12 Days of Christmas – Mulled Wine

Whether you are nursing a flu, celebrating or need to escape, nothing can take you away like mulled wine.

Mulled Wine

2 (3-inch) cinnamon sticks

5 cardamom pods

3 black peppercorns

4 whole cloves

1/4 cups sugar

1/2 cups water

1 (750-ml) bottle dry red wine such as Côtes du Rhône

1 vanilla bean, halved lengthwise

1 small orange, thinly sliced

1 small lemon, thinly sliced

6×4-inch piece of cheesecloth

kitchen string

Wrap cinnamon sticks, cardamom pods, peppercorns, and cloves in cheesecloth and tie with string. Bring sugar and water to a boil in a 5-quart heavy pot, stirring until sugar is dissolved, then add spice bag, wine, vanilla bean, and fruit. Simmer, uncovered, stirring occasionally, 3 minutes.

Yields 8 servings.

Courtesy of Epicurious.com