Magnolia Milk Punch Food

CLARIFIED MILK PUNCH

Steps:

• Heat 2 1/4 cups of water to 208 degrees F. If you have an electric kettle with a temperature setting, great. If not, bring the water to a boil in a saucepan, kill the heat and count to 20. Pour the water over the teabags into a quart vessel and steep 3 minutes before removing the bags. (Do not wring out or squeeze the bags.)
• Add the sugar to the hot tea and stir to dissolve. Then add the port, rum, Allspice Dram, and lemon juice. Cool to room temperature, about 20 minutes.
• Pour the milk into a glass pitcher and then follow with the tea mixture. (Yes, it will curdle.) Park on counter for 1 hour. Do not shake, stir or molest in any way. Just let the magic happen. Oh, and make sure the tea goes into the milk, not the other way around.
• Line a large, fine-mesh sieve with a commercial-sized coffee filter (we like those made for 1.5-gallon machines) and strain the mixture into a wide, 4-quart container. Once completely filtered, typically about 1 hour, transfer to a quart jar or pitcher and chill to serve. (See Cook's Note.)
• Store tightly sealed in the refrigerator for up to 2 months.
• Heat a heavy skillet over low heat for 2 to 3 minutes. Toast the allspice berries until fragrant, about 1 minute, then roughly crush.
• Combine the rum and crushed allspice berries in a quart-sized glass jar, seal the lid tightly and give it a good shake. Steep for 10 days.
• Strain the allspice-infused rum through a fine-mesh sieve into a small saucepan and add the sugar. Heat over low, stirring occasionally, until the sugar is fully dissolved, about 15 minutes. Cool to room temperature before storing in a glass jar or bottle.
• Note: Any overproof rum will work here, meaning any rum over 50 percent ABV. But navy-strength rum, typically bottled at 57 percent ABV, is my favorite. Just remember: The higher the ABV of the rum, the higher the ABV of your resulting dram.

CEREAL MILK PUNCH

Steps:

• Stir the milk and cereal together in a large bowl or pitcher and add the cinnamon stick. Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour and up to 4 hours.
• When you are ready to serve, strain the milk through a fine-mesh strainer into a punch bowl or pitcher, making sure to squeeze out as much milk as possible. Stir in the brandy, orange juice, sugar, vanilla, nutmeg and enough ice to fill the pitcher. Pour the punch into rocks or punch glasses filled with ice. Run a strip of orange peel over the rim of each glass and add to the punch. Grate over a little nutmeg, sprinkle a few cereal flakes over the glasses and serve immediately.

MILK PUNCH

Steps:

• In a small saucepan, combine the sugar, 1/2 cup water, vanilla seeds and pod. Bring to a boil and remove from the heat. Let steep for 15 minutes. Strain the mixture and discard the vanilla pod.
• Pour 1 cup milk, 3/4 cup brandy and half of the vanilla syrup into a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Shake the cocktail until ice cold, and then carefully pour into 4 rocks glasses. Repeat with remaining ingredients. Garnish with nutmeg and enjoy!
• What Really Makes This Recipe Sing: This is the classic hair of the dog in New Orleans. Most bartenders have their own version, but any of them will do the trick.
• BYOC: Want to really indulge? Whip some cream up with a little superfine sugar and dollop on top. Want to cut some calories? Try making this with almond milk.

MARGARITA PUNCH

Steps:

• Stir together the first 4 ingredients; add tequila and stir well.
• Add 7-up or Sprite and mix well again.
• Serve in glasses over ice.
• Keep chilled.

HORCHATA (ICED CINNAMON MILK PUNCH)

Steps:

• Combine rice and cinnamon stick pieces in large bowl.
• Stir in 12 cups of water. Let stand (room temperature) 6-8 hours.
• Without disturbing rice on bottom, pour most of the water into another contaciner; reserve.
• Remove cinnamon from rice mixture and reserve.
• Add milk, condensed milk, sugar and vanilla to rice. Stir to mix.
• Process in blender or food processor, working in batches, until as smooth as possible.
• Stir mixture into reserved water. Return cinnamon pieces to mixture & chill.
• Remove cinnamon sticks. Shake vigorously and serve in tall ice-filled glasses.
• Garnish each glass with ground cinnamon.

BOURBON MILK PUNCH

Steps:

• Add the contents to a cocktail shaker with plenty of ice. Shake until good and frothy. Serve in a frosted glass. Garnish with freshly grated nutmeg.