Mmmmonday - Spiced Milk(y) Punch for Crafternoon!
As the holidays approach (rapidly, I might add), some of my favorite friends and I start getting together for “Crafternoon.” It’s a chance for us to get a handle on holiday gift projects, learn from each other, and catch up on each other’s lives. I look forward to it all year; we’re all busy folks, and it seems like we rarely take the time to all get together. A December 25th deadline is a great way to keep us working AND socializing!
I hosted 2009’s inaugural Crafternoon a couple of weeks ago, and since it was cold and rainy I decided a warm punch was in order. I found this recipe on Epicurious, and it did not disappoint my chilly little crafters. The recipe calls this “Milk Punch,” but there’s an entirely different kind of milk punch (involving curdling, straining and brandy) that I hope to tackle later this winter.
8 cups water
16 whole cloves
20 whole cardamom pods
2 teaspoons fennel seeds
2 teaspoons cinnamon
2 teaspoons ginger
8 bags Darjeeling tea or 3 tablespoons Darjeeling tea leaves
2 cups milk
3/4 cup honey
Combine first 6 ingredients in medium saucepan and bring to boil. Reduce heat to low; cover and simmer 10 minutes. Add tea bags or leaves and remove saucepan from heat. Cover pan and let mixture steep 30 minutes.
Strain liquid into another saucepan. Add milk and honey to tea. Bring to simmer, stirring occasionally.
I added booze afterwards; 1 shot of ginger flavored brandy, 1/2 shot of rum in a full mug. This would also be excellent with St. Elizabeth’s Allspice Dram. Cozy up!