What is Christmas without mulled wine?
It’s like a dancer without pointed shoes, like a dj without turning tables, like a mom without a child, like a dog without his master, like me without cookies…
Ok…ok…I might have gone too far here, fact is, I could never imagine a Christmas without a cup of hot vin brule’ to sip next to the fire place.
This is also what my dad always used to make for me when I was sick, and since I have a horrible cold and fever, I have decided to go back to my old grandma’s treatment and make myself a cup of vincotto (as we called it in Italy), it’s Christmas season anyways, so I am TOTALLY allowed to!
I ordered all the ingredients I needed from epermarket and waited for the delivery guy to bring them to my doorstep – I love the convenience of home delivery. In less than 1 hour (and with less than 200 RMB) I was on my couch sipping on hot sweet, spicy wine and now I am feeling SO much better!
Make yourself a cup too!
Ingredients:
- 1 large orange, skin
- 1 lemon, skin
- 4-5 anise stars
- 2 cinnamon stick, plus more for garnish (optional)
- 1 bottle (3 cups) red wine (i used Vin de France, which is only 49 RMB on epermarket)
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla essence
- 1/3 cup sugar or honey
Peel the orange and the lemon very thin and place them in a saucepan together with the sugars, cinnamon sticks, anise stars, and vanilla essence.
Pour in the wine and bring it to a simmer. Cook over medium heat until sugar dissolves for 1 to 2 minute. Then reduce heat to low and let it simmer until flavors have melded. About 30 min.
Pour through a fine-mesh sieve, garnish with cinnamon stick and orange skin if desired
and serve immediately!
Love
– LittleDani
