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Glühwein Recipe

George Hirsch December 22, 2025

Many German town centers have street markets during the Christmas season, with stalls selling cookies, arts and crafts, wooden toys, and other festive items. Almost every street corner seems to boast Bratwurst and Glühwein stalls. Light a roaring fire and pour yourself a small glass of warm, spicy red wine. Below is a basic recipe, but vendors in Germany will offer additional flavorings, such as elderberry cordial or a shot of dark rum. At home, spike it, too, if you choose.

Heat your Glühwein in a large saucepan on the stove or in a large jug in the microwave, but don't let it boil, or the alcohol will evaporate. If you want a less alcoholic drink, mix in apple juice or water.

Glühwein Recipe

Makes 6 servings

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1 bottle of full-bodied red wine

1 small lemon

6 orange slices

10 cloves

3 cinnamon sticks

4-6 Tablespoons sugar

3 ounces brandy

Preparation

Pour the wine into a large saucepan. Cut the lemon into quarters. Stick the cloves into the rind of one quarter. Slice the rest thinly. Add the lemon quarter and orange slices to the pan with the cinnamon and sugar. Heat slowly until hot, but do not allow to boil. Add brandy and serve in heatproof glasses or small cups. Place a metal teaspoon in the glass before adding the hot liquid to prevent the glass from breaking.

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AS SEEN ON PUBLIC TELEVISION & CREATE TV- SEASON ONE
FEATURING CHEF GEORGE HIRSCH DEMONSTRATING HIS SAVORY COOKING, BAKING AND GRILLING RECIPES; WITH HIS EXPERT CULINARY TIPS & TECHNIQUES, ALONG WITH VISITS TO HIS INSPIRING HAMPTON LOCATIONS.

Gather 'Round the Grill Cookbook, Vintage (new)

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From the original Grilling TV Series host, 200 Fabulous Recipe—Celebrating the joyous rituals of sharing food at year-round festivities, the star of PBS's Grilling with Chef George Hirsch provides a wealth of recipes and ideas for great party foods, plus advance preparation tips to ease the strain of last minute chores.

Hardcover: 310 pages
Publisher: Hearst Books-HarperCollins; 1St edition (June 12, 1995)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0688142257
ISBN-13: 978-0688142254
Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 8.1 x 1.3 inches
Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds

George Hirsch Living it UP! cooking & lifestyle book

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This easy to live with lifestyle plan; with more than 165 of George's easy-to-prepare gourmet recipes, you can lose weight, maintain energy, look better, and enjoy a longer active life, by eating great food!
M.Evans and Company, Inc.

George Starts your year off right!

George Hirsch Living it UP
Recipes for a Healthy Active Life
Product Details
Hardcover: 240 pages; $24.95
Publisher: M. Evans and Company, Inc.; 2000
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0871319241
ISBN-13: 978-0871319241
Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.3 x 1.1 inches

Creative Cooking tips
Fast Easy recipes that allow for an active lifestyle
A 30-Day Menu Plan you can adapt throughout the year
Support and motivation for staying on a healthy eating & exercise routine
Tips for easy food shopping & eating healthy on the run

Each book is personally autographed by George Hirsch.

Roasting Chestnuts

George Hirsch December 16, 2025

La caldarroste Italian for Roasted Chestnuts.

Roasting chestnuts has always been a longtime tradition in my family; one of my fondest food memories is of all of us gathering ’round the table, peeling and savoring chestnuts after supper at Nana’s. Life was a bit simpler then, but I will carry on our European tradition for many years to come and hope to inspire you to do the same!

You’ll enjoy my grill or oven-roasted nuts; once cooked, its texture is similar to that of a baked potato, with a delicate, sweet, and nutty flavor. -

Roasted Chestnuts

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Preheat the grill to medium-high temperature or oven to 425 degrees F.

Clean chestnuts and dry. Use a sharp paring knife to cut a small X into the flat, pointed tip end of each chestnut, or prick chestnuts with a sharp church key (can opener) fork to allow steam to escape, preventing them from exploding.

pre roasting L- raw chestnuts, R-chestnuts cut with an X

Place chestnuts in a shallow roasting pan. Roast on a grill or oven for 15-25 minutes, shaking occasionally or until chestnuts are tender and shells peel easily. Chestnuts are best when eaten warm.

Tip: Roasting time of chestnuts is variable depending on freshness. Choose firm, heavy nuts, not hollow, when buying.

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13 EPISODES on 4 HD-DVD Disk Set, season one

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Gather 'Round the Grill Cookbook, Vintage (new)

$50.00

LIMITED OFFER, LIMITED EDITION, signed by Chef George.

Hardcover: 310 pages
Publisher: Hearst Books-HarperCollins; 1St edition (June 12, 1995)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0688142257
ISBN-13: 978-0688142254
Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 8.1 x 1.3 inches
Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds

George Hirsch Living it UP! cooking & lifestyle book

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The Feast of Seven Fishes

George Hirsch December 14, 2025

The Feast of Seven Fishes

The Feast of the Seven Fishes is a popular Southern Italian tradition celebrated worldwide. In Italy, it is called “la Cena Della vigilia,” or Christmas Eve Dinner, December 24th, observed by abstaining from eating meat on Christmas Eve and enjoying the holiday meal with family, filled with a seafood spread.

WHY SEVEN? Some say the number seven represents the seven sacraments, seven days of creation, or simply the fact that seven signifies perfection in the Bible. This may be speculation; however, what is known is that this celebration is much appreciated and shared by most Italians and fish lovers.

Fish: You will find virtually any Mediterranean fish prepared from this region—everything from anchovies to eel. Popular fish in the feast include calamari, smelts, clams, and shrimp.

One of my favorites is baccalá, a dried, salted cod.

Baccala How To: To reconstitute the baccalá, you soak it for two days, changing the water three or four times.

I prepare the baccalá in several ways, including sauteed and with tomatoes. Still, it's also quite popular to prepare it in the oven with potatoes or even in a salad with potatoes and black olives.

The Seven Fishes is a feast that brings family and friends together to celebrate a significant evening. The seafood is only the centerpiece of what really takes place, keeping a tradition alive with family and friends. Isn’t that what holidays are really about? Buone Feste!

Seafood Chowder

Fritto Misto

Linguini Calamari Sauce

Baccala and Potato Recipe

Capitone Arrosto & Fritto

Clam Pie Recipe

Mussels in White Wine Sauce

Stuffed Calamari Recipe

Shrimp Risotto Recipe

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13 EPISODES on 4 HD-DVD Disk Set, season one

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Gather 'Round the Grill Cookbook, Vintage (new)

$50.00

LIMITED OFFER, LIMITED EDITION, signed by Chef George.

Hardcover: 310 pages
Publisher: Hearst Books-HarperCollins; 1St edition (June 12, 1995)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0688142257
ISBN-13: 978-0688142254
Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 8.1 x 1.3 inches
Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds

George Hirsch Living it UP! cooking & lifestyle book

$24.95

Meatballs and Quick Marinara Sauce

georgehirsch December 11, 2025

Meatballs started with Italian immigrants coming to America in 1880, and then came the sauce. I have prepared this recipe with inspiration from my Italian Nana. There was no recipe, only years of watching and learning by example. The results have always been the same after making this for my family and huge groups. Nana would be proud, and I'm sure you will be, too, when serving your family and friends. And, enjoy watching the how-to video from George Hirsch Lifestyle TV series. Feel free to share.

George's Nana’s Meatballs

Makes 12 jumbo, 24 large, or 40 mini meatballs

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3 pounds ground beef, 80 / 20 blend; can use a combo of beef, pork, and veal

4 cloves garlic, minced

1/2 sweet onion, chopped fine

2 eggs, cracked and beaten

1/4 cup Parmesan cheese

2 Tablespoons fresh Italian parsley, chopped

1 teaspoon dried basil

1 teaspoon dried oregano

3 cups day-old Italian bread, pulsed into crumbs

1/2 cup chicken broth to soften bread crumbs (variable amount may have to add more broth to soften crumbs)

Fresh ground black pepper

* Note: all ingredients should be very cold before blending.

**CLICK to WATCH Meatballs + Marinara preperation**

Mix all ingredients in a mixer or by hand until well blended. Dip your hands in ice water before shaping the meat into round balls.

Spray an oven-roasting pan with grease spray.

Use an ice cream scoop to shape the meatballs; roll by hand until they are round. Do not overhandle to prevent over-warming the meat. Repeat until all the meat is used up. Do not overcrowd the meatballs to make it easier to move them while baking.

Refrigerate the meatballs for at least 30 minutes to chill. Prepare the Tomato Sauce below.

Preheat a large, heavy-gauge sauté pan to high heat, or if making a large number of meatballs, brown them in a hot oven at 425 degrees F.

Roast meatballs for five minutes in the oven or on the stovetop until they brown. If roasting, gently shake the pan to move the meatballs to turn over, or use a spatula for the meatballs if browning in a sauté pan. Continue cooking for a few additional minutes (or less if mini) or until the meatballs are brown on the outside. The meatballs will not be fully cooked and will continue to cook in the tomato sauce.

Remove meatballs with a spatula and add to the gently simmering sauce, and continue cooking for 20-30 minutes.

For the Marinara Tomato Sauce:

2 Tablespoons Olive Oil

1/2 cup minced sweet onion

6 cloves garlic, minced

2 (28-ounce) cans crushed San Marzano Tomatoes

2 (6.5-ounce) cans tomato sauce

1 Tablespoon dried basil leaves

1/2 teaspoon oregano

Fresh ground black pepper

2 Tablespoons each of fresh chopped parsley and basil

In a large saucepot sauté, sauté olive oil, onion, and garlic over medium heat until light brown. Stir in crushed tomatoes and tomato sauce. Season with dried basil, oregano, Italian seasoning, pepper, and half of the parsley. Simmer, covered, for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add cooked browned meatballs and top with fresh chopped parsley and basil before serving.

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13 EPISODES on 4 HD-DVD Disk Set, season one

$19.95

Gather 'Round the Grill Cookbook, Vintage (new)

$50.00

LIMITED OFFER, LIMITED EDITION, signed by Chef George.

Hardcover: 310 pages
Publisher: Hearst Books-HarperCollins; 1St edition (June 12, 1995)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0688142257
ISBN-13: 978-0688142254
Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 8.1 x 1.3 inches
Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds

George Hirsch Living it UP! cooking & lifestyle book

$24.95

Making a Yuletide Flip

George Hirsch December 6, 2025

Whether you spike or not, it's known as ait de poule from the French, which means hen milk or egg flip by the British. With low-taxed rum readily available from the Caribbean, it allowed the British to extend their dairy inexpensively. Here in North America, it's eggnog. The popular yuletide beverage received popularity with the colonies in the 18th century due to the large amount of dairy available in the New World. As corn and rye became staples in the colonies, whiskey and bourbon became the standard dairy stretcher to the traditional British egg flip. So you could say Americans gave rum the flip, to speak, as whiskey and bourbon found their way into glasses in North America.

There is a good reason why rich and delicious eggnog is limited to being served up only during the holiday season. Is it possible the caloric intake, or is it just a reason to reserve it to be one of those nostalgic beverages you look forward to toasting every year? Maybe a bit of both.

Cheers!

Chef George’s Traditional Eggnog

Makes 4 Servings

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6 egg yolks, save the whites *see below

2 cups of milk

2 cups heavy cream

1/2 cup bourbon or rum

1/4 brandy

1/2 cup pure cane sugar or Turbinado

1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

1/4 teaspoon cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon fresh grated nutmeg

1/4 teaspoon fresh-grated orange rind

Using a mixer with a whip attachment on medium speed, whip the egg yolks until light in color, about 4-5 minutes. Add sugar and mix until completely dissolved. Set aside.

In a double boiler, combine the milk, heavy cream, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg, and orange rind and bring to a boil, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat and combine while tempering the hot milk-cream mixture into the egg-sugar mixture.

Return all ingredients to a double boiler and heat constantly, stirring with a spatula until the mixture reaches 160 degrees (well below a simmer), and eggnog begins to resemble custard.

Remove from the heat, and stir in the bourbon and brandy. Pour into a bowl, cool, and refrigerate for at least two to four hours. It is best if refrigerated overnight.

Serve in cups with shaved chocolate or unsweetened cocoa powder dusted on top.

Optional Toppings: a dollop of *meringue (made from all the leftover egg whites), ice cream, or whipped cream.

To Make Meringue, six egg whites, 1 Tablespoon pure can sugar, or Turbinado.

Beat the egg whites to soft peaks. With the mixer running, gradually add one tablespoon of sugar and beat until stiff peaks form.

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