Christmas Eve Update

The du Noel has been Buched, the wine is mulled, the nuts are spiced and soon the chicken will be parmesaned, the shrimp scampied, and the Eve-ing underway.  Our regular Christmas guests had to bail with the crud.  But we will make merry on our own.  The Hippocras is one of my favorite holiday drinks - just enough to get all warm and merry.  Just wish I had some medieval-type goblets!

HIPPOCRAS - warm spiced wine

2 quarts of good red wine
1T. ginger
2T. cinnamon (use less!!)
1/2t. nutmeg
6-7 whole peppercorns
9-10 whole cloves
1/2t. rosemary
1 cup sugar

Pour wine into a large glass jar.  Add ginger, cinnamon, and nutmeg.  With a pestle or the edge of a heavy fry pan, crush peppercorns, cloves, and rosemary together.  Add these and the sugar to the wine.  Stir well.  Cover and let stand at least 12 hours - stir once during that time.  We put ours in the mudroom where it's cooler.  Strain well and heat on low or in a crock pot.