Glühwein and Futjen

This year week we are exploring German traditional Christmas food fare by trying Gluhwein and Futjen.  Gluhwein is hot spiced red wine.  Futjen (ferden or fudden) is a family recipe and tradition coming from Germany.  It is a cardamom spiced doughut ball made fresh with yeast, fried and rolled in sugar.  It is traditionally served on Christmas eve with oyster stew which is also our family tradition.


We will be celebrating R's first birthday tonight with both after dinner treats.


Gluhwein

1 bottle red wine
1 cinnamon stick
grated nutmeg
50g brown sugar
1 orange, sliced
1 dried bay leaf
few cloves

Put the wine in a saucepan with the sugar, orange slices, bayleaf and the spices.

Heat the wine gently until the sugar is dissolved. Taste and add more sugar if necessary.

Strain the Gluewhein into mugs or heatproof glasses and serve. 

From http://www.tasty-german-recipe.com/mulled-wine-recipes.html

Futjens 

1 qt. milk, 

1/2 cup sugar, 

5 or 6 eggs, 

1/2 teaspoon cardamom seeds crushed, 

1/2 teaspoon salt, 

1 cup of raisins (0ptional, we don't use them), 

1 packet dry yeast. 

Scald milk, let cool. 
Add beaten eggs, sugar, cardamom and salt. Then add raisins. 

Add yeast that soaked in 1/4 cup water and 1/2 teaspoon of sugar that has raised 
to top of a cup. 

Add enough flour that will make a dough that will drop off 
a spoon. Let raise to top of bowl. 

Drop by spoonful in hot oil, turning when browned.  

Roll in sugar or a cinnamon sugar mixture.