Instant party: Fried cheese pops and mint toddy

Fried cheese pops

Scoop 1/4 cup all-purpose flour onto a plate. Beat 2 eggs in a shallow bowl. Pour 1/2 cup Italian-flavoured bread crumbs onto a second plate. Coat 12 Babybel cheeses in flour, then dip in egg. Roll in bread crumbs to coat. Heat a large pot over medium. Add enough vegetable oil to reach 1/2 in. up sides of pot, about 1 cup. Add 6 Babybels to hot oil. Cook, turning often, until Babybels turn golden brown, 30 sec to 1 min. Remove a paper-towel-lined plate. Repeat. Serve with warmed honey mustard. Serves 4.

Mint toddy

Boil 2 cups water in a medium saucepan. Remove from heat and add 2 mint tea bags. Steep 2 to 3 min. Remove tea bags. Stir in 1/3 cup bourbon and 1 tbsp granulated sugar. Divide tea mixture among 4 mugs and garnish each with a spring of mint. Serve warm. Serves 4.