This Halloween was our first in the new house, and our first time entertaining trick-or-treaters. We spent the evening on the porch with a few friends, plenty of adult beverages and our dog, Gibbs, who handled the influx of masked strangers with considerable poise.
With every batch of youngsters peddling jokes (that's a thing here in StL -- kids tell you a joke or ask you a riddle in exchange for candy) there was at least one very patient parent, braced for an impending sugar high and inevitable crash. To show the chaperones a little love, we recommend mixing up one of the following two recipes. Give these guys to the guardians in dixie cups, along with candy for the kiddos, and you're sure to be a fast neighborhood favorite.
Mulled Wine
Easy to make on the stovetop or in a crock pot, this is my all-time favorite autumnal drink.
Merlot (2 bottles)
Apple Cider (4 cups)
Port (2 cups)
Cloves (so many)
Cinnamon Sticks
Cardamom
Oranges (a bunch)
Stick cloves all up in all of your oranges.
Put oranges, wine, cider, cinnamon sticks and cardamom into a) a large pot on the stove or b) your crock pot.
Simmer on low heat.
Stir in port and serve.
*While lovely when garnished with clove-pierced, skin-on orange slices, garnishes get in the way of a roadie. It's a fact. Keep it simple and sippable on the move.
Spiked Cider
The better kind of sauced. (Some people employ hard cider; I believe this to be cheating. Bourbon or brandy does the trick for this treat.)
Apple Cider (2 quarts)
Bourbon (1 cup)
Apple Brandy (1 cup)
Cinnamon Sticks
Raw Ginger
Lemon
Honey
Simmer cider, bourbon, brandy, cinnamon and grated ginger.
Squeeze in lemon and stir in honey; serve with a cinnamon stir stick.
Enjoy!
