Care for some Mulled Wine?

Ingredients:


1 bottle dry red wine

2 lemons, sliced into wheels


1 orange, sliced into half-wheels


1-2 cinnamon sticks


2 star anise pods


1.5 cups sugar


1.5 cups water


2 teaspoons vanilla extract


1 teaspoon ground allspice


1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon


1/2 teaspoon ground ginger


1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg


1/2 teaspoon freshly-ground pepper


3 ounces orange liqueuer (optional, I used Grand Marnier)



Directions:
1. Prepare the spiced syrup (can be done the night before) by bringing the water to a simmer, then add the sugar, vanilla extract & the ground allspice, ginger, nutmeg, cinnamon and pepper - stir until sugar is dissolved.


2. Turn on a six-quart slow cooker to the HIGH setting, and combine the spiced syrup with the bottle of red wine, citrus slices, cinnamon sticks & star anise pods. Give it a quick stir, then cover it and let it sit for about an hour (or when it starts to simmer.)


3. Bring the slow cooker down to a LOW or WARM setting, add the orange liqueur and the mulled wine is ready to serve! (Also, the wine-soaked fruit is absolutely tasty to nibble on!)

And for all those designated drivers and others who'd rather not get spirited away -- I'd imagine this formula to be delightful for a spiced cider too. Just use 25 ounces apple juice or cider in lieu of the red wine -- and of course, no liqueur. Cheers!