RECIPES TO READ BY By Angela G. Slevin

 

Ah, September…late summer with its hot days, cooler nights, punctuated by bursts of crisp early fall air. Perfect outdoor or indoor reading weather. And since no reading session is complete without a satisfying beverage to sip, here are some drink and book pairings to try.

Cold Drinks

Pair with Camino Winds by John Grisham. This read is unlike most of his work. It’s a lighthearted caper novel set in the rare book business world. When a hurricane knocks out power to an island resort in Florida and a body is found, was it just a tragic accident, or was it murder?

Wine Slushies

Select any wine you enjoy drinking.

Pour into an old-fashioned ice cube tray and freeze for 4 – 5 hours.

Pop wine cubes out of the tray and pulse in your blender until you have an icy, slushie consistency.

Peach Bellinis

            Peach nectar

            Prosecco champagne, or any dry sparkling wine

            Mix together one part peach nectar (about 2 ounces or 1/4 cup) to one part sparkling wine

 Sangria for 4

1 bottle red wine 750 ml

1/2 c. brandy

1/2 c. orange juice

1/2 c. triple sec

1 orange sliced

1 lemon sliced

2 Tbsp sugar optional

1 c. strawberries hulled and sliced

2 c. lemon lime soda

Combine above ingredients in a large pitcher. Serve over ice.

Warm Drinks

Pair with Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte, Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte, or Chocolat by Joanne Harris.

Mulled Wine

This drink is not an exact recipe; it’s so simple, all you need to do is combine the below ingredients in proportions that are attractive to you, taste, and adjust as desired.

Your choice of a dry, full-bodied red wine

Orange Juice

Granulated sugar, or maple or agave syrup

Oranges slices

Fresh cranberries

Whole cloves

Star anise

Cinnamon sticks

Optional: ½ cup brandy

Boil enough water to cover the sugar in a medium pot on the stove and dissolve the sugar in it.

Reduce the heat to a simmer and add in your cinnamon, cloves, orange peel, star anise, cloves, cranberries, and orange juice.

Add the wine and simmer on low heat for about 30 minutes. Be careful not to let it boil.

At about the 20-minute mark, taste. Adjust flavors to taste by adding more sugar. If there is too much sugar, you may want to add a little more red wine to balance it out. Serve hot in heat proof glasses or cups.

 Italian Sipping Chocolate

 Serves 2-4

1 ½ cups whole milk

½ cup heavy cream plus more for whipped cream if desired

4 oz. good quality dark chocolate, at least 70% cacao

2 tablespoons granulated sugar

3 tablespoons bittersweet cocoa powder

¼ teaspoon cornstarch

Whipped cream

Place milk, heavy cream and chocolate in a small saucepan over low or medium low heat, stirring constantly with a whisk in one direction until chocolate is melted and incorporated into the cream.

Sift and mix the cocoa powder and cornstarch together and then add slowly to the chocolate milk mixtures, stirring constantly in one direction.

Continue stirring until mixture thickens slightly and just starts to bubble. Do not let it boil!

Remove from the heat and pour into heat proof glasses or ceramic cups.  Top with whipped cream.

 Warm Honeyed Milk

Pour 6 – 8 ounces of any type of milk in a microwave proof mug.

Warm in microwave for 30 – 45 seconds, or on stop top in small saucepan if preferred.

Stir in 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract and 2 teaspoons honey.

Adjust vanilla extract and honey to taste.