I know Wassail is traditionally a Christmas drink, but I ran out of time last month to post it. And since it's so cold these days, I thought it might be a nice thing to have on one of these frigid nights. Or maybe just to file away for next year.
This recipe is from Jeannie Wood, a lady we know from political circles. I really like it because all the spice is contained nicely in the oranges, so there aren't a lot of pieces to have to worry about when you ladle it up. And this is always a big hit at Christmas in Dixie.
3 medium oranges studded with whole cloves (just cloves stuck into the peel of the orange, I maybe put 12-15 or so cloves in each orange)
2 qts apple juice
2 cups pineapple juice
2 cups orange juice
11 oz can of apricot nectar (I can never find this so I substitute peach nectar)
1/3 cup lime or lemon juice
3/4 cups sugar
Combine juices and sugar and bring to a boil. Add the oranges and simmer 20 minutes.
As a variation, you could probably add cranberry juice or cinnamon sticks to change the flavor a bit.
