Patio Heaters

I have discovered the cure for the winter blues! Patio heaters can let you have parties in the winter. I was so excited about the selection of patio heaters at my local home improvement center. I am able to entertain in style on my patio.

I use my patio heaters whenever the temperature goes below forty five. This year, spring has been slow to arrive and I've used my patio heaters longer then I did last year. I love to entertain and I invite people over for drinks every Tuesday all year long.

My rule of thumb is that if I have to have the outdoor fan on, ice cold drinks are served. If I have to use my patio heaters, I serve hot alcoholic beverages. Europeans have a long history of hot alcoholic drinks. There are references to spiced hot wine in monastic records that go back to the 500s. I like that in the 21st century, we have patio heaters in addition to hot drinks to keep us warm.

I like to decide ahead of time which alcoholic beverage will be featured at my weekly event. I usually use a recipe, but improvisation is perfectly fine. All you need to do is combine your preferred wine or liquor with your favorite sweet spices, fruit rinds and juice, plus white or brown sugar, honey or maple syrup. Then all you have to do is sit on the patio with the patio heaters on and stir and sip.

Whether you are making up a drink or using a recipe, a good rule is to never boil the alcohol. It is not good to heat hard liquor or wind beyond the beginnings of a simmer. Alcohol starts to evaporate at 175 degrees, so boiling the alcohol will make your drink weak. I don't want a weak drink when I'm with my friends on the patio with the patio heaters on.

When making a hot alcoholic drink, it is a good idea to steep the spices you have chosen and the fruit rinds in boiling water or tea for about ten minutes. After the fruit rinds have steeped, strain the solids out of the infusion, then pour into the mugs and add the alcohol or your choice. This is a great way to relax and get the most use out of your patio heaters.

If you want a hot wine drink, heat the wine just until steam appears over the pan. It is fine to keep the wine at that temperature for up to 20 minutes. You can use a heat diffuser set over the lowest setting on your stove. Your drink will get tastier while it sets because the spices and fruit components impart their flavors to the mix.