Thermos (Provided photo — Yvona Fast)

It’s Carnival Time! So many fun-filled outdoor events!

This winter has been unrelentingly cold. It’s great for snow activities like skiing, snowshoeing, sledding and skating. But it’s good to have a hot beverage to warm up with!

To help you stay warm, bring along a thermos! A steaming cup of liquid warms your hands, heats you up from the inside out and helps you stay hydrated.

The first drink that comes to mind on a cold day is hot chocolate! This is a winter classic. Nothing warms me up, inside and out, quite like a cup of hot cocoa that stirs nostalgic memories of coming home from childhood sledding to cups of hot chocolate.

There is a difference between hot cocoa and hot chocolate. Cocoa is made with cocoa powder, which has a strong, bitter taste and a lower fat content, because the cocoa butter is removed during processing. Hot chocolate is richer, with the creamy, silky texture of cocoa butter that comes from real chocolate melted into the cocoa, milk and sugar mix.

Cocoa is good for your heart and your brain. One cup of this rich, flavorful beverage contains double the antioxidants of red wine and up to five times more antioxidants than tea. I avoid the packaged mixes, which are full of artificial ingredients and loaded with excess sugar. Restaurant drinks, like Starbucks’ Grande Caffe Mocha, are expensive and loaded with calories. It is so easy to make at home from cocoa, milk and sugar. You can add flavorings, like cinnamon, peanut butter, a sprig of fresh mint or your favorite liqueur.

There are many ways to flavor this traditional comfort food. You can add mint or orange extract, cinnamon or even cayenne pepper for a Southwestern touch. Whipped cream, shaved chocolate, cinnamon and peppermint candies or marshmallows add an extra touch.

Hot spiced cider is a warm, wonderful drink. It smells so good while cooking on the stove. It’s easy to make and warms your insides while enjoying an afternoon of winter sports. This mixture of apple cider flavored with spices like cinnamon and cloves has many variations. Cinnamon helps control blood sugar and prevents blood clots. You can add orange juice, lemon zest or raspberry jam to jazz it up.

Spiced cider with a touch of pomegranate juice is called an Eskimo kiss. For an alcoholic treat, spike it with schnapps and applejack.

Lemonade is a popular drink to cool off with in the summer — but hot lemonade can warm you up! Just boil water with honey or sugar, then add fresh-squeezed lemon juice to taste and dot with butter for a rich, indulgent treat.

Mulled wine has many ethnic variations and is popular around the globe. There was a time when every household had its own recipe for spiced hot-wine punch.

Hot, steamy tea is a cold-weather favorite. People from the Orient to Britain have been sipping tea for centuries, enjoying its energizing lift. Modern science has uncovered many healthy, natural phytochemicals in the brew. From black to green, white or herbal, there are many flavors to choose from that will warm you on a cold day.

Chai is a creamy, rich beverage popular in India and other parts of Asia. This hot drink is based on a black tea blended with cardamom, cloves, ginger, cinnamon and milk.

Coffee is another choice. A creamy latte made with milk is nourishing in addition to providing that kick of caffeine. You can flavor your latte. Try ginger, peppermint, cinnamon, vanilla and maple. You can even drizzle in your favorite liqueur.

Don’t forget nourishing soup! Our grandmothers were familiar with the benefits of good soup long before Chicken Soup for the Soul. Creamy tomato soup or consomme are two soups that pack easily into a thermos. Make a large pot, and freeze the leftovers. Take some along to keep warm during the carnival.

While tea, coffee and cider are all great treats, the best way to warm up when you’ve been chilled is to consume warm carbohydrates: steaming soup, hot cocoa, a latte or chai made with lots of milk. The creamy, hot liquid both hydrates and nourishes.

Bring along your own thermos when watching the fireworks or visiting palace events. What’s your favorite hot beverage?

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Mother’s Hot Cocoa

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Compared to the commercial mixes, this version is creamier and not as sweet.

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Ingredients:

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1 heaping teaspoon high-quality cocoa powder

1 tablespoon very hot water

1 heaping teaspoon sugar (or more, if you like it sweeter)

1 pint milk (we usually use 2%)

various flavorings (optional)

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Directions:

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In a medium saucepan, combine cocoa powder with hot water and blend to get a muddy paste. Add sugar and milk and heat, stirring, until hot and steamy. For hot chocolate, add 1/4 cup shaved chocolate or chocolate chips and stir until melted. Experiment with adding various flavorings: orange rind, caramel, vanilla extract, cinnamon, chilies, cloves, ginger, mint or alcohol like Cognac or Grand Marnier.

Makes two one-cup servings.

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Hot Spiced Cider

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Ingredients:

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1 quart fresh apple cider

2 sticks of cinnamon

3 to 4 whole cloves

1 tablespoon maple syrup

2 teaspoons lemon juice

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Directions:

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Simmer cider on the stove with cinnamon and cloves for 15 minutes. Remove from heat. Stir in maple syrup and lemon juice. Let it stand covered five or 10 minutes longer. Remove cinnamon and cloves. Serve piping hot in mugs or pour into a thermos. Serves four.

Variations: add other spices, like cloves, nutmeg or allspice. Or spike by adding a half cup of brandy or schnapps.

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Creamy Tomato Soup

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Ingredients:

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1 tablespoon olive oil

1 large onion

1 teaspoon seasoning salt

1 stalk celery

1 or 2 bell peppers

2 or 3 cloves of garlic

2 cups chicken or vegetable broth

1 or 2 bay leaves

1 teaspoon Italian seasoning

1/2 teaspoon paprika

4 cups Marinara sauce

2 tablespoons Tomato Paste

1 or 2 tablespoons maple syrup or honey

1/2 cup heavy cream or 1 cup whole milk

Parmesan cheese, for serving

Chopped fresh parsley, for serving

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Directions:

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Heat oil in a soup kettle over medium heat. Peel and dice the onion, and add; sprinkle with salt, lower the heat and cook for five minutes. Chop celery and peppers (use a hot pepper if you like more spice), stir in and cook another five minutes. Peel and mince the garlic, add and cook one or two minutes more.

Pour in broth and bay leaves; bring to a simmer. Add Italian seasoning and paprika. Add marinara sauce, tomato paste, maple syrup and spices. Cook for about 15 minutes to blend flavors.

Remove from heat. Blend with an immersion blender for a smooth, creamy soup. Taste and adjust seasonings.

Stir in the cream or milk.

Pour into a thermos to take on your outing.

Or pour into bowls and garnish with Parmesan and parsley.

Serves four to six.

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Author of the award-winning cookbook Garden Gourmet: Fresh & Fabulous Meals from your Garden, CSA or Farmers’ Market, Yvona Fast lives in Lake Clear and has two passions: writing and cooking. She can be found at www.yvonafast.com and reached at writeyvona@gmail.com.