Mulled Wine

Before you know it, Christmas is here! And while we may not celebrate Christmas at home, I do look forward to this time. It ties in perfectly with the end of year holiday mood. And helped along by the weather, it is also  the time when I am more than inclined to work the oven overtime. And yet this year, Christmas has caught me unaware.

 

So, while I may not have food to share with you today, we can always have a drink together. Keeping the occasion in mind, it is only natural that today's special should be mulled wine!!!

 

 

If there is one drink that usually finds itself on most Christmas menus, it is mulled wine and with good reason. Warm wine that has been sweetened and flavoured with spices is perfect for the weather in mind. And helping matters along is the fact that it takes no more than 10 minutes to get it on the table.

 

 

In this case, I flavoured the wine with traditional Christmassy flavours, with orange and spices like cloves, cinnamon and star anise. Ten minutes on a gentle flame and you are done. It is a perfect  time to use up that bottle of red wine in the cellar that no one thinks too highly of because this recipe transforms it into a real celebratory drink.

 

 

Pour yourself some  mulled wine in a glass, wrap your cold fingers around it, take a deep breath of the beautiful spices in there and then take a sip of this warm, flavoured wine. As it hits the back of your throat, you are warmed up in no time. And if like me, you are feeling a bit under the weather, this is what the doctor prescribed!

 

Be it a large group at a party or a small cosy gathering at home, this is the drink for the season!

 

 

Wishing you and yours a very happy Christmas!! May you have a beautiful day that is filled with love, fun and laughter!

 

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Mulled Wine

serves 4-6
 

Ingredients:

• 1 bottle red wine
• 60 gms demerara sugar
• 1 cinnamon stick
• 2 star anise
• 1 dried bay leaf
• 6-8 cloves
• 1 orange, halved

Directions:

• Put the wine in a saucepan with the orange, sugar, bay leaf and the spices.
• Heat gently until the sugar has dissolved. Taste to see if you want the wine sweeter, and add more sugar to taste.
• Be careful not to boil the mixture. Simmer the mixture gently for 10 minutes.
• Take it off the heat and strain into heatproof glasses and serve at once.