It’s a Hump Day, You Need a Drink!

First of, CONGRATULATIONS on making it so far! Two more days and it’s the weekend! WOOHOOO! Second of all, I DON’T have a drinking problem, and, yes, you NEED that drink, and it is okay! Haha!

With the holiday season quickly approaching, we often are in the mood for a special treat: it could be a hot chocolate with whipped cream, an eggnog latte or… GLUHWEIN!… Wait! What in the world is it???

Glühwein (“glow wine”) or, as it is also called, mulled wine, is in essence a warm mix of wine, spices (such as clove and cinnamon), orange and sugar or honey. This alcohol beverage has its origins in Germany, where it is very popular to this day, especially during Christmas holidays. The drink was reportedly created back in the XV century, when thrifty Germans decided to add a few things to the wine that started going bad to make it drinkable again. That is INSANE, don’t you find?!

Glühwein is perfect for wine lovers! I can guarantee you that this mixture will warm you right down to the tips of your toes and make your day so much better and special! WORD!

The perfect way of drinking it would be curled up under the blanket with your loved one, listening to a crackling sound of a fireplace *which I don’t have, BUMMER!*… Just writing this makes me want to go up north to mountains and be surrounded only by nature!

On another note, you’d be surprised, but Glühwein has many health benefits too! *Uhemmm… when drunk in moderation…*

• Cinnamon reduces blood sugar & boosts antioxidant levels
• Orange is a great source of vitamin C
• Red wine – prevents heart disease & increases levels of ‘good’ cholesterol

Original recipe makes 6 (4 ounce) servings

Ingredients:

1 750 ml bottle of dry red wine (merlot, shiraz, cabernet or zinfandel)
½ cup of orange juice
¼ cup of honey
½ teaspoon of nutmeg
1 cinnamon stick
1 orange, sliced into 6 pieces
12 whole cloves

Preparation:

1. In a large saucepan, combine orange juice, honey, nutmeg and cinnamon. Bring to boil, reduce heat, and simmer.
2. Embed 2 whole cloves in each orange slice and add to mixture.
3. Simmer for 30 minutes, until thick and syrupy.
4. Pour in the wine warm at low heat until steaming but not simmering. Add more sugar or honey to taste.
5. Strain out whole spices and orange slices, and serve hot in glass mugs that have been preheated in warm water (otherwise, they can break), garnished with a cinnamon stick or an orange slice.