Making wassail is a favorite Yuletide custom deriving from the Saxons. Enjoy!
2 pints brown ale
1/2 pint dry sherry (or dry white wine)
3 ounces sugar
3-4 apples
1/2 lemon
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. (180 degrees celcius). Wash, peel, and core apples. Place the apples, sugar,and 4 tablespoons of the brown ale into a glass baking dish or heat resistant bowl and bake together for 25-30 minutes, or until the apples are tender. Peel the lemon rind, removing only the bright outer layer. Remove the apples and their collected juices from the oven and set aside. On top of the stove, set out a large pot, and add to it the remaining ale, sherry or wine, lemon peel, cinnamon, gingerand nutmeg. Mix this together and simmer gently over a low flame for 10-15 minutes. Add the apples and juices and serve immediately.
Non-alcoholic Wassail
1 gallon apple cider
1/2 gallon orange juice
1 pint cranberry juice
4 cinnamon sticks
24 allspice berries
36 cloves
1 large orange
1 cup brown sugar
Press cloves into the orange. Combine all ingredients in a pot and boil it over high heat for 5-7 minutes. Reduce heat and simmer for 45 minutes to 1 hour.
