ChefsLine is the culinary hotline and among its team of chefs are some big old football fans. The site includes a complete party menu with tons of do-ahead options, recipes, a shopping list, and detailed cooking schedule. Recipes include SuperPunch, Stuffed Mushrooms, Chorizo in Red Wine, Olives stuffed with chili almonds, etc.

This basic recipe for Christmas Punch never steers a party wrong, with its combination of brandy, Cointreau, fresh oranges, and a large helping of Champagne or sparkling wine. It’s easy to modify to personal taste as well. Not fruity enough?...

With family gatherings for the holidays fast approaching, it's never been a better time to drink. But this season, skip the box of wine and try something a little more old-fashioned.

Mulled wine, variations of which are popular around the world, is wine, usually red wine, combined with spices and typically served hot. In the old times wine often went bad, but by adding spices and honey it could be made drinkable again. Nowadays it is a traditional drink during winter used, especially around Christmas, to warm up. In Italy, this beverage is typically drunk in the northern part of the country.Glögg is the Swedish form of mulled wine, similar to Glühwein in German-speaking countries. Glühwein is usually prepared from (not too expensive, sometimes outright cheap) red wine, which is heated and spiced with cinnamon sticks, cloves and sugar. Almonds and raisins are often added to the Scandinavian version, though not to the German. The oldest Glühwein tankard is documented in the high noble german and first Riesling grower of the world, Count John IV. of Katzenelnbogen around 1420. This gold-plated lockable silver tankard imitating the traditional wine woven wooden can is called Welcome.In Romania it is called vin fiert ("boiled wine"), and can be made using either red or white wine, sometimes adding peppercorn.In Moldova the izvar is made from red wine with black pepper and honey.If orange juice is added, it becomes a form of punch.