10 Healthy Hot Drinks to Warm You Up ...

http://www.tasteofhome.com/Healthy-Cooking-Magazine/10-Healthy-Hot-Drinks-to-Warm-You-Up

Hot Spiced Green Tea Recipe

Ingredients

• 2 cinnamon sticks (3 inches)


• 4 individual green tea bags


• 1/2 teaspoon minced fresh gingerroot


• 1/2 teaspoon grated lemon peel


• 4 cardamom pods, crushed


• 4 cups boiling water


• 2 tablespoons honey

Directions

• In a large bowl, combine the first five ingredients. Add boiling water. Cover and steep for 5-6 minutes. Strain, discarding tea bags and spices. Stir honey into tea. Serve immediately. Yield: 4 servings.

Nutritional Facts 1 cup equals 33 calories, trace fat (0 saturated fat), 0 cholesterol, trace sodium, 9 g carbohydrate, trace fiber, trace protein. Diabetic Exchange: 1/2 starch.

Vanilla-Almond Coffee Recipe

Ingredients

• 1 pound ground coffee


• 2 tablespoons almond extract


• 2 tablespoons vanilla extract

Directions

• Place coffee in a large jar with tight-fitting lid. Add extracts. Cover and shake well. Store in the refrigerator. Prepare coffee as usual. Yield: 1 pound.

Nutritional Facts 3/4 cup brewed coffee equals 4 calories, trace fat (0 saturated fat), 0 cholesterol, 4 mg sodium, 1 g carbohydrate, 0 fiber, trace protein.

Sugar-Free Russian Tea Recipe

Ingredients

• 4-1/2 teaspoons sugar-free orange drink mix


• 3-1/2 teaspoons sugar-free lemonade mix


• Artificial sweetener equivalent to 16 teaspoons sugar


• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon


• 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves

Directions

• Combine all ingredients; mix well. Store in an airtight container. To prepare one serving, add 1/4 teaspoon of mix to 3/4 cup of hot water; stir well. Yield: 1/4 cup mix.

Nutritional Analysis: One 3/4-cup serving equals 2 calories, trace sodium, 0 cholesterol, trace carbohydrate, trace protein, trace fat. Diabetic Exchange: Free.

Hot Raspberry-Lemonade Drink Mix Recipe

Ingredients

• 1-1/2 cups powdered lemonade mix with sugar


• 1 carton (1.3 ounces) raspberry soft drink mix


• 1 cup instant tea mix


• Boiling water

Directions

• In a large bowl, combine the first three ingredients. Store in an airtight container in a cool dry place for up to 3 months. Yield: 3 cups mix.


• To prepare one serving: Dissolve 1 teaspoon of mix in 1 cup of boiling water. Yield: 1 serving.
  
  Editor's Note: This recipe was tested with Crystal Light Raspberry Ice soft drink mix.

Nutritional Facts 1 serving (1 teaspoon) equals 9 calories, trace fat (0 saturated fat), 0 cholesterol, 14 mg sodium, 2 g carbohydrate, trace fiber, trace protein.

Cinnamon Mocha Coffee Recipe

Ingredients

• 1/3 cup ground coffee (not instant coffee granules)


• 3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon


• 1 cup 2% milk


• 2 to 3 tablespoons sugar


• 2 tablespoons baking cocoa


• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract


• 4 cinnamon sticks, optional


• Whipped cream, optional

Directions

• In a coffeemaker basket, combine the coffee and ground cinnamon. Prepare 4 cups brewed coffee according to manufacturer's directions.


• Meanwhile, combine the milk, sugar, cocoa and vanilla in a saucepan. Cook over medium-low heat for 5-7 minutes or until small bubbles appear on the sides of the pan, stirring occasionally (do not boil). Pour hot milk mixture into four coffee cups, then add cinnamon-flavored coffee. Garnish with cinnamon sticks and whipped cream if desired. Yield: 4 servings.

Nutritional Facts 1 serving (1 cup) equals 77 calories, 2 g fat (1 g saturated fat), 8 mg cholesterol, 35 mg sodium, 12 g carbohydrate, 1 g fiber, 3 g protein.

Warm Spiced Cider Punch Recipe

Ingredients

• 4 cups apple cider or unsweetened apple juice


• 2-1/4 cups water


• 3/4 cup orange juice concentrate


• 3/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg


• 3/4 teaspoon ground ginger


• 3 whole cloves


• 2 cinnamon sticks


• Orange slices and additional cinnamon sticks, optional

Directions

• In a 3-qt. slow cooker, combine the apple cider, water, orange juice concentrate, nutmeg and ginger. Place cloves and cinnamon sticks on a double thickness of cheesecloth; bring up corners of cloth and tie with string to form a bag. Place bag in slow cooker.


• Cover and cook on low for 4-5 hours or until heated through. Remove and discard spice bag. Garnish with orange slices and additional cinnamon sticks if desired. Yield: 8 servings.

Nutritional Analysis: One serving (3/4 cup) equals 108 calories, trace fat (trace saturated fat), 0 cholesterol, 13 mg sodium, 26 g carbohydrate, trace fiber, 1 g protein. Diabetic Exchange: 2 fruit.

Sugar-Free Cocoa Mix Recipe

Ingredients

• 2 cups nonfat dry milk powder


• 1/2 cup fat-free powdered nondairy creamer


• 1/2 cup baking cocoa


• Sugar substitute equivalent to 1/2 cup sugar


• 3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Directions

• In a bowl, combine all of the ingredients; mix well. Store in an airtight container in a cool dry place for up to six months. Yield: 2-3/4 cups (about 8 servings).


• To prepare hot cocoa: Dissolve 1/3 cup mix in 1 cup boiling water; stir well. Yield: 1 serving.

Editor's Note: This recipe was tested with Splenda no-calorie sweetener.

Nutritional Analysis: One serving (1 cup prepared hot cocoa) equals 101 calories, 1 g fat (trace saturated fat), 3 mg cholesterol, 94 mg sodium, 17 g carbohydrate, 2 g fiber, 7 g protein. Diabetic Exchange: 1 fat-free milk.

Creamy Coffee Mix Recipe

Ingredients

• 7 tablespoons instant coffee granules


• 1/4 cup powdered nondairy creamer


• 3 tablespoons sugar


• 3 tablespoons nonfat dry milk powder


• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon


• ADDITIONAL INGREDIENTS (FOR EACH BATCH):


• 1 cup boiling water


• Cinnamon sticks, optional

Directions

• In an airtight container, combine the coffee granules, creamer, sugar, milk powder and cinnamon. Store in a cool dry place for up to 2 months. Yield: 5 batches (about 1 cup total).


• To prepare coffee: Contents of mix may settle during storage. Stir mix before measuring. In a mug, dissolve about 3 tablespoons mix in boiling water; stir well. Serve with a cinnamon stick if desired. Yield: 1 serving.

Nutritional Facts 1 serving (3 tablespoons) equals 78 calories, 1 g fat (trace saturated fat), 1 mg cholesterol, 33 mg sodium, 16 g carbohydrate, trace fiber, 2 g protein.

Spiced Chai Mix Recipe

Ingredients

• 3 cups nonfat dry milk powder


• 1-1/2 cups sugar


• 1 cup unsweetened instant tea


• 3/4 cup vanilla powdered nondairy creamer


• 1-1/2 teaspoons ground ginger


• 1-1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon


• 1/2 teaspoon ground cardamom


• 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves


• OPTIONAL GARNISH:


• Whipped cream

Directions

• In a food processor, combine all dry ingredients; cover and process until powdery. Store in an airtight container in a cool dry place for up to 6 months.


• To prepare 1 serving: Dissolve 3 tablespoons of mix in 3/4 cup boiling water; stir well. Dollop with whipped cream if desired. Yield: about 5 cups mix (26 servings).

Nutritional Facts 1 serving (calculated without cream) equals 114 calories, 1 g fat (1 g saturated fat), 3 mg cholesterol, 75 mg sodium, 21 g carbohydrate, trace fiber, 5 g protein. Diabetic Exchange: 1-1/2 starch.

Sunburst Spiced Tea Recipe

Ingredients

• 2 medium oranges


• 1 medium lemon


• 4 cardamom pods


• 4 whole cloves


• 4 teaspoons English breakfast tea leaves or other black tea leaves


• 4 cups boiling water

Directions

• Using a citrus zester, remove peel from oranges and lemon in long narrow strips. (Save fruit for another use.) Place the peel strips, cardamom and cloves in a large bowl. With the end of a wooden spoon handle, crush mixture until aromas are released.


• Add tea leaves and boiling water. Cover and steep for 6 minutes. Strain tea, discarding peel mixture. Serve immediately. Yield: 4 servings.