Yule Hot Spiced Wassail Food

WASSAIL

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Spoon the sugar into the center of each apple, then place in a 9-inch square baking dish with 1 cup water. Bake until the apples are very tender, 1 hour to 1 hour 30 minutes.
• Meanwhile, add the hard cider, pale ale, apple cider and Madeira to a large pot and bring to a gentle simmer over medium heat. Put the cloves, allspice, cinnamon sticks, orange zest and lemon zest in a piece of cheesecloth and tie it closed. Add to the pot along with the ginger and nutmeg. Reduce the heat to low and steep the mixture until the liquid is well spiced and fragrant, about 1 hour.
• Add the cooked apples and any of their juices to the pot and stir to combine. Remove the cheesecloth. Serve warm in individual mugs with an orange wedge and cinnamon stick.

HOT WASSAIL

Steps:

• Combine ingredients and bring to a boil. Serve hot.

RED-WINE WASSAIL

Steps:

• In a large saucepan or kettle, combine the apple juice, sugar, almonds and raisins; slowly stir in the red wine.
• Take a large piece of cheesecloth and place the cinnamon sticks and 24 whole cloves on it; with string, tie it up to make a small bundle and drop this into the red wine mixture.
• Heat slowly over low heat; don't let it boil.
• Meanwhile, make this unique garnish: stuff the centre of each apple with 3 tbsp sugar and stick each apple with a few whole cloves.
• Spray a baking dish with non-stick cooking spray and place the apples in it; bake, covered, at 350F for 45 minutes.
• Bake the apples about an hour or so before you want to serve the wassail.
• Pour the heated wassail into a large punch bowl, discarding the spice bag, and then add the baked apples; they are a treat for those still around when the wassail is gone!

WINTER WASSAIL

Steps:

• Pour cider into large kettle, add spices and salt. Bring to a hard boil, reduce heat and simmer 15 minutes
• Remove from stove, add sugar to taste, if needed.
• Cool. Strain wassail. Keep in a cool place till ready to use, but it is not necessary to refrigerate.
• To prepare a wassail bowl: Use a heavy china bowl, a crock pot or a punch bowl.
• Heat it over a large kettle of boiling water. Add lemon and orange slices.
• When warm, add gin or vodka and let it heat, but do not boil or spirits will evaporate. Remove from heat.
• Pour in the boiling wassail. If possible keep the bowl hot over a candle or alcohol burner. Ladle into punch cups and serve.

WELCOMING WASSAIL

Steps:

• Whip heavy cream together with confectioner's sugar until soft peaks form.
• Flavor with 1 TBSP Grand Marnier.
• Set aside in refidgerator.
• Heat apple cidar and brown sugar together in a large sauce pan to a boil.
• Stir until sugar dissolves.
• Remove from heat.
• Add rum, brandy and remaining Grand Marnier.
• Stir in spices.
• Add lemon and orange slices.
• Heat over medium heat for 2 minutes.
• Do not boil.
• Pour into champagne glasses.
• Top each glass with whip ceam and freshly grated nutmeg.

SPICED WASSAIL

Steps:

• Break the cinnamon stick into pieces, &--along with the whole cloves & whole allspice--tie the cinnamon pieces in a cheesecloth bag.
• Cut each orange in half.
• In a large covered saucepan, combine the cider, cranberry juice, sugar & orange bitters.
• Add the spice bag, oranges & rum extract, & simmer, covered, for 10 minutes.
• Remove spices & pour into a warm serving bowl, leaving the oranges to float on top.

CIDER WASSAIL

Steps:

• In a large saucepan, combine all of the ingredients. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 20-30 minutes. Discard cinnamon sticks. Serve hot in mugs.

YULE HOT SPICED WASSAIL

Steps:

• Mix juice, cider, and water in large saucepan.
• Add cinnamon sticks, clove studded orange, and apple slices.
• Simmer mixture for 4 hours.
• Serve hot.