Beverages
 |
 France St Nicholas Center Collection |
Bisschopswijn (Dutch Bishops' Wine)
St. Nicholas Cocoa Mix cocoa or hot chocolate is said to be St. Nicholas' favorite
Slemp (Dutch children's beverage)
Mulled Bishops Wyn
Bishop Saint Nicholas Punch
Saint Nicholas Day Punch
Bisschopswijn (Dutch Bishops' Wine)
Traditional beverage for Dutch Sinterklaas Eve
1 liter red wine
1 lemon
1 orange
20 cloves
2 tablespoons sugar
1 cinnamon stick
a pinch of mace and saffron (optional)
Wash and dry the lemon and orange. Insert 10 cloves into each. Put the wine, sugar, lemon, orange and cinnamon (and the mace and saffron tied in muslin, if you are using them) into a pan. Cover and bring slowly to the boil. Turn down the heat and allow the wine to simmer very gently for approximately. 1 hour. Remove the spices and the fruit. Heat the wine again, but do not let it boil. Serve in heat-resistant glasses. Bisschopswijn or mulled wine is a traditional drink on "Sinterklaasavond.
From Roots In Holland
 |
Saint Nicholas Cocoa Mix
This mix makes a nice St. Nicholas Day gift for friends and neighbors, as well as a good beverage for family celebration. For gifts, put the mix in wide-mouth quart jars, tie with ribbon and a recipe tag (print tags on card or cover stock).
Ingredients:
8 cups (20 ounces) powdered milk
1 (16-ounce) package instant cocoa
1½ cups powdered sugar
10 ounces (2½ cups) powdered non-dairy creamer
8 ounces (4 cups) miniature marshmallows
6-8 ounces finely crushed peppermint candy
Candy canes, optional
Directions:
Combine powdered milk, cocoa, powdered sugar, creamer, marshmallows and peppermint candy; mix well. Store in an airtight container.
Makes 5 quart jars of mix.Recipe to include (PDF to print):
For each serving, put ½ cup of mix in a regular-size mug, fill with boiling water; mix well with candy cane. Enjoy!!
Adapted with permission from Jessica Gordon, Shower of Roses
Slemp (Dutch children's beverage)
A spicy, non-alcoholic drink for children on the evening of the Sint Nicolaas Festival
Pinch of saffron
8 cloves
1 stick cinnamon
Piece of mace
4 cups milk
½ cup sugar
2 tablespoons cornstarch
Tie the herbs in a piece of cheesecloth and put in the milk. Scald and simmer for ½ hour. Add the sugar. Dissolve the cornstarch in little cold water and add to the hot mixture. Stir and cook 5 minutes more. Press the little bag with herbs between two spoons and remove.
 Saint-Nicolas-de-Port, France |
Mulled Bishops Wyn
1 bottle claret
6 cloves
4 cinnamon sticks
Break cinnamon into small pieces. Simmer wine, cloves, and cinnamon for about 5 minutes. Strain wine. Serve Hot.
From St. Michael the Archangel On-Line
Bishop Saint Nicholas Punch
To decorate the punch bowl, make a wreath out of rosemary, mint, holly leaves and berries.
3–4 Seville oranges (smooth-skinned)
1–2 lemons, sliced
1 quart apple cider
½ cup raisins
1 teaspoon cloves
¼ cup sugar or brown sugar
1 teaspoon mace
1 teaspoon nutmeg
Slice and grill orange and lemon slices in a frying pan with butter. Squeeze, then place in punch bowl. Add cider, sugar, raisins, and spices. Delicious when served hot with a cinnamon stick in each mug.
From "Saint Nicholas Day: An Herbal Celebration in the True Spirit of Christmas" by Nancy Desmond Armitage, The Herb Quarterly, Fall Issue 1990, copyright © 1990. Permission pending.
Saint Nicholas Day Punch
This punch is served at the Historic Allaire Village St. Nicholas Celebration
8 quarts tea
8 quarts cranberry juice
1 ¼ cups lemon juice
2 ¼ cups sugar
4 quarts ginger ale
Mix first three ingredients together and add ginger ale just before serving. Garnish with red maraschino cherries and mint leaves frozen in ice ring. Yield: approximately 160 4-ounce servings
From Hallie Allaire's St. Nicholas Celebration Receipt Book, Allaire Village Auxiliary, 1984. It is available from the General Store at Historic Allaire Village