I made this stuff up! Cooking with Mimi

Crockpot Apple Cider

This was a great recipe the perfect balance of sweet and tart. It makes your house smell like heaven! I did this on top of the stove because my crockpots were in use.

Crockpot Apple Cider

• 1 gallon Apple Juice (100% juice)
• 1/2 gallon pineapple juice
• 1 cinnamon stick
• 5 clove pieces
• 1/2 tsp nutmeg
• 1 orange sliced
• Juice from one lemon
• 1/2 cup sugar

Combine all ingredients in a big pot and simmer for 2-3 hours. Or in a large crockpot simmer 2 hours on high, then turn to low or keep warm and can be left on for a day. Really good to add cinnamon whiskey to or buttershots.

Hot Cocoa

I set up a Hot Cocoa bar Christmas Eve night. I will definatley be doing this again. This Hot Cocoa recipe is meant for a crockpot but I did it on top of the stove and it was good that way as well.  Be careful with your heat or it will burn.

Hot Cocoa

• 1 1/2 cups heavy cream
• 1 can sweetened condensed milk
• 2 cups milk chocolate chips
• 6 cups milk
• 1 tsp vanilla

Stir all ingredients together in your crockpot or until combined on top of the stove. Enjoy!

Bittersweet Chocolate Bourbon Pops

As I was waiting in the Dr's office last summer I came across this recipe. Why it took me so long to try it out I don't know. These are delicious! I used Pendleton Whiskey because I didn't have bourbon but they turned out delightful as you can see there wasn't a full one to get a photo of! It's important to use the really good chocolate in these, I found mine over in the organic section of the store. It was all I could do to not just drink the mixture after it had cooked. It's also important to wait until the mixture is cooled before you add the alcohol or it will cook off and that would be too sad! Enjoy!

Bittersweet Chocolate Bourbon Pops

1/2 cup granulated sugar
3-1/2 oz. bittersweet chocolate (70% to 72%), chopped
2 Tbs. Dutch-processed cocoa powder
1/8 tsp. table salt
2 Tbs. good-quality bourbon (like Knob Creek)

Put the sugar, chocolate, cocoa powder, salt, and 2 cups water in a large saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium heat, whisking constantly. Transfer to a 4-cup glass measure (or any container with a spout for easy pouring). Let cool at room temperature for 30 minutes.

Stir in the bourbon and divide the mixture among eight 3-oz. pop molds or wax-lined paper cups. Freeze until just set, about 3 hours. Insert craft sticks and freeze until completely set, about 4 hours more. When ready to serve, unmold or peel off the paper cups.

Coffee Kahlua Punch

Coffee Kahlua Punch

5 min | 5 min prep

SERVES 18

• 1/2 gallon good vanilla ice cream, in chunks
• 1 quart cold strong coffee
• 1 quart whole milk
• 1 pint half-and-half
• 1 (15 ounce) can chocolate syrup
• 1 1/2 pints whipping cream, whipped
• 1 1/2-2 cups Kahlua (optional)

1. Mix everything except for Kahlua in large punch bowl.
2. After stirring for several minutes, add your Kahlua.

Sangria

Sangria

35 min | 35 min prep

SERVES 8

• 3 cups dry red wine
• 1 1/2 cups carbonated lemon-lime beverage (such as 7-UP)
• 1 1/2 cups orange juice
• 16 lime slices
• 16 lemon slices
• 8 orange slices
• 1/2 cup brandy
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 2 tablespoons Cointreau liqueur or orange liqueur
• 2 tablespoons grenadine
• 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
• 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
• ice cube

1. Stir wine, soda and orange juice, 8 lime slices, 8 lemon slices, orange slices, brandy, sugar, Cointreau, grenadine, lemon juice and lime juice in a large pitcher to combine.
2. Let stand 30 minutes.
3. Fill Fill 8 large wineglasses with ice cubes.
4. Divide sangria among glasses.
5. Garnish each with remaining lime and lemon slices and serve.

Truly Amazing Creamy Hot Chocolate

This might be the world's best hot chocolate. Not overly rich but so so creamy and drinkable. It's delicious after playing in the snow and freezing your buns off. This would be a perfect addition to Christmas morning festivities. Enjoy!

Truly Amazing Creamy Hot Chocolate

7 min | 2 min prep

SERVES 8 (or our family of 5) 

• 1 (14 ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
• 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 3 1/2 cups hot water
• 3 cups hot milk 

1. In a large pot, combine all the ingredients except for the hot water.
2. Place over a medium flame, then slowly stir in the hot water.
3. Heat through, stirring occasionally.
4. I like to top my cup of cocoa with a dash of cinnamon.
5. We sprayed whipped cream on top of ours and added a little kahlua or whiskey is good to for grown up versions.

Kahlua

My mom has made this every holiday season I can remember. Maybe that's why the holidays were always and still are so fun at our house. I've used this to make triffles or over ice cream or in your coffee or straight up like my dad drinks it, or with a little half and half and milk. Tasty tasty!

Kahlua

• 4 cups water
• 3 cups sugar
• 1/4 cup Folgers instant coffee
• 1 5th of cheap vodka

Bring to boil the water, sugar, and instant coffee crystals. Simmer for one hour. Let the syrup cool completely! This is very important because if you try to add vodka to hot syrup it will evaporate and that's just a sad waste of liquor. Add your liquor and store in containers.

Note: When I make this I usually double or triple the recipe because I give it away for gifts. Just make sure you're measuring out the right amount of liquor because the big jugs of Vodka are a little more than 2 fifths of vodka.