(Brandy and vodka are combined with fruit, juice, nuts, port wine, and spices to make a potent flaming beverage. Read up on flambe cooking tips before you begin. This drink is sure to warm you through any cold weather but is especially popular during the Christmas and New Year's holidays.
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 55 minutes
Ingredients:
- 2 cups fresh orange juice
- 1/4 cup slivered almonds
- 3/4 cup golden raisins
- 1/2 cup pitted whole prunes, snipped in half
- 8 whole cloves
- 2 inches cinnamon sticks, broken in half
- 1/2 inch fresh ginger
- 4 whole cardamom pods, bruised
- 1 (750 ml) bottle ruby port
- 3/4 cup brandy
- 3/4 cup vodka or aquavit
Preparation:
Place orange juice, almonds, raisins, and prunes into a large pan. Tie cloves, cinnamon, ginger, and cardamom in cheesecloth and add to the pan. Bring mixture to a boil, then lower heat and simmer 45 minutes. Discard spice bag and add the port to the pan. Heat until just beginning to simmer, but do not boil. Add the brandy and vodka and heat through.Carefully ignite mixture with a match (throw the lit match into the brew, quickly step back several feet and wait for flames to subside) (make sure nothing nearby will be ignited from the flambe), then cover the pan with a lid to extinguish. Remove match from brew. Serve warm.
Yield: 4 to 5 servings
Recipe Source: Cold Weather Cooking by Sarah Leah Chase (Workman Pub.)
Reprinted with permission.
