Mulling Spices

This is my new go to gift when I need to whip up a bunch of Christmas gifts (well, this and the Chai Concentrate Spice Mix). Together, they make a terrific (and inexpensive) little gift. Try natural foods stores for the resealable tea bags. You'll want to find tea pot sized ones for this. They are simple to reseal with a hot iron. You'll be able to find the spice ingredients easily at any whole foods store as well. I haven't tried the mulled wine version yet, but it's yummy sounding!

~Recipe from about.com

• approximately 14 resealable tea bags (or a tea ball if you're going to make just one serving)
• 3 ounces whole cinnamon sticks
• 6 whole nutmegs (1 ounce)
• 1/3 c. chopped dried orange peel
• 1/3 c. chopped dried lemon peel (I didn't use b/c my store didn't have)
• 1/4 c. allspice berries
• 1/4 c. whole cloves
• 2 T. finely chopped, crystallized ginger (1 ounce)

1. Place cinnamon sticks and nutmegs into a heavy freezer bag or leftover cereal or cracker bag. Hit the spices with the bottom of small heavy skillet or the flat side of a meat tenderizer to break them into small pieces. Place in a bowl and stir in remaining ingredients.
2. Place about 2 tablespoons mix into each tea bag. Seal up with a hot iron.
3. If giving as a gift, include the directions below.

Yield: 14 bags apple mulling spice mix (each will spice a 750 ml bottle of red wine - 3-1/4 cups wine or 1/2 gallon - 8 cups apple cider)

Mulled Wine Recipe Instructions

1/2 cup water
1/3 cup white granulated sugar
3-1/4 cups (750 ml bottle) red wine
1 mulling spice bag

Combine water and sugar in a 2-quart saucepan over medium heat. Stir until sugar dissolves. Add wine and spice bag. Heat very slowly over low heat, only until small bubbles form around the edge and wine is very hot. Do not boil. Discard spice bag and serve hot.

Mulled Apple Cider Recipe Instructions

8 cups (1/2 gallon) apple cider
1 mulling spice bag

Place apple cider in a 3-quart saucepan and add spice bag. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 30 minutes. Discard spice bag and serve hot.