Years ago, when Dan and I first met, he whisked me away to a cabin in the woods for my birthday weekend. Unbeknownst to me, he had smuggled all of the fixins to make Glühwein, a favorite German treat from his days spent in Freiburg. Needless to say, with this warm pot of spiced wine on the stove and snow falling outside, we had little reason to leave the cabin (though we did anyway, lots of snowshoeing interspersed with the imbibing).
We invited our friends over last night for a comfort food night of roasted potato soup, homemade challah bread from our friends, another hot fudge sundae cake, and Glühwein. Given the blizzard-like conditions outside, it was the perfect combination of delights inside (the child noise level reached ear-splitting proportions a few times, but that's to be expected for a few more years, right? More Glühwein, please...).
Here's Dan's recipe for you all, just in time to whip some up the next time your friends come over for holiday cheer, or really, just anytime you want to feel all warm and fuzzy inside from a nice, hot, alcoholic drink. Cheers!
Glühwein
In a large saucepan, combine 1/4 liter water, 1 stick of cinnamon, 5 cloves, and 5 tablespoons sugar. Heat up for about 2 minutes.
Add "some lemon juice" (a tablespoon or two? I used a few splashes from the bottle), 1/2 a lemon cut into thin slices, the peel from 1/2 an orange, and 1 liter red wine (we chose this one).
Heat up but don't let it boil. Simmer on low while you're hanging out and sip from your favorite Christmas mug. Best consumed while watching snow fall, but guaranteed to taste good in any part of the world.
We added another bottle of wine about half-way through along with another 1/4 liter of water but only added another 2 tablespoons of sugar. The citrus and spices were still good and we couldn't even tell it was another batch.
4 comments:
I just saw a show tonight where, in the making of the Glühwein, they lit a large ladle-ful of rum on fire and poured it over a large block of sugar which was sitting in a funnel over the huge cauldron of Glühwein. The rum stayed on fire, the fire melted and caramelized the sugar which dripped down into the Glühwein. Supposedly this is the famed Feuerzangenbowle. At any rate, I want to try it. Glad you enjoyed your Glühwein. It's a favorite of mine too!!
YUM. I am going to make some Glühwein this weekend, I do believe!
I want to eat your header........
Oh gluhwein - love it and truly this summer (so called) is so cold I may have to make some this weekend!
Loved the Christmas meme - and your slightly frozen christmas parcel - I wish this weather would decide - normzally this time of year its sandals and barbecues but this year - well, snow would be more fun!
They sell a non-alcoholic version here in winter. I always have some in the fridge, LOVE it.
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