Recipes — Drinks

This week's recipe is a hot chocolate drink with a kick! Take it from the Aztecs to spice things up. The chili pepper on this decadent drink will surely warm you up.  Recipe  3 cups Whole milk  4 tablespoon Dutch coco powder 100 grams of Semi Sweet Chocolate (chopped) Chili Powder, to taste (depending on your spice tolerance) A pinch of cinnamon A pinch of salt Sugar, to taste  Whipped cream for topping (optional)  Direction Bring the milk to a simmer then add the Dutch coco powder  and melt the semi- sweet chocolate in the mixture. Add sugar, salt, chili...

Christmas Eve, chilly afternoons, or when you’re feeling blue… any excuse is a good excuse to enjoy a hot cup of chocolate. Satisfying and warming, hot chocolate is always good when made with real chocolate, and even better when spiced with nutmeg and cinnamon. Both nutmeg and cinnamon have comforting flavor profiles that tend to bring memories of special events and holiday meals, making them ideal for Christmas. In this recipe, we’re giving classic hot chocolate an aromatic flavor boost with these two festive spices. Sweet spices have long starred in hot drinks for thousands of years across Mexico--the motherland...

Nutmeg is a mild spice typically used in baking for its warm, nutty and slightly sweet flavor. Because of its popularity, it can be used in many different cuisines and applications. There’s more to this spice than meets the eye. Do you know that nutmeg was one of the most expensive spices in Medieval Europe? The reason was that it came all the way from the other side of the world. I’ve learned to appreciate and put more value on this particular spice as it actually takes seven to nine years to harvest this spice from the day it was...

This week's recipe: Masala Tea (Chai) Masala tea is a traditional Indian drink made by brewing black tea with an aromatic mix of spices and herbs. This fragrant and rich tea is enjoyed around the world—with western versions such as Chai lattes offered in chain coffee shops such as Starbucks and Coffee Bean. You can now enjoy this traditional Indian goodness with this tried-and-tested recipe that I have come to perfect over the past couple of months. Give it a try and make it your own; add and substitute spices until you find a mix that is perfect for you....