A warm drink on a blustery winter day is one of the joys of the season. And warming up from the inside can make it easier to save energy (and carbon emissions) by keeping the thermostat a couple of degrees lower. But perhaps you're tired of the same old hot herbal tea and crave something a bit more interesting for your mid-afternoon break, or maybe you'd like those holiday stopovers to be a little more memorable for your guests. Here are three warm drink recipes that don't take too much time but will leave a real impression on your friends and family.

Mulled Wine

Called by many names (Gluwine in Germany, Glogg in Norway and Sweden) mulled wine is popular throughout Northern Europe for both it's warming and alcoholic properties. It's strength depends on how much brandy or other liquor is added to the wine, so you can make this a fairly mild drink or a much stronger one, depending on your taste. Either way make sure it's quite warm when served and for some reason, this beverage tastes best outside when the temperature is below 45 degrees. Recipe from About.com.

1 bottle of red wine
0.5 Liter inexpensive brandy or vodka
10 cardamom pods
1 cinnamon stick (broken down)
1/2 orange peel (dried or fresh)
1/2 lbs sugar (regular or lumps)
Optional additions: 5 cloves, 1/2 cup raisins, 1/2 cup almonds, 5 dried figs

Broken Leg

A favorite at mid-mountain bars at ski resorts in North America, this simple drink really hits the spot on the coldest of days. With just three ingredients it's tough to go wrong here; just resist the urge to add too much ginger brandy. Here it's more about the blending of the tastes than the alcohol. Look for local apple cider; it will be fresher and more tasty. Recipe for 1 serving.

Ingredients

1 1/2 cups of apple cider
1 shot ginger brandy
Cinnamon stick

Directions

-Gently heat (but don't boil) apple cider
-Pour into mug or glass and add ginger brandy.
-Mix with Cinnamon stick

Creamy Vegan Mocha Steamer

This vegan version of milk-based drinks means that it's lower in fat and calories and animal-friendly too. The version below is for one serving.

Ingredients

1 shot of Kahlua
1 cup vanilla soymilk or hempmilk
1 tablespoon of chocolate syrup
1 shot of espresso (regular or decaf)
2-3 drops real vanilla extract
Nutmeg to taste

Directions

-Gently eat the hemp or soymilk (don't boil) while preparing the shot of espresso.

-Add espresso to milk and remove from heat. Vigorously stir in the chocolate syrup and vanilla extract until dissolved.

-Pour into mug or glass; add shot of Kahlua and mix; sprinkle nutmeg on top and serve.

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This is the holiday where people celebrate the green. So why can't we also celebrate the eco-friendly? So before you down your Guinness and chow down on organic St. Paddy's Day eats, take a moment to think about the ways you can green up your St. Patrick's Day alcohol consumption. Need some help? Check out our green tips!

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St. Patrick's Day is usually associated with beer- and lots of it (of course, the origins have nothing to do with drinking, but falling at the end of Winter, is it so terrible to want a pint - or two?). Of course, the healthiest (and less hangover-inducing) drinking is accompanied by good food. Whether you drink or not this St. Pat's, choosing healthy eats on the Irish-American holiday will ensure that you don't have too many regrets the next day.

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