Spiced Hot Milk

Beautiful Granddaughter taught me how to make her version of sweet and spicy hot milk the other evening, so I’m sharing it today.  With hints of vanilla, cinnamon, cardamom and sugar, you will be lulled to sleep in a hurry with this lovely bed time treat.

There are lots of versions of nighty-night milk, but she’s adamant this one’s the best, and her secret ingredient is Mexican vanilla.  She tells me no other vanilla will do. 

BG enjoyed a trip to Mexico recently!

Amounts are per person, so multiply if you must.

1 cup 2 or 3% milk

½ teaspoon Mexican vanilla

¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon

2 green cardamom pods, husked and ground

½ teaspoon vanilla sugar or 1 teaspoon jaggery powder 

How you heat the milk is up to you.  BG uses the microwave, but for larger amounts I’d recommend the stove top with a good pot that won’t let the milk scorch on the bottom.  Heat it to your preferred temperature.

Take it off the heat, and add the vanilla, cinnamon, ground cardamom and sugar.  Imbibing large amounts of white sugar just before bed-time is counterproductive, so if you’re using refined sugar, go carefully.  Jaggery will add more depth of flavour and is healthier too, but it’s not quite as sweet, so you may need a bit more. 

Grind cardamom as finely as possible.

Stir the spices and sugar into the milk till the sugar is dissolved.  Sip and relax.  In a little while you’ll be happy to tuck yourself into a nice warm bed, ready for a sound sleep.

Isn't it wonderful when kids take an interest in creating recipes?