It feels like just yesterday we were soaking gummy worms in vodka for the Halloween party, but believe it not the Holidays are practically here and we’re in the mood for a drink! So before you undergo a huge #PinterestFail with some complicated holiday punch cocktail or guzzle down a thousand calories worth of spiked eggnog, why not consider giving a classic holiday beverage a try! Mulled Wine is a traditional holiday party staple and just so happens to be loaded with health benefits.
Folks started warming up with a hot chalice of mulled wine back in the 2nd century after the Romans went around conquering Europe and forcing their delicious drink recipes on everyone. Now we aren’t sure if our ancestors were aware of all the health benefits their delicious creation had back then, but we’ll give them the benefit of the doubt. Traditionally made with a red wine, mulled wine has all the health perks that come along with sipping on a glass of antioxidant rich red wine including memory protection against Alzheimer’s, slower signs of aging, and lowering the risk of heart disease – just to name a few! And in addition to all the “good for you” benefits of red wine, mulled wine recipes often call or cinnamon stick and nutmeg which both have their own health perks. Cinnamon is actually considered a super food and has the ability to lower blood sugar levels and act as an anti inflammatory, helping to fight infections and repair tissue damage. Nutmeg on the other hand has the ability to soothe indigestion, detoxify the body and increase your immune system function – all things we could definitely use help with during the stressful holiday season.
So, what are you waiting for! We’ve given you more than enough reasons to whip up a batch of mulled wine for your next Holiday Party, and maybe even a pot for this evening. Here’s one of our favorite recipes that is sure to give you all those benefits along with a Friday night buzz!
Ingredients
• 1 bottle red wine
• 1 orange, sliced
• 1 lemon, sliced
• 50g (2oz) Demerara sugar
• 1 cinnamon stick
• 4 whole cloves
• grating nutmeg
• 2 tbsp Grand Marnier or Cointreau
Directions: Place all the ingredients except the Grand Marnier or Cointreau in a saucepan with 300ml (1/2 pt) water. Heat gently until the sugar has dissolved. Taste to see whether it is sweet enough and add more sugar if desired. Remove from the heat, add the Grand Marnier or Cointreau. Stir well, strain into heatproof glasses and serve immediately. Recipe courtesy of Woman and Home.
