Mix Your Own Christmas Wine at Home

I acquired my Glogg recipe from a late teacher who once experienced Christmas in Sweden. At first, he was surprised and felt odd about the Swedish tradition. Fortunately, he came home with him the idea of serving other country's tradition.

Glogg (Christmas Wine)

Ingredients:

1 cinnamon stick about 3 inches long
12 whole cloves
12 whole cardamom pods
Rind of 1/2 orange or lemon, cut in strips
2 cups sugar
2 cups water
2 bottles (1/2 gallon each) Burgundy
1 cup blanched almonds
1 cup raisins

Directions:

1. Tie first 4 ingredients in piece of cheesecloth. Put in heavy saucepan with sugar and water. Bring to boil and simmer, stirring, 5 minutes, or until sugar is dissolved.

2. Add wine, cover, and remove from heat. Let steep for one hour.

3. Remove spices and pour wine into sterilized bottles. Seal tightly and refrigerate until ready to give.

4. Wrap almonds and raisins in bundles in plastic wrap and tie to bottle necks. Makes about 2 1/2 quarts or twenty four-ounce servings.

To give attach serving directions: pour wine into heavy saucepan or chafing dish, add almonds and raisins and heat slowly until hot but not boiling. Add i/2 cup Brundy or Madeira, if desired. Put demitasse spoons in punch cups and ladle hot wine and a few almonds and raisins into each cup. Use spoon to ea almonds and raisins.

Happy Holidays!