Quentão - Brazilian Mulled Wine
from Molly

Quentão (Portugese for "big heat") is a traditional drink for the Brazilian Festa Junina, a Catholic celebration of saints John, Paul and Anthony. It will definitely help keep your toes warm this winter. From Houston's Fogo de Chao as published in our local paper.

SERVES 8

• 1 cup sugar
• 2 cinnamon sticks
• 2 pieces lemongrass
• 1 fresh pear, sliced
• 1 fresh peach, sliced
• 1 fresh apple, sliced
• 1 tablespoon whole cloves
• 1 pint water
• 1 bottle red wine (Merlot, Cabernet, or Burgundy will all work)
• 1 1/2 ounces Cointreau liqueur
• 3 ounces cachaca (rum may be substituted if you can't find the cachaca)

Combine all the fruit and condiments in a saucepan.

Add water and heat to a boil; boil two minutes.

Add the wine and boil for another two minutes.

Reduce heat to warm and add the Cointreau and the cachaça (or rum).

Serve hot.