In the Christmas Spirit (finally!): Thermomix Mulled Wine
Madame Thermomix hasn’t really been in a Christmas-y mood this year and has been specifically reacting to the overblown commercial hype which overshadows the real meaning of Christmas more each year. In sharp contrast to the commercial and technological build-up to Christmas, it was particularly refreshing to experience the Winchester Christmas Market. Founded in 2006, the Winchester Christmas Market is recognised as one of the best in Europe, renowned for its unique location, high quality exhibitors and bustling atmosphere. It is inspired by traditional German Christmas markets and attracts more than 350,000 visitors each year. I particularly liked the pretty wooden chalets which are situated in Winchester Cathedral’s historic Inner Close. There is even an open-air real ice rink, but Madame Thermomix packed her ice skates away when she went to university and hasn’t been on them since!
There were many chalets featuring artisanal goods from around the world such as Pure Spain (01305 458 166) and its Spanish gourmet food, fine wine, home ware, cookware and a range of Spanish gifts. They were selling fabulous Spanish chorizo which we couldn’t resist and which you’ll hear more about in late February, after the Wines of Spain tasting dinner we are organising at Tongham Village Hall on 12th February. Then there’s Winchester Christmas Market’s British Crafts Village which features jewellers, painters, glass makers and textile artists that have created their own range of unique gifts and decorations. All products within this area have been designed and made in the UK.
I was particularly attracted to a delightful chalet where Cranborne House (01953 885443) was offering wonderful things in wood, hand crafted wooden toys and bird products. Even though I already have 8 bird feeders of various kinds in the garden I could not resist a simple wooden apple feeder designed to attract green woodpeckers. The feeder and an apple plucked from Tongham Wood since adorn my garden but I still await the green woodpeckers who haven’t found it yet. Hope springs eternal!
The mere thought of ice skating in the frosty winter air brings to mind the perfect remedy for cold hands: Mulled Wine and Mulled Apple Juice. It’s a real doddle in the Thermomix as the internal steamer basket holds the fruit and spices and allows the juice or wine to swirl through the basket and release the warm flavours. Then just use the Thermomix spatula to remove the basket of fruit and spices in one easy movement and get down to business and pour out the hot indulgent liquid. Put some on to warm in your home or party venue and the atmosphere soon fills with all the smells of Christmas coming from the orange, lemon, cinnamon, cloves, and cardamom wafting along on the rising steam.
Mulled Wine
Recipe Copyright Janie Turner 2002; can be found on UK Thermomix website
Ingredients
80 gm sugar
1 orange & 1 lemon, preferably organic
6 whole cloves
3 cracked cardamom pods
2 cinnamon sticks
1 whole nutmeg
6 whole allspice berries (optional)
For mulled wine, use:
1/2 litre (500 gm) apple, orange or cranberry juice
1/2 litre (500 gm) water
750 ml. bottle red wine
For mulled apple juice, use:
1.25 litre (1250 gm) apple juice
1/2 litre (500 gm) water
Method
- Weigh sugar into the Thermomix bowl and grind Speed Turbo, 5 seconds.
- Slice fruit and add to Internal Steamer Basket with the whole spices.
- Pour or weigh juice, water and wine if using into the Thermomix bowl, and insert Internal Steamer Basket containing fruit & whole spices.
- Heat for 10 minutes/90° C/Speed 1.
- Serve immediately, or set Timer for up to 60 minutes/80° C/Speed 1 until required.
Chef’s Tip 1: It is possible to use the same fruit & whole spices for up to 2 more batches of mulled wine.
Chef’s Tip 2: Pour cooled, left-over mulled wine into ice cube trays or ice cube bags. Once frozen, use 4 trays or bags of mulled wine cubes to make a quick and delicious sorbet in the Thermomix: Add 100 gm sugar to the frozen cubes and stir anti-clockwise with the spatula through the hole in the lid for approximately 1 minute at Speed 10.
Chef’s Tip for Aga owners: For large quantities, pour each batch into a stainless steel stockpot or saucepan (not aluminium), and keep warm in the Simmering Oven until needed.
If that doesn’t put you in the Christmas spirit, nothing will!
