Howling winds, frigid temperatures, a miserable mix of rain and snow… dragging yourself out of bed and across campus can be difficult once the leaves have disappeared and the sun has resumed its seasonal hiding spot behind the clouds. If wearing a ski mask were socially acceptable, I’d tell you to tough it out and get your behind to class. But once in a while, it might behoove you better to curl up in bed with your Snuggie, laptop, and a warm comfort meal to chase away those wintry chills. I asked some students on campus what their favorite drinks are and got some delicious responses:
Hot Chocolate on Steroids
According to University of Michigan senior Mara Smithson, this hot beverage is a mouth-watering alternative to the fruity Long Island Iced Teas and bitter Smirnoff shots that characterize most nights out at college. Instead, a night in should include this chocolaty treat:
- 3 cups of milk
- 1/3 cup of grated semisweet chocolate
- 1 tablespoon of sugar
- ½ teaspoon of ground cinnamon
- 1 egg
Put milk into a container and microwave it for two minutes. Mix in sugar, cinnamon and grated chocolate. Whisk the egg in a separate bowl until smooth, and then combine the egg into the mixture. Place entire mixture into microwave once more and cook for three or four minutes, or until foamy. Whisk mixture until smooth and garnish with cinnamon or sugar if desired. Makes three servings.
Apple Raspberry Spiced Cider
University of Wisconsin juniors Melissa Miller and Jennifer Cohen agree that this cider is a delicious seasonal beverage. The traditional taste of sweet apple cider is kicked up a notch with a raspberry addition that adds a welcome tart flavor to your favorite mug of holiday spirit:
- 6 ounces of raspberries
- 4 cups of sweet apple cider
- 4 dashes of ground cinnamon
- ½ cup of spiced rum (optional)
Place apple cider, ground cinnamon, and raspberries into a saucepan and bring to a boil over medium heat. Lower the heat and allow the mixture to simmer for approximately 10 minutes, then let cool. If using, stir in spiced rum. Pour cider into mugs, garnish with raspberries, and enjoy!
Photo: ThatsSoMichelleO at flickr.com
