Ackwards-bay Ai-chay*

We're in full "What do you serve for a three-year-old's birthday party?" mode. Since the party is scheduled for 10am, I thought to look through Mollie Katzen's breakfast bonanza Sunlight Cafe for brunch-ish ideas friendly to both child and parent. I hope to have some well-fed guests next weekend! And I was inspired to make this beverage for an afternoon snack. It's called "backward" because usually for chai you add milk to spiced tea and this is spiced milk mixed into black tea. Mmmm, very satisfying and so much less expensive than a trip to Starbuck's.

     Backward Chai
     from Sunlight Cafe by Mollie Katzen

     1 cup milk
     2 cinnamon sticks
     [2 tsp fennel seeds] (I didn't have any. Omitted w/out worry)
     16 cardamom pods
     8 whole cloves
     1/8 tsp ground coriander
     1 1/2 cups hot black tea, brewed very strong
     Honey
     Ground cinnamon

• Pour the milk into a saucepan and add all the spices except the honey and ground cinnamon. Place over medium heat.
• Just before the milk reaches the boiling point, turn the heat down and simmer, uncovered, for 5 minutes. 
• Strain the milk mixture into the black tea. 
• Stir in honey to taste. Pour into mugs. Sprinkle each with cinnamon and serve hot.

     Serves 2-3

*Because ig-pay atin-Lay is fun and I only just remembered that.