Warm Spiced Wine Food

WARM SPICED WINE

Steps:

• Combine merlot, sugar, orange peels, lemon peels, cinnamon sticks, cloves, and nutmeg in a saucepan over medium heat; simmer until sugar is dissolved and flavors have blended, 10 to 15 minutes.

MULLED SPICED WINE

Steps:

• Bring the wine, port, water, vanilla, cardamom, cloves, cinnamon, allspice, orange peel or whole orange cut in half, lemon peel or whole lemon cut in half, hibiscus flowers and sugar to a simmer in a nonreactive saucepan.
• Or place in a slow cooker on low for 1-2 hours.
• Simmer the mixture slowly for 15 minutes.
• Strain and place into Heat resistant punch bowl or keep in crock pot and keep on low.
• Place 1 blanched almond and several raisins or fresh cranberries in the bottom of each punch glass.
• Pour the warm wine mixture over and serve.

HOT SPICED WINE

Steps:

• Place first 3 ingredients on an 8" square of cheesecloth; tie with string. Place spice bag in a Dutch oven. Add red wine and remaining 5 ingredients; bring to a simmer over low heat (do not boil). Keep at a simmer while serving. Ladle into mugs.
• Note: For a nonalcoholic version, omit wine and substitute more apple cider.

GLUEHWEIN (GERMAN HOT WINE PUNCH)

Steps:

• Mix everything together in a large saucepan and heat until hot but NOT boiling.
• Boiling it will ruin the Gluehwein, so be careful to not set your heat to high.
• You can pour this into a crockpot on LOW heat and serve warm.

HOT SPICED WINE (CROCK POT)

Steps:

• Combine all ingredients in crock pot and stir.
• Cook on low for 4-12 hours or high for 1-2 hours.

MULLED WINE

Steps:

• With a fine grater, zest, then juice the orange.
• With the flat side of a knife, press firmly on the cardamom pods to bruise them. In a large pot (not aluminum), combine zest, juice, cardamom, cloves, allspice, peppercorns, cinnamon, wine, sugar, and brandy. Cook over medium heat, stirring, until sugar dissolves, 1 to 2 minutes.
• Reduce heat to low; simmer until flavors have melded, about 30 minutes. Pour through a fine-mesh sieve; garnish with cinnamon stick, if desired. Serve immediately.