BPT
This time of year, homes across the country are bustling with friends and family celebrating the holidays with festive foods and drinks. Dairy products
like butter, milk, cheese and cream are standard ingredients in celebratory dishes, but one area where dairy can play a starring role is often overlooked –
the cocktail glass. Instead of just offering wine or beer, the California Milk Advisory Board (CMAB) has put together cocktail tips and tricks for making
every gathering a happy hour at home.
1. Cheers to dairy.
Served hot or cold, milky alcoholic beverages are delicious on a hot day or in the cold of winter. Cocktails made with milk can range from the classics
like a White Russian to the more unusual Mardi Gras favorite Milk Punch, a somewhat lighter version of egg nog. Make sure to choose flavors and spices that
complement the foods you’re serving.
2. Look in the fridge.
Chances are you already have everything you need to create a special cocktail or host a happy hour at home. Now is the time to use up the leftover craft
beers from last week’s game, that nice bottle of brandy you received as a gift and the California milk and cream you have in your fridge.
3. Apples to apples.
Apples are one of those foods that everyone seems to love and that familiar apple flavor seems most welcome in the cooler, cozier months. Why not combine
the iconic apple pie with a trend that is on the rise: hard ciders. With the influx of craft beer drinkers, hard ciders are coming into their own. Try
creating a Belgian Hot Apple Pie Cocktail (see recipe) and wow your friends and family with your bartending skills. This cocktail takes the beloved flavor
of apple pie and lights it on fire, literally.
4. Drink your dessert.
It’s easy to create delicious drinkable desserts for the over-21 crowd with just a few ingredients you likely already have on hand. A few scoops of Real
California vanilla ice cream, milk, a flavored Irish cream liqueur and a shot of whiskey mixed in the blender will make even non-Irish eyes smile. Try
chocolate vodka, peanut butter, milk and ice cream for an adult version of a peanut butter cup. Minty Moochas are a chocolate treat featuring coffee
liqueur, peppermint schnapps, semisweet chocolate, milk and whipped cream.
5. Mix it up.
Classic cocktails are making a comeback so mix up your own. Classic egg nog is a fun drink that can be served as either an adult or nonalcoholic beverage
and is easily flavored to fit the festivities – from pumpkin pie spice to peppermint extract. If you are looking for a classic recipe, try a Wild’s Cooked
Egg Holiday Eggnog with a splash of dark rum or bourbon, crafted by Chef Andy Wild on behalf of the CMAB.
Whenever serving alcohol in your home, make sure there’s a designated driver to ensure everyone makes it home safely. Look for the Real California Milk and
Cheese seals to guarantee you’re getting products made with 100 percent California milk. To make the irresistible drinks mentioned above and to check out
other great recipes, visit RealCaliforniaMilk.com, or search for Real California Milk on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest.
Belgian Hot Apple Pie Cocktail
1 large scoop Real California vanilla ice cream
1 ounce apple brandy
12 ounces Belgian apple beer
pour brandy over ice cream and fill glass with beer. Serve with a spoon and a straw.
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