Charles Dickens Punch Recipes

''I'll raise your salary, and endeavour to assist your struggling family,'' Scrooge tells Bob Cratchit near the end of A Christmas Carol, ''and we will discuss your affairs this very afternoon, over a Christmas bowl of smoking bishop!'' This recipe, adapted from the book Drinking With Dickens, by Charles Dickens's great-grandson, Cedric, reflects Scrooge's new disposition and largesse perfectly: it's warm and sweet and meant for sharing. (To Cedric Dickens's recipe, I've added some fragrant cardamom pods, because years of drinking glogg have shown me how well they play with orange and wine, but you may omit them). If you're unable to find Seville oranges-marked by a pleasant, pronounced bitterness - substitute five navel oranges, and add the juice of one lemon when you add the port to the pan (do not stud the lemon with cloves or roast the lemon with the oranges).

Provided by Rosie Schaap

Categories     cocktails

Number Of Ingredients 7

Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 416, UnsaturatedFat 0 grams, Carbohydrate 48 grams, Fat 0 grams, Fiber 3 grams, Protein 2 grams, SaturatedFat 0 grams, Sodium 22 milligrams, Sugar 34 grams, TransFat 0 grams

• Ingredients

An unusual little recipe found online posted in response to a recipe request. Both borage flowers and leaves are edible. Because it is a tonic plant for the adrenal glands, borage provides an invaluable support for a stressful lifestyle. Borage is rich in minerals, especially potassium.

Provided by Molly53

Categories     Beverages

Time 20m

Yield 18 Half-cups

Number Of Ingredients 7

Nutrition Facts : Calories 168.8, Sodium 7.3, Carbohydrate 9.2, Fiber 0.1, Sugar 6.6, Protein 0.1

• Ingredients

According to his great-grandson, Cedric, Charles Dickens ''loved the ritual of mixing the evening glass of Gin Punch, which he performed with all the energy and discrimination of Mr. Micawber.'' You may recall that, in ''David Copperfield,'' Wilkins Micawber is uplifted by a humble gin punch: ''I never saw a man so thoroughly enjoy himself amid the fragrance of lemon-peel and sugar, the odour of burning spirit, and the steam of boiling water, as Mr. Micawber did that afternoon." Although this is called a punch, note that it's a serving for one - but don't let that stop you from making it for company. Its combination of spirit, warmth and spice will bring to mind a hot toddy, and it's fragrant and flavorful enough to supplant the more familiar whiskey-based version - at least for a season.

Provided by Rosie Schaap

Categories     cocktails

Number Of Ingredients 10

• Ingredients