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Hot Beverages F O R A C O L D D AY BY PRIYA HUTNER
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SCOTT’S MORNING BEVERAGE RECIPE From the kitchen of Scott William ½ t powdered Chaga mushroom ½ t powdered Turkey Tail mushroom ½ t powdered Reishi mushroom ½ t powdered Lion’s Mane mushroom ½ t Cordyceps ½ t ground cinnamon 1 t cacao 1 t ghee or coconut butter 1 C nondairy milk (Scott uses oat milk) 1 C water Honey to taste (optional) Heat a cup of water and mix all the above ingredients with a whisk, milk frother or blender. Add warm milk and honey, if desired. Enjoy.
here is nothing better to me than the smell of coffee brewing in the morning. The ritual of grinding fresh beans and perking the brew old-school in a percolator that I bought on a whim in a thrift store a few years ago and taking that first sip is one I relish every morning. I start my day with a large glass of warm lemon water while my coffee is perking. If you ask me to have coffee with you, invariably, I will need a pre-coffee coffee before heading out the door. Not everyone drinks coffee in the morning. Some folks are sworn tea drinkers, while others have delved into coffee substitutes or other hot beverages to start the day with.
Hold the caffeine
The latest rage is MUD\WTR beverage, an adaptogen mushroom drink. Matcha lattes, chai lattes and yogi tea are also favorite hot morning or afternoon beverages with varying levels of caffeine or none at all. My friend Scott Williams makes his own homemade version of MUD/WTR using a variety of powdered mushrooms, cordyceps, cacao and cinnamon, ghee and non-dairy milk. It is tasty. Chai tea is ages old and made with black tea, spices and warm milk. It was prepared routinely on the ashram (spiritual community) where I once lived after meditation class with an Indian sweet.
Yogi tea is a caffeine-free beverage similar to chai. It’s prepared with water, cinnamon sticks, whole cloves, black peppercorns, cardamom pods and fresh ginger root steeped overnight. Milk or non-dairy milk and honey are added for a delicious flavor. Golden milk is another delightful drink, prepared with turmeric, almond oil, cardamom and milk or a milk alternative. The drink is believed to promote digestive health and strengthen the immune system. A hot chocolate or hot cacao beverage with a touch of whipped cream is a comforting warm drink, whether sipped in the morning or after a day outdoors in the winter weather. At night before bedtime, a cup of hot milk with nutmeg can also help with sleep.
Drinks with a kick
Hot beverages are not only for the morning. Hot cocktails in the evening are delicious. Although a shot of whiskey, Kalua or Baily’s Irish cream in coffee is scrumptious. If sweet is your thing, a shot of any of the above libations in hot chocolate will undoubtedly uplift the day. Or try tequila and cinnamon in hot chocolate. Sometimes in cold weather, a hot toddy with bourbon, cinnamon, lemon and honey is just what the doctor ordered. Some say it’ll cure what ails you, especially if you have a cold or sore throat. It’s one of my favorite hot cocktails. Hot mulled wine or hot cider with lots
of rich spices is a lovely evening drink and not just for holidays. Both will warm you to the core on a cold, winter night. Hot buttered rum made with butter, dark rum, a bevy of spices and a touch of molasses or sugar make this drink unique. A hot buttered bourbon is a riff on this cocktail that dates to Colonial America. Moving on to other hot cocktails, a hot creamy white Russian with whipped cream is fun. There are many ways to curate hot cocktails. I lean toward less sweet drinks. Adding ginger and cloves to a cocktail with whiskey, lemon and a touch of honey or warming up a glass of cider with a touch of vodka and some cinnamon will keep you warm and feeling good. n
Lakeview Dining OPEN DAILY 12–9PM
FEATURING: Slow-Roasted Prime Rib | Baby Back Ribs | Full Bar
TAHOE CITY 599 N. Lake Blvd.
(530) 583-3355
Est. 2008
www.fatcatrestaurants.com
enjoy $5 Frisky KittIES every Friday! 24
Steaks | Seafood | Pasta | Gourmet Hamburgers | Kid’s Menu
jasonsbeachsidegrille.com
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(530) 546-3315
8338 NORTH LAKE BLVD., KINGS BEACH, CA
