It's the weekend. Have a drink.






Mulled wine is one of those things I always mean to make for the holidays, but never get around to. Which is a weak excuse, because it's as easy and throwing a few things into a saucepan and simmering, and creates not only a wonderful spicy aroma throughout the whole house, but tastes like liquid Christmas. It's pretty adaptable to personal tastes and the contents of your cupboard, but I like to use a cheap but sturdy red wine, a couple of clementines studded with cloves, cinnamon sticks, a star anise, and some rich demerara sugar or honey. If you simmer the sugar first with some clementine juice and the spices, it cooks down to a rich syrup to which you add the wine and simmer for a few minutes. That's it! You can add a splash of brandy if you need a little extra kick, and you absolutely MUST drink it with a selection of sweet treats and pastries - I suggest little almond tarts or mince pies. Have someone else make those.

And remember - if it's a hot drink, it doesn't really count as a drink. So help yourself.







pics via pinterest

2 comments: