Nothing says Christmas like the smell of cinnamon and other spices. And nothing keeps you warmer as you stroll the French Christmas markets than a "vin chaud," so here's our recipe to enjoy in your home, smells, warmth and Christmas twinkle.

Ingredients

For 6 people:

  • 1 bottle of red wine (like Pinot noir)
  • 1/2 cup light brown sugar
  • some lemon and orange zests
  • 1 stick of cinnamon
  • 1 star anise
  • 2 cloves
  • a short piece of fresh ginger
  • a pinch of grated nutmeg
  • orange slices for decoration

Instructions

  • Add all the ingredients except the orange slices into a pot and bring to a gentle boil for 5 minutes.
  • Take out the spices, and serve hot, adding an orange slice to each glass for decoration.

Vin chaud - Mulled wine

Delicious vin chaud - © Pixabay

France Just For You

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Howard & Darlene
What a wonderful trip with personal guides Emilie planned for us! I would recommend her without reservation on your trip through Normandy, Mt St. Michel and the Loire Valley. The guidebook, which was chock full of important information (be sure to read it all!) was invaluable to us and became our bible.
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We just got back from a 2-week fairytale trip to the Southwest of France, perfectly planned for us by Emilie and Guillaume. We spent 3 days in Carcassonne, 4 days in the Dordogne, and 4 days in the Medoc. Each B&B was charming and the hosts were wonderfully welcoming. The special activities that were planned (truffle-hunting, wine-tasting and …