Mulled Wine and a Christmas in July #SundaySong

Hello friends! Thanks so much for dropping by today. I have decided that since I am preparing for my annual Christmas in July party this week's #SundaySong will be very festive!

Last year I posted about the origins of Christmas in July so I won't go into that again today but if you would like to read more about Christmas in July just click here.

This year I will be making the same kinds of festive treats and I will decorating the house with just a few things to put us in the Christmas spirit.

I've also decided to make mulled wine again as it was so delicious and warming last year.

Mulled wine, variations of which are popular in Europe, is wine, usually red, combined with spices and typically served warm. It is a traditional drink during winter, especially around Christmas and Halloween.

Mulled wine, aka gluhwein, glögg, vin fiert or vin brulé, is drunk in many European countries around Christmas, but it is particularly associated with German and Nordic traditions where so-called “glogg” parties are a holiday season staple. It is usually prepared from red wine, heated and spiced with cinnamon sticks, vanilla pods, cloves, citrus and sugar. Glühwein is drunk pure or "mit Schuss" (with a shot), which means there is rum or liqueur added. The French name is vin chaud (hot wine).

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I used a recipe from Jamie Oliver and so I thought I would share the recipe today because, as he says, it's "Christmas in a glass."

Jamie Oliver's Mulled Wine

Jamie Oliver's Mulled wine recipe

Ingredients
• 2 clementines/oranges
• peel of 1 lemon
• peel of 1 lime
• 250g caster sugar
• 6 whole cloves
• 1 cinnamon stick
• 3 fresh bay leaves
• 1 whole nutmeg
• 1 whole vanilla pod, halved
• 2 star anise
• 2 bottles of Chianti, or other Italian red wine
Peel large sections of peel from the citrus using a peeler. Put the sugar in a large saucepan over a medium heat, add the pieces of peel and squeeze in the clementine juice. Add the cloves, cinnamon stick, bay leaves and about 10 to 12 gratings of nutmeg. Add halved vanilla pod and stir in just enough red wine to cover the sugar. Let this simmer until the sugar has completely dissolved into the red wine and then bring to the boil. Keep on a rolling boil for about 4 to 5 minutes, or until the liquid transforms into a thick syrup. This creates a flavour base because the sugar and spices infuse with the wine.

When the syrup is ready turn the heat down to low and add star anise and both bottles of wine. Gently heat the wine and after around 5 minutes, when it’s warm and delicious, ladle it into glasses and serve.

Crock pot Mulled Wine recipe

 
One song that will definitley be on my playlist for my Christmas in july party will be Ella Fitzgerald's version of Winter Wonderland with Frank DeVol's Orchestra.

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I hope that you enjoy today's wintery and festive Sunday Song!



What is your favourite Christmas Song? Do you have any suggestions for songs that I might like to add to my Christmas playlist? I would love to hear your suggestions!

Today I am linking up to these fabulous parties: Holiday Haven's Christmas in July Party, Thea's Sunday Sessions, Seasonal Sundays @the Tablescaper & On the Menu Monday at Stonegable.

I am also linking to One Heart ot Home's Christmas in July Party

and to
Tinsel and Company's Deck the Halls Party!

Thanks also for visiting my little corner of the world! 

Best wishes and I hope you have a wonderful week,

Natasha In Oz