Winter Warm Ups
How to Survive the Winter Chills Outdoors
We are definitely in the depths of winter this month and boy are we feeling it! Extend your time spent outdoors by cosying up to an outdoor heater or firepit, light lots of candles to add warm ambience, keep a cache of throw rugs and warm socks on hand, throw some sheepskins, reindeer hides or better still faux fur blankets on your furniture and don’t forget the good old hot water bottle in a snuggly cover….don’t knock it till you try it…oh, and one last thing – mulled wine. Here’s a lovely recipe…you’re welcome!
A bottle of full-bodied red wine
Zest and juice of 1 orange
Zest and juice of 1 lemon
2 cinnamon sticks
4 whole cloves
1 whole star anise
½ vanilla pod
Pinch of ground nutmeg
One ½ inch piece of fresh ginger, peeled and sliced
2 lemon myrtle or bay leaves
¼ cup of honey
Put all ingredients into a saucepan and heat the mixture over medium heat and stir until honey dissolves, bring mixture to a bare simmer, turn heat to low for aprox 10mins until wine is flavourful. Do not let the mixture boil. Ladle through a strainer into glasses, garnish with a slice of orange and serve hot.
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Through Winter
Falling leaves throughout Autumn and Winter can be a constant job and a major headache, keeping paths, steps, decks and lawns clear.