One of my goals this year is to cook more. I’m going to try to post a weekly recipe that I’ve made to motivate me to do it. First off, a warm alcoholic drink to take the chill off of your first day back to work.
This is a great hot alcoholic drink that I first tried at our DWW Xmas Party this year. I liked it so much I decided to try and make it. I took it to Christmas dinner and made it for our NYE party last night. It’s a big hit and perfect for cold winter nights. I make it in a Crockpot, but you can certainly make this in a big pot on the stove.
INGREDIENTS
3L Red Wine
1 1/2 cups water tsp cinnamon (or to taste)
1/2 cup brown sugar (or to taste)
fresh ginger root
3 clementine oranges
12 whole cloves
Crockpot
Ingredients
Turn the crockpot on high. Pour wine into crockpot, saving just enough for a glass for yourself while preparing 
Add water.
Peel two oranges – try to keep the peel whole, or at least in large pieces. Squeeze the juice into the pot. Cover and let the wine mixture heat for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Check the wine temperature, make sure it’s nice and hot so the dry ingredients dissolve fully! Peel and grate fresh ginger root into wine mixture, add cinnamon and sugar. Stir to dissolve. Separate orange peel into large pieces and push whole cloves into peel, add to pot.
Cover and cook on high for 60 minutes – stir and check occasionally to make sure it doesn’t boil. Taste and add more sugar or spices to your liking. Turn heat to low and cook for another 30 minutes.
Strain mixture and put it back in Crockpot, set on Warm. Peel leftover orange and a slices to pot to garnish. Serve in warm or room temperature cups – cold glass will crack.
A glass of wine for preparation
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Separate peel into large pieces
Strain & Serve
Every year we get together with the DWW family and friends for a holiday party. It’s so nice to have everyone together for some holiday cheer. This year the kids all left the party around 11 to meet up with the rest of our friends at the Gull. It’s a fairly small place when the patio is closed and we filled it up fast. People were even waiting in line to get in and some unfortunately were turned away because they were at capacity. I think it’s probably the busiest that place has ever been.
It’s great to get together to celebrate and I love that we’re all one big family. These are the times we’ll look back on and remember when everyone is traveling the world for their careers.
And it’s snowing! Maybe we’ll get a white Christmas after all. I am very excited to see my family and give them the presents I’ve bought and made. I’m almost ready and just have to get one last minute present, in case my knitting project doesn’t get finished in time today. Oh and I need to get Harley a little something because he has been a very good boy this year. I’m going to forego the Show and Tell this week, for now, because I just don’t have the time to put it together before we leave for our parent’s house. I hope you all have a safe and happy holiday with family and friends.
Merry Christmas!
Haha… Here’s another photo of Harley in his sweater. He got it from my sister and doesn’t really like to wear it itl, but it’s so funny to put it on him and watch him walk around.
“Soon the bells will start
And the thing that will make them ring is the carol that you sing
Right within your heart.”
I am so excited! Chad and I are off to do the last of our shopping and then all I need to do is bake and finish wrapping. This might be the first year that I’m not scrambling on Christmas Eve day to finish up. Fingers crossed.
Do you have left to do before Christmas?
Meowers in his Christmas Sweater
