Deb Ponzek is a mom, chef/restauranteur and author of several popular cookbooks including The Dinner Survival Cookbook and The Family Kitchen. This week she’s sharing her go-to fall cocktail for entertaining—an easy mulled wine perfect for sharing with neighbors on Halloween or enjoying by the fire pit with friends.
Spiced Mulled Wine
Serves 10 to 12
Ingredients:
- Peel of 1 lemon
- Peel of 1 orange
- Two 750-ml bottles red wine
- 1 1/2 cups sugar
- 1 vanilla bean, split (optional)
- 8 whole cloves
- 12 whole peppercorns
- One 2-inch piece fresh ginger, peeled and thinly sliced
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 4 star anise
Directions:
- Using a vegetable peeler, remove the peel of the lemon and orange, being careful not to pick up any of the bitter white pith from the fruit.
- Cut the peel into strips and combine in a large pot with the wine, sugar, cinnamon sticks, vanilla bean, cloves, peppercorns, sliced ginger, nutmeg, and star anise.
- Bring to a simmer over low heat and let simmer gently for about 20 minutes.
- Strain and serve warm.
Dinner Party 101: Easy Tips to Try
Hosting a dinner party can be daunting, especially when you don’t have a ton of time (read: you have kids) or you haven’t done it in a while (also: kids). We love these five tips from Megan Sullivan of The Local Moms Network that will get you started: ...
How to Carve a Turkey: Foolproof Instructions!
These helpful instructions were provided by dad of two Mike Geller, founder of Mike’s Organics in Stamford, CT. The traditional image of The Thanksgiving Turkey being carved at the dinner table is very romantic, but it not practical, nor is it the best...
Thanksgiving Wine Guide
This post was contributed by Kate Santangelo of our Monmouth Moms site! Are you hosting this Thanksgiving? Bringing the wine to your in-laws? Just want to have a little vino while you’re cooking? I’ve got you covered! As a former wine professional, I learned a...