Over the weekend we had our first hard frost of the year. We got up in the morning to find everything covered in a white dust. Good ole Jack Frost had fun in our backyard. There was so much frost out there that my 10 year old thought it had snowed during the night.
The garden sure can be transformed over night when there is frost on the ground.
I keep a Weather Channel widget on my internet homepage so I can get a quick glance at the weather forecast every time I get online. Yesterday I saw that they were announcing a severe weather alert for those of us in Northwest Oregon and Southwest Washington. It seems we have some pretty cold arctic air moving in our direction that is suppose to be here by this weekend. With this is the chance that the Portland metro area will receive snow. That means we will definitely be getting some snow for we are just enough East of Portland to get some nasty weather during the winter time.
I plan on taking care of my errands in the next few days so we don’t have to worry about running around in the cold snowy weather. I also plan on making up some batter for Hot Buttered Rum. I’m really not much of a drinker- in fact I almost never drink but this drink is so good when it is cold, cold, cold outside as it warms you up from the inside out. I love it for the holidays too. I was planning on making it for all the Christmas guests but I don’t think I want to wait until then with the cold weather coming!
I thought I would share the recipe today in case anyone else might like to try it for the holidays. I suppose it would also make a nice gift if one was to attach a card with instructions for how to make it.
Hot Buttered Rum
- 1 cup butter, softened (do not substitute margarine)
- 1 cup packed brown sugar
- 1/4 cup honey
- 2 teaspoons cinnamon
- 2 teaspoons ground allspice
- Dark rum
In a bowl cream butter until fluffy. Mix in brown sugar, then honey and spices. Store in the refrigerator for up to one month.
To use batter: Bring batter to room temperature. Measure out 1/4 cup per serving and place in an average size mug (not a huge one). Pour 1/2 cup boiling water into mug and stir to dissolve batter. Add 3 tablespoons rum to mug then fill with more boiling water. Serve with a cinnamon stick for stirring.
Then curl up under a blanket and enjoy the winter night!
***Update: I can’t believe I forgot to add that for a non-alcoholic drink hot apple cider can be substituted in place of the rum and water. Just warm up apple cider until it is almost boiling and then pour into a mug with the batter. This is really good and my boys loved it last year.
{ 8 comments… read them below or add one }
We’re supposed to get flurries here, which is unexpected in East Texas. It’s really been cool this year. I’m planning to travel to Oklahoma as my granddaughter is being born next week. I just hope I don’t have to plod through snow and ice! Your rum sounds delicious!
Brenda
Hi Brenda,
The weather sure has been strange for so many people this year. I hope it holds up for your trip. I will send you my thoughts and prayers for your exciting day next week. -Cynthia
Mmmm that sounds like just the thing to enjoy on a cold night
Hi Amy, I had completely forgotten to had that the batter is also very good when used with hot apple cider in place of the rum. I’m taking care of that and adding an update!
-Cynthia
Add to grocery list: rum & cinnamon sticks.
Remove from storage box: Grandma’s handmade quilt.
Things to do: Sit in rocking chair, snuggle up in quilt and enjoy a hot buttered rum. (Yep, it’s getting cold at night here in AZ!)
Sounds like a perfectly relaxing evening Granny. I would add some Christmas carols to the list too if you asked me.
-Cynthia
I love your frost photos! It was in the teens today here in Nebraska. I’ll have to check on that Weather Channel Widget. I’ll pass on the rum, though. I would rather eat my calories. LOL
Hi Sue,
-Cynthia
In the teens? Boy that is cold! I’m getting worked up over it getting down below freezing this weekend. I don’t know if I could handle a winter in Nebraska!
I understand what said about how you would rather eat your calories. Everytime I mix up the batter for this recipe I think “boy that is a lot of butter!” but oh well it is the holidays. Eat, drink, and be merry, right?
Mmm, that sounds delicious, spiked or not! I have a million things this weekend that have to involve driving, so I am stubbornly hoping the cold front stays away at least until Sunday night. I doubt I’ll get my wish, though. Your photos are lovely!
Hi Karen,
I figured the cold front was going to effect all of us in the PNW. It would have to come our way this weekend when so many of us still have holiday errands to run!
Thanks on the photos. I thought it was pretty neat to see just how different the lighting looks now. My photos have an almost bluish cast to them verses the bright lightness they would have just a few months ago. -Cynthia
That sounds interesting. I’ve never tried anything like it before. I do enjoy a nice cup of hot chocolate though. I don’t like the taste of most alcoholic beverages for some reason. It doesn’t sound like it would give too strong of a flavor though with only 3 tsp. of rum in it.
Hi Cinj,
The recipe actually calls for 3 tablespoons but when I make mine I usually only use half that as I do not like the over powering flavor of alcohol either. However, I do like how the rum warms you up on the inside! -Cynthia
Thanks for the non-alcoholic version. I’m cold but still nursing so this fits the bill just perfectly
As for snow for us here…I love snow BUT I hate driving around here in it. I’m originally from Eastern WA, Yakima to be exact, and am used to driving in the white stuff. Now the drivers on this side are completely clueless and scare me to death!
I also like how the schools are shut down even if snow is just in the forcast…doesn’t even have to be on the ground, lol!
Anyway…wonderful frost picture, I love the last one especially! Here’s wishing us some snow, Kim
Hi Kim,
*blushing* I happen to be one of those drivers that is clueless in the snow! In fact the ice scares me to death. I’m from S. California and we sure don’t have to deal with black ice there! That’s why I’m making plans on staying at home if we do end up with snow like they are predicting. It sure feels like it could today! -Cynthia
Your frost pictures are beautiful! We changed from rain back to snow here in NY but the rain did melt most of the 60+ inches we’ve had this year. The drink sounds wonderful. Jean
Last year we got 2 feet of snow overnight and that was something. Thank you for the compliment on the pics. They make me cold when I look at them. LOL -Cynthia
Hi Jean,
60+ inches of snow?! My goodness, my boys get excited over 3 inches!