Rum Cookies

I think we all need a bit of alcohol in us from time to time, this goes for cookies too!

What you will need to make spiced rum cookies:
- 175g (6oz) of unsalted butter, softened and a bit extra for greasing
- 175g (6oz) dark muscovado sugar
- 225g (8oz) plain flour
- Pinch of salt
- 1/2 tsp bicarbonate of soda
- 1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
- 1/4 tsp ground coriander
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp ground cloves
- 2 tbsp dark rum

How to make spiced rum cookies:
- Preheat your oven to 180 *C (or 350 *F, Gas Mark 4) and grease two baking sheets.
- Cream together the butter and sugar, you should whisk it until its all light and fluffy. Sift together the flour, salt, bicarbonate of soda, coriander, cinnamon, cloves and the nutmeg into the creamed mixture.
- Stir in the rum into the mixture. place 18 spoonfuls of the dough onto the prepped baking sheets.
- Make sure you space them apart giving them plenty of room to expand. Flatten each one of them slightly with the back of a spoon (you can take the liberties when shaping them).
- Bake your spiced rum cookies in a preheated oven for 10-13 minutes or until golden. 
- Leave the cookies to cool and crisp on a wire rack before serving.

Can you guys tell I'm really wanting some cookies this morning or what? 

Photo Credit: Photo is mine.

Mulled Ale and Mulled Wine

Mulled Wine
Photo Credit: http://la-oc-foodie.blogspot.co.uk

I don't know if there is anything as good as some mulled wine on a cold winter evening. Wine not exactly your cup of tea? No fear mulled ale is here!

What you will need to make these mulled drinks:

Mulled Ale (enough for 2.8L or 5 pints):

• 2.5 L (4.5 pints) of strong ale
• 300 ml (10 fl oz) of brandy
• 2 tbsp of caster sugar
• Large pinch of ground cloves
• Large pinch of ground ginger

Mulled Wine (enough for 3.3 L or 5.75 pints):

• 2 L (3.5 pints) of red wine
• 850 ml (1.5 pints) of water 
• 150 ml (5 fl oz) of brandy
• 115 g (4 oz) of caster sugar
• 2 cinnamon sticks
• 5 oranges
• 50 cloves
• Thinly pared rind and juice of 4 lemons

Mulled Ale
Photo Credit: http://www.barwhiz.com

How to make mulled ale:

Put all of the ingredients in a heavy saucepan and heat gently, making sure to stir until the sugar has dissolved. Continue to heat so that its simmering but not boiling. Now remove the saucepan from the heat and serve the ale straight away in heatproof glasses.

Mulled Wine
Photo Credit: http://www.natashainoz.com

How to make the mulled wine:

Prick the skins of three of the oranges all over with a fork or a knife. Stuff the cloves into them like studs and put aside. Thinly pare the rind of the rest of the oranges and squeeze the juice from them.

Put the lemon and orange rind and juice, water, sugar, and cinnamon in a heavy saucepan and bring to the boil over a medium heat. Make sure to stir occasionally, until the sugar has dissolved. Boil for about 2 minutes without any stirring, remove from heat, stir it once and leave to sit for 10 minutes.

Strain the liquid into a heatproof jug. Make sure to press down on the contents of the sieve to extract all the juice and flavor.

Pour the wine into a separate saucepan and add the strained spiced juice, the brandy and the clove studded oranges that you set aside earlier. 

Simmer gently without boiling, then remove the saucepan from the heat.

Strain into heatproof glasses and serve hot.