Yesterday was one of my favorite holiday traditions!
It was the day of our annual Christmas tree hunt and winter picnic.
Every year a group of about 25 family and friends gather up the mountain supposedly to chop down our Christmas tree. Most of us have moved on to artificial trees, but the tradition continues.
We all meet and light a bonfire. The kids go tobogganing; and we heat the wine for mulling.
Here’s my recipe for Mulled Wine:
Heat a bottle of cheap red wine (fruity, not vinegar!) in a pot or kettle over the fire or on a camp stove. Add cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, a little sugar and lemon juice to taste. As the wine warms, heat a metal poker in the flame. Just before the wine comes to a boil, plunge the metal poker into the wine and stir. Serve up in insulated mugs to keep it warm!
Once we are fortified with a bit of the wine, we all head off on a trek through the snow in pursuit of the perfect tree. (Did you ever watch the Chevy Chase Christmas Vacation movie? It always reminds me of our tree hunt!)
The little kids on toboggans being pulled by the bigger kids. Snow ball fights. Laughter. Snow angels. And, the occasional carol.
Finally, with the one or two trees finally cut, we gather back at the fire for more wine and hot chocolate. And, it’s time for a wiener roast. Hot dogs, smokies, fresh buns, and all the fixin's.
It’s amazing how good mulled wine tastes with hot dogs and smokies roasted over the fire with family and friends.
Truly, one of the best food, wine & life pairings I have ever experienced!
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