How many coffee mugs, tea cups, glasses and other drink-ware do you have stacked in your kitchen cabinet? Come winter, do you start craving for that one beautiful cup to add to your formidable cups and mugs collection? Cause like Dumbledore said, "One can never have enough mugs!" ...or was it socks? Nonetheless, whether or not you drink tea, coffee on a regular basis, winter is the time to get sparkling new mugs, put on your thinking caps (or sorting hats!) and sift through our blog to try these simple and comforting mug recipes with a new ‘favourite cup’ for each dish.
With the arrival of winter, we can't wait to use our coffee cups that will keep us warm and cozy. It's time to make a statement with your drink-ware with some DIY winter recipes that will be loved and savoured by both kids and adults.
Nestasia brings to you 5 ways of getting creative with your drink-ware and preparing warm delicacies this winter. Whether you are warding off a winter chill, hosting a winter tea party or looking for quick and easy comfort meals, these 5 recipes will definitely keep you warm and fuzzy.
1. Mug Cake
For all the late night cravings, the sweet tooth, the winter evenings or the movie nights, this chocolate mug cake is your answer. We believe there is nothing quite like warming than a mug full of a warm dessert. This quick fudge mug cake can be enjoyed right from your coffee mug that will leave you a delectable taste. Bring out your microwave safe cups from the kitchen cabinet and get them used for this yummy dessert full of chocolate.
- 3 tbsp all purpose flour
- 2 tbsp granulated sugar
- 2 tbsp cocoa powder
- 1/4tsp baking powder
- 1 pinch salt (optional)
- 3 tbsp milk
- ½ tbsp vanilla essence
- 20gm vegetable oil
Instructions:
- Mix all dry ingredients (flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking powder, salt) in a microwave safe mug
- Add milk, vanilla essence and vegetable oil to make the mix into a consistent batter
- Microwave the cup for 1 to 1.5 mins and watch your fluffy mug cake
- Take it out of the microwave and sift some icing sugar and chocolate syrup on the delicious and warm mug cake
Tableware used:
Microwave safe Spring Tea Cup from the ‘Floral Tea Cup’ to fit the mood of the dish. One can choose from a range of tea cups to bake in, from the mug collection as per the mood of the occasion like Dots Tea cup for a fun evening, contemporary Cup With Lid for a late night craving, or the perfect Dessert Cup for the ideal Christmas setting. After all, a coffee mug is not just meant for coffee.
2. Thai Cup Noodles
When it is lazy winter time and you’re looking for a comfy, homey, quick and healthy recipe - try out these Thai cup noodles. We know that one can never say ‘no’ to noodles, especially the little ones. So get cooking with these curly noodles that have healthy ingredients and have been transformed into a nutritional snack meal. Pick your tea mugs or cups with lid to serve this lip smacking dish in a fun way!
Ingredients:
- 1 packet instant noodles
- 1 packet noodles masala
- 2 cups water
- 4 - pieces of crushed peanuts
- ½ cup coconut milk
- 1 small stem of lemongrass
- 1 green chili
- Half a lemon
- Finely chopped coriander leaves and onion leaves
- ½ cup green peas
Instructions:
- Boil water in a saucepan on medium heat and add lemongrass, noodles, coconut milk, onion leaves, peas, masala and crushed nuts one at a time
- Add lemon juice, herbs, chilies and chili flakes as per taste and keep stirring the broth with noodles
- Add a final touch of garnishing with coriander leaves and drain the Thai noodles in your favourite cup
Nestip: Add more vegetables like carrots and beans to make your cup noodles healthier
Tableware used:
Brown Reindeer Cup and Pink Bunny Cup from the ‘Tea Cup With Lid’ collection to serve the personal noodles and the lid to keep the warmth intact. The holder of the cup allows you to stream your movie on the phone while you enjoy your cup noodles. The Queen Cups or the Unicorn Cups also come with lids that can be used for slurping the cup noodles. Small Dishes have been used to keep the condiments, Pink Ceramic Creamer to pour the coconut milk and Dots Square Plate to keep the veggies.
3. Flavoured Green Tea
Drinking green tea can be a daunting task if you do not like the flavour. But, don't worry about the packaged green tea because we bring to you a home made recipe of the ever healthy 'Green Tea'. Regular green tea with a twist that is spiked with mild aromatic spices. Turn your boring old cup of green tea into a tasteful flavoured green tea with your tumblers that lie unused most of the time. Tumblers are meant to create a statement and what better than green tea for displaying your collection?
- 2 cups of water
- A sachet of green tea or green tea leaves
- 3 - 4 pieces Cloves
- 2-3 pieces Star Anise
- 1 small Cinnamon sticks
- 3-4 pieces of Cardamom
- Orange Zest to add a citrusy flavour (optional)
- Rose petals for garnishing
Instructions:
- Boil water in a kettle or in a pot and add green tea leaves, cloves, star anise, cinnamon sticks, cardamom and stir the ingredients
- Strain the tea from your kettle into your tumblers or cup
- Garnish your tea with some dry rose petals and serve it hot
Tableware used:
Blue and white ‘Tea Set With Kettle’ that comes with tumbler cups, a tray and a kettle to blend in with the winter mood. Marble Glasses, Tumbler Glasses and Drinking Glasses can also be used for serving flavoured green tea. Pink Ceramic Creamer has been used to keep the cinnamon sticks, dessert plates from the 'VERA Pink Plates’ to keep the condiments and snack plate from 'Pink Floral Plates' to display the oranges.
4. Pumpkin Soup
Soups don't just soothe your soul but are also extremely healthy for the body. It's time to get that broth brimming and prepare luscious warm cups of soups that will comfort you from the winter chill. Make your supper cozy with this thick and creamy pumpkin soup that is tailor made for the fall and Christmas season. While technically you may eat soup, we can still drink it out of glasses. Why not try out serving small portions of soup in glasses that will leave you space for dinner?
Ingredients:
- 1 cup mashed pumpkin
- 1 cup coconut milk
- 25-30 grams butter
- Salt and pepper as per taste
- Bread crumbs
- Onion and garlic paste for taste (optional)
Instructions:
- Heat the pumpkin pulp on low heat and slowly add coconut milk to the saucepan. (Pumpkin pulp can be made at home by boiling pumpkin until it becomes tender and then blending it till a thick paste is ready).
- Keep stirring the ingredients and add the dollop of butter along with the onion and garlic paste
- Ensure a consistent mixture and add salt and pepper as per taste
- Keep stirring and heating the soup till it begins to boil. Increase the flame to medium flame if needed.
- Add some basil leaves to garnish your soup and serve it in your favourite tumblers. Don’t forget the hot buttered crusty bread for dunking.
Nestip: Add herbs like oregano, chili flakes, rosemary leaves and parsley leaves to spice up your soup.
Marble Glass to serve individual portions of soup matched with Ramen Noodle Bowl to serve bread crumbs. Swap the utility of your tumblers and soup bowls for an interesting soup serving. The soup can also be served in a Textured Tea Cup paired along with a Square Soup Bowl to serve buns and breadsticks. To pour milk and add butter white and green Ceramic Creamers have been used.
5. Hot Chocolate
For all the hot, sweet and heavenly cravings, a mug full of hot chocolate is exactly what one needs on a winter evening. Bonus points for the warm mug being topped with whipped cream and sprinklers to make it irresistible. The coffee mugs that have been lying for the guests to visit, now need to come out to become the show stopper at your winter tea Par-Tea.
Ingredients:
- 2 cups of milk
- 40-50 grams of chocolate ganache
- 1 small cinnamon stick (optional)
- Sugar (optional)
- Whipped cream
Instructions:
- Heat the milk in a saucepan on low flame. Using milk instead of water makes the drink more creamy and flavourful.
- Once the milk begins to simmer, add chocolate ganache to it and keep whisking the mixture to ensure that there are no lumps. (The chocolate ganache can be bought as a ready made pack or can be made at home by melting a chocolate bar. If you like your hot chocolate sweeter, use a sweeter chocolate or add sugar).
- Add the cinnamon stick to the mixture and keep stirring till the mixture begins to boil and becomes consistent
- Strain the hot chocolate into your favourite mug and top it with whipped cream with some sprinklers to make your hot chocolate more presentable
Nestip: You could use a variety of toppings like marshmallows, chocolate shavings or even ice cream for your hot mug full of chocolate.
Pink Cups to serve the deliciously warm hot chocolate, Pink Ceramic Creamer to keep the cinnamon sticks, dessert plates and bowl from the VERA Pink Collection and Pink Floral Plates to match the vibe of the Christmas setting. You can also express your love with a cup of hot chocolate served in the White Mug or the Queen Cups.
Watch the full video for the step by step guide on the recipes below:
Tell us how you would like to up your drink-ware game and get creative with the lot of cups, mugs and tumblers stacked in your cupboard.
Happy Winters to you!
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