SOMETHING TO MULL OVER!

Margaret Williamson
January 2014

Whether you make your own mulled wine, or buy some litre bottles of Gluhwein from your favourite German discount store, it's lovely served warm with mince pies over the festive season. You can dress it up with orange and lemon slices, cinnamon sticks, cloves and extra sugar to taste. Once the New Year arrives, though, any leftovers (open or sealed) look well past their drink-by-date but Gluhwein can be used in some very tasty ways.

Poached Pears in Mulled Wine (for 6) – Take 6 hard pears (those bought in for Christmas that never seem to ripen will do fine), 300 ml/half a pint of mulled wine (add a strip of lemon peel and a pinch of ground ginger if you wish) and 100 g/4 oz of sugar. Dissolve the sugar in the wine, then heat until boiling, stirring regularly (about 5 minutes in a suitable container in the microwave, or use a pan on the hob). Meanwhile, carefully peel the pears, leaving them whole with stalks intact, and stand them in the hot wine. Microwave or simmer them for another 5 minutes or so until just tender, basting them with the syrup a couple of times. Remove the pears, stand them upright in a serving bowl, and boil the syrup uncovered for another 5 minutes to reduce it. Pour over the pears, leave to cool, then chill in the fridge. Delicious served with ginger or cinnamon biscuits – if you have any of those Dutch cinnamon biscuits sold at Christmas, they are ideal.

Fruity Chicken in Red Wine, or Cock-au-Van (for 4) – Try replacing red wine with mulled wine in your favourite coq au vin recipe. I use 4 fresh chicken pieces, 1 tbsp olive oil, 100 g/4 oz chopped bacon, a chopped onion, a clove of garlic if liked, 100 g/4 oz mushrooms, 3 level tbsp plain flour and 300 ml/half a pint of mulled wine. Add salt and pepper to taste and a few sliced olives if you like them. No need for herbs - the mulled wine will give the dish a good fruity flavour. Cook by microwave, pressure cooker, slow cooker or casserole, as you wish.

Fruity Chicken Pie (for 2) – Again, you can use mulled wine rather than red wine in a delicious chicken or turkey pie, if you have an oven. Chop up 2 fresh chicken breasts (or an equivalent amount of leftover cooked chicken or turkey). Cook them as you will for the pie filling, with 1 tbsp olive oil, 50 g/2 oz chopped bacon, a chopped onion, 75 g/3 oz chopped mushrooms, 2 tbsp plain flour and 300 ml/half a pint of mulled wine, adding salt, pepper and thyme to taste. Put this cooked filling in a deep pie dish, cover with shortcrust or puff pastry (a packet of ready-made flaky pastry is easiest if you can get it), bake for 30 minutes or so at 220 C, 425 F, gas mark 7, or just 'High'.

Winter Walk – If none of the above appeal to you, simply heat up the leftover mulled wine and fill a thermos flask to take on a winter walk or picnic. Not recommended for cycle rides, though!

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