Hot Buttered Rum

 

 

 

"No Matter how little money and how few possessions, you own, having a dog makes you rich."

-Louis Sabin

 

 

My dogs are sick. I mentioned it on Facebook earlier today. Thank you everyone for the words of kindness, I so appreciate it. Both of them are sick, however Lucien is the sickest. He even threw up water earlier. Now I'm giving him ORT. Oral re-hydration therapy. (Per my husband, the nurse.) A fancy way of saying I'm giving him a little water in a syringe every hour so he doesn't get dehydrated. That's what they do for little babies when they are sick in the hospital. And Lucien is my little baby, so I need to give him lots of love and care.

 

Anyway, I was supposed to make cookies today and tell you all about them. That didn't happen. I feel like I need to sit here and stare at the dog. However, I was able to get away and mix up this quick drink. I thought, a drink, that's what I could use right now.

The ingredients

 

 

A nice warm drink. A nice, delicious, yummy warm cocktail. This drink is just wonderful. I love hot buttered rum and order it when I see it on a menu.

 

All whipped up

I've never made it myself until now. I was looking through recipes on Saveur.com and came across this one. I'm so glad I made it. It's tasty. Sweet with some spice. It's a nice change from drinking hot chocolate, or cider. Both of which I've been drinking a lot of lately.

I love it that you mix up the spiced butter and keep it in the fridge to be used later. So if you have an unexpected guest and want to offer them a little cordial, you're ready to go. This would also be great at a holiday party. And you don't even need to use rum. I used bourbon the second time of making this and it's just as delicious.

Perfect for a night sitting with your dogs, by the Christmas tree, hoping for a Christmas miracle that they start feeling better very soon.

Tuesday December 11th is my birthday, everybody! I'm celebrating by offering a coupon code for 20% off at my shop, House of Lucien! Enter coupon code BIRTHDAY2012, this offer is good on anything! It will be good through Wednesday, December 12th.

Our Christmas Tree

Vintage Haviland, Limoges teacup and silver tray available at my Etsy Shop, House of Lucien.

Hot Buttered Rum

adapted from Saveur.com

Ingredients

3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) (170 g.) butter, room temperature

1 cup (200 g.) packed brown sugar

1/4 tsp. freshly grated nutmeg

1/2 tsp. cinnamon

1/4 tsp. cloves

pinch of salt

Rum


Directions

In the bowl of a stand mixer, or in a large bowl with a hand mixer, add the butter, brown sugar, spices and a pinch of salt and beat until combined. Scrape down the bowl and mix again until fluffy.

Keep stored in the fridge when not in use. Can be stored for two weeks, refrigerated.

To make a hot buttered rum: Add 1 oz. to 1 1/2 oz. of rum to an 8 oz. mug (or slightly larger.) Add 2 Tablespoons of the spiced butter to the mug. Fill the mug with hot water, stir, and serve.

Strawberry Hot Chocolate

“To avoid criticism do nothing, say nothing, be nothing.”

 

- Elbert Hubbard

I love me some hot chocolate when the weather is chilly. At night I usually drink some hot tea or hot chocolate since it warms me up from the inside as well as satisfies my sweet tooth.

I used white chocolate chips - 4 heaping Tablespoons

I thought of mixing it up by making some strawberry hot chocolate. I always have frozen strawberries in the freezer, and white chocolate chips on hand, so it was a cinch to put together.

Melting the chocolate chips in the milk

I think this is a drink that adults as well as children would love!

Pureeing strawberries for my strawberry puree (these were previously frozen since strawberries aren't in season.)

 

 

So make up some strawberry hot chocolate, start a fire and play some board games as a family. Doesn't that sound fun? 

 

My strawberry puree

 

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Vintage Mikado Teacups available at my Etsy Shop, House of Lucien.

 

Strawberry Hot Chocolate

Makes 2 servings

Ingredients

1 1/2 cups (355 ml) milk - I used whole milk

4 Heaping Tablespoons white chocolate chips or chopped white chocolate - I used Guittard

3 Tablespoons sugar - or more to taste

1/2 cup (118 ml) strawberry puree - From pureeing strawberries (unsweetened, fresh or frozen, if frozen, thawed first) in a blender or food processor - if you are using sweetened strawberry puree you probably don't need the added sugar above

1/2 tsp. vanilla extract -optional

Pink food coloring - optional - fyi - strawberries alone don't get milk very pink - I added it

Whipped cream for topping - optional

Sprinkles for topping - optional


Directions

In a small saucepan add the milk, white chocolate chips and sugar. Cook it on medium high heat stirring frequently until the white chocolate is melted. Add the strawberry puree and cook until it is your desired temperature (very warm or hot.) Taste it and see if you think it needs more sugar, if so, add some, taste, adjust to your liking. Add vanilla extract if using. If you are using food coloring add a little at a time until it becomes a color you like.

Note: there will be strawberry seeds in the bottom of your cup. If that bothers you, then pour it through a fine mesh strainer before serving.

Pour into cups and top with whipped cream and sprinkles if desired.

Frozen Hot Chocolate

"You will find as you look back on your life, that the moments when you really lived are the moments when you have done things in the spirit of love."

-Henry Drummond

I've seen versions of this drink around lately, but I saw one that required cooking then cooling, and I thought, "If I make something called, Frozen Hot Chocolate, I need to drink it now." So I created one that didn't need cooking, so you can indulge without patience. Recipe below.

 First an update of the garden. Summer won't be here for much longer, so I wanted to celebrate the abundance of nature with some photos.

Every time I see this Hydrangea in the front yard I smile because I love the color so much.

Welcome to my rose garden

This is my favorite rose, it survived the move from Los Angeles, 5 years ago where it lived on our balcony. The name is Blue Girl and it's super fragrant, which of course, I love. I've even used the rose petals in the past to make Rose Petal Jelly.

I love the color of this one.

The front porch where we have a ships bell. My husband loves to sail so it's my nod to his nautical ways.

Our green apple tree - I am so grateful! This year our apple trees have lots of fruit! I this this our best year yet for apples.

Our red apple tree

These cast iron birds live on our porch.

Pigeons that also live on our porch. (I have a thing for birds I think.)


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Frozen Hot Chocolate

I based this recipe on Hershey's Chocolate Hot Chocolate Recipe only since I was adding ice, some of the milk portion would be water. So I added some heavy cream for, what else? Creaminess. If you make the entire thing with half and half or heavy cream, it will be even richer and creamier. Sort of like a milk shake. If you don't like using cream, just use all milk and know it won't be as creamy or rich.

Makes 1 serving

Ingredients

1/2 cup (118 ml) milk

1/4 cup (59 ml) heavy cream - or double cream, or half and half

3-4 teaspoons Unsweetened Cocoa powder - I used Hershey's - depending on your taste

2-3 or 4 Tablespoons sugar, depending on your taste
1/4 tsp. vanilla extract - If you don't have this, just omit it.

1 cup ice cubes (about a handful)

Whipped cream and sprinkles for topping - optional

Directions

Add the milk, heavy cream, unsweetened cocoa, sugar, vanilla and ice to a blender. Let it blend on high for about 2 minutes until the ice cubes have blended well. Taste it and see if it needs more sugar or cocoa for your taste. Top with whipped cream and sprinkles if desired. Drink immediately.

Lavender Vodka

"If you must love your neighbor as yourself, it is at least as fair to love yourself as your neighbor."

~Nicholas de Chamfort

Time for another instalment from my Cool Stuff series where I feature stuff I love, mostly handmade, and a drink recipe! I vowed to write these every weekend, but I missed a few, so let's just say I'm going to do it whenever it happens. I don't like to make rules, or abide by them, for that matter.

I got this lavender vodka idea from Mindy at Rindy Mae in her Annual Christmas Gift Exchange post where she talks about how she made lavender infused vodka as a Christmas gift. She mentioned it in the comments of my Lavender Lemonade, and I thought, "What a great idea!" I made some, added it to the lavender lemonade, and wow, it's just heaven in a glass. Such a great drink for a hot summer night. So I made some more to take a photo of and share with you! (Since I love you so much.)  And hey, I'm going to drink it now!

Thanks for the idea, Mindy!

Recipe below, but first, here's some cool stuff.

From The Kitchen Of Personalized Labels Label your jam or homemade bread with style with these made for you labels, by Curious London

Canvas Messenger Bag, Hand Painted ..And the sign said... From the maker -"This French phrase basically translates to “No campers or nomads permitted.”When I saw a photo of this actual French sign I knew I had to paint it on a canvas bag. So here’s my tribute to all the campers, nomads and gypsies everywhere! And with this bag – you are permitted to carry it Everywhere!! "  By CLP Studio- I love it!

Iphone 4 Case-pink butterfly-sparkle case-glittery - What a pretty case for your Iphone!  by Vintage Chic Images

30 Permanent Self Adhesive Chalkboard Labels- By JS Crafty Studio - I see these all over, and every time I do, I just love them! Gotta get me some, they're so clever for jars and storage.

Vintage Map Thank You Stickers, package of 20 handwritten stickers calligraphy- by KisforCalligraphy - I love these handmade stickers, and everything else that comes from this shop! I ordered a handmade custom stamp from her, and I love it!

Vintage Liqueur Glasses available at my Etsy shop, House of Lucien.

 

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You don't exactly need a recipe for infusing vodka. Add some flavored stuff to vodka (here it would be the lavender), shake it up, wait a few days, and it will be flavored. If you've never done it before maybe you might want to follow some loose guidelines, so I've provided a recipe below. When I've done this I haven't made a full bottle, I've added about a teaspoon of lavender flowers to about a cup of vodka, and shook it up whenever I thought about it, waited for 2 days and it's ready. Add it to my Lavender Lemonade and experience total bliss in a glass.




Lavender Vodka

Recipe from Just A Pinch


Ingredients


1 750 ml bottle vodka

2 Tablespoons dried lavender

Directions

Place lavender in a clean 1-quart jar. Using a wooden spoon, lightly crush lavender flowers against the side of the jar after adding vodka.

Cover jar tightly with a non metallic lid (or cover jar with plastic wrap and tightly seal with a metal lid). Let stand in the freezer for 4 days.

Pour vodka through a fine mesh sieve to remove all solids. Return infused vodka to original bottle. Or to give as a gift, pour infused vodka into a decorative jar. Label and seal. Place jar in the freezer up to 3 months to store.

Lavender Lemonade and Cool Stuff

"Deep summer is when laziness finds respectability." 

~Sam Keen

This lavender lemonade is my new favorite drink! It's refreshing, unique and just plain delicious. I love the taste of lavender, the smell of lavender, I absolutely love lavender! We have many plants of it growing around our property, so I am fortunate to have access to it.

Recipe for the lemonade and some more pics below, now onto some cool stuff I'm liking this week.

Olive Oil Felted Lemon Meringue Pie Soap - This soap is covered in hand felted wool to give you a scrub while you wash. Made of olive oil and Shea butter. From MikeandDianeSoap. This soap sounds fresh and cool, perfect soap for summer.

Cat Cave/ Cat House Handmade from Natural Wool - From Grazim - What the heck! I've never seen anything like this, but what a great idea. How sweet is that cat? I think any cat would love to have a handmade house.

Handmade Wooden ABC Children's Blocks - By TinyGiraffeShop - These are so beautiful. I think they would make a great baby gift.



And now on to Lavender Lemonade Making!

One of our lavender bushes on the walk up to our house is out of control. The good thing about it though is that it gives you a lovely whiff of lavender on your walk up the path.

Straining the lavender buds

After you add the lemon juice, it suddenly turns pink!

 

 

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Silver plated tray and pitcher available at my Etsy Shop, House of Lucien.

Lavender Lemonade

You can harvest your own lavender flowers, or buy culinary lavender from a well stocked grocery store. If you are using dried, I'd use a bit less.

Recipe from Local Harvest's newsletter


Ingredients

1 Tablespoon fresh lavender flowers (that have not been sprayed) Or if using dried, I'd use half that.

1/3 - 1/2 cup (64 mg-100 mg) (78 ml - 118 ml) sugar or honey

1/3 cup (78 ml) fresh lemon juice - it took me 3 lemons - You can add more if you like it more tart


Directions

Boil 2 cups water in a small saucepan. Once it comes to a boil add the lavender flowers and remove from heat. Let steep for 10 minutes. Strain the flowers from the liquid. Add the lavender liquid to a 1 quart (4 cups) (946 ml) jar and add the sugar or honey. (add the lesser amount, when you taste it later if you want it sweeter, add more to taste.) Shake it up to mix. Add the fresh lemon juice, then fill the jar the rest of the way with cold water. Refrigerate till cold. Taste it now and see if you need more sweetener, or if you want it more tart, add more lemon juice. Enjoy over ice.