For about forty years my wife Lorna and I have, a few days before Christmas, invited friends to our house to get them ready for the Holyday. The party is always very informal with friends of all ages, including young children, arriving and leaving according to any other engagements they may have, during the evening. We usually cater for between 50 and 70. This year (last Saturday evening, in fact) several people had colds or had other activities to attend to so the numbers were at the lower end of our estimate.
There are four main elements to the party. The first is a hot mulled wine, called Krambambuli, that I have made at every one of these annual get-togethers. It came from a cookery book Lorna bought in Switzerland many years ago when we went there for a ski holiday. It has stood the test of time and for anyone who would like to try it I repeat the recipe below.
The second essential element is a quantity of game pies that Lorna makes from birds I have brought home from various "vermin control" days I have enjoyed during the autumn. Slices of it go down very well. The third element expected by our guests is carol singing, with Lorna or another of our talented regulars at the piano. And the fourth is the nativity tableau that Lorna creates in the garage every year so that guests can see it as they arrive and leave.
People say it puts them in the mood for Christmas. I do hope so. And if you'd like to try that mulled wine recipe please turn to the next page.
KRAMBAMBULI
Serves 10-12 (multiply according to number of guests)
Ingedients: 2 bottles of a light, dry red wine
the juice of 2 oranges
the juice of 1 lemon
a cup of rum
10oz of sugar
Pour the wine into a bowl and heat - do not allow to boil. Juice the oranges and lemons and add this to the wine. Put the sugar into a baking tin, heat the rum, pour it over the sugar and set light to it. The sugar will caramelise and when the flames have died down pour the result into the bowl of wine and juice and mix gently. Serve hot in either heat proof glasses or with handles or stems to avoid burning fingers.
Enjoy!