Wassail for a Snowy Day

A cold snowy afternoon deserves a pot of hot wassail. Here's is my great aunt's recipe, a personal favorite.

Sliced Ginger Root

Wrap in tulle netting:
12 whole cloves
4 sticks of cinnamon
8 allspice berries
1 medium piece of ginger root, sliced

Boil together for 10 minutes:
2 1/4 cups of sugar
1 quart water
Spices (from above)

Cinnamon Sticks

Add the following ingredients and simmer together:
3 cups orange juice
2 cups lemon juice
2 quarts apple cider

Serve hot. Can be stored in the fridge for several days and simply reheated by the cupful in the microwave.

I use a tea ball for the cloves and allspice berries and just boil the ginger root and cinnamon sticks in the mixture directly. I leave the spices in the mixture and the cider becomes stronger as it sits. If desired, you can remove the spices before storing in the refrigerator.