Mulled Wine Recipes

Flickr Photo Credit: AlexIndigo

I first had this stuff during Christmas season in Italy. They serve it all over western Europe at this time of year at the outdoor street markets. I found a recipe and started making it several days a week in the slow cooker for afternoon socializing, dinner parties, warming up, etc. The recipe I have is packed away Lord knows where, so I’ve found a few online. When I finally find the one I used in Italy, I’ll post that as well.

• Here’s a list of several mulled wine recipes. This page also has several egg nog and spiced cider recipes.
• Mulled wine recipes from numerous countries. Host a multicultural mulled wine night and have everyone sleep over. Great for a remote cabin getaway where everyone wants to snowshoe or ski the next day.
• This mulled wine recipe is fortified with brandy.
• Glogg is the Swedish version of mulled wine. This recipe calls for vodka and cardamom along with the other expected ingredients.

Many of these recipes work very well with white wine too. As with sangria, mulled wine should be made with less expensive wines. So look for the stuff on the bottom shelf. The other flavors are what take precedent, so your guests will still be thrilled with this beverage.

Sangria Recipes

Flickr Photo Credit: J.S. Patchwork 

I’d love to post my own here, but the truth is I throw this stuff together differently every time. Sometimes I do a white sangria depending on the food menu, and sometimes a red. I use whatever fruit juice I feel coordinates with the wine, although I usually try to make sure I have a coupon or have found the juice on sale. Here are some links I’ve found on the net. I’ve tried to only include ones I would bother to go back and try using myself.

• This page is a gold mine of sangria recipes, some of them with additional types of alcohol included to make more of a “wine punch”.
• This recipe is for classic Spanish sangria.
• Summer party sangria recipe.
• Another fairly lengthy list of sangria recipes.
• A white sangria recipe.
• A budget version of white sangria for an impromptu party.
• A sparkling white sangria made with white wine.
• This one’s for a white wine and curacao sangria.

I’m a bit partial to the white sangrias when I’m having a get together that’s a bit more formal. A bridal shower where you are serving all white finger foods is a great time to do this, or New Year’s Eve with the white wine and champagne combo. On the other hand, red is great for anything centered around beef. I didn’t find any recipes for blush sangria, but I’m sure you could invent. I did one for a holiday get together one time that had a half a punch bowl of the boxed white wine, a large bottle of white grape / white peach / white cranberry juice (I can’t remember which and I’ve used all three kinds before), and some sliced oranges. After the flavors had blended for a bit, I added some club soda for sparkle.

One of the things I like most about sangria is that you are SUPPOSED to use the cheaper wine. It’s expected. So you can pull off a batch of this stuff for a fair sized group of people for not a lot of cash. Need to throw a party in a hurry on a budget? This is your beverage. Wedding reception on a shoestring? No problem. There’s a sangria recipe available for almost any menu and budget.

More Bar Slush Recipes

Flickr Photo Credit: Tom Lemo

As promised . . .

• Here are some other slush recipes. You have to scroll down a bit before they are typed out. I like the margarita slush recipe. Sounds yummy!
• This recipe is for a strawberry - rum slush.
• A recipe for whiskey slush? Sounds great!
• This one is called summer slush. You can use either gin, or vodka or other alcohol of choice. I think using this basic recipe with gin and using tonic water to add after scooping out would make a great frozen citrus flavored gin and tonic drink.
• A pina colada flavored slush recipe for those island themed parties. Lisa, are you reading this?
• This amaretto slush recipe sounds like fun for summer.
• Pineapple slush recipe with vodka and apricot brandy.
• This link has a recipe for champagne slush. Pretty neat.

What I like about these ideas is that you can usually find lower sugar / calorie versions of most of the juice concentrates used. The flavored sodas always have diet equivalents as well. This is a really fun and affordable idea for summer. You can make a few different kinds have them in your freezer for the entire summer.

Vodka Slush

Flickr Photo Credit: Moochida

All this talk of heritage recipes reminded me of one my friend’s Mom used to make for special events. Vodka slush. Read the rest of this entry »

Recipes: Wassail

Flickr Photo Credit: I. Chaplin

This is a great beverage to serve over the winter holidays, either with or without alcohol. My best friend from grade school’s mother made it every Christmas. Read the rest of this entry »

Recipes: Maureen’s Eggnog Milkshakes

Flickr Photo Credit: Adactio

Ready to take egg nog to the next level? Read the rest of this entry »

Recipes: Bazaar Hot Buttered Rum

Flickr Photo Credit: Paul Irish

This was another recipe from some military friends of ours in Italy. Pretty yummy, if I do say so myself. Read the rest of this entry »

Recipes: Long Lasting Hot Buttered Rum

Flickr Photo Credit: Octal

This one is for the refrigerator instead of the freezer, but will last quite a while. Read the rest of this entry »

Recipe: Crab Apple Liqueur

Flickr Photo Credit: Drab Makyo

Another recipe courtesy of Sabrina. Great for a more unusual homemade hostess gift. Read the rest of this entry »

Recipes: Low Fat Eggnog

Flickr Photo Credit: PSD

Looking for a lower fat alternative to eggnog? Read the rest of this entry »