Dark Chocolate Mulled Wine Sauce

Yield: 2 cups (serving size: 2 Tbs).

1 cup cabernet sauvignon or other dry red wine
1/2 cup sugar
1 sachet Mulling Spice Blend
1/2 cup Dutch process cocoa
1/2 cup light-colored corn syrup
1 oz semisweet chocolate, chopped

Combine first 3 ingredients in a small saucepan; bring to a simmer. Cool 5 mins. Discard sachet. Add cocoa and corn syrup, stirring with a whisk until smooth. Simmer 2 mins, remove from heat. Add chocolate, stirring until chocolate melts. Cool to room temperature.

From Cooking Light, December 2008.

Hot Mulled Wine

What better way to survive the cold than with some hot mulled wine?

Yield: 6 servings.

1/3 cup sugar
1/4 cup bourbon
1 (750 ML) bottle cabernet sauvignon or other dry red wine
1 sachet Mulling Spice Blend
Cinnamon sticks (optional)

Combine first 4 ingredients in a large saucepan. Bring to a simmer; cook 20 mins. Discard sachet. Serve warm. Serve with cinnamon sticks, if desired.

From Cooking Light, December 2008.