Christmas Recipe: Apple Citrus Spirited Wassail

Remember the song, here we go a-wassailing? If you haven't had wassail before, you're in for a treat. Wassail is a tradition that goes back over a hundred years, putting the "spirits" in the Christmas spirit! While younger generations may not be as familiar with this Christmas tradition, your grandmother surely knows what wassail is. And it's actually quite easy to make - warm up your holiday cheer this Christmas Eve with an old Christmas tradition - which just may become a new one once you try it! The recipe below will serve a good-sized party, but feel free to cut down or increase the recipe as needed. (As an added bonus, your house will smell amazing while this is simmering! Please drink responsibly.)

Also, on a related note, we will not be posting next week, as we will be traveling and spending time with our families for the holidays. But be sure to check back on the 31st for some tasty New Year's Eve treats! In the meantime, have a wonderful, safe, fun, and of course YUMMY holiday!  :-)

Apple Citrus Spirited Wassail
(Makes about 2 gallons of wassail or about twenty 12-oz servings.)

(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Ingredients:

1 gallon good apple cider
6 cinnamon sticks
1 lemon, washed and cut into wedges
1 orange, washed and cut into wedges
1 Tbsp whole cloves
1 Tbsp allspice
1 gallon white wine, room temperature
2 cups rum, room temperature

For garnish:
1 lemon, washed and sliced into thin circles, seeds removed
1 orange, washed and sliced into thin circles, seeds removed
cinnamon sticks

Directions:

1. Put apple cider, cinnamon sticks, lemon wedges, orange wedges, whole cloves, and allspice into a large (non reactive) pot.
2. Place over low heat, stir, and simmer slowly over very low heat for 1 hour, stirring occasionally.
3. Pour the liquid through a fine mesh sieve to strain, then pour back into pot.
4. Add the wine, rum, and the slices of lemon and orange, stir and serve.
5. If the wassail cooled down too much when you added the spirits and fruit, you can warm it up on low just until heated again, but don't let boil.
6. Serve warm or hot in large mugs, making sure to get a slice or two of citrus in each serving. Add a cinnamon stick to each mug if desired for a 'swizzle stick.'

Traditional Christmas Cooking Tips & Ideas

Christmas is a time of year when families all around the world will get together and observe unique traditions specific to their own families. In America however, there are some foods that many people consider traditional holiday cooking, although many of these traditions are regional rather than nationally accepted.

Traditional Christmas Eve supper in Poland. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

For example: turkey or ham? For some families the answer is both while others answer quite quickly that it is neither. One of the best all-American Christmas cooking ideas for my family is lasagna. It's just special enough for the holiday, and honors my Italian roots! There are no right or wrong traditions - only those traditions that work well for you and your family.

Other great traditional favorites for many Americans as far as Christmas cooking goes are things such as sweet potato casseroles, deviled eggs, dressing or stuffing, mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, pumpkin pie, apple pie, mince meat pie, and pecan pie. Of course there are regional favorites that are often highly dependent upon where you live such as key lime pie, lemon icebox pie, oyster dressing, deep fried turkey. If one of these is a Christmas tradition for you, no matter where you are in the world you will think of home or Christmas whenever you come across them. And if you are separated from loved ones this year, a shared Christmas food tradition can help you feel closer even across the miles.

(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

That, of course, is the great thing about Christmas traditions. We pass them along to our children who one day will find that they are a little less alone because someone in an airport is eating a slice of key lime pie or having a dish or macaroni and cheese. If you don't have Christmas traditions it is time to develop a few just so that you can share something special and almost sacred with your friends and family. Be sure to check back later this week for some delicious holiday recipes that just may become a tradition in your household!