Re: Holiday Cocktail Hour
It’s Christmas again, and as per the usual, I wish I were Jewish.
I hate the winter holidays, with their hectic schedules and tacky outfits. I prefer low-pressure holidays, like the 4th of July: just have a beer and watch fireworks.
So at this time of the year, I turn to the wisdom of the ancients to take the edge off.
This is an Ancient Greek spiced wine recipe attributed to Hippocrates (c. 460 – 377 BC), the “Father of Medicine”, as a cure for depression. It packs a bit of a kick, but it’s a good way to get rid of bad wine, like that French white Burgundy I got that smells like it was casked in a gym sock.
Spiced Wine Hippocrates
1 quart wine, white or red
2/3 cup honey
1 large piece orange peel
1 stick of cinnamon
1/2 tablespoon whole cloves
1/2 tablespoon whole allspice
(if not using fresh orange peel or stick cinnamon, use ½ tablespoon each)
Put all ingredients in a saucepan, chafing dish, or fondue pot. Warm, but do not boil. Let steep for several minutes (five minutes or to taste), and serve hot or cold.
For a single serving, use ½ teaspoon each of the spices, and 2 tablespoons honey (or to taste) in the bottom of a mug or glass. Warm 1 cup of wine in the microwave or a saucepan, and pour over the other ingredients. Let steep, then drink.
Happy Holidays, everyone. I’ll be back on Dec. 28th.
8:43:37 AM 
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