The Pairing
The Hidden Face, by S.C. Flynn
The Reasoning
Malombra – sexy, cunning and very, very dangerous. An expert in potions and poisons, she attempts to trick our hero into drinking a potent drugged wine that will make him her willing slave. When he resists, she gets… *ahem*, creative. It seemed like a perfect opportunity to try something new, so I decided a boozy jello dessert would be a fun twist on traditional spiced wine.
The Cocktail
Serves two.
You will need:
- Medium saucepan
- 2 wine glasses/goblets
- 1.5 cups red wine of your choice (cabernet works well)
- 0.5 cups orange juice
- 2 oz brandy
- 0.5 tsp lemon juice
- 2-3 tbsp granulated sugar, to taste
- cinnamon stick
- 4 cloves
- 4 allspice berries
- 1 sachet unflavored gelatin (0.25 oz)
- Whipped cream (canned is fine)
- Ground nutmeg
- 2 cherries (optional)
Put red wine, OJ,brandy, lemon juice, sugar, cinnamon stick, cloves and allspice berries into your saucepan. Heat over medium high heat until close to boiling. Reduce heat to medium and simmer for 20-30 minutes until infused. Remove cinnamon stick, allspice and cloves, and stir in gelatin powder. Mix well until dissolved.
Set to one side and allow to cool, around 20 minutes.
Once cooled, pour into two wine glasses and place in the fridge overnight to set.
When ready to serve, top with whipped cream, a sprinkling of nutmeg and a cherry if desired. But beware – Malombra’s charms pack a punch! 😉
