January 10, 2013

proof whisky, bring on winter, Vol. 115



Happy New Year! We had a lot of fun over the past couple of weeks. One of the greatest moments was partying al fresco, right after a heavy blizzard. Just because the holidays are over, it doesn’t mean that you have to hibernate for the rest of the winter. Grab a shovel (or umbrella, with this week's sudden warm weather), dig out your party zone and host a winter backyard get-together.


 toasted orange 4 cups apple cider • ½ cup fresh lemon juice • ½ cup Cointreau • ½ cup proof whisky
1 cinnamon stick • oranges

Pour cider and one cinnamon stick into saucepan, cover and simmer over medium heat for about 10 minutes. Remove from heat.
Stir in juice, proof whisky & Cointreau. Pour into glasses and garnish with singed orange peel.


singed orange peel Cut a thumb-size slice of fresh orange peel, retaining as much of the white pith as possible. Hold the shorter end of the orange peel between the thumb and forefinger of the other hand and gently brush the flame of a lighter against the orange peel. Pinch the peel over the glass and flame, releasing the oils. The spray will ignite and give your drink a burned citrus burst.



If you are hosting an outdoor winter party, make sure that your guests know that it is actually taking place outside and that they should dress for it. Also make sure the theme of the night is something warm and comforting. (in other words, don’t go with a tropical luau theme) 


We put a twist on traditional Canadian flavours with these appetizers: mini tourtière pies, vegetarian mushroom poutine, pea soup shooters, smoked salmon, crème fresh crêpes, mini back bacon sandwiches, okra and berry crostini and a couple of others.


For activities, we roasted marshmallows, lit sparklers, and chatted around the fire. If you have a spunky group of friends, you can have sled races, start a snowball fight, have fun with it!



Okay...and if you are looking for some outdoorsy accessories, Chapters has a great selection. Check out the new après ski collection. We especially love the Creuset mugs. 


Make sure to join Tina Fey and Amy Poehler this Sunday for the 70th Golden Globes.


Weekend Forecast:
Saturday: Variable cloudiness and a high of 11 degrees
Sunday: Light rain and a high of 6 degrees


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