim a martini glass with crushed candy cane. Combine 1 ounce SKYY Infusions Raspberry Vodka, 3 ounces red cranberry juice, and a half ounce each of peppermint schnapps and grenadine into a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake vigorously and strain into a martini glass. Top with lemon-lime soda and garnish with a small peppermint candy cane.
Merry Irishman: Fill a rocks glass with ice. Add 2 parts Tullamore Dew Irish Whiskey, 1 part coffee liqueur and 1/2 part peppermint schnapps. Swirl with a candy cane garnish.
Midori Peppermint Kiss: In a chilled shaker glass, mix 1 ounce Midori Melon Liqueur, 1 ounce vodka, 3 ounces pineapple juice, 1/4 ounce each fresh lemon juice and peppermint schnapps and 6 torn basil leaves. Add ice and shake 15 seconds; strain into a tall glass and garnish with a basil leaf and single raspberry.
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Mmmm. Dorm food: Many college students dream of Mom's meatloaf while away at school. Others may be dreaming of the dorm's roast turkey while they're home for the next month.
According to Sodexo, a food-service provider to 600 campuses in the United States, comfort foods like roast beef and macaroni and cheese are what Midwestern students crave.
Its recent survey of students reveals they also want locally sourced food that provides comfort with a twist. College foods to watch for in 2010 include apricot-glazed turkey, meatloaf with frizzle-fried onions, Vietnamese pho (rice noodle soup), vegetarian lentil shepherd's pie and Mexican stew with chilies.
Dorm food has come a long way since the Captain's Casserole of my day. Kids today don't know how good they have it!
• Contact Food Editor Deborah Pankey at food@dailyherald.com.