BEST AUTUMN BEVERAGES

Serve Up One of These Favorite Fall Beverages to Warm Up Your Belly!

When the leaves start blowing and the wind whips up, the temperatures drop and the urge to cuddle on the couch soars, a hot beverage is all you need to create a happy autumn moment and refresh or calm your energy.

At work, on-the-go or just in time for a movie marathon, these top fall beverages will keep your spirit on fire and your belly warm and full, whether you like flavors of fruit, chocolate, spices – or all of the above!

Hot Spiced Cider: Nothing says harvest time like hot apple cider. On your stovetop, mix together two quarts of fresh apple cider with ¼ cup packed brown sugar, 1 cinnamon stick, ½ teaspoon whole allspice, 1 teaspoon whole cloves, ½ teaspoon salt, ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg. Add one large orange that has been quartered (with the peel) and bring to a boil, letting simmer for about three minutes. Serve in mugs and garnish with a stick of cinnamon for stirring.

            Quick alternative: Just add hot water to packets of apple cider mix and add a cinnamon stick for that “homemade” look and feel!

Green Tea with Ginger & Lemon: This is an easy one. Make your favorite bag of green tea, but instead of the usual dollop of honey, add a pinch of lemon zest (that’s thinly sliced lemon peel) and grated gingerroot. This very low calorie drink provides antioxidants and helps calm an upset stomach.

Cocoa Cayenne: This twist on the classic will not only warm your belly, but also will increase your metabolism and strengthen your immune system with the power of pepper!
Combine 1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder and ¾ cup sugar in a saucepan. Add a pinch of salt, ½ teaspoon of ground cinnamon and a pinch of cayenne pepper. Pour in ½ cup of boiling water; simmer this for about two minutes. Now stir in 3 ½ cups of milk until it is almost boiling, but this mixture should never come to a boil. Pour into mugs and top with whipped cream and a tiny dash of cinnamon for garnish.

            Quick alternative: Add a pinch of cayenne and cinnamon to any packet of hot cocoa mix plus hot water and you have the fast version of cocoa cayenne!

Chocolate-covered Cherry: This one is for the adults with a sweet tooth. Combine 1 ¼ ounces of amaretto liqueur with a cup of hot chocolate from a packet or from the recipe above (just omit the spices). Top with fresh whipped cream. This delectable drink with heat up your insides and give you a glow as rosy as a ripe cherry!

Orange Spiced Tea: Once again we use the spices of the season to double the heat on this hot beverage. Combine 2 cups of Tang with 1 cup of instant tea. Add one small package of lemon Jell-O, 1 ½ cups sugar, 1 teaspoon ground cloves, 1 ½ teaspoons cinnamon and a dash of salt. Now you have a dry mix that can be made into orange spice tea any time just with the addition of hot water! This pretty tea also makes a great gift.

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Shilo Urban is a freelance writer who has just relocated to Los Angeles after her previous homes of Seattle, New Zealand, Paris, Maine, and Austin. She is an active member of the West Coast electronic music community and lives to promote the art that she loves and the people who create it.