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Beverages

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Hot Mulled Cider

Betty K. Drescher

Quakertown, PA

Makes 8 servings

Prep. Time: 10 minutes

Cooking Time: 3-6 hours

Ideal slow-cooker size: 3½-qt.

1 tsp. whole cloves

¼ cup brown sugar

2 qts. cider

1 3"-long cinnamon stick

1 orange, sliced

1. Tie cloves in cheesecloth or put in tea strainer.

2. Combine all ingredients in slow cooker.

3. Cover. Cook on low 3-6 hours.

—— PER SERVING ——

• 160 calories (0 calories from fat)

• 0g total fat (0g saturated, 0g trans)

• 0mg cholesterol

• 30mg sodium

• 39g total carbohydrate (0.5g fiber, 34g sugar)

• 0g protein

• 0%DV vitamin A

• 8%DV vitamin C

• 2%DV calcium

• 2%DV iron

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Hot Apple Cinnamon Drink

Marla Folkerts

Holland, OH

Makes 24 servings

Prep. Time: 5 minutes

Cooking Time: 3-5 hours

Ideal slow-cooker size: 6-qt.

1 gallon cider

2 liters diet ginger ale

4 ozs. hard candies—your choice of flavors

cinnamon sticks, optional

1. Combine all ingredients in slow cooker.

2. Cover. Simmer on low 3-5 hours.

—— PER SERVING ——

• 100 calories (0 calories from fat)

• 0g total fat (0g saturated, 0g trans)

• 0mg cholesterol

• 30mg sodium

• 25g total carbohydrate (0g fiber, 20g sugar)

• 0g protein

• 0%DV vitamin A

• 0%DV vitamin C

• 0%DV calcium

• 0%DV iron

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Christmas Wassail

Linda Sluiter

Schererville, IN

Makes 8 servings

Prep. Time: 5-10 minutes

Cooking Time: 1-2 hours

Ideal slow-cooker size: 3-qt.

1 qt. apple cider

½ cup orange, or pineapple, juice

2 cups water

3 orange pekoe tea bags

¼ cup brown sugar

¼ tsp. ground cinnamon

¼ tsp. ground cloves

oranges

1. Combine all ingredients except oranges in slow cooker.

2. Cover. Cook on high 1-2 hours.

3. Slice oranges to float on top. Serve in mugs.

—— PER SERVING ——

• 160 calories (0 calories from fat)

• 0g total fat (0g saturated, 0g trans)

• 0mg cholesterol

• 20mg sodium

• 45g total carbohydrate (7g fiber, 35g sugar)

• 1g protein

• 2%DV vitamin A

• 100%DV vitamin C

• 8%DV calcium

• 4%DV iron

Note:

Your kitchen will smell great!

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Peachy Spiced Cider

Joyce Shackelford

Green Bay, WI

Makes 8 small servings

Prep. Time: 10 minutes

Cooking Time: 4-6 hours

Ideal slow-cooker size: 2-qt.

4 5½-oz. cans peach nectar

2 cups unsweetened apple juice

½ tsp. ground ginger

¼ tsp. ground cinnamon

¼ tsp. ground nutmeg

4 fresh orange slices, cut ¼” thick and then halved

1. Combine peach nectar, apple juice, ginger, cinnamon, and nutmeg in slow cooker.

2. Top with orange slices.

3. Cover. Cook on low 4-6 hours.

4. Remove orange slices and stir before serving.

—— PER SERVING ——

• 180 calories (0 calories from fat)

• 0g total fat (0g saturated, 0g trans)

• 0mg cholesterol

• 15mg sodium

• 44g total carbohydrate (3g fiber, 41g sugar)

• 1g protein

• 6%DV vitamin A

• 100%DV vitamin C

• 4%DV calcium

• 6%DV iron

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Cran-Apple Juice

Anita Troyer

Fairview, MI

Makes 9 servings

Prep. Time: 15 minutes

Cooking Time: 1-1½ hours

Ideal slow cooker size: 3-qt.

6 cups Cran-Apple juice

3 cups water

3 Tbsp. sugar

3 Tbsp. red hots

9 whole cloves

9 tendrils mace

¾ tsp. nutmeg

1. Mix all ingredients in slow cooker.

2. Cover. Heat on medium 1-1½ hours.

3. Before serving, remove cloves and mace.

—— PER SERVING ——

• 140 calories (0 calories from fat)

• 0g total fat (0g saturated, 0g trans)

• 0mg cholesterol

• 5mg sodium

• 35g total carbohydrate (0g fiber, 31g sugar)

• 0g protein

• 0%DV vitamin A

• 110%DV vitamin C

• 0%DV calcium

• 0%DV iron

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Autumn Tea

Shelia Heil

Lancaster, PA

Makes 12 servings

Prep. Time: 15 minutes

Cooking Time: 2-3 hours

Ideal slow-cooker size: 4- or 5-qt.

5 individual tea bags

5 cups boiling water

5 cups unsweetened apple juice

2 cups low-sugar cranberry juice

⅓ cup lemon juice

⅓ cup sugar

½ tsp. pumpkin pie spice

1. Place tea bags in slow cooker. Pour in boiling water. Cover and steep for 10 minutes.

2. Remove and discard tea bags.

3. Add juices, sugar, and pumpkin pie spice.

4. Stir until sugar is dissolved.

5. Heat in slow cooker 2-3 hours on high or low, or until flavors have blended and tea is heated through. Serve warm.

—— PER SERVING ——

• 80 calories (0 calories from fat)

• 0g total fat (0g saturated, 0g trans)

• 0mg cholesterol

• 10mg sodium

• 20g total carbohydrate (0g fiber, 17g sugar)

• 0g protein

• 0%DV vitamin A

• 30%DV vitamin C

• 0%DV calcium

• 0%DV iron

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Cranberry Punch

Betty B. Dennison

Grove City, PA

Makes 8 servings

Prep. Time: 15-25 minutes

Cooking Time: 4 hours

Ideal slow-cooker size: 4-qt.

8 whole cardamom pods

2 sticks cinnamon

12 whole cloves

4 cups dry red wine

2 6-oz. cans frozen cranberry concentrate

2⅔ cups water

½ cup honey, or to taste

1 orange sliced into 8 thin crescents

1. Make a spice packet of these items: Pinch open cardamom pods to release seeds. Place seeds on a piece of cheesecloth or paper coffee filter. Add cinnamon sticks and cloves. Tie with a string to make a bag.

2. Pour wine, cranberry concentrate, water, and honey into slow cooker. Heat on low.

3. Submerge spice packet in liquid. Heat but do not boil.

4. Let punch steep on low for up to 4 hours.

5. To serve, remove and discard spice bag. Divide punch among cups. Float an orange slice in each cup. Serve warm.

—— PER SERVING ——

• 240 calories (0 calories from fat)

• 0g total fat (0g saturated, 0g trans)

• 0mg cholesterol

• 30mg sodium

• 40g total carbohydrate (3g fiber, 33g sugar)

• 2g protein

• 4%DV vitamin A

• 20%DV vitamin C

• 8%DV calcium

• 10%DV iron

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Pomegranate Punch

Lindsey Spencer

Marrow, OH

Makes 6 servings

Prep. Time: 5-7 minutes

Cooking Time: 1-2 hours

Ideal slow cooker size: 3-qt.

3 cups pomegranate juice

1½ cups reduced-sugar cranberry juice cocktail

½ cup orange juice

3"-long cinnamon stick

1 tsp. grated ginger

1. Put all ingredients in slow cooker.

2. Cover. Cook on low 1-2 hours, or until heated through.

3. Serve hot or chilled, depending on the time of year.

—— PER SERVING ——

• 90 calories (0 calories from fat)

• 0g total fat (0g saturated, 0g trans)

• 0mg cholesterol

• 15mg sodium

• 23g total carbohydrate (0g fiber, 21g sugar)

• 1g protein

• 0%DV vitamin A

• 45%DV vitamin C

• 2%DV calcium

• 0%DV iron

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Spiced Apricot Cider

Joyce Shackelford

Green Bay, WI

Mary Longenecker

Bethel, PA

Makes 6 servings

Prep. Time: 10 minutes

Cooking Time: 2 hours

Ideal slow-cooker size: 2½-qt.

2 12-oz. cans apricot nectar

2 cups water

¼ cup lemon juice

¼ cup sugar

2 whole cloves

2 3"-long cinnamon sticks

1. Combine all ingredients in slow cooker.

2. Cover. Cook on high 2 hours.

3. Remove cloves and cinnamon sticks before serving.

—— PER SERVING ——

• 140 calories (0 calories from fat)

• 0g total fat (0g saturated, 0g trans)

• 0mg cholesterol

• 40mg sodium

• 35g total carbohydrate (1g fiber, 27g sugar)

• 1g protein

• 20%DV vitamin A

• 80%DV vitamin C

• 2%DV calcium

• 4%DV iron

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Orange Ginger Tea

Jeanne Heyerly

Chenoa, IL

Makes 8-10 servings

Prep. Time: 5-10 minutes

Cooking Time: 4-6 hours

Ideal slow-cooker size: 2½-qt.

2 qts. water

3 1"-squares fresh gingerroot, sliced

3 Tbsp. brown sugar, or honey

1 orange, sliced

1. Place water and gingerroot in slow cooker.

2. Cover. Cook on high 2 hours; then on low 2-4 hours.

3. Add sugar or honey and sliced orange 1 hour before serving.

—— PER SERVING ——

• 20 calories (0 calories from fat)

• 0g total fat (0g saturated, 0g trans)

• 0mg cholesterol

• 10mg sodium

• 6g total carbohydrate (0g fiber, 5g sugar)

• 0g protein

• 0%DV vitamin A

• 8%DV vitamin C

• 2%DV calcium

• 0%DV iron

Note:

This tea makes cold-sufferers feel better!

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Green Grape Ginger Tea

Evelyn Page

Gillette, WY

Makes 8 cups

Prep. Time: 5-15 minutes

Cooking Time: 2 hours

Ideal slow cooker size: 3-qt.

4 cups boiling water

15 single green tea bags

4 cups white grape juice

1 Tbsp. honey

1 Tbsp. minced fresh gingerroot

1. Place boiling water and tea bags in slow cooker. Cover and let stand 10 minutes. Discard tea bags.

2. Stir in juice, honey, and gingerroot.

3. Cover. Cook on low 2 hours, or until heated through.

4. Strain if you wish before pouring into individual cups.

—— PER SERVING ——

• 90 calories (0 calories from fat)

• 0g total fat (0g saturated, 0g trans)

• 0mg cholesterol

• 15mg sodium

• 22g total carbohydrate (0g fiber, 21g sugar)

• 0g protein

• 0%DV vitamin A

• 60%DV vitamin C

• 0%DV calcium

• 0%DV iron

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Slow-Cooker Chai

Kathy Hertzler

Lancaster, PA

Makes 18 servings

Prep. Time: 10 minutes

Cooking Time: 1-1½ hours

Ideal slow-cooker size: 6-qt.

16 regular black tea bags

1 gallon water

8 opened cardamom pods

9 whole cloves

3 Tbsp. gingerroot, freshly grated, or chopped fine

3 cinnamon sticks

8-oz. can fat-free sweetened condensed milk

12-oz. can fat-free evaporated milk

1. Pour one gallon water into slow cooker. Turn cooker to high and bring water to a boil.

2. Tie tea bag strings together. Remove paper tags. Place in slow cooker, submerging in boiling water.

3. Place cardamom seeds and pods, cloves, and ginger in a tea ball.

4. Place tea ball and cinnamon sticks in boiling water in slow cooker. Reduce heat to warm and steep, along with tea bags, for 10 minutes.

5. After 10 minutes, remove tea bags. Allow spices to remain in cooker. Increase heat to medium.

6. Add condensed milk and evaporated milk. Bring mixture to a boil.

7. Immediately turn back to warm. Remove spices 30 minutes later.

8. Serve tea from slow cooker, but do not allow it to boil.

—— PER SERVING ——

• 50 calories (0 calories from fat)

• 0g total fat (0g saturated, 0g trans)

• 0mg cholesterol

• 40mg sodium

• 11g total carbohydrate (0g fiber, 10g sugar)

• 2g protein

• 2%DV vitamin A

• 0%DV vitamin C

• 8%DV calcium

• 0%DV iron

Note:

We love this after leaf-raking or for a fall party, especially when we serve it with muffins and fruit.

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Vanilla Steamer

Anita Troyer

Fairview, MI

Makes 8 servings

Prep. Time: 5-10 minutes

Cooking Time: 2-3 hours

Ideal slow cooker size: 3-qt.

8 cups fat-free milk

⅛ tsp. cinnamon, or 2 3”-long cinnamon sticks

2 Tbsp. Splenda

2 Tbsp. vanilla

pinch of salt

pinch of nutmeg

1 Tbsp. per serving fat-free whipped topping, optional

sprinkling of ground cinnamon, optional

1. Put all ingredients except whipped topping and sprinkling of ground cinnamon in slow cooker.

2. Cover. Cook on low 2-3 hours, taking care to make sure it doesn’t boil.

3. Garnish individual servings with whipped topping and a sprinkling of cinnamon if you wish.

—— PER SERVING ——

• 90 calories (0 calories from fat)

• 0g total fat (0g saturated, 0g trans)

• 5mg cholesterol

• 120mg sodium

• 13g total carbohydrate (0g fiber, 13g sugar)

• 8g protein

• 10%DV vitamin A

• 0%DV vitamin C

• 30%DV calcium

• 0%DV iron

Tip:

I usually make a larger recipe than I will need, and then refrigerate the leftovers. We like it either reheated, or as creamer in our coffee. This drink is very soothing and helps everyone relax!

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Almond Tea

Frances Schrag

Newton, KS

Makes 10-11 servings

Prep. Time: 10 minutes

Cooking Time: 1 hour

Ideal slow-cooker size: 4½-qt.

10 cups boiling water

1 Tbsp. instant tea

⅔ cup lemon juice

6 Tbsp. sugar

1 tsp. vanilla

1 tsp. almond extract

1. Mix together all ingredients in slow cooker.

2. Turn to high and heat thoroughly (about 1 hour). Turn to low while serving.

—— PER SERVING ——

• 30 calories (0 calories from fat)

• 0g total fat (0g saturated, 0g trans)

• 0mg cholesterol

• 5mg sodium

• 8g total carbohydrate (0g fiber, 7g sugar)

• 0g protein

• 0%DV vitamin A

• 0%DV vitamin C

• 0%DV calcium

• 0%DV iron

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Spiced Coffee

Joyce Shackelford

Green Bay, WI

Makes 8 servings

Prep. Time: 15 minutes

Cooking Time: 2-3 hours

Ideal slow-cooker size: 3-qt.

8 cups brewed coffee

⅓ cup sugar

¼ cup low-fat chocolate syrup

½ tsp. anise extract

4 cinnamon sticks, halved

1½ tsp. whole cloves

1. Combine coffee, sugar, chocolate syrup, and anise extract in slow cooker.

2. Place cinnamon sticks and cloves in cheesecloth bag. Place in slow cooker.

3. Cover. Cook on low 2-3 hours.

4. Discard spice bag.

5. Ladle coffee into mugs. Garnish each with half a cinnamon stick.

—— PER SERVING ——

• 70 calories (10 calories from fat)

• 1g total fat (0g saturated, 0g trans)

• 0mg cholesterol

• 20mg sodium

• 17g total carbohydrate (0.5g fiber, 14g sugar)

• 0g protein

• 6%DV vitamin A

• 2%DV vitamin C

• 2%DV calcium

• 10%DV iron

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Viennese Coffee

Evelyn Page

Gillette, WY

Makes 4 servings

Prep. Time: 15 minutes

Cooking Time: 3 hours

Ideal slow cooker size: 1½- or 2-qt.

3 cups strong brewed coffee

3 Tbsp. low-fat chocolate syrup

1 tsp. sugar

⅓ cup fat-free half-and-half

¼ cup crème de cacao, or Irish cream liqueur

fat-free whipped topping, thawed, optional

chocolate curls, optional

1. In a slow cooker, combine coffee, chocolate syrup, and sugar.

2. Cover. Cook on low 2½ hours.

3. Stir in half-and-half and crème de cacao.

4. Cover. Cook 30 minutes more, or until heated through.

5. Ladle into mugs. Garnish if you wish with whipped topping and chocolate curls.

—— PER SERVING ——

• 110 calories (25 calories from fat)

• 3g total fat (1.5g saturated, 0g trans)

• 10mg cholesterol

• 55mg sodium

• 16g total carbohydrate (0g fiber, 12g sugar)

• 1g protein

• 2%DV vitamin A

• 0%DV vitamin C

• 2%DV calcium

• 0%DV iron