Journal claudia's Journal: Feuerzangenbowle! 1
On Silvester (what Germans call New Year's), this is THE traditional alcoholic offering and it's generally lit at midnight. Silvester (or Sylvester) is named after Pope Sylvester who died on Dec. 31st. He supposedly cured Constantine I of leprosy.
But, that's not the point. This is (it'll probably cure you too):
3 bottles dry red wine
juice from two oranges
juice from one lemon
8 or so cloves
a few cardamon pods if you have them
a bit of cherry juice is nice but optional
if you like cinnamon, throw in a stick
aluminum foil
Zuckerhut (1)
a bottle of at least 101% proof something (I use Bacardi 151)
Heat the first seven (or eight) ingredients gently and slowly. You don't want to boil out the alcohol. Give it an hour.
Find some tool that is all metal and will safely rest across the pot you made the above in. Tongs. Pliers. Whatever. As long as it's metal.
Make sure the Zuckerhut can balance itself on your chosen tool. If so, place it lengthwise across it. You will be lighting it on fire.
Place a piece of aluminum foil on top of a countertop or stove. You also might want to keep a fire extinguisher or pot lid close by if you haven't done this before.
Ready? Pour the 151 (or other) over the Zuckerhut. Saturate it!
Turn the lights out. Stand back. Light the sugar with a BBQ-lighter or a long matchstick. Do NOT light it with a regular lighter or matches.
The sugar and alcohol creates a flameball. You want all the sugar to caramelize and melt into the wine. If the flame goes out, pour more alcohol over it (but not directly from the bottle!). Use a ladle and relight. If it's too much of a flameball, remove the tool holding the sugar and place it over the aluminum foil you've nicely laid out until it dies down a bit.
When the sugar is all melted, pour a tad more of the 151 into it. Cool about 10 minutes and serve.
1. Here's a picture of one. You can find them in your local German store. If you can't find a Zuckerhut, you can use a handful of sugarcubes in a metal sieve.
2. Feuerzangenbowle = fire plier punch.
Gute Rutsch! (happy slide! into the new year).
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