Mocha Coffee Punch

(Photo credit: Josh Self)

For a different punch while you, your family and friends put up the Christmas decorations, I’ve opted for a cold punch instead of a hot one.  This punch serves 40 punch cup servings (or less in 6-8 ounce glass).  Even though the punch can be used for the summer, it has a heavy-bodied feel that is nice in the winter, too.

1 gallon strong coffee – chilled
3/4 cups sugar
1 gallon chocolate ice cream
1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
1 pint whipping cream (heavy cream) whipped
and sweetened
grated nutmeg

Combine the sugar, coffee and vanilla.  Stir to dissolve.  Refrigerate mixture.  To serve, scoop ice cream into the punch bowl.  Add refrigerated coffee mixture and then gently fold in the whipped cream.  Sprinkle the top with grated nutmeg to taste.

Servings:  40 punch cups full

I serve this up in an antique milk glass bowl, but it also looks great in a cranberry glass bowl and ladled up with a silver ladle.

Some appetizer recipes are to follow.

Happy decorating.  It’s time to bring tree, ornaments, and lights from the storage room!!!

Chocolate Liqueur

English: Roasted cocoa (cacao) beans (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Here’s a quick recipe for a liqueur that can be used for any special occasion.  I’ve found it an easy recipe to make and it is can be enjoyed after things have settled down after your holiday meal.

CHOCOLATE LIQUEUR

1 CUP LIGHT CORN SYRUP
3/4 CUP SUGAR
2 CUPS VODKA
3 TABLESPOONS CHOCOLATE EXTRACT
2 TEASPOONS PURE VANILLA EXTRACT

In a saucepan, mix together the sugar and corn syrup, stirring occasionally.  Bring the mixture to a boil over medium heat, being careful not to burn it.  Remove from heat and let stand for 30 minutes.  Mix in the vodka; stir in the

vanilla extract (Photo credit: craftapalooza)

vanilla and chocolate extracts.  Pour finished liqueur into glass bottles with corks or into other fancy glass containers.  Cover and let stand for 2 or more days for the flavor to develop.

YIELD: 1 QUART

This is good served with a shortbread cookie or Biscotti’s.

Happy Columbus Day

• Today is Columbus Day.  This is usually not one of my great celebratory holidays, but it is worth mentioning  There are usually no major parties or events for today, at least not here in Massachusetts, but it is a good day to catch up on some chores and to relax if you happen to be lucky enough to have a day off from work.

I am looking forward to this Halloween at the end of October and am already making plans for a small celebration while handing out goodies to young holiday revelers.  In the meantime, I have been checking out exchange lists for both alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages to go along with some sugar-free appetizers and snacks that I’ll be whipping up.  I’ll be feeding other persons with a variety of dietary problems and will need a small and varied assortment of goodies to go along with the special beverages.

Below is a listing of alcoholic beverages and their calorie and carb counts.  I do not condone of condone of the  overimbibing of adult beverages when  suffering from diabetes and ask that you please contact your  dietitian or physician for  advice on whether they are part of your diabetic meal plan.  Also, when stricken with diabetes, you probably suffer from related maladies requiring potent prescriptions.  imbibing alcohol can greatly interfere with the potency of these medications and bring on a list of  alarming symptoms in a diabetic than in a healthy individual.  That being said, the chart below gleaned from The Joslin Guide to diabetes  by  Richard S. Beaser, M.d. with Joan V.C. Hill, R.d., C.D.E. should be extremely helpful.

BEVERAGE                      AMOUNT (ounces)                  CALORIES         CARBOHYDRATES (grams)          EQUAL TO:

Beer                                    12                                                  150                          14                                                  1 bread starch &  1 1/2 fats

Light beer                           12                                                  100                        6                                                    2 fats

Nonalcoholic beer             11                                                    50                       10                                                    1 bread/starch

Distilled spirits:

86 proof(gin, rum             1.5                                                  105                       trace                                              2 fats

vodka,whiskey,scotch

bourbon)

Wine:

Red table or rose’               4                                                      85                      1.0                                                 2 fats

Dry white                             4                                                     80                        .4                                                  2 fats

Sweet wine                           2                                                     90                       6.5                                                1/2 bread/starch & 1 1/2 fats

Light wine                            4                                                     55                       1.3                                                 1 fat

Wine coolers                        12                                                   190                     22.0                                               1 1/2 fruit & 3 fat

Champagne                           4                                                    100                       3.6                                               2 fats

Sherry                                      2                                                      75                      1.5                                                1/2 fats

Sweet sherry/port                2                                                       95                       7.0                                               1/2 bread/starch &

1 1/2 fats

Vermouth

dry                                             3                                                  105                        4.2                                                2 fats

Sweet                                         3                                                  140                       13.9                                               1 bread/starch & 2 fats

• This should suffice to show nutritional values and correct exchanges for the most popular beverages.  Personally, I forego partaking of the alcohol in favor of the fake versions.  There are several that have left a nice impression and the low alcohol Arbor Mists are a good choice.  Again, check with your health care practitioners and enjoy the upcoming holidays.