Soothing Beverages to Warm a Winter Day: Hot Cranberry Tea Karšta Spanguolių Arbata, Hot Apple Cider Karšta Obuolinė Gira, Spiced Apple Cider Pikantiška Obuolinė Gira, Hot Holiday Punch Karštas šVentinis Punšas, Mulled Cider Šilta Pikantiška Gira

LET’S COOK LITHUANIAN
with Dana Siliūnas.

Soothing beverages to warm a winter day

HOT CRANBERRY TEA
Karšta spanguoliu arbata

2 cups water
2 orange pekoe tea bags
1/2 cup sugar
Grated rind (colored part only) of 1 orange removed with a zester or fine grater, about 1 1/2 Tbsps.
2 cups cranberry juice cocktail
2 whole allspice

Heat water to a boil. Pour over tea bags and steep, covered, about 30 minutes. Remove tea bags. Put sugar and orange rind in mini-food processor fitted with metal blade or blender. Mince rind, about 1 minute. Set aside. Put cranberry juice, tea and allspice into a 2-quart, non-aluminum saucepan. Heat to a boil. Add % cup orange sugar (reserve rem aining sugar for future use). Return to a boil. Stir well. Remove allspice. Serve hot. (Alternately, the tea can be served chilled. Chill several hours or as long as overnight. Serve chilled over ice).

HOT HOLIDAY PUNCH
Karštas šventinis punšas

1 gallon sweet cider
1 stick cinnamon (6”)
1 Tbsp. whole cloves
2 Tbsps. crystallized ginger (sliced)
1 cup unsweetened grapefruit juice
1/2 cup orange juice
1/4 cup lemon juice
1/2 cup superfine sugar
1 Tbsp. mace
1 Tbsp. allspice
1 tsp. salt.

Bring all ingredients except citrus juices to a boil. Lower heat and simmer for 10 minutes. Strain into a large pan and cool to lukewarm. Stir in citrus juices, then heat and serve immediately in punch cups. Serves 32.

HOT APPLE CIDER
Karšta obuoline gira

5 cups fresh apple cider
2 inches fresh ginger, unpeeled, sliced thin, about 2 Tbsps.
4 cinnamon sticks

Combine all ingredients in a 1 1/2- quart, non-alum inum saucepan. Bring to a boil. Simmer, covered, for 5 minutes. Strain through a fine sieve or coffee filter, reserving the cinnamon sticks. Serve hot, placing a cinnamon stick in each cup. (Alternately, the cider can be served chilled. Strain as directed. Chill several hours or as long as overnight. Serve chilled with cinnamon sticks).

MULLED CIDER
Šilta pikantiška gira

1 qt. apple cider
6 allspice berries, whole
3 paper-thin slices of fresh gingerroot
1 Tbsp. honey
6 cinnamon sticks
Optional: apple brandy
Pour the first four ingredients into a saucepan and heat to simmer point. Discard allspice and ginger. Put a cinnamon stick in each mug and ladle in warm cider. Add some apple brandy if it’s a really cold day.

SPICED APPLE CIDER
Pikantiška obuoline gira

12 whole allspice
6 whole cloves
2 qts. apple juice
1 qt. water
3 tea bags, regular or decaffeinated
1/2 orange with peel, thinly sliced
1/2 lemon with peel, thinly sliced
2 cinnamon sticks
Ground allspice to taste

Place whole allspice and cloves in tied cheesecloth packet. In a saucepan, bring apple juice, water, tea bags, orange, lemon, cinnamon and cheesecloth packet to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer 3 minutes. Remove cheesecloth packet, tea bags and orange and lemon slices. Simmer 5 additional minutes. Add ground allspice to taste. Serve hot or chilled. Garnish with fresh slices of orange and lemon. Serves 16; 3/4 cup per serving.