Here We Come a Wassailing

For the Newbies and Lurkers and Regulars!

I’ve opened the early evening Solstice Eve Lounge…a place to ritually let go of something that bothers you…come on by…

Wassail with Apple Cider
4 litres apple cider or juice
1 orange, chopped
1 lime, chopped
1 lemon, chopped
4 cinnamon sticks or 1 t. ground cinnamon
1 inch-square piece of fresh ginger or 1/4 t. ground ginger
1 t. cloves, allspice and/or star anise…heat all and simmer in an enamel pot (aluminum can impart a metallic flavor) on low for an hour, then serve to cold, caroling folks.  I use an enamel crock pot – 1 hour on high then shift to low…simmer all day.

Brandy or rum for adults, optional addition as it is being served.

Traditional Christmas Wassail
4 cups brown ale
1 cup dry sherry* or dry white wine
3 oz. brown sugar
4 apples
peel of ½ lemon
¼ tsp. ground nutmeg
¼ tsp. cinnamon
¼ tsp. ground ginger

Wash the apples and peel them just around their “equators.” Place the apples, brown sugar and 4 tbsp. of the brown ale into an ovenproof dish and bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes or until the apples are tender. Remove the apples and add the remaining ale, sherry or wine, lemon peel, nutmeg, cinnamon, and ginger. Simmer gently for a few minutes. Add the apples and serve with a toast of “Wael hael!”

What’s your favorite afternoon hot drink in the winter??

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