Category — lemons

Ingredients

• 1 bottle of red table wine
• 50 ml - 100 ml (1/4 - 1/2 cup) vodka (optional)
• 5-20 cloves
• 1 rounded tsp. cardamom seeds
• 2 to 4 cinnamon sticks
• 1 or 2 pieces of ginger
• Zest of half a lemon
• 125 to 250 ml (1/2 to 1 cup) sugar
• 1 rounded tsp. vanilla sugar

Method

1. Crush the cinnamon and cardamom. Peel the lemon. Put all the spices and peel into a glass jar with the vodka.
2. Cover. Leave overnight. Strain the vodka, discard the spices.
3. Mix the spiced vodka with the wine and sugar.
4. Heat all the ingredients in a large saucepan until steaming hot. Do not boil! Stir and taste.
5. If not sweet enough, add more sugar. If too sweet, add more wine.

In Victorian England, children were served small glasses of wine at the dinner table, and had it in punch at their parties. Here is a recipe for Negus - a Victorian mulled wine - intended for a child’s birthday party. It’s from Mrs. Beeton’s Book of Household Management from 1861.

• 1 pint port wine
• 1 quart water
• 1/4 lb sugar
• 1 lemon
• grated nutmeg to taste

• 2 x 75 cl bottles medium to full-bodied red wine
• 1 orange stuck with cloves
• 2 oranges, sliced
• 2 lemons, sliced
• 6 level tablespoons granulated sugar or honey
• 2 inch (5 cm) piece cinnamon stick
• 2 level teaspoons finely grated fresh root ginger or ground ginger
• 2 tablespoons fruit liqueur such as Cointreau, Grand Marnier or cherry brandy (optional)

• 1/2c water
• 1/2c sugar
• 2 Tbsp rosemary
• 1/4 cup honey
• 2 lemons
• 2 bottles riesling white wine

Simmer (but not boil) the water, sugar, rosemary, and honey for 10 minutes. Add in the wine. Peel the lemons and add in the peels. Let sit for a length of time to seep in the flavors, without boiling. Strain out the larger bits and serve warm.

• 2 1/4 cups water
• 2 Tbsp sugar
• 2 whole cinnamon sticks
• 2 bottles red wine
• 1/2 cup Cognac
• Lemon twists

Bring water, cinnamon and sugar to a boil in a large saucepan. Add in the wine, heat slowly until hot again. Stir in the cognac, and remove from heat.

• 3c water
• 1c sugar
• 1 lemon peel
• 1 cinnamon stick
• 15 cloves
• 1 bottle red wine
• 1/4 c brandy

Simmer all but wine and brandy in a cooking pot for 10 minutes. Add in the wine and heat back up until warm to the touch. Do not boil. Add in brandy and let sit for a while to absorb the flavors. Serve warm.

• 2 bottles red wine
• 1/2 cup water
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 4 sticks cinnamon
• 5 whole cloves
• 1 orange
• 1 lemon

Zest the fruit, avoiding the white pith. Put this, the sugar, cinnamon and cloves into the water. Bring this to a slow boil for 5 minutes. Remove from heat. Now add the wine. Add in the actual orange and lemon fruit part, sliced up. Warm this on low heat for 40 minutes (do NOT boil). Strain out the wine and serve!

• One bottle of red wine
• One peeled and sliced orange (keep peel to add zest to taste into cooking pot)
• One peeled and sliced lemon (keep peel to add zest to taste in cooking pot)
• 1 tsp ground nutmeg
• 2 tsp ground ginger
• 5 whole cloves
• 3 cinnamon sticks
• 1/2 cup sugar (or honey can be substituted)
• 2/3 cup brandy or cognac
• 1/2 cup water

PREPARATION:

Combine all ingredients in either a large pot or a slow cooker. Gently warm the ingredients on low to medium heat (avoid boiling), for 20-25 minutes. Stir occasionally to make sure that the honey or sugar has completely dissolved.

Ingredients

• 4 quarts dry red wine (zinfandel, merlot, burgundy, etc.)
• 1 pint brandy
• 1 cup sugar
• 6 cinnamon sticks
• 12 cloves, whole
• 1/8 tsp allspice
• 1/8 tsp mace
• 2 oranges, sliced
• 1 lemon, sliced

Directions

1. Pour the wine into a large pot and begin heating over low heat.
2. As it begins to warm, add sugar and spices. Stir until sugar is dissolved.
3. Add the brandy.
4. Heat thoroughly, but do not allow to boil!
5. Add the lemon and orange.
6. Steep for about 1 hour over low heat.
7. You may add more sugar during this time if desired, stirring well so it disolves.
8. Serve hot and garnish with orange slices. A stick cinnamon could also be used.

• 2 lemons
• 2 oranges
• 1  bottle of medium, to full bodied red wine
• Nutmeg (to taste)
• Cloves (to taste)
• Brandy or Cognac (or to taste)
• 1 cup granulated sugar (optional)
• Herbal or citrus influenced tea (optional but excellent)
• Water (optional softener instead of tea)
• 4 large cinnamon sticks
• 4 candy canes

Instructions for making four large portions

1. Cut lemons and oranges into slices.
2. Pour the red wine into saucepan and gradually heat.
3. Add fruit slices, nutmeg, cloves and brandy.
4. Keep an eye on the mixture and wait until it becomes hot to the touch.
5. At this point you could blend in sugar or water (if desired).
6. Pour into glasses/mugs and add tea (to taste).
7. Garnish with cinnamon stick and candy cane.
8. Serve