Knit & Nosh

Cookbook Review Monday - Winter Cocktails, and a recipe for Liquid Gold

One of my brothers-in-law is a big Hot Toddy fan. When we all used to live in the same city, Christmas morning was spent watching the kids open presents with a warm cup of booze in our hands. He was the first person to make a Hot Toddy for me, and it is not possible for me to make one for myself without thinking of him. But that is not the only cocktail appropriate for cooler weather.

Winter Cocktails: Mulled Ciders, Hot Toddies, Punches, Pitchers and Cocktail Party Snacks by María Del Sacasa arrives in time to provide a cup of warm cheer to get you and your friends through the cold, grey winter.

The book begins with information about ingredients, tools, and glassware. There are then six pages, with photos, giving step by step instructions for muddling, flavoring rims, opening champagne, making caramel, citrus garnishes, ice molds, and more.

Then we have 100 pages of drink recipes, classics and soon to be new favorites.

A traditional toddy.

Rosy Cheek, a white chocolate base with ground macadamia nuts and pink peppercorns.

Sweet Surrender, a champagne punch sure to impress.

There are recipes for Infused Liquors, homemade Sweet and Sour Mix, and the tastiest Tomato Juice for Bloody Marys.

The cherry on top of this book packed with good things to drink, are good things to eat while drinking.

Grilled Pimento Cheese Sandwiches are definitely main an appearance at my next party.

I have been given permission to share a recipe with you, Liquid Gold, the perfect way to make use of the beautiful pineapples that are piled high in the market throughout the winter months.

Liquid Gold

serves 4

 

Though it calls to mind a tropical setting, the pineapple is in fact a winter fruit, it is also the iconic symbol of hospitality. Warm your home and your friends with this mulled pineapple drink that showcases both it's sweet and tart flavors.

Pineapple Garnish

12 or more cubes of fresh pineapple

1 tablespoon granulated sugar

1/4 teaspoon Aleppo pepper*

1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/8 teaspoon salt

 

Mulled Pineapple Juice

I tablespoon whole allspice berries

1 tablespoon black peppercorns

1 tablespoon whole cloves

2 Cinamon sticks

4 cups pineapple juice

6 ounces dark rum

2 ounces brandy

1 vanilla bean pod, split in half lengthwise, seeds scrapped out

 

For the Pineapple Garnish: Adjust an oven rack to the middle position and preheat broiler. Line a baking sheet with foil and arrange pineapple cubes in a single layer. Combine sugar, Aleppo pepper, ground cinnamon, and salt in a small bowl. Sprinkle pineapple cubes with sugar mixture and toss to coat evenly. Rearrange pineapple in a single layer and broil until caramelized, 2 to 4 minutes. Transfer tray to cooling rack. When cool enough to handle, skewer at least 3 pineapple cubes onto each of 4 short skewers or sturdy toothpicks.

For the Mulled Pineapple Juice: Place allspice, peppercorns, cloves, and cinamon sticks in a medium saucepan. Stir over medium heat until fragrant, about 2 minutes. Add pineapple juice, rum, brandy, and vanilla bean and seeds, and bring to a simmer over medium heat, stirring occasionally. Reduce heat to lowest setting and simmer for 15 minutes.

Strain mixture through a fine-mesh sieve into a bowl and discard solids. To serve, place one pineapple skewer in each of 4 heat-proof cups. Ladle juice into cups.

*Piquant and vibrant, Aleppo is a type of crushed red pepper native to Syria. It is available at specialty markets.

 

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cbrm-sprinkles!

It is not possible to be in a bad mood when eating something covered in sprinkles. Sprinkles! Recipes and ideas for Rainbowlicious Desserts by Jackie Alpers provides so much inspiration your kitchen may never be without sprinkles again.

Me, when I think of sprinkles, I think of the multicolored balls and bars that are found on cupcakes and doughnuts, but there are a lot more inhabitants of the land of sprinkles. Sprinkles, Jimmies, Hagelslag, Nonpareils, Dragées, Pearls, Glitters, Confetti, Sugars, Chocolate Bits, Fancy Salts, Lay-Ons, Crushed Goodies, Solid-Colored Candies, Batter Bits, and Crunches and Crumbles. Those are just the main catagories!

Once the different sprinkles are defined, they are followed by a lesson in application. Sprinkle, Dust, Swirl, Dip, Dunk & Coat, Edge, Arrange, Stripe, Mix & Layer, Suspend, Stencil, and Glitter & Glue. There is nothing you can't do.

The first chapter is all about breakfast and includes recipes for waffles, doughnuts, homemade pop tarts, and pretty much any other sweet thing you can make to start your morning off with a bit of fun.

Sprinkle Butter! What? Can you imagine how happy a little pat of sprinkle butter on a piece of toast will make you in the morning? Even if you get up before the sun and have a day of fog to look forward to, this will brighten your day.

After breakfast, the recipes turn to cakes, cookies, pies, candy, and

Birthday Cake Martinis,

Brownie Bites, and

Red Velvet Whoopie Pies

The books ends with recipes for making your own sprinkles and an extensive list of resources just in case making your own feels a bit too worky.

Just imagine the fun and cheer that is going to be coming out of your kitchen! Sprinkles! is the go to book for treats that delight.

 

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my larder

I just love the word larder. The dictionary defines the word as a room or place where food is kept, a pantry. This is exactly right in my house. The jarred food is kept on a shelf above the pantry.

Now, the larder is full and I have put away my canning pot for the year. Beginning in the upper left corner, moving down the row and then over to the right for the next row, we have:

Pomegranate and Prosecco Jelly

Plum Butter

Dilly Beans

 

Beer Jam

Rhubarb Chutney

Peaches

 

Applesauce

Fruit Cocktail

Pears

Elderflower Cordial

 

Grape Jelly

Gardinere

 

Green Tomato Ketchup

Raspberry Jam

Smoked Green Onions

 

Cherry Cordial

Strawberry Vanilla Jam

Rhubarb Barbecue Sauce

 

Pizza Sauce

Dill Pickles

 

Tomato Jam

Fruit Cocktail

Brandied Cherries

 

Rhubarb Chutney

Tomato Sauce

 

Rhubarb Syrup

Bloody Mary Asparagus

 

Raspberry Jam

 

Pickled Mushrooms

Salsa Verde

Pickled Jalapeños

 

Cucumber Relish

Mexican Carrots

 

Pear Wine and Chive Jelly

Blueberry Syrup

 

Wow, a great year, the freezer is stocked too. There are a couple of things I did not get to, beets and okra come to mind, but there is always next year. And this is probably the last year I will put up peaches and pears as it is just too hard on my hands. What did you put up this year?

 

 

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the knitster

Crafty types, those who like to give homemade gifts, tend to start thinking about the holiday gift giving season a little earlier than most people. I have something that may offer some help.

The Knitster, 20 Patterns For Hip Knitters by Robbie Dulaney. This photo heavy book has the retro look that hipsters love to love, and the patterns will not look good on your grandma.

The first part of the book includes basic knitting instructions, good if you need a refresher or are planning to gift the book to a new/would be knitter. From there the book is divided into two sections, Projects To Wear, and Projects To Share. The Projects To Wear include

a Poor Boy Sweater,

a Tank Top, mittens, hats, and even

ties. How cute is this bow tie?

The Projects To Share include totes, bags, straps,

a very cute bracelet, and

a giant floor pillow. If you share your house with a furry friend this will become their lounging spot of choice.

My favorite aspect of this book is that all of the patterns are unisex. The sweaters work on boys or girls, and the accessories do not include any lace or ruffles or any other features that might make someone wonder what you were thinking.

The book itself has nice thick pages and a binding that lies flat, both nice features. And did I mention the photos? Photos galore!

If you are knitting for a hip person, there is a good chance you will find something here to make them squeal (but not too much, that would be decidedly unhip). If you know a hip person who likes to knit, they will love everything about The Knitster.

 

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pom-poms

A number of years ago I knit a Jayne hat for Oldest Daughter.

Those of you who know and love Firefly are familiar with the Jayne hat. Those of you that are not just have to take my word for it that it is a geeky girls dream.

The hat knit up in an afternoon, but the pom-pom, that was a whole different story. It took almost an entire skein of Cascade 220 to get it right. I read instructions in more than one book and that did not help. I went out and bought a set of pom-pom makers and that did not help either. I think in hindsight I needed to use way more yarn for a pom of that size, but at the time I was just plain frustrated. I wish Pom-Poms! 25 Awesomely Fluffy Projects by Sarah Goldschadt and Lexi Walters Wright had been there to hold my hand.

Look at the hedgehogs!

Resistance is futile.

A ladybug keychain? Yes

 

A big poof on the top of my head, a clown collar? No.

Shoe poms? YES!!

What about a sweet little ring? Unusual, very cute, and I can easily see a little pom-pom ring jag that leaves enough for you to share with all your friends.

But the real question is, "Will I actually be able to make a pom-pom?" This book includes a section titled Pom-Pom 101 that provides information about materials and techniques, as well as four methods of wrapping, and another four methods for stacking fibers other than yarn to make alternative poms.

The only way I was ging to be able to recommend this book is if it could teach me, the pom-pom impaired, to make a big, puffy pom.

It is not perfect, but it is closer than I was ever able to get on my own. Truthfully, it was not easy. There is practice involved to learn the best way to hold your hands and where to pinch the yarn, but the instructions in the book are very clear, and I was able to make this little ball of fluff on my very first try. I call that success.

I am happy to have Pom-Poms! In my library and can not wait to make up a bouquet of flowers, maybe two.

 

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