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What is the Christmas spirit? It is the spirit which brings a smile to the lips and tenderness to the heart, it is the spirit which warms one into friendship with all the world, which impels one to hold out the hand of fellowship to every man and woman. – Anonymous
I am always so excited to write about antiques, and the holidays for Victorian Homes Magazine. This is part of the feature I wrote and photographed for them for their Holiday Issue.
I hope you enjoy it, if you don’t have this magazine, it should still be available.
A Cup of Cheer
Because Christmas comes but once a year, a celebratory drink is always most welcome. This hot mulled wine is so delicious! I serve it in antique small French glasses, with a twist of orange peel and a cinnamon stick. But a large glass, or even a holiday mug will work beautifully too!
Serve it after dinner, when your guests retreat to the living room, perhaps to listen to carols on the piano.
Set up on a small table near the glow of the sparkling Christmas lights, this festive Christmas Mulled Red Wine infused with warm winter spices, apple cider, lemon, orange, and apple slices is sure to spark conversation.
Below is the fabulous recipe created by my friend Lisa Hatfield Torres that she allowed me to share with the Victorian Homes Magazine readers.
CHRISTMAS MULLED WINE
Recipe courtesy of Lisa Hatfield Torres of DeliciousTable.com
2 bottles red wine
4 cups apple cider
1/2 cup honey
4 oz. apple brandy
4 cinnamon sticks
6 cloves
2 star anise
sliced lemons, oranges, apples,
4 oranges peeled for garnish
Simmer all ingredients on the stove for 10 minutes.
{can also be made in a slow cooker}
Serve warm, garnished with orange peel.
So easy, delicious, and a bonus is that this makes your home smell heavenly! I hope you enjoy it!
Don’t forget that until December 15th, each time you leave a comment on any blog post at FrenchGardenHouse and visit Leslie Sinclair you will be entered in the give away of Leslie’s fabulous book Segreto Vignettes!
I encourage you to make this Christmas a season full of welcome, warmth and light. With your exquisite decorative elements in place, when your loved ones gather around your tree and share the essence of Christmas, which is love, there is no place like home for the holidays.
Shop for the best in French Antiques, furniture with the patina of age, vintage accessories to delight you and your family & friends, and French Country utilitarian pieces. Treasures that make your home fresh, beautiful, inspirational and uniquely yours. Visit our shop FrenchGardenHouse.com.
I absolutely love warm mulled wine, we shall certainly be making a big simmering pan full for our guests at our Christmas party, the aroma alone is fantastic.
Susan, I agree! Nothing makes the house smell quite as delicious like mulled wine…xo
There are many stands with mulled wine at the Christmas markets, and the smell is so enticing! It’s a way to use those bottles of wine that aren’t quite one’s style….
This really warms my soul!!
Looks beautiful and sounds yummy.
In our family we imbibe in the Negroni. It is a typical Italian drink. Strong enough to fortify against the cold of December and with the bitter hint of Campari. The festive red color adds to the fun. If you would like to try it here is the recipe (though I’m sure there are many other variations) is:
Equal parts campari, gin and sweet vermouth. Serve chilled wth a slice of orange. Che meraviglia!!!!
This sounds so good, Lisa. Thank you for sharing your family recipe!
Beautiful! I’m going to try this, it sounds wonderful!
I absolutely love everything French and have furnished my home by the sea in Canada in the French style. I have consulted many magazines and your blogs for ideas as well as French fashion.
Thank you for giving me great pleasure.
Thank YOU, Ann, for starting my day off with such a sweet compliment! xo
Check and Double check!
BRING THE SEASON ON!!!!!!!
Wishing you a beautiful week ahead, La Contessa, filled with days spent getting ready for the holidays! xo
I so love that image and now I know it is mulled wine…beautiful presentation and another congrats on your feature!….Now can you pass me a glass through cyberspace?!!….Thanks for the recipe!!
I wish I could Shirley! How fun would that be, to drink mulled wine together friend. So yummy. Happy Monday! xo
That mulled wine sounds delicious, however down in southern hemisphere, our choice will probably be something chilled and bubbly!
So happy to see all the wonderful inspiration. Most of all I loved seeing the oranges decorated with cloves. That luscious scent means Christmas, family and friends. Thanks for the memories.
The mulled wine is wonderfully Chtistmas.
Do you have a red wine preference? Sweet? Dry?
Sheryl, that is the beauty of making Mulled Wine! You can use a bottle of wine that maybe isn’t that stellar. Usually, we use a bottle of deep red wine, a merlot, or a burgundy.