Canadian-born Ted Cruz mulls 2016 presidential run

Here are a few Mulls I might send Kochs' Fredo to help him mull as well as he's can:

"Best Method for Mulling

The easiest method for making a lot of a mulled beverage is to make it in the crock pot."

And let's be honest we're not going to find a bigger "Crock Pot" than Cruzer.




Basic Mulling Spices Recipe

6 cinnamon sticks
1 small whole nutmeg
1/2 cup whole cloves
1/2 cup whole allspice
Grated peel of one whole orange

Chip the cinnamon, nutmeg, and all spice with a hammer. Place with other ingredients in a storage container. To use, place two tablespoons of mixture in a small muslin bag and add to four cups of beverage. Simmer. This recipe makes one and one half cups of mulling spice.

Mulling Spice with Cardamom

This is a slightly different mulling spices recipe, with the addition of cardamom seeds. The cardamom adds a warm, faintly citrus taste to the mulled beverage.

1 tablespoon cardamom pods, slightly crushed
1 tablespoon whole cloves
1 tablespoon whole allspice
1 teaspoon orange rind
12 whole cinnamon sticks

Combine first four ingredients. Put two teaspoons of the mixture into a small muslin bag and tie two or three cinnamon sticks to the top. Simmer in four cups of beverage. This makes a beautiful gift.

Gingered Mulling Spice

3 oz cinnamon sticks
6 oz of whole nutmeg
1/3 cup dried lemon peel
1/3 cup dried orange peel
¼ cup whole all spice
¼ cup whole cloves
3 tablespoons crystallized ginger, chopped

Crush cinnamon stick and nutmeg with a rolling pin, a skillet, a mallet or a grinder if you have one that will do the job. Mix in the remaining ingredients. Add two tablespoons of mixture to small muslin bags and tie shut. Use one bag for every four cups of beverage, and simmer for at least 20 minutes.

Mulling Spice Recipe with Anise

2 cups dried orange peel
2 cups broken cinnamon sticks
1 cup whole allspice berries
1 cup whole cloves
broken star anise.

Mix together and store in a tightly closed jar. Use ¼ cup of mixed spices per gallon of beverage. Either strain out or tie in cheese cloth bag before simmering.

Mulled Spices with Dried Fruit

2 cinnamon sticks
1 tablespoon pickling spice
1 orange, sliced thinly and dried (or a half of a cup dried orange)
1 pear sliced thinly and dried (or a half of a cup of dried pear)

Add to four cups of simmering beverage.

Sweetened Mulling Spices Recipe

3/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground cloves
1/2 teaspoon grated lemon peel
1/2 teaspoon grated orange peel
1 teaspoon ground allspice
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/2 cup dried cranberries, optional

Mix together well and place in small, tightly covered jars. To give as gifts add these instructions:

To make mulled wine or cider:

Combine 1/4 cup of the mix with one cup red wine, apple cider, cranberry-apple juice, or other hot beverage.
Add 1/4 cup of water.
Bring to a boil over medium heat. Reduce heat and simmer five minutes.

Serves one.