Flaming Christmas Punch – A Christmas Carol, 1843

“Heaped up on the floor, to form a kind of throne, were turkeys, geese, game, poultry, brawn, great joints of meat, sucking-pigs, long wreaths of sausages, mince-pies, plum puddings, barrels of oysters, red-hot chestnuts, cherry-cheeked apples, juicy oranges, luscious pears, immense twelfth-cakes, and seething bowls of punch, that made the chamber dim with their delicious steam.”

–A Christmas Carol, by Charles Dickens, 1843

The original recipe, unaltered, delivers quite a hefty alcoholic blow. I had expected much more of the alcohol to burn off, since 3-4 minutes seems like a good amount of time, but it was very much still present. The lemon is also prominent, between the zest and the juice, and compliments the rum/brandy mixture nicely.

In the end, though, to stretch out the recipe for a party, and to help ease the taste of serious booze, I added some cinnamon sticks and apple cider to the mix. I imagine that a variety of fruit juices would work equally well, and I enjoyed this recipe enough to try some variations in the future!

Recipe for Flaming Christmas Punch

Prep Time: ~25 minutes

Makes about 6-8 servings

This recipe is from a letter penned by Charles Dickens: “Peel into a very strong common basin the rinds of three lemons, cut very thin, and with as little as possible of the white coating between the peel and the fruit, attached. Add a double-handfull [sic] of lump sugar (good measure), a pint of good old rum, and a large wine-glass full of brandy — if it not be a large claret-glass, say two. Set this on fire, by filling a warm silver spoon with the spirit, lighting the contents at a wax taper, and pouring them gently in. [L]et it burn for three or four minutes at least, stirring it from time to Time. Then extinguish it by covering the basin with a tray, which will immediately put out the flame. Then squeeze in the juice of the three lemons, and add a quart of boiling water. Stir the whole well, cover it up for five minutes, and stir again. At this crisis (having skimmed off the lemon pips with a spoon) you may taste. If not sweet enough, add sugar to your liking, but observe that it will be a little sweeter presently. Pour the whole into a jug, tie a leather or coarse cloth over the top, so as to exclude the air completely, and stand it in a hot oven ten minutes, or on a hot stove one quarter of an hour. Keep it until it comes to table in a warm place near the fire, but not too hot. If it be intended to stand three or four hours, take half the lemon-peel out, or it will acquire a bitter taste. The same punch allowed to cool by degrees, and then iced, is delicious. It requires less sugar when made for this purpose. If you wish to produce it bright, strain it into bottles through silk. These proportions and directions will, of course, apply to any quantity.”

Ingredients:

3 lemons
1 cup sugar
2 cups rum
1 cup brandy
Juice of 3 lemons
4 cups boiling water

Optional additional ingredients:

1-2 cups apple cider or other juice
2 cinnamon sticks

Using a veggie peeler, take strips of peel off the lemons, leaving off as much of the bitter white pith as possible.

Add the peels, sugar, rum, and brandy to a saucepot and warm over low heat until the sugar is dissolved. Using a long match or taper, carefully lower a flame to just above the surface of the liquid; it should catch and burn with a lovely blue flame. Allow this to burn for 3-4 minutes, then quickly and carefully place a lid on the pot to extinguish the flame.

Remove the lid and add the lemon juice and boiling water. Bring to a simmer for 15 minutes, then taste. Add more sugar if it’s to your liking, or additional ingredients until it is delicious by your standards.

Strain out any floating bits of lemon or spice, and keep warm until serving.

Ent-draught – The Lord of the Rings

“The drink was like water, indeed very like the taste of the draughts they had drunk from the Entwash near the borders of the forest, and yet there was some scent or savour in it which they could not describe; it was faint, but it reminded them of the smell of a distant wood borne from afar by a cool breeze at night. The effect of the draught began at the toes, and rose steadily through every limb, bringing refreshment and vigour as it coursed upwards, right to the tips of the hair… He poured them out two full bowls from a stone jar; but from a different jar. The taste was not the same as it had been the night before: it was earthier and richer, more sustaining and food-like, so to speak.”

–The Two Towers, by JRR Tolkien

Thoughts:

As you can see from the quote above, there are at least two different versions of Ent-Draught. I knew that I wanted the drink to be clear, like the waters of the Entwash from which the draught was made, but that’s where I ran into a snafu. To get a clear alcoholic drink, one must distill, which is quite illegal in the US. So i turned the idea on its head, and distilled an herbal infusion instead.

The first version, described as an invigorating drink, with a sense like a breeze from distant woods, what what I decided to tackle first. It gave me a bit of trouble. I though it should have some floral notes, to give a sense of meadows that the wind has traveled over, but also be light and green. It’s good, but could probably be better.

The second version was much easier to formulate. It’s described as being filling, earthy, and rich, so I imagined flavors that would be reminiscent of a damp forest floor. I started with a mixture of black teas, then added some thyme for some mossy green notes, and some heather tips for a slight hint of floral. The peat-smoked barley gives the whole thing a very subtle damp, old feel, in the best way.

The flavor of both draughts is unique, unlike anything I’ve tasted before. They have hints of familiar flavors, but presented in a wholly new way. Despite being dark tea-based brews, the finished draughts are as clear as water. I deem them to be as much of a success as a mere mortal can accomplish.

I can’t promise that it will make you grow, but these Ent-Draughts are a wonderful beverage that will remind you of cool forests and breezes through the Shire…

Ent-Draught Recipes

Prep: 10 minutes Distilling: 45 minutes plus

Makes about 1.5 cups per recipe

Light Version:

6 cups water
1/2 cup loose green or white tea leaves
1/2 sprig fresh rosemary
3 mint leaves
2 Tbs. chamomile
1 Tbs. roses
lots of ice

Earthy Ingredients:

6 cups water
4 tea bags (two earl grey, two other black/Turkish)
1 sprig thyme
1 Tbs. heather tips
1 tsp. peat-smoked barley
lots of ice (at least 6 trays worth…)

The directions are essentially the same for both versions: Combine all ingredients in a large saucepan with a lid. Warm slightly. Place a heatproof bowl in the center of the pot; make sure it is tall enough to stay above the water level. Turn the lid of the pot upside down and place it on the pot. This will enable the distilled vapors to run down the lid and collect in the bowl. Cover the lid with ice, and bring to a simmer.

The first version should be served chilled, the second at room temperature.

Serpentine’s Restorative – Neverwhere

“Richard knocked back the green liquid, which tasted of thyme and peppermint and winter’s mornings. He felt it go down and prepared himself to try to keep it from coming back up again. Instead he took a deep breath and realized, with a little surprise, that his head no longer hurt, and that he was starving.”

–Neverwhere, by Neil Gaiman

There is always a challenge in creating real world versions of food and drink that is probably mystical in origin. In this case, I wanted to include the elements in the description, namely the mint & thyme, and the green color. And then, if possible, I hoped to capture a bit of that restorative power.

Spirulina proved to be the key ingredient, as it gives the drink that Emerald-City-green, and the combination of protein, vitamins, and minerals helps restore what one’s body has lost as a result of over-indulging. The flavor is fairly pleasant, owing mostly to the mint and copious amount of honey (which helps keep the green powders in suspension).

This restorative beverage is lovely the morning after heavy drinking, but is also very effective when taken before going to bed. I personally recommend taking half warm before going to sleep, and chilling the other half for the morning after.

Recipe for Serpentine’s Restorative

Boiling: 10 minutes Cooling: 15 minutes

Makes 1-2 servings, depending on your headache

Ingredients:

2 cups boiling water
2 Green Tea bags
1 sprig each mint & thyme, crushed
1 tsp. willow bark
honey, to taste, but at least 1 tsp.
1/2 tsp. spirulina powder
1/2 tsp. wheatgrass powder (optional)

Combine the tea bags and herbs in a small saucepan with the boiling water. Simmer for around 10 minutes, then remove from heat. Strain into a bowl, and stir in the honey while the liquid is still warm. Allow to sit until it is still warm, but cool enough to touch. Stir in the spirulina, and if using, the wheatgrass. Stir until it’s completely combined, and serve. , blend, and let sit for 10 minutes. Strain, chill and serve seriously ice cold.

Pumpkin Juice – Harry Potter

Thoughts:

The color!

I perused a lot of various pumpkin juice recipes online before starting this post, but didn’t find any that really leapt out at me. The closest had apricot juice; I have never seen apricots and pumpkins ripe at the same time! So I swapped the apricot for some seasonally appropriate apple cider, and spiced to my own preference. I also did something with my pumpkin juice that I haven’t seen done elsewhere.

I let it ferment.

Not a lot, mind you, but just enough to give it a little fizz. The resulting juice is lightly sparkly, with subtle spicy ginger flavors overlaying the deeper pumpkin. Although it might seem that the juice is mostly apple cider, the pumpkin element is quite pronounced, enhanced by the cider, rather than overpowered by it.

It’s pretty awesome. :)

Pumpkin Juice Recipe

Roasting: 45 minutes Straining: 30 minutes Mixing: 10 minutes Optional fermenting: 2-4 days

Makes about 4 cups of juice

Cook’s Notes: Don’t throw away that puree once you’re done draining the juices! Use it as pumpkin pie filling, as in this 17th C. recipe.

Ingredients:

1 5 lb. sugar pumpkin
4 cups apple cider
1-2″ fresh ginger root, sliced thin
2 cinnamon sticks
pinch of cardamom

Slice the pumpkin in half and scoop out the seeds and guts. Roast the pumpkin halves in the oven at 350F for at least 40 minutes, or until it is cooked all the way through, and soft.

Puree with the apple cider, skin and all, then pour, in batches, into a fine sieve suspended over a large bowl. Allow the pumpkin to drain, stirring occasionally to allow as much liquid as possible to drain out. Save the pumpkin for another recipe, such as Pumpkin Pie or Pumpkin Pasties.

Simmer with remaining ingredients until the flavors are melded, about 10 minutes. Serve warm or chilled.

If you would like a little natural fizz in your pumpkin juice, cover the bowl with a dishcloth and let sit for a couple of days. It will develop a cloudy, bubbly top, which indicates it is fermenting. Allow to ferment to taste, and serve room temperature or slightly chilled.

Fictional Beverages

I’ve got a list going of various fictional beverages. Most of these are drinks I’ll definitely try out sooner or later; I’m trying to focus mostly on books (sorry, no Romulan Ale!), and would love your suggestions, if I’ve left out any awesome drinks!

The List:

Blue Milk, from Star Wars

Islington’s Wine & Serpentine’s Restorative, from Gaiman’s Neverwhere

Wonka’s Buttercup Tea

Dickens’ Christmas Punch

Other Mother’s Hot Chocolate, from Coraline

Anne of Green Gables: Currant Wine, Raspberry Cordial

Chocolatl, from the Golden Compass

Fleegix, from Alan Mendolsohn, Boy from Mars

Harry Potter: Pumpkin Juice, Nettle Wine, Firewhiskey, Gillywater

Ent-draught, from LotR

Alice’s Potions for Growing and Shrinking

Pan Galactic Gargleblaster

Austershalin Brandy, from Gentlemen Bastards series

Klah, from the Dragonrider series

Ambrosia, from Battlestar Galactica

Grog, from Monkey Island

Blackbriar Mead from Skyrim

Fictional Brewing!

Brew-mania!

In honor of a successful move to a new apartment, and the unpacking of the kitchen, I’m set to brew again!

In addition to brewing something from Game of Thrones, I’d love to explore more boozy goodness from other fictional worlds. I’m giving this poll a full month, at the end of which I’ll make the top two reader picks, then post the recipes. Have a favorite fictional alcohol that’s not on the list? Add it!

Butterbeer – Harry Potter

Thoughts:

I’ve never really held with the idea that the Butterbeer in Harry Potter is basically some sort of cream soda. No way. To me, that’s a very American interpretation, with artificial flavoring, and so much sugar that it becomes horrible.

My approach, probably unsurprising to many of you, was to dip into the historical cookbooks for my inspiration. And lo, from the late 1500s, there’s a recipe for “Buttered Beere”. Clearly this was what I needed to try.

My first reaction to the finished historical brew was one of surprise: The smell doesn’t quite match the flavor, so the first sip is not what you’ll be expecting. It almost smells like a sweet dough, as you might make for cinnamon rolls, with that combination of yeast, butter, and eggs. However, the flavor itself is one of creamy, spiced beer, with all the residual hops and tinge of bitterness that go with it.

The mixture thickens, not quite to the density of eggnog, but in a similar way. Served warm in a large mug, and redolent with spices, it’s an interesting and unique winter holiday beverage. Although I can’t quite imagine myself craving a big mug of this beverage on a regular basis, I’d certainly slap down two sickles for a pint at the Hog’s Head Inn or the Three Broomsticks!

Adapted Historical Recipe for Butterbeer

Take three pintes of Beere, put five yolkes of Egges to it, straine them together, and set it in a pewter pot to the fyre, and put to it halfe a pound of Sugar, one penniworth of Nutmegs beaten, one penniworth of Cloves beaten, and a halfepenniworth of Ginger beaten, and when it is all in, take another pewter pot and brewe them together, and set it to the fire againe, and when it is readie to boyle, take it from the fire, and put a dish of sweet butter into it, and brewe them together out of one pot into an other. -The Good Huswifes Handmaide for the Kitchin, 1588

Cook’s Notes: For an extra indulgence, try adding a bit of cream or whole milk to the finished butterbeer. Add no more than a 1:1 ratio, and serve the adulterated version chilled, rather than hot.

Ingredients:

3 bottles of ale
1 1/2 tsp. pumpkin pie spice
1 cup brown sugar
5 egg yolks (save the whites for something like meringue)
1/2 cup unsalted butter, cut into chunks

Heat the ale and spices in a medium saucepan, over medium heat. If it has a lot of foam, that should die down once it starts heating up.

In a separate bowl, combine the sugar and egg yolks. while whisking furiously, pour in a ladle-full of the hot ale. Whisk until it’s incorporated, then pour the whole mess back into the pot of ale, still whisking madly.

Keep the mixture just under a simmer, stirring until it thickens somewhat. Add the chunks of butter and stir until they’re melted. Whisk with a hand mixer (or a lot of arm strength), until a foam rises.

Serve hot, in heat-proof mugs.

Ginger Scald – The Lies of Locke Lamora

“‘Conte, I do believe Master Fehrwight has just requested nothing less than a ginger scald.’

Conte moved adroitly to fill this request, first selecting a tall crystal wine flute, into which he poured two fingers of purest Camorri ginger oil, the color of scorched cinnamon. To this he added a sizable splash of milky pear brandy, followed by a transparent heavy liquor called ajento, which was actually a cooking wine flavored with radishes. When this cocktail was mixed, Conte wrapped a wet towel around the fingers of his left hand and reached for a covered brazier smoldering to the side of the liquor cabinet. He withdrew a slender metal rod, glowing orange-red at the tip, and plunged it into the cocktail; there was an audible hiss and a small puff of spicy steam. Once the rod was stanched, Conte stirred the drink briskly and precisely three times, then presented it to Locke on a thin silver tray.”

-The Lies of Locke Lamora, by Scott Lynch

Ginger Scald, vodka, ginger syrup, and pear brandy

Thoughts:

This, dear readers, took some doing. After several months of on and off trial and error, I ended up with two versions, neither of which was really satisfactory, to my standards. So there they languished, in the draft post. Until one evening, when I opened the post back up, scrapped both those recipes, and came up with the one you find here. I was especially driven to finish the post because, after tweeting about the difficulties of finding a hot poker, a package arrived in the mail from Andrew Cairns at Willowdale Forge with two such accessories. Finding myself thus enabled, how could I not follow through?

The breakdown:

The thick sugary syrup sticks to one’s lips and tongue, the concentrated ginger burning pleasantly. I tried several versions of a ginger oil, but they were, at best, completely unappetizing. Hence, the ginger syrup swap, the texture of which, I think, closely mirrors how a ginger oil would behave on the palate.

I hemmed and hawed over the pear brandy. It’s described in the book as being “milky”, but I’ve never seen such a creature. I did a few experiments to see if I could come up with a way to milkify my pear brandy, but the end results were not worth the effort, and moreover, detracted from the cocktail as a whole.

The last ingredient was also somewhat troublesome. It seems to me that it cannot be both a liquor and a cooking wine. Given the cocktail nature of the beast, I opted for liquor. Mind you, I also tried a radish-infused white wine (BLECH!), but it left a great deal to be desired. Instead, I’ve decided to go for vodka: it’s clear, and made from roots (potatoes). If you like, you can infuse the vodka with some sliced radish, but trust me when I say to go sparingly. Pretty much, let the vodka look at a radish, and that will be enough (or possibly too much…).

The end result is a decadent, ethereal cocktail that will knock your socks off. If you’ve scalded it, the cocktail will still be warm from the poker, and that physical heat transitions into the burning flavor of the ginger. Adding to that theme is the slight tone of burned sugar, while the pear flavor is much complimented by the ginger, and the vodka gives it an extra boost of intoxication.

It was described by my tastetesters as “exquisite”, “otherworldly”, “exotic”, and “amazeballs”. All in all, it’s just complex enough to be special, without being impossible to make.

Ginger Scald Recipe

Ingredients:

Ginger Syrup (see below)
Pear Brandy (if you’d like to make it)
vodka

Follow the written directions:

Into a champagne flute, pour about two fingers worth of ginger syrup. Follow this with a good splash of pear brandy, then a finger or so of vodka.

Stir the mixture vigorously to get the sugar up from the bottom; you’ll be able to see it swirl around as you stir. The top photo settled while I was shooting: Do as I say, not as I do! Once it’s mixed, you can sear it with the hot poker. See the note at the bottom on the crazy danger of hot pokers.

That bottom layer is the ginger syrup, which, if planning to sear, needs to be incorporated with the rest of the drink in order to be close enough to the hot poker. Get to stirring!

Ginger Syrup Ingredients:

2 cups roughly chopped fresh ginger
2 cups sugar
6 cups water

Combine ingredients in a saucepan, and place over medium heat. Allow to simmer for about an hour, at which point much of the liquid should have boiled off, and the remainder be a nice cinnamon sort of color. Let the mixture cool (nobody likes sugary burns!), then strain into a glass jar. It will keep for several weeks, and makes enough for around 10-12 cocktails.

Caution on handling Hot Metal

*Note* If you are planning to singe the cocktail with a hot poker, I really can’t stress enough the importance of being careful. If you let the poker touch the side of the champagne flute, it could explode. If you yourself touch the hot poker, you will be scalded. Also, do not do as Conte did, and wrap a wet towel around the poker- the moisture will translate the heat straight into your hand. Instead, use a heavy-duty oven mitt. Lastly, be warned that the cocktail will sputter, hiss, and jump all around, so keep a steady hand when you first plunge the poker into the drink. And please remember, friends don’t let drunk friends play with hot pokers…

Like this recipe? Check out the other recipes from the Gentlemen Bastards series!

Klava with Honey – Vlad Taltos series

“How do you brew klava?”

“You don’t know?”

She smiled. “I can serve it with the best, but I’ve never needed to learn how to brew it.”

“You press coffee through a filter made of eggshells and wood chips with vanilla bean, then reheat it so it almost boils, then you pass it through a cloth to remove any oils brought out by the reheating.”

-Issola, by Steven Brust

Thoughts:

Not being an every day coffee drinker, I tend to think Turkish coffee is already superior to the average cup of morning joe. But put through this process, it transcends the bounds of ordinary beverages, and becomes something near ethereal. Each of the different flavors is discernible, from the earthiness of the woodchips to the sweet subtlety of the vanilla bean. The cream thickens the already dense coffee into a silky, decadent drink.

Fun Fact? The eggshells help decrease the bitterness of the coffee. See? Right there, you and I both learned something culinary and fascinating from fictional food. That’s why it’s so cool!

Don’t be intimidated by the list of below ingredients and equipment. Once you get the hang of it, it’s quite straightforward. I’ve also included a version that is french-press friendly, because more people have those than have cezves.

**Disclaimer: I’m not really a coffee drinker, but I thoroughly enjoyed Klava. However, if you are crazy for coffee, you may want to increase the strength of your own brew!**

Recipe for Klava

Prep time: about 10 minutes

Makes 1 (strong) mug-worth, or about 4 Turkish coffee cups-worth

Ingredients:

1 cup water
2 Tbs. Turkish coffee grounds
pinch of cinnamon and/or ground cardamom (optional)
1 Tbs. honey
cream, to taste

You’ll need:

1/4 cup clean eggshells
1/4 cup woodchips (hickory, cherrywood, or other would suit)
1 vanilla bean, chopped roughly and crushed

Helpful Items:

funnel
mesh straining bag/clean scrap of fabric
a cezve (pot for making Turkish coffee)
mason jar

Alright. So. In a small pot, or cezve, combine the water and coffee grounds. If also adding spices, do so at this point. Place over medium-high heat and watch carefully. Heat until it froths up, then remove from heat.

In a mesh bag, combine the eggshells, woodchips, and chopped vanilla bean. Suspend this bag in the mason jar, and pour the coffee over it. Allow to steep for five minutes. Remove the mesh bag, and pour the Klava through a funnel lined with cloth.

Klava is best served in a mug, as opposed to a glass, so it doesn’t get cold. Turkish coffee cups are also ideal serving vessels, albeit on the small side.

French Press Recipe for Klava

Makes about 2 mugs, takes about 5 minutes.

Couldn’t be easier.

I doubled the above quantities for the coffee grounds and the water, then let all the ingredients steep together in the pot before pressing down the filter. It’s a great recipe cheat for those who don’t have the cezve for making proper Turkish coffee, but are looking for a quirkier style of caffeine.

Lemonade with Mint – Chivalry

“‘Tea or lemonade?’

‘Whatever you’re having,’ Galaad said.

Mrs. Whitaker took a jug of her homemade lemonade from the fridge and sent Galaad outside to pick a sprig of mint. She selected two tall glasses. She washed the mint carefully and put a few leaves in each glass, then poured the lemonade.

–Chivalry, by Neil Gaiman

Thoughts:

Delicious! The tart zing of the lemons is countered by the sweetness of the confectioners sugar. The mint, meanwhile, lends the beverage a subtle, even more refreshing quality. Served over ice, it’s a wonderful version of a summer classic, and will leave you energized for whatever grand and noble quests you must face.

Recipe for Lemonade with Mint

Makes about 6 servings

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Ingredients:

6 lemons
zest from one lemon
6 cups still or sparkling water
2 cups powdered sugar
a handful of mint leaves, crushed

Grate the peel of half the lemon and half the orange.

Juice the fruits. Add the water, sugar, zested peel, and crushed mint. Shake or stir vigorously for about a minute. Pour the mixture through cheesecloth or paper towel to catch the zest and mint. Refrigerate, and serve cold.

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