Spiced Mulled Wine

Mulled wine is a must-have holiday drink: spicy, warm, wonderful for parties, and really simple to make, especially if you use a slow cooker! For a little more kick, this one is cooked with ginger and brandy.

Ingredients :

• 1 orange

• 15 whole cloves

• 1 750 mL bottle of red wine (cheap Cabernet or Malbec)

• 1/4 cup sugar (turbinado is nice)

• 3 cinnamon sticks

• 2 teaspoons ground ginger

• 1/4 cup brandy

STEPS :

     1. Stud the cloves into the orange, then cut the orange :

Insert the cloves into the orange (see image), then cut the orange into half circles. (Because you inserted the cloves into the orange, you won't have to worry about floating cloves in your drink.)

Alternately, cut the orange into half-circles and add the cloves and orange juice to the wine individually.

     2.Add the ingredients to the pot :

In a pot or slow cooker, mix all of the ingredients together.

     3.Heat the wine :

Simmer the wine for 20-25 minutes on medium-low heat, swirling regularly to blend the ingredients and dissolve the sugar. If using a slow cooker, heat the wine for 1 1/2 hours on low or 45 minutes on high, until warm.

It's done when the mulled wine smells fantastic, tastes spicy, and is heated (but not boiling). Serve and have fun!