Good – good – good – good li-ba-tions…. Try this Maine variation on mulled wine.
You Will Need:
2 1/2 Tbs whole allspice berries
2, 4in cinnamon sticks
2 Tbs dried orange peel pieces
2 Tbs whole cloves
3/4 C Maine maple syrup
1 bottle red wine
Instructions:
Combine all in a saucepan.
Heat on medium until sugar is dissolved, stirring occasionally.
Strain before serving warm.
Protect your wine glasses! Put a spoon in the glass to prevent breakage when the warm wine is poured in.
Ambiance sets the mood for any occasion, from a quiet dinner alone to a large gathering. Candlelight warms any spirit like nothing else can. Scented candles can evoke a variety of moods.
Bring the feeling of summer to January, with a candle that smells of fresh cut grass. Theme a winter get-together by bringing summer delights inside: lemonade, baked beans, fried chicken, and the smell of lemon meringue.
Recapture the festive holiday in February with the scent of fresh pine and hot apple pie.
Or build new warm memories this January with the smell of cranberry muffins, chocolate cake, or hot buttered maple.
When times are tough, we need our friends around us, but entertaining is expensive even if you’re hosting a pot-luck event. New Year parties can be especially difficult to budget because the host is usually responsible for the champagne for the toast. This year, make your friends feel special by serving mimosas.
Called a Buck’s fizz outside the United States, mimosa is usually served at brunch or weddings, but it can also make a New Year party feel a little more elegant while cutting alcohol costs.
Traditional Mimosa
1 part chilled champagne or sparkling wine
1 part chilled orange juice
Serve on a punch bowl with thinly sliced oranges floating on top.
Fruity Variation
1 part chilled champagne or sparkling wine
1 part chilled orange juice
1/4 part grenadine
Serve garnished with fresh raspberries.
You may be wondering what sort of champagne to use with this. It depends a lot on taste, but we at Sturbridge have found that a sweet sparkling wine often goes better with the fruit juices. Try a Spumanti (Asti and Ballatore both offer good ones) instead of champagne. We always receive compliments on how good a Spumanti tastes whenever we serve it all on its own.
For a non-alcoholic version, use a sparkling water instead.
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