What is your favorite winter holiday tradition?
Although my family has lived in Utah for generations, we have deep English roots, and a lot of our celebrations reflect that heritage. A favorite holiday tradition of mine is the making and drinking of hot, delicious wassail. There are several ways to make this cozy cup of Christmas, but they all center around a simmering concoction of apple cider, cloves, oranges, and cinnamon. Here is my favorite recipe:
Ingredients & Directions:
8 c. apple cider
2 c. orange juice
1/2 c. lemon juice
12 cloves (whole)
4 cinnamon sticks (whole)
1/4 tsp. ground ginger
1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
1/2 vanilla bean – split lengthwise or 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract (optional)
- Tie up the cloves, cinnamon sticks, and vanilla bean into a cheesecloth to form a spice bundle.
- Place all ingredients, including your spice bundle, in a large pan and bring to a simmer over medium-low heat.
- Reduce heat and continue to simmer for 45 minutes.
Enjoy with tasty gingerbread or orange-glazed rolls. If you wish, add a splash of spiced rum while serving. Experiment with adding different juices – pineapple and cranberry juice cocktail are wonderful additions!
Mix this up in a slow cooker before a party and your home will smell warm, inviting, and holiday perfect. If you’re leaving this out for guests to serve themselves, remove the cinnamon sticks from the bundle and place them directly into the liquid and float orange slices on top for a pretty presentation!
Here are a couple more versions of this old favorite that you may like to try:
Pineapple and Brown Sugar from Real Simple magazine
Lion House Wassail from AllRecipes.com (yes… THAT Lion House in downtown SLC!)
Cranberry-Apple from Epicurious
Enjoy this sweet holiday tradition!
Need a great new kitchen in which to whip up your wassail? Give us a call!
