Shadow of the Sun

1.5 oz bourbon (Woodford Reserve)

0.5 oz Cointreau

0.25 oz cinnamon simple syrup*

4 droppers Apothecary Bitters The Darkness bitters

Orange twist, for garnish

Add bourbon, Cointreau, cinnamon simple syrup and The Darkness to a mixing glass with ice. Stir well, then strain into a chilled coupe.

Twist the orange peel over the drink, rub the rim of the glass, then drop it in as a garnish.

*To make cinnamon simple syrup, combine in a small saucepan over medium-low heat:

1 cup water, 1 cup brown sugar and 1 stick of cinnamon.

Stir frequently until the sugar is dissolved. Remove from heat and let steep for 15 minutes. Cool and strain. Keep refrigerated.

Bubble Tea

How to Make Boba and Bubble Tea

What You Need
Ingredients
1/4 cup dried boba tapioca pearls per serving (NOT quick-cooking boba)
1-2 tea bags per serving, any kind
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup sugar
Milk, almond milk, or sweetened condensed milk
Fruit juice or nectar (optional)
Equipment
Saucepan
Bowl for holding the cooked boba
Measuring cups

Instructions
1. Cook the Boba: Measure 2 cups of water for every 1/4 cup of boba being prepared into a saucepan. Bring the water to a boil over high heat. Add the boba and stir gently until they begin floating to the top of the water.

Turn the heat to medium and cook the boba for 12-15 minutes. Remove the pan from heat, cover, and let the pearls sit for another 12-15 minutes.

2. Prepare Sugar Syrup for the Boba: While the boba are cooking, make a simple sugar syrup to sweeten and preserve them once cooked. Bring 1/2 cup of water to a boil over high heat on the stove or in the microwave. Remove from heat and stir in 1/2 cup sugar until dissolved. Set aside to cool.

3. Prepare a Strong Cup of Tea: This can be done either while the boba are cooking or ahead of time. Allow enough time for the tea to cool completely before making the boba. Bring 1 cup of water to a boil. Remove from heat and add the tea bag. Use one tea bag for regular-strength bubble tea or two for a stronger tea flavor. Remove the tea bag after 15 minutes and chill the tea.

4. Finish the Boba: Once the boba have finished cooking, drain them from the water and transfer them to a small bowl or container. Pour the sugar syrup over top until the boba are submerged. Let sit until the boba are room temperature, at least 15 minutes, or refrigerate until ready to use. Boba are best if used within a few hours of cooking, but will keep refrigerated for several days. The boba will gradually harden and become crunchy as they sit.

5. Make the Bubble Tea: Pour the prepared tea into a tall glass and add the boba. Add milk for a creamy bubble tea, juice for a fruity tea, or leave plain and add a little extra water. Sweeten to taste with the simple syrup from soaking the boba.

Additional Notes:

• Very Chilled Bubble Tea: For an extra-chilly bubble tea, combine all the tea, milk, and/or juice, but not the boba in a cocktail shaker. Add a few ice cubes and shake for 20 seconds. Pour into a tall glass and add the boba.
• Shortcut Boba: If you want immediate gratification, just cook your boba until they are tender, 5 to 10 minutes, and use them as soon as they're cool. This kind of boba don't keep for very long (turning rock hard in a few hours), but are delicious if eaten right away.
• Saving Leftover Boba and Making Boba for Later: Boba are best if used within a few hours of cooking, but will keep refrigerated with simple syrup for several days. The boba will gradually harden and become crunchy as they sit.

Slow cooker mulled wine

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 2 hours

Total Time: 2 hours, 20 minutes

Yield: 8-10 servings

Ingredients:

• 2 bottles dry red wine
• 1/2 cup corn syrup or Lyle's Golden Syrup
• 1/2 cup honey
• 1/2 cup water
• Peel from one orange
• 1 cinnamon stick
• 1/4 tsp. ground allspice
• 1/2 tsp. ground nutmeg
• Thin, seeded orange slices

Preparation:

Combine all ingredients in 4 quart crockpot and stir well to combine. Cover and cook on low for 2-1/2 hours, stirring once during cooking. Remove orange peel and cinnamon stick before serving. Place a thin orange slice in the bottom of each mug and spoon hot wine over.

Mulled Apple Cider Recipes

With Ginger and Orange

Ingredients

• 4 cups of apple cider
• 6 whole cloves
• 1 (3-inch) cinnamon stick, broken into pieces
• 1/2 orange, sliced
• 1-inch peeled, fresh ginger, cut into 6 slices

Directions

Combine the ingredients in a medium saucepan and simmer over a low flame for 20 minutes. Strain and serve.

From Simply Recipes

Hot Mulled Cider Recipe

• 1/2 gallon of fresh, unfiltered apple cider
• 1 orange
• 15 cloves
• 4 3-inch sticks of cinnamon
• 15 allspice berries
• 1 teaspoon of nutmeg
• 7 pods of cardamon
• 1/4 cup brown sugar

METHOD

1 Pour apple cider into a 3-quart saucepan, cover, turn the heat on medium-high. While cider is heating up, take a vegetable peeler and peel away a couple thick strips of peel from the orange. Press about half of the cloves into the peeled part of the orange. (You can also just quarter the orange and add the slices and cloves separately. I just like seeing the orange bob up and down.) Place orange, orange peel strips, the remaining cloves, and the rest of the ingredients into the sauce pan with the cider. Keep covered and heat the mulled cider mixture to a simmer and reduce heat to low. Simmer for 20 minutes on low heat.

2 Use a fine mesh sieve to strain the hot mulled cider away from the orange, cloves, and other spices. If you want, you can add a touch of bourbon, brandy, or rum to spike it up a bit. Serve hot. Add a cinnamon stick to each cup if desired.

Makes 8 cups.

With RUM!! (From Emeril)

Ingredients

• 1 apple
• 2 teaspoons whole cloves
• 1 orange, thinly sliced
• 2 quarts apple cider
• 1/2 cup light brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon allspice
• Pinch grated nutmeg
• 1 cup dark rum
• Cinnamon sticks, garnish

Directions

Stud the apple with the cloves. In a medium pot, combine the studded apple and remaining ingredients except the rum. Slowly bring to a simmer over low heat. Simmer for 10 minutes. Remove from the heat and add the rum. Discard the apple. Ladle into mugs and garnish each with a cinnamon stick. Serve immediately.

Mint Limeade

Yield: 1 drink

1/4 cup mint leaves
2 ounces honey syrup
1 1/2 ounces lime juice chilled club soda, tonic water or seltzer

In 12-ounce glass, muddle mint and simple syrup for about 8 seconds. Add ice and lime juice, then fill with club soda. Stir well and serve.

Fresh Mint and Ginger Lemonade

From Epicurious

Yield: Makes 4 servings

 Ingredients

1/2 cup (packed) chopped fresh mint leaves
1/3 cup chopped fresh ginger
1/3 cup honey
2 cups boiling water
1/3 cup fresh lemon juice
1 1/2 cups (about) cold water

Ice cubes
Fresh mint leaves
Lemon slices

Preparation

Combine chopped mint, ginger, and honey in medium bowl. Add boiling water. Let steep 30 minutes. Strain into 4-cup glass measuring cup, pressing on solids to extract liquid. Add lemon juice and enough cold water to measure 4 cups total. (Can be prepared 1 day ahead. Cover and refrigerate.)
Fill glasses with ice cubes. Add lemonade. Garnish with mint leaves and lemon slices and serve.