Pumpkin Mulled Wine (Recipe)

Look for a fruity, full-bodied wine here — merlot is perfect!

Pumpkin Mulled Wine

Ingredients:

• 1 Small sugar pumpkin, peeled, seeded, and cut into 1-inch cubes
• 1 Teaspoon whole cloves
• 1 Cinnamon stick
• 2 Whole nutmegs, crushed
• 1 Cup sugar
• 1 Bottle red wine

Instructions:

1. In a 4-quart saucepan over medium heat, stir to combine pumpkin, cloves, cinnamon stick, nutmeg, sugar and 1 cup water. Stir occasionally, cooking for 40-45 minutes, until pumpkin is translucent and tender. Let cool.

2. Once the pumpkin mixture is at room temperature, pour wine over pumpkin mixture and refrigerate overnight, 5 hours minimum.

3. Remove from refrigerator; gently mash the pumpkin. Place a fine-mesh sieve inside a large saucepan. Strain pumpkin through sieve, discarding solids. Transfer mulled wine to the stove, turn hit to low. Warm until just heated through.