Sitting by my Laughing Fire.....September in The Village!

"I love the way the colors change, how you can spend time outdoors and then go inside and light the fire, and how the food you want to eat and serve gets a little bit cozier."









The gatherings often begin with late afternoon cocktails in the yard of The Maine Home and end with dessert indoors, often around the living room fireplace. I serve the foods and even the colors of fall, and for hours we talk about the big and little things in life -- kids, money, world peace, work, love, food, spirituality, what's at the movies!

Hot Mulled Wine

4 cups apple cider
1 (750-ml) bottle red wine, such as Cabernet Sauvignon
1/4 cup honey
2 cinnamon sticks
1 orange, zested and juiced
4 whole cloves
3 star anise
4 oranges, peeled, for garnish


Directions
Combine the cider, wine, honey, cinnamon sticks, zest, juice, cloves and star anise in a large saucepan, bring to a boil and simmer over low heat for 10 minutes. Pour into mugs, add an orange peel to each and serve.

For as long as the evening lasts....as long as the embers glow....the conversation continues....as we sit by the laughing fire!