Mulled Wine

There is nothing better in the winter days than a toasty mug of mulled wine. Mulled wines have been warming people for centuries, they are wines that have been sweetened, spiced and slightly heated - making a delicious alternative to coffees, ciders and toddy’s at holiday gatherings or just on a cold winter's night.Warm wine is very popular all over Europe.  In Germany they call it Glühwein, in France vin chaud, аnd in Italy vin brulé.  In Macedonia we call it Греено вино. It is perfect for a sweet surprise when having company over because it is not expensive to prepare and its sweet aroma will make your place smell amazing.

Trust me, this will be a hit at your next party!

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 25 minutes

Total Time: 30 minutes

Ingredients:

• One bottle (750 mL) of red wine (suggestions: Cabernet Sauvignon, Zinfandel, Merlot)
• One peeled and sliced orange (keep peel to add zest to taste into cooking pot)
• 1/4 cup of brandy
• 8-10 cloves
• 2/3 cup honey or sugar
• 3 cinnamon sticks
• 1 tsp fresh or 2 tsp ground ginger (allspice can be substituted)
• Serves 4-6

Preparation:

To make the perfect cup of mulled wine, combine all ingredients in either a large pot or a slow cooker. Gently warm the ingredients on low to medium heat (avoid boiling), for 20-25 minutes. Stir occasionally to make sure that the honey or sugar has completely dissolved. When the wine is steaming and the ingredients have been well blended it is ready to serve. Ladle the mulled wine into mugs (leave seasonings behind).

Tips:
You don't have to use expensive wine. The spices will add the pleasant aroma and taste.
Do not let the wine boil because the alcohol will start to evaporate. Also, the spices might get a bitter taste.
If you want a stronger drink add more brandy or orange liqueur.
Add icing sugar, it will melt easier. You can also use honey for a stronger aroma.

Enjoy!

Statement Jewelry

My winter favourites

Cranberry Joy

This blog is dedicated to my favourite scent from The Body Shop. They usually only carry this body butter in store during the winter so I always make sure to stock up for the whole year. For me this is how Christmas smells like, I adore the smell and I especially love how smooth my skin feels every time I apply this product. The Cranberry Joy body butter doesn't have that citrus smell of the cranberry, it is very sweet and it almost smells like wine. Absolutely wonderful!

Few interesting facts about the cranberry:

• To Americans and Canadians it is known to be a staple of Thanksgiving and Christmas.
• The shrug grows close to the ground  and it thrives in wet, cold bogs and swamps.
• It is red in color and rather bitter, acidic to taste requiring to be sweetened or mixed with other foods.
• The cranberry is a wonderful source of antioxidants with a very acceptable ORAC score. It contains vitamin A, vitamin C, potassium, and manganese.
• The total phenol content and antioxidant activity is nearly double that of the apple, red grape, strawberry, banana, peach, lemon, orange, pear and grapefruit.
• Cranberry juice is becoming known as a potent antibacterial for combating urinary tract infection (UTI). Contrary to popular belief , it is not the acidity of cranberry juice that provides this UTI protective effect, but rather distinct bacteria-blocking compounds called proanthocyanidins (PACs). While many fruits contain similar compounds, thus far only PACs of cranberries and blueberries which are botanically related species, have shown to exhibit this effect.

Source:
Rinn, Roger C, PhD, and Ralph E Carson, PhD. Harnessing the Healing Power of Fruit  pg.93
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