Frozen Delights

I am a sucker for frozen confections. So why not linger on the topic for a bit, right!? So "glogg thoughts" brought me to this: a photo I found on Simon's Tavern's Yelp page. I sat just an arm's stretch away from this very own frozen glogg machine. Strangely, googling "frozen glogg" got me pretty directly to said page. Apparently they have cornered the market on this concept. But man, I wish it would catch on in my neighborhood! But let me go back a bit and talk about what glogg is.

Glogg is a common term for mulled wine in Nordic countries. Until now, I've thought of it as a Swedish thing, given that I first heard of it in a bar in a Swedish neighborhood. But it is common in such chilly locales as Finland, Norway, Denmark, and Iceland. It usually is made with red wine and spices. In fact here is a recipe I make around the holidays. It is a modified version of one my friend Jess sent me. I had to search my email to find it, hence the words "mulled wine" have been highlighted:

The flavor of the mulled wine deteriorates if it is simmered for longer than 1 hour. It is best served immediately after mulling but will keep fairly hot off heat, covered, for about 30 minutes. Leftover mulled wine can be reheated in the microwave or in a saucepan on the stovetop.

1 vanilla bean, split in two

10 cardamom pods

1 tsp grated nutmeg

3	cinnamon sticks (3 inches each)
10	whole cloves
1	teaspoon allspice berries (about 25)
2	bottles red wine , medium- or full-bodied
4	strips orange zest removed with vegetable peeler, each strip about 2 inches long by 1/2 inch wide, cleaned of any white pith
1/2	cup granulated sugar

Instructions

Toast cinnamon sticks, cloves, cardamom, and allspice in medium heavy-bottomed nonreactive saucepan over medium-high heat until fragrant, about 2 minutes. Add wine, orange zest, nutmeg and 1/2 cup sugar; cover partially and bring to simmer, stirring occasionally to dissolve sugar. Reduce heat to low and simmer 1 hour until wine is infused; do not boil.

Strain wine through fine-mesh strainer; return wine to saucepan and discard spices and orange zest. Stir 2 tablespoons brandy into wine; taste and add up to 2 tablespoons more sugar and 2 tablespoons more brandy, if desired. Ladle wine into small mugs; serve immediately.

Kinder Punsch time!

Ahhh, nothing quite as refreshing as a hot mug of Kinder Punsch. Brought to you by the makers Christkindles. For a seasonal drink, it looked promising. The child on the label is appropriately bundled, steamy swirls are emanating from her cup...but after sampling some I heated up in the work microwave I was left a little underwhelmed. I guess I expected something a little spicier? Something more akin to a virgin mulled wine. Looking at this photo now also makes me think it's a drink you'd enjoy in Kinder Jail. But thinking of mulled wine got me thinking of glogg. And that got me thinking about the frozen glogg I had last summer in Chicago at Simon's Tavern. They had it slushing around in an icee machine. So cool! I will digress into glogg now.