What I will be drinking this Christmas

Although I have started to think about what I will be cooking this Christmas, I haven't really started to make any Christmassy food yet. The reason being is that I love Christmas food so much, I just can't keep away from it once it's in the house. So, in an attempt to try not to go up a dress size by January, I'm trying to save it for Christmas itself. Fighting the bulge is difficult enough at any time of the year, but I figure trying to stay away from sugary treats until Christmas has to help.

Anyway, the last thing I want is to turn this blog into talk about diets, so enough of that. I really do find though, that festive themed drinks are a very nice nod to the impending festive season before Christmas is really here. I do find if I start to get festive too early, the main event can be a bit of an anticlimax.

So, starting with alcoholic drinks, here are some of my favourites.

First up is my mulled cider, which I made for Let's Make Christmas just a couple of weeks ago. Just click on the link for my recipe.

My mulled cider

Next, I have to include mulled wine. I cheat and use the excellent Steenberg's Organic mulled wine sachets.  A beautiful blend of spices, which makes mulled wine so simple to make.

And finally, I made Spiced Orange and Clove Brandy yesterday (see my previous post). As I mentioned yesterday, I will be using this in my Christmas baking and it is delicious on it's own. Vanessa Kimbell recommends in Prepped! to enjoy this with ginger beer (1 part brandy to 3/4 parts ginger beer) to make a Christmas cocktail, so we will be enjoying this in our household, too.

Spiced Orange and Clove Brandy

Next, why not make your daily cups of tea a little more festive? Steenbergs Christmas tea is delicious. A spiced black tea which is not dissimilar to a chai, and is really lovely.

Christmas tea and my new Christmas mug - a lovely gift from Tony's Mum!

And sticking with hot drinks, I adore Steenbergs Christmas Drinking Chocolate. Deliciously rich, spicy and chocolatey, and with the added bonuses of being organic, fair-trade and dairy free. No milk powder in here; just cocoa, sugar and spices. My vegan sister can enjoy this made with soya milk, too. 

Organic Christmas Drinking Chocolate

And finally, why not make my muller cider, but as mulled apple juice with just apple juice and spices? Just follow the recipe using a litre of apple juice (I used fresh, pressed English apple juice).

Enjoy... and cheers!

Thank you to Steenbergs for the lovely tea, hot chocolate and spices!