Buttered Rum-Spiced Cider

Autumn leaves have begun falling and when I pause from typing to look outside of my office window, I am whisked away to memories of my childhood.  Relishing in the sight of butter yellow and rich red leaves conjures up the hayrides, pumpkin carving and caramel apple eating activities, apple bobbing and trick’o'treating of my childhood.  Autumn’s brisk breeze reminds me of the nostalgic tastes of pumpkin, apple, caramel, cinnamon and butterscotch. 

I used to wince when the leaves began changing color because it meant the official end of summer.  Now that I’m all grown up, I welcome the season with open arms since it’s the last reprieve before the hustle and bustle of the holidays kicks off and endures through the day after Christmas’ Everything must go sales.  Slipping into warm socks; wrapping a soft scarf around my neck and curling up with a good book while enveloped in a fuzzy blanket are my new favorite autumnal activities. 

Most of all, I LOVE the comforting food and beverages the season offers!  Nothing compares to the tastes of fresh apple cider, hot buttered rum and pumpkin beer when toasting to the harvest season.  Here are a few seasonal drink recipes I have enjoyed in the past and hope to make in a few weeks.  Feel free to modify them as you wish, based on your taste preferences. 

When the temperature drops, warm things up with non-alcoholic options:

1. Pumpkin Spice Hot White Chocolate

2. Caramel Apple Cider

3. Pumpkin Chai Smoothie

4. Butterscotch Coffee   

5. Warm Cacao with Cinnamon

Leave the hot cocoa for the kids and try these recipes for alcoholic options:

1. Buttered Rum-Spiced Cider

2. Hot Toddy

3. Apple Almond Cocktail

4. Oatmeal Cookie and Hot Chocolate

5. Irish Coffee

No matter what, find time to share and sip them with a friend because it is actually good for your well-being.  A University of Michigan study conducted last year shows that, “…simply talking to other people, the way you do when you’re making friends, can provide mental benefits,” said psychologist Oscar Ybarra, a researcher at the U-M Institute for Social Research (ISR).

Researchers examined the impact of brief episodes of social contact on one key component of mental activity—executive function which includes the ability to plan, regulate behavior and multitask.  This type of cognitive function includes working memory, self-monitoring, and the ability to suppress external and internal distractions—all of which are essential in solving common life problems.  Researchers found that engaging in brief (10 minute) conversations resulted in boosts to the participants’ subsequent performance on an array of common cognitive tasks. 

This Autumn, be sure to savor every sweet scent, sight, taste, sound and conversation with friends and family before ‘city sidewalks become busy sidewalks.’

This post is brought to you by the good folks at Berloni America. We would love to connect with you on Facebook.

Photo Credit: Betty Crocker Recipes

This entry was posted on September 29, 2011 at 7:47 pm and is filed under Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.