Progressive Dinner Party: Appetizer and Drinks

Welcome to my little home on the interwebbies. Today we are having the Appetizer and Drinks portion of the Progressive Dinner Party put together by Amy, Nicole and Julie. Thank you!

 I hope you enjoyed you Santa's Little Helpers over at My Round File

Stop by the Book Blogger Social Club to visit all the different foods and drinks during the week.

I am serving up a Swedish speciality: Glögg
 
It is a form of mulled wine. Although I am going to serve an alcohol free version for those of us who don’t drink:

Recipes
Base:
5 dl water (2.1 US cups)
2 pieces dried bitter orange peel
2 pieces of dried ginger
2 cinnamon sticks
15 cloves
2 tsp cardamom seeds

Add water and all spices to a pot. Bring to a boil and then let simmer for 30 minutes. Strain the mixture keeping the liquid.

For alcoholic drink:
Mix base with a bottle of wine (75cl) and 1 dl (0.4 US cups) of sugar in a pot. Warm up until sugar has melted but do not boil.

For non-alcoholic drink:
Mix base with 1/2 l  (2 US cups) Black Current Cordial (juice) and 2 dl (0.8 US cups) concentrated apple juice (or apple cider). Warm up the mixture but don’t let it boil.
 
To Serve: Put a couple of blanched almonds and a tsp of raisins in each mug and pour the drink over. Enjoy with a gingersnap or three!


Glögg parties are one of the most common parties in Sweden in December. Most people probably don’t make their own though (well I don’t at least) as there are about two gazillion different pre-mixed versions on the market here. We tried one with chocolate and chili flavour this year. It was awesome!


If you haven't already stop by Dana's Scrap Therapy for some cheese dip (cheese is very good on gingersnaps by the way)