Wassail

By Shenanchie

Wassail is a hot drink, but the word comes from medieval times in England. Lords and ladies would cry out: "Was Haile," which meant "Good Health." It was common in the British Isles to drink a toast of "Wassail" or "health," from a punch bowl. This bowl would be filled with hot ale or wine spiced with nutmeg, cloves and ginger. Sometimes roasted apples, eggs, cream or oranges were added to the mix as well.

Ingredients

• 6 C red wine
• 10 C apple cider
• 1/2 C brown sugar
• 2 tsp. whole cloves
• 2 tsp. whole Allspice
• 2 (3") sticks of cinnamon
• 3 oranges (studded with cloves)

Preparation

Step 1

In a large pot, mix the wine, cider, sugar, cloves, allspice and cinnamon. Heat to boiling, and reduce the temperature setting to low. Cover and simmer for about 30 minutes. Strain the punch into a punch bowl, and float the oranges studded with cloves on top.