Warm Vanilla Cider

I love a warm apple cider on a cold day, especially during the holiday season. This is an easy and tasty recipe for cider that is infused with the flavors of vanilla and nutmeg. Delicious!

Source: Martha Stewart Living magazine, October 2009

Ingredients
6 cups fresh apple cider
2 tablespoons packed dark-brown sugar
2 whole nutmeg seeds
1 vanilla bean (split and scraped)
¾ cup bourbon (optional)
Whipped cream

Directions
Combine apple cider, brown sugar, nutmeg seeds, and vanilla bean in a medium saucepan. Gently simmer over medium-low heat for 15 minutes. Remove from heat, and add bourbon if desired. Remove and discard solids. Divide among 6 mugs or heatproof glasses, and top each with a dollop of whipped cream.

Mango Banana Daiquiris

Cheers to my girl, Ina! McHubby and I enjoyed these delicious blended drinks as our “dessert.” I had to use frozen mangos, since I’m allergic to fresh mangos, and all I could find was a mixed bag of mangos, strawberries, and pineapple. Since the fruit was already frozen, I didn’t have to use as much ice. Our drinks were a little pink from the strawberries, but very tropical and refreshing in the summer heat. Cheers also to Veronica of Supermarket Serenade for choosing this Barefoot Bloggers recipe!

Source: Mango Banana Daiquiris, Barefoot Contessa Back to Basics

Ingredients
2 cups chopped ripe mango (1 to 2 mangos, peeled and seeded)
1 ripe banana, chopped
½ cup freshly squeezed lime juice (4 limes)
¼ cup sugar syrup (see note)
1 ¼ cups dark rum, such as Mount Gay
Mango slices, for serving

Note: To make sugar syrup, heat 1 cup sugar and 1 cup water in a small saucepan until the sugar dissolves. Chill.

Directions
Place the mango, banana, lime juice, sugar syrup, and rum in a blender and process until smooth. Add 2 cups of ice and process again until smooth and thick. Serve ice-cold in highball glasses with mango slices.