Christmas Wassail
"After everyone is served cups of steaming, spiced cider, we all give the wassail toast," Patricia Atkins, Palmer Lake, Colorado, says of the ancient beverage. "Be whole. Good health to you."
SERVINGS: 24
TIME: Prep: 40 min. Cook: 25 min.
Ingredients:
* 3 medium McIntosh or Rome apples
* 1/2 cup water
* 2 gallons apple cider or juice, divided
* 2 medium navel oranges, halved and sliced
* 2 medium lemons, halved and sliced
* 1-1/2 cups sugar
* 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
* 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
* 1 cinnamon stick (3 inches), halved
Directions:
Core apples and cut in half. Place cut side down in an 8-in. square baking dish. Pour water around apples. Bake, uncovered, at 375° for 20-25 minutes or until tender.
Cool slightly; scoop out pulp and place in a blender. Discard apple peel. Add 1/2 cup cider to the blender; cover and process until smooth.
In a Dutch oven, combine the oranges, lemons, sugar, nutmeg, cloves, cinnamon, pulp mixture and remaining cider. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, for 15 minutes. Discard orange and lemon slices and cinnamon stick if desired. Yield: about 2 gallons.
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Chilled Christmas Punch
A blend of juices gives this punch a little pizzazz. For a more tart flavor, substitute cranberry juice for the cran-apple juice. —Edna Hoffman, Hebron, Indiana
SERVINGS: 15-20
TIME: Prep: 10 min. + chilling
Ingredients:
* 2 cups water
* 3/4 cup sugar
* 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
* 1 can (46 ounces) pineapple juice, chilled
* 4 cups cran-apple juice, chilled
* 1 liter ginger ale, chilled
Directions:
In a saucepan, bring the water, sugar and cinnamon to a boil; stir until sugar is dissolved. Chill. Just before serving, combine the syrup mixture, juices and ginger ale in a punch bowl or large pitcher. Serve over ice. Yield: 3-3/4 quarts (15-20 servings).
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Christmas Glow Punch
With a pretty crimson color, this sweet tropical beverage is perfect for the holidays. Have the punch base chilling in the refrigerator, then add the ginger ale and sherbet just before serving.
SERVINGS: 14
TIME: Prep/Total Time: 10 min.
Ingredients:
* 4-1/2 cups tropical punch
* 1 cup cranberry juice
* 1 can (6 ounces) pineapple juice
* 1/3 cup lemon juice
* 2 to 3 cups chilled ginger ale
* 1 pint raspberry sherbet
Directions:
In a 2-qt. container, combine the punch and juices. Cover and refrigerate until chilled. Just before serving, transfer to a small punch bowl. Stir in ginger ale; top with scoops of sherbet. Yield: About 2 quarts.
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Christmas Spice Mix
Wonderfully versatile, this gift is seasoned for both sipping and sniffing. When mixed with fruit juices, it's a delicious winter warmer-upper. Boiled in water, it makes a "scentsational" potpourri that will add a heavenly fragrance to the whole house!
SERVINGS: 8
METHOD: Microwave
TIME: Prep/Total Time: 25 min.
Ingredients:
SPICE MIX:
* 1 cinnamon stick (3 inches)
* 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
* 1 teaspoon whole allspice
* 1/2 teaspoon whole cloves
* 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
* 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
ADDITIONAL INGREDIENTS FOR CRANBERRY WASSAIL:
* 1 quart cranberry juice
* 1 quart pineapple juice
* 1/2 cup sugar
Directions:
Combine spice mix ingredients; place in the center of two 6-in. square pieces of cheesecloth. Bring corners together and tie with string or dental floss. Yield: 1 spice bag.
To use as a room scent: Place spice bag in a 2-cup microwave-safe measuring cup filled with hot water. Microwave on high for 3-4 minutes or until water boils. Continue to microwave at 30% power to add fragrance to the whole house. (Add more water if microwaved for additional time.)
To prepare cranberry wassail:
Combine juices, sugar and spice bag in a 2-qt. microwave-safe bowl. Cover with plastic wrap and cut a vent. Microwave on high for 8-9 minutes or until mixture boils. Microwave at 50% power 3 minutes longer. Yield: 1 spice bag.
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Wonderfully versatile, this gift is seasoned for both sipping and sniffing. When mixed with fruit juices, it's a delicious winter warmer-upper. Boiled in water, it makes a "scentsational" potpourri that will add a heavenly fragrance to the whole house!
SERVINGS: 8
METHOD: Microwave
TIME: Prep/Total Time: 25 min.
Ingredients:
SPICE MIX:
* 1 cinnamon stick (3 inches)
* 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
* 1 teaspoon whole allspice
* 1/2 teaspoon whole cloves
* 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
* 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
ADDITIONAL INGREDIENTS FOR CRANBERRY WASSAIL:
* 1 quart cranberry juice
* 1 quart pineapple juice
* 1/2 cup sugar
Directions:
Combine spice mix ingredients; place in the center of two 6-in. square pieces of cheesecloth. Bring corners together and tie with string or dental floss. Yield: 1 spice bag.
To use as a room scent: Place spice bag in a 2-cup microwave-safe measuring cup filled with hot water. Microwave on high for 3-4 minutes or until water boils. Continue to microwave at 30% power to add fragrance to the whole house. (Add more water if microwaved for additional time.)
To prepare cranberry wassail:
Combine juices, sugar and spice bag in a 2-qt. microwave-safe bowl. Cover with plastic wrap and cut a vent. Microwave on high for 8-9 minutes or until mixture boils. Microwave at 50% power 3 minutes longer. Yield: 1 spice bag.
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