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  Sip In Style with Tony Abou-Ganim

Cheers to the Holidays

It´s hard to believe the holidays are here again! With parties, shopping, travel and decorating, this time of year is more than a little hectic. And celebrations with friends and families mean pressure to come up with an unexpected cocktail that breaks away from the same old holiday fare. So what´s a fun-loving, flavor seeker to do? Look no further than my holiday drink recipes. Make Beantown´s Spiced Cider when you’re expecting a crowd—it´s a sweet, spicy hot beverage that makes the most of the apple harvest. And try my Pumpkin Nog when looking to impress—it’s a rich, autumnal variation on the familiar December favorite.

 


 

Here are a few holiday party planning tips to help you get out of the kitchen and enjoy more time with your guests:

  • Don´t break the bank by trying to stock a full bar. Instead, serve one “signature” drink, like my San Francisco Yuletide Punch, along with beer and wine. And be sure to have a non-alcoholic option available as well.

  • Fill your home with an inviting holiday aroma by simmering Beantown´s Spiced Cider or Aunt Dort´s Mulled Wine on the stove when your guests arrive.

  • Rather than spending money on decorative charms to identify individual drinks, buy an assortment of colorful disposable cups or let your guests customize their cup with brightly colored permanent markers.

  • For a cocktail party, place nibbles throughout the room to ease traffic flow. Having several food stations will prevent a mob around the cheese ball and encourage mingling among your guests.

  • Place trash bags strategically around the room to help with clean up later on.

 
   

  Beantown’s Spiced Cider

Time:4 hours, 30 minutes

Servings: 15 mugs

Ingredients

1 gallon apple cider
20 cinnamon sticks (5 for recipe, 15 for garnish)
20

whole cloves
1 vanilla bean sliced
1 cup Equal® Granular sweetener (Spoonful) or 24 packets Equal sliced orange

Preparation
  1. Mix cider with 5 cinnamon sticks, cloves and sliced vanilla bean. Bring to a boil, then simmer uncovered on low heat for 20 minutes.
  2. Remove from heat, add Equal and let cool for at least 4 hours at room temperature and then refrigerate until ready to use.
  3. Use a strainer to remove spices (cinnamon sticks, cloves and sliced vanilla bean) and re-heat when ready to serve.
  4. Serve in heated mugs and garnish with a cinnamon stick.

    5. Alcoholic Option:
    Add 3 cups gold rum after step 3.

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Nutritional Information
per serving

Calories 137
Protein 0g
Carbohydrate 34g
Fat 0g
Cholesterol 0mg
Sodium 27mg
Food Exchange:  2 fruit
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  Pumpkin Nog

Time:30 minutes to prepare, 2 hours to chill

Servings: 12 mugs

Ingredients

12 jumbo eggs
2

cups Equal® Granular sweetener (Spoonful) or 48 packets Equal sweetener
5  cups 2 percent milk
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/2 cup canned pumpkin puree
  ground nutmeg

Preparation
  1. Separate eggs from egg whites and refrigerate egg whites.
  2. Beat yolks until creamy. Gradually add 1 cup Equal (24 packets), beating until thick.
  3. Stir in milk, vanilla, cinnamon and pumpkin to form a mixture.
  4. Place in refrigerator for at least 2 hours.
  5. Remove egg whites from the refrigerator and beat until soft peaks form. Add remaining Equal, beating into stiff peaks.
  6. Stir slowly chilled mixture into egg whites.
  7. Garnish with ground nutmeg.

    Alcoholic Option:
    Add 3 cups spiced rum during step 3.
Alternative Preparation
 
  1. Whisk eggs and milk in large heavy saucepan. Cook and stir over medium heat until the mixture coats a metal spoon. DO NOT BOIL. Remove from heat.
  2. Place pan in a large bowl of ice water and stir frequently 5 minutes.
  3. Stir in Equal, pumpkin, vanilla and ground cinnamon.
  4. Cover and chill eggnog mixture at least 2 hours before serving.
  5. Garnish with ground nutmeg just before serving.

    6. Alcoholic Option:
    Add 3 cups spiced rum during step 3.

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Nutritional Information
per serving   (non-alcholic)

Calories 167
Protein 12g
Carbohydrate 10g
Fat 8g
Cholesterol 283mg
Sodium 167mg
Food Exchange:  1 med, - fat meat, 1/2 milk
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