Wacky Anne's Christmas Kitchen: Drinks

Christmas Punch

4 cups cranberry cocktail
2 cups sugar
1 cup orange juice
1 quart ginger ale
2 tsp lemon juice

Heat cranberry juice and dissolve sugar in it. Add orange and lemon juices. Chill. Add ginger ale upon serving. Can also be served hot.

Hot Cranberry Snap

Makes 5 quarts.

4 cups cranberries
2 quarts water
4 cups sugar
peel from 1 orange
2 pieces cinnamon stick, 1" long
2 tsp whole cloves
2 tsp whole allspice
2 quarts apple juice
1 quart applejack
whole apples (optional)

Pick over cranberries and put in a large saucepan. Add water, sugar and orange peel. Tie the spices up in a piece of cheesecloth and add to the saucepan. Bring slowly to a boil and cook 5 minutes. Crush the cranberries with the back of a large spoon against the sides of the pan while cooking. Discard spices and orange peel. Pour through a fine strainer. (The drained cranberries may be refrigerated and served with meat or fowl.) Return cranberry liquid to same pan and add apple juice. Heat to boiling point and add warmed applejack. Pour into a heated silver or china bowl. Float a few roasted apples on top if desired.

Egg Nog

12 large eggs
1 (13oz) can evaporated skimmed milk
1 cup sifted confectioner's sugar

Beat the eggs together with a wooden spoon for a few minutes; add the milk and sugar. Strain through a sieve and pour into a jar. Close lid and keep refrigerated.

Lambswool

This drink - made up of hot ale, sugar, nutmeg, cinnamon, cloves, eggs and roasted apples - was one of the traditional hot drinks that would have gone into the wassail bowl of England. It was the toast floating on the top that made it look like lamb's wool.

Mulled Cider

1-1/2 cups brown sugar
2 tsp allspice
2 tsp cloves
1/4 tsp salt
5 sticks cinnamon
4 quarts cider

Simmer cider for 10 minutes, mixing in sugar, salt and spices. To remove the spice particles, strain through a cheesecloth. Serve hot, sprinkled with freshly ground nutmeg.

Tom and Jerry

Serves 4

3 eggs, separated
3 tbsp powdered sugar
1/2 tsp each ground allspice, cinnamon and cloves
brandy
dark rum
hot coffee, water or milk
grated nutmeg

Beat egg whites to a stiff froth. Beat egg yolks separately until light in color, gradually adding the powdered sugar and spices. Fold yolk mixture into whites. Divide mixture between four 8 oz. mugs. Add a 1/2 shot of brandy and 1 shot of rum to each mug; fill with hot beverage. Stir well and top with nutmeg.

Wassail Brown Brew

Serves 24

1 cup water
pinch nutmeg
pinch mace
3 cloves
1/2 tsp powdered allspice
1 tsp powdered ginger
1 stick cinnamon, about 2" long
4 bottles of (red) wine
1 dozen eggs, separated
1 dozen apples, baked in oven

Boil water while adding spices. Remove from heat, and boil again. Place wine in large pan over low heat, and add spiced water. Beat the yolks and whites separately, then mix them together. Place this mixture in the punch bowl, pour in the heated wine, beating constantly. Don't pour in the hot wine to soon or the frothy consistency will be lost. Add the hot apples, and "Wassail" to you all!

My Christmas Kitchen: Christmas Recipes