Dawns Mulled Wine Recipes

SANDRA'S MULLED WINE

Steps:

• Over medium-low heat, pour entire bottle of red wine into a pot. Be sure not to raise the temperature too much, otherwise the alcohol will burn off and the sugars will scorch. Stir in the sugar and continue to stir until it has dissolved, about 1 minute. Add the vanilla, apple pie spice mix, orange peel, fresh ginger and raisins. Allow mixture to steep for 10 minutes.
• Check by stirring once in a while. When the wine starts to move a bit slower and becomes a little syrupy, pour in the vodka and brandy. Continue to steep for 5 to 7 minutes
• Lay 3 to 4 almonds into the bottom of the serving glasses or mugs. If you are pouring the hot drink into glass, be sure to have a metal spoon resting inside the vessel. It will conduct the heat away from the glass so that won't crack. Using your ladle, pour the drink through the sieve (tea strainer) into the glasses. Garnish with a long cinnamon stick.

CLASSIC MULLED WINE

Steps:

• To prepare the oranges, if using 2 small, slice one orange into rounds and slice the other in half. If using 1 large orange, slice it in half through the round middle, then slice one of the halves into rounds. Place the rounds into a medium heavy-bottomed pot or small Dutch oven. Squeeze the juice from the remaining oranges into the pot.
• Pour the wine into the pot, followed by the brandy. Add 1 tablespoon of the sweetener for now. Add the cinnamon sticks, star anise and cloves.
• Warm the mixture over medium heat until steaming (about 5 minutes), and keep an eye on it. When you start seeing the tiniest of bubbles at the surface, reduce the heat to the lowest of low.
• Carefully taste, and add another tablespoon of sweetener if it's not sweet enough for your liking. If it's not spicy enough to suit your preferences, continue cooking over very low heat for 5 to 10 more minutes.
• Serve in mugs with your desired garnishes! If you're adding cranberries as I did, you can add them to the pot to make it look extra festive.
• If you expect to polish off the mulled wine within 20 minutes or so, you can keep it on the stove over extra-low heat (it will become more spicy with time). Otherwise, remove it from the heat, cover, and rewarm over low heat if necessary. Leftovers will keep in the refrigerator for a couple of days, covered (pour it through a strainer if you don't want it to become any more spicy than it already is).

DAWN'S MULLED WINE

Steps:

• Put red wine, orange pieces, cinnamon sticks & bay leaf in a pan.
• Warm but do not boil. Keep warm for 5 - 10 mins to let flavours infuse.
• When warm add brown sugar to required sweetness.
• Add the brandy or rum for a little 'oomph'.

MULLED WINE

Steps:

• Put sugar and water in a 5 quart heavy pot over medium-high heat and stir until all of the sugar dissolves. Scrape the vanilla seeds from the pod and add it to the pot along with the vanilla bean and rosemary. Slowly simmer for an additional 5 minutes at very low heat.
• Meanwhile, in a piece of cheesecloth place the cinnamon, cardamom and cloves in the center. Pull the four ends together and tie kitchen string around it to make a small pouch. Make sure to leave enough string to tie around the outside handle on the pot for easy removal. Add the spice pouch, wine, brandy and cut fruit. Let it simmer on low for about 1 hour. Never let it boil. Serve warm.

EASY MULLED WINE

Steps:

• Combine red wine, cinnamon sticks, cloves, allspice, lemon peel, and orange peel in a heavy saucepan over medium heat. Heat gently, but don't boil. Stir in 2 tablespoons of sugar, and once dissolved, taste to see if you'd like to add more.
• Keep hot on medium to low heat for 20 minutes to let the flavors infuse the wine. Serve your mulled wine hot in glasses or mugs.