Mulled wine is one of my favorite holiday sippers. It's warm and spicy, and makes the house smell delicious and festive. Red wine is high in resveratrol, which is a powerful antioxidant, so we can feel good about the benefits to our cardiovascular system! Mulled wine tastes better with bolder, big-bodied reds (go for the merlot or cabernet's), and is even better if organic.

Ingredients

• 1 bottle of red wine

• 2 star anise

• 5 cardamom cloves, crushed

• 1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon or 1 large cinnamon stick

• 4 whole cloves

• 1½ tablespoons maple syrup or 3-5 drops of liquid stevia

• 2 thick slices of a medium orange including the peel

• 2 inch piece of ginger, roughly chopped

Add everything, except the red wine and star anise, into a medium saucepan with a cup of water. Bring to a boil, and let simmer on medium heat for 5-8 minutes, until the water has nearly evaporated. Add the wine and star anise, reduce the heat and let it heat through for about 5 minutes. Strain, if desired, and decorate with fresh cranberries to serve.

Happy Holidays!