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making
spirits
bright
classic
winter holiday drinks by
Yee-Fan Sun | 1
2
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Looking
for a festive way to toast the holiday season? Serve up one of these
classic holiday drinks…
mulled wine
There's nothing like the spicy smell of mulling spices (in this case,
cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves) wafting through the air to really get you
into the cozy winter spirit. Make up a big batch, ladle into
mugs, sip slowly, and breathe deeply -- enjoying mulled wine is as much
about the luxurious aroma as it is about the yummy taste.
2 bottles of fruity red wine,
nothing too complex (cheap is fine)
5 cinnamon sticks
8 whole cloves
1/2 tsp. ground nutmeg
2 big oranges
2 small lemons
˝ cup sugar, or to taste
yields about 6-8 mugs' worth
1
Slice up the oranges and
lemons; reserve some orange slices for garnish.
2
Pour the wine into a big pot;
add the spices and fruit. Bring the mixture just until small bubbles
form at the surface, then bring the heat down low so the liquid's barely
steaming. (You don't want to boil off all the alcohol.) Simmer for 20
minutes, then add the sugar and cook until dissolved, another couple of
minutes or so. Taste; if the spices haven't permeated enough to your
liking, you can turn off the heat, cover the pot, and let things stew
until you're happy with the flavor. Strain, re-warm as necessary, and
serve, garnishing with the remaining orange slices.
 mulled
cider
You can use the same spice mix as for the mulled wine (minus the sugar
-- I generally find the cider adds enough sweetness on its own), but
here's another version that's equally tasty.
1/2 gallon of apple cider
2 cinnamon sticks
4 whole cloves
2 whole cardamom pods, lightly crushed
zest from one whole orange, plus the juice (basically, you're just
discarding the bitter white pith)
yields about 6-8 mugs' worth
1
Use a veggie peeler to shave
off the orange zest. Halve the naked orange and squeeze out the juice.
2
Pour the cider in a pot and
add the spices, zest and orange juice. Bring the mixture to a boil, then
immediately lower the heat so that the liquid gently bubbles. Simmer on
low for 20 minutes, until the spices have seeped in. Taste; if the
mixture seems too potent, add water as needed. Strain and serve warm.
amble
this way please
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