Making the TOYS Spread Special
For all of our shows, we strive to put on something beyond the usual art opening, which stereotypically is often replete with “Three Buck Chuck” wine and crudités with ranch dressing.
Nope. For TOYS, we wanted to make it special, dammit.
So thanks go out to Martha Gilchrist for her imaginative and creative spread of goodies. Thanks to Sun King Brewing Company for donating the delicious Wee Mac Scottish Ale.
For my own efforts, I was little chagrined that my on-the-spot concoction of mulled wine would turn out to be such a hit. One woman even came up to me at one point and asked, “Are you the mulled wine guy? We need more!” I’m happy you liked it, and quite as a few of you asked me for the recipe, I’m glad to post here.
Hugh’s Holiday Mulled Wine
The wine is the only exact measurement in this recipe. I mixed the stuff on the spot and was conservative in my measurements when writing them down. Like my mom always said when she taught me to cook, “You always put it in, but you can’t take it out!”
There are a million recipes for mulled wine—some add Brandy, some add vanilla bean, peppercorns, cloves, allspice, bay leaves, and even chili power. This is the stuff I thought would work best. Have fun experimenting and enjoy.
2 bottles of red wine – really about anything will do; this is one honest case where the cheap stuff works well- ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- ½ teaspoon ground cardamom
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon ground ginger
- ½ cup honey
- ¼ cup lemon or orange zest
- 1 apple, sliced thin
Plug in a Crock Pot and set it to medium—high if you’ve procrastinated and your folks are coming in a half hour. Uncork the wine and dump it in. If you remember high school science, quickly turn the bottle upside down and make a couple of circles forcefully. This creates a whirlpool effect and allows better air flow so the wine empties faster. Slowly, add in the nutmeg, cardamom, cinnamon, and ginger. While stirring, slowly add in the honey. Make sure it’s not collecting on the bottom. Zest a lemon or orange (or both) into the pot. Cover the Crock Pot and let it all heat up together as you put the persimmon pudding in the oven, settle an argument between your brother and your dad over which was the better Darrin on Bewitched, or stop the dog from chasing the cat right into the tree. It’s best when it’s been steeping a while, at least an hour.
Slice an apple thinly and cut a little star in the middle if you’re feeling creative. Serve in coffee mugs with the apple slice floating on top. This concoction is best served with a tape recorder running prompting your folks for those stories that they always tell.
