What's Your Family's Unique Wassail Recipe?

[ragschef]

I made a batch of wassail and brought it to work this morning and everyone here was like "what's wassail?" with their noses turned up. I used my grandmother's old recipe (minus the brandy) and I've made it a tradition in my family for years now. Here's the recipe I use:


1 gallon of apple juice
1/2 gallon OJ
PC cinnamon plus blend (about 4 tbsp)
Mulling spices (LOVED PC's mulling spices when they carried them!)
whole cloves poked into an orange
Ground Ginger (about 2 tbsp)
1 cup packed brown sugar


I place the mulling spices in my tea infuser and the cloved orange in the bottom of the crock pot. I pour the juices in and the spices on top. Whisk until the spices settle and put the lid on the pot. I let it steep on high for about an hour and then let it warm for the rest of the day while people sip on it.


When I make it at home I add 2 cups of dry brandy to it. Really adds a lot of flavor, but can't legally have it at work!


Just wondering if anyone else has a wassail tradition, and if so, how do you make it?

 

[The_Kitchen_Guy]

I thought you needed some big sheets of canvas and a heavy-duty sewing machine.Of course, it's not necessary unless you have wassail boat.

 

[janetupnorth]

We used to have it served during Madrigal Dinner in High School. Someone else made it though.

 

[ChefBeckyD]

I use a recipe similar to that - I just didn't know it was called Wassail. We always just called it hot spiced cider.


At least now I know what "Here we go a-wassailing..." means now.

 

[The_Kitchen_Guy]

At least now I know what "Here we go a-wassailing..." means now.

Sure - it's an old sea shanty. You sing it after you make wassail from canvas and then go out on the lake in wassail boat.

 

[ragschef]

I knew KG would turn this around.... (smirk)

 

[NooraK]

We usually have glogg during Christmastime, but I usually go buy the mix from IKEA and throw in some spices and alcohol (if I'm in the mood). This year, since I went to see mom, I bought a bottle with alcohol already in it and brought it home with me.

 

[chefann]

I have a Christmas book by Sandra Boynton that has a wassail recipe in it. It starts out, "In a largish pewter kettle, combine 125 gallons of ale, 1 bushel whole cloves..."It also describes the tradition of going from house to house drinking toasts to the health of all those who live there. It says, "After the third house, toasts are usually drunk to the furniture, as well."

 

[mrssyvo]

My wassail recipe has apple cider/ orange juice (12 cups each) and
grapefruit juice (2 cups) bring to a boil, then simmer, adding to it a syrup made with :

1 cup water, 1 cup sugar, 8 cinnamon sticks and 24 whole cloves (tied in cheesecloth) - boil this for 10 minutes, then add to simmering juices. This is incredible !!!! For those who like alchohol, the person who gave me the recipe said you can add rum to this. ( I have never tried it with rum)

 

[chefann]

Some info on Wassail from Wikipedia: Wassail - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[ragschef]

I have a Christmas book by Sandra Boynton that has a wassail recipe in it. It starts out, "In a largish pewter kettle, combine 125 gallons of ale, 1 bushel whole cloves..."

It also describes the tradition of going from house to house drinking toasts to the health of all those who live there. It says, "After the third house, toasts are usually drunk to the furniture, as well."

What's the name of your book, Ann? We LOVE Sandra Boynton at our house!!

 

[chefann]

I think it's just "Christmastime." It's several years old, but absolutely hilarious. I found it in paperback on Amazon. My copy is hardbound.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/0749310359/?tag=pfamazon01-20Wait! Here's the hardcover: http://www.amazon.com/dp/0894806351/?tag=pfamazon01-20

 

[The_Kitchen_Guy]

Sure - it's an old sea shanty. You sing it after you make wassail from canvas and then go out on the lake in wassail boat.

I knew KG would turn this around.... (smirk)

Some would say I either don't have both oars in the water or I've been at Chefann's recipe.