Chai Pumpkin Bread & Hot Tea Grog

Bake with Tea! Try Chai Pumpkin Bread
Consider making a delicious pumpkin bread for a Holiday morning brunch item or a hostess/host gift for all of those holiday parties. This Chai Pumpkin Bread blends warm and spicy chai tea with yummy pumpkin for a fantastic holiday treat.  

1/2 c sugar
1/2 c butter, at room temperature or butter substitute
1 c canned pumpkin
2 large eggs or egg substitute
2 bags of Choice Organic Teas Chai Spice Black Tea, steeped in 1/2 c boiling water
1 tsp vanilla
1 1/3 c all-purpose flour
2/3 c whole-wheat flour
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1 1/2 tsp salt
2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp each cardamom, ginger, and black pepper
1/4 tsp each cloves, nutmeg, and allspice

Preheat oven to 350. In a large bowl, use a mixer to beat together sugar and butter until light and fluffy. Add pumpkin, eggs, chai tea liquid, and vanilla and stir until well combined. Add flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and spices and stir just until evenly moistened. Pour into prepared 8" loaf pan. Bake 45-55 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean. Cool at least 20 minutes before serving. Original recipe from 28 Cooks (adapted with chai tea addition)

Hot Tea Grog
Warm your guests up with Hot Tea Grog, a spicy tea drink with cloves, rum and cognac. 
The clove flavor and dark run make this a bit of an exotic tasting brew for a festive variation on traditional holiday spirits (serves 4).

4 cups brewed tea (using Choice Organic Teas Wild Forest Black, Classic Black, or English Breakfast Tea)
4 oz cognac
4oz dark rum
Several cloves
2 tsp honey
2 Pinches of nutmeg

Brew four cups of tea using the black tea of your choice. Remove tea bags or tea leaves and pour into saucepan. Add other ingredients to saucepan and heat thoroughly over medium heat. Serve hot with a cinnamon stick in each mug.

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