Hot Buttered Rum Recipe & The History Of The Drink

January 17th is National Hot Buttered Rum Day. We’ve always been piqued about why Colonial Americans put butter into a mug of hot rum, so we drilled down. First, what is hot buttered rum? It’s a toddy with butter. What’s a toddy? A toddy, or hot toddy, is a warm cocktail concocted to add a…
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A Hot Tea Toddy Recipe For National Hot Toddy & Hot Tea Days

[1] All of the toddies here are shown in clear glasses or mugs. Why? It makes the drink look better (photo © L’Adresse | NYC). [2] In Colonial times a pat of butter was added to the toddy, creating Hot Buttered Rum. It clouded the drink, but in those days, everything was drunk from a…
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Oh Give Us A Figgy Pudding Recipe (aka Christmas Pudding, Plum Pudding)

[1] Figgy pudding, a.k.a. Christmas pudding and plum pudding (photos #1 and #2 © California Figs). [2] Dried green and purple figs. [3] California dates (photo © Bard Valley Natural Delights). [3] Caramel sauce (photo © Yulia Khlebnikova | Unsplash). [4] For dramatic effect, you can flambé the pudding with warmed brandy, before garnishing with…
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Apple Cider Recipes & Apple Cider History For National Apple Cider Day

[1] Pour yourself a glass of apple cider…or turn it into an apple cider cocktail with your favorite spirit (photo © Bonnie Kittle | Unsplash). [2] Add club soda for an apple cider spritz. You can add just a splash, or use mostly club soda for a type of apple cider club soda (photo ©…
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Fig Recipes For National Fig Week

[1] Brown Turkey figs are available fresh from California (photo © Heather Barnes | Wesual | Unsplash). [2] Chocolate-covered figs: Delicious for entertaining and gifting (photo © California Figs). [3] A classic appetizer: melon with figs and prosciutto (photo © Good Eggs). [4] America’s best-known fresh fig varieties: Brown Turkey, Calimyrna, Kadota, and Mission (photo…
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