Glogg

• 1 bottle red wine
• 1 cup vodka
• ½ cup sugar
• 6 cardamom pods (white are preferred but green are ok)
• 5 whole cloves
• 1 cinnamon stick
• Zest of one orange
• ¼ cup peeled, slivered almonds
• ¼ cup raisins

Place all ingredients except almonds and raisins in a pot and bring to just below boiling. Warm gently for half an hour, being careful not to boil. Strain, add almonds and raisins and serve. Some recipes insist this is better if left to steep for an hour or even overnight, then gently reheated. Some replace the vodka with brandy and caramelize the sugar in the brandy before adding to the wine mixture. Still others light the whole concoction on fire but we’re not recommending that!

• Yields: 4 to 8 servings depending on your pour